Title: The Dilemma of
Charlotte Farrow (Avenue of Dreams #2)
Author: Olivia Newport
Pages: 316
Year: 2013
Publisher: Revell
This
is just a lovely story about the love of a mother for her son and the lengths
she will go to in order to do what is best for him. Set against the backdrop of the 1893 World’s Columbian
Exposition in Chicago, Illinois, Charlotte Farrow serves as a maid in the
Banning household on the wealthy Prairie Avenue. Archie Shepard serves as coachman for the
Bannings.
Charlotte
has been working for the Bannings for a year, but she has served as their
daughter, Lucy’s, personal maid up until her marriage a few months ago. Now she works in the kitchen mostly. She has a secret that only Lucy knows about,
but now that Lucy is away on an extended honeymoon she won’t be able to help
Charlotte when the circumstances of her “secret” change. She unexpectedly finds herself in the
position of having her son dropped off by his caregiver, stating she can no
longer care for him. What is Charlotte
to do? Maids can’t have babies in the
house; they’re not even allowed to be married!
She has no one else she can turn to for help. One year ago, soon after giving birth, she
left her alleged husband to start a new life.
She told no one where she was going.
When she came to Chicago, she told no one of her past with the exception
of Lucy Banning, who only knows about the baby.
Will she be forced to give the baby to the orphanage?
Archie
has had his eye on Charlotte over the last year and has made his interest in
her known, but she has not responded. He
wonders why. He continues to pursue her
and she continues to rebuff him. Archie
wants more out of life than being a servant.
He wants a job where he is paid what he is worth. He wants Charlotte to be happy and married to
him and not a servant anymore. Finally,
Charlotte tells Archie her secret after spotting the father of her child on an
outing to the Exposition. Charlotte is
desperate to protect her child from his father.
Archie urges her to tell the Bannings of her predicament, but Charlotte
is afraid she will be fired and then unable to care or support her baby. She keeps silent, but comes up with a plan to
keep Henry safe. Can she make the
sacrifice that will save him? Archie
asks her not to do anything drastic, but to trust him, the Bannings, and
God. Charlotte’s grandmother had loved
her and taught her about God as a girl, but she has not trusted Him in her
older years. Can she ever do so?
My
rating is 4 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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