Revell Blog Tour/Review: “Lady in the Mist” by Laurie Alice Eakes

A Tale of Two Loves

Book Blurb:

By virtue of her profession as a midwife, Tabitha Eckles is the keeper of many secrets.  Dominick Cherrett is a man with his own secret to keep; namely, why he, a British aristocrat, is on American soil working as in indentured servant.

In a time when relations between America and England rest on the edge of a knife, Tabitha and Dominick cross paths, leading them on a journey of intrigue, threats, public disgrace, and…love.  But can Tabitha trust Dominick?  Finding true love seems impossible in a world set against them.

With stirring writing that draws you directly into the story, Lady in the Mist takes you on the thrilling ride of love’s discovery.

 

Bio:

The role of midwives in history began to fascinate Laurie Alice Eakes in graduate school, and she knew that someday she wanted to write novels with midwife heroines.  Ten years later, after several published novels and a National Readers Choice Award for Best Regency, the midwives idea returned, and Lady in the Mist was born.  Now Laurie Alice writes full-time from her home in Texas, where she lives with her husband and sundry dogs and cats.

Endorsements:

“Lady in the Mist brims with tension, intrigue, and romance.” –Julie Klassen, bestselling author of The Silent Governess and The Girl in the Gatehouse

“Secrets, suspense, and a sweetly told love story make this a highly rewarding read.” –Cheryl Bolen, Holt Medallion–winning author of One Golden Ring

“I loved, loved, loved this book.  It grabbed me by the heart and held on.” –Lena Nelson Dooley, author of Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico

My Review:

In Lady in the Mist, Laurie Alice Eakes strings your heart along throughout the book, wondering which suitor will win Tabitha Eckles’s heart, while at the same time weaving a story of mystery, press-ganging for British ships, American men disappearing from American soil, threats, assaults, and secrets.

Tabitha Eckles was jilted at the altar by Raleigh Trower, a childhood friend and fiancé, vanishing for two years.  With her father, mother, and grandmother’s sudden deaths, she has no family other than her servants. This becomes a critical moment when she decides to stop trusting in the Lord. Even when Raleigh returns and tries to woo Tabitha’s heart once again, she ponders if he can be trusted again.

Meanwhile, Tabitha literally runs into Dominick Cherrett, an English bondsman butler to an American, Mayor Kendall, on the shoreline in the wee hours of the morning after attending to a birth as the town’s midwife.  Between stolen kisses and flirtations, she finds herself falling for Dominick, leaving Raleigh and Dominick competing for her love amidst accusations between the two as being spies for England.

Laurie does and excellent job of juggling the secrets that abound amongst Tabitha, Dominick, Raleigh, and other multiple characters, all the while weaving an intriguing and dangerous story line centered on the mysterious abductions of American men on American soil allegedly by the British.  All of her characters are what I call full-bodied, with intricate details enhancing each one’s life.  The secrets and the dangerous threats and assaults keep you wondering who is behind all the activity.

Amidst the storyline, you gain a great history lesson of the historical times, dangerous circumstances, and work as a midwife.  Laurie’s fascination and research about midwives of the early 1800s is depicted in the fascinating details of the trade.

Laurie uniquely keeps you guessing the outcome of each episode and escapade of each of the characters from page one to the very last page. For a solid good read about American and English animosity in the early 1800s, mixed with a delightfully woven love story, this is a book I can definitely recommend.

The important aspect of recognizing God’s forgiveness is interwoven throughout the story in such way that the reader can easily understand God’s love and forgiveness, emphasizing that one doesn’t come into right standing with God through works.  Infinitely important and marvelously explained.

This book was provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, in exchange for my honest review.

This book can be purchased here.