Title: No Safe Harbor
Author: Elizabeth Ludwig
Pages: 331
Year: 2012
Publisher: Bethany House
Elizabeth
Ludwig has created an interesting first novel in her series Edge of Freedom with No Safe Harbor. The chapters are not lengthy and the style is
easy to read. The novel is in the genre
of fictional historical romantic suspense, and it is set in 1897 in New York
City.
The
story begins with Cara Hamilton, an Irish immigrant, aboard a ship approaching Ellis
Island. She has left her homeland of
Ireland in response to a letter her twin brother sent asking her to come to
America so they could be together and start a new life. Their parents died in a train accident and
they have no other relatives; it’s just the two of them now. Cara hasn’t seen her brother in over two
years. She believed him to be dead as
the result of becoming involved with a revolutionary group called the Fenians. She is overjoyed to learn he is still alive
and immediately sells everything she has and sets sail for America. Upon landing, she realizes she knows no one
and wonders how she will find her brother.
As she exits the medical inspection station to board a ferry bound for
the city, she meets Rourke. Her brother
has warned her in his letter not to trust anyone and that another family from
Ireland, the Turners, is out to kill him for his involvement in a death in of
one of their family members. Can she
trust Rourke with her secret? Will she
ever find her brother and reunite with him?
Is Rourke the man she thinks he is?
While searching for her brother, she begins asking questions that are
better left unasked. Attempts are made
on her life because she is a Hamilton, but she finds herself unable to stop
searching. She also finds herself
falling in love with Rourke. Cara has
learned about religion from her father, but she learned about a relationship
with Jesus from her mother. Is he a God
follower?
Rourke
Walsh has been in America almost two years and does odd jobs to earn his
keep. His family has been searching for
his father’s killer as he fled Ireland and came to America they believe. They have a watch set up at Ellis Island to
monitor if the killer and/or any of his relatives arrive in America. Rourke learns Cara is a Hamilton, but is not
sure if she is related to the man he is looking for. He befriends her, helping her search for her
brother, walking her to work, and touring the city, thinking to find out
exactly who she is. Along the way, he
falls in love with her. He also
discovers she is indeed the sister of his enemy. Now what is he going to do? His family is after revenge, but Cara is
innocent in the whole situation. Can
Rourke go against his family? Can he put
aside two years of anger, shame, vengeance, and guilt to forgive? Will he realize he is not the man his father
or God wants him to be?
My
rating is 3 stars.
Note: I received a
complimentary copy for an honest review of this book. The opinions shared in this review are solely
my responsibility. Other reviews can be
read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/
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