Overview: Lies and secrets can spoil a woman's good name.
A half-Portuguese fisherman's
daughter doesn't stand a chance with Warren Brentwood, the heir of the
local lumber empire, no matter how striking she is. In an effort to
better her life, Espy takes a job at the local professor's home. He
begins to tutor her and the rumors begin to fly.
After months working together on
the church fundraiser, Espy and Warren share a passionate kiss. But
Warren still believes the worst of her and she flees for the city as her
childhood hero falls short of her ideal. Alone and penniless, she is
taken in by a missionary and his wife before she is forced to sleep in a
doorway. With nothing left but her faith she must discover the purpose
God has laid out for her.
She longs to return home freed
from the lies that surrounded her parting. But will anyone-particularly
Warren-believe in her innocence?
ISBN-13: 9780802406279
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Publication date: 7/24/2012
Pages: 352
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Publication date: 7/24/2012
Pages: 352
My Review: As the back of the book implies, lies and secrets can truly spoil a woman's good name. This story is about a woman who, in the face of disgrace, finds herself and her God. Ruth Axtell does an excellent job telling Espy and Warren's story. Her historical accuracy about how society was during that time period lent the story a deeper air.
I loved Espy's character. She is one of those people who is just genuinely happy, despite the circumstances. I admire that in her, and even when she was faced with difficulties, she kept her head up. Warren lends a new depth to the typical "male heir" character. Throughout the story, you can really see him struggle with what he was "born" to do and what the Lord is calling him to do. The emotions of each character were raw, which made the story more heartfelt.
Both characters had to learn to come to know the Lord on a whole new level. Espy struggled to escape the harshness and stigma of society. Yet, when she turned to the Lord for help, she found newness and cleanliness were with her all along. Warren's struggle to overcome what was expected of him and TRULY understand what God had in mind for him was inspiring.
Overall, I loved this book. If you're looking for a deep, heartfelt book about overcoming obstacles to find the grace and love of God, this is it!
I loved Espy's character. She is one of those people who is just genuinely happy, despite the circumstances. I admire that in her, and even when she was faced with difficulties, she kept her head up. Warren lends a new depth to the typical "male heir" character. Throughout the story, you can really see him struggle with what he was "born" to do and what the Lord is calling him to do. The emotions of each character were raw, which made the story more heartfelt.
Both characters had to learn to come to know the Lord on a whole new level. Espy struggled to escape the harshness and stigma of society. Yet, when she turned to the Lord for help, she found newness and cleanliness were with her all along. Warren's struggle to overcome what was expected of him and TRULY understand what God had in mind for him was inspiring.
Overall, I loved this book. If you're looking for a deep, heartfelt book about overcoming obstacles to find the grace and love of God, this is it!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the Moody Publisher Blogging program in exchange for my honest review, which I have given.*
About the Author:
I discovered I enjoyed writing when my seventh-grade English teacher assigned our class
to finish a story that began with one sentence, a “once upon a time”
premise. My version ended up being a romance, and what amazed me most
was when someone turned to me after my story was read aloud and told me
how much she liked it.
I then went on to write a spy thriller—complete with my own illustrations—and knew I wanted to be a writer.
There were many detours along the way as I pursued more realistic goals. I studied comparative literature at Smith College, where I received a Bachelor’s degree; I spent my junior year in Paris; taught English and lived as an au pair in the Canary Islands; and worked in international development in Miami, Florida. It was there I met my future husband, a Dutchman from Suriname, who took me to the Netherlands to live for six years.
In Holland I began my life as a stay-at-home mom. For the first time in my life I was able to seriously pursue my dream of writing full-length historicals. During my six years there, I completed three manuscripts. The second one gained recognition when it was a finalist in the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Contest in 1994.
We moved back to the U.S., to the down east coast of Maine to a small village where I had spent childhood summers.
Maine has been a place of discovery—from discerning the varying faces of the sea and likening them to the color of my current hero or heroine’s eyes, to observing the changing seasons and the wonders of a flower or leaf or icicle, to simply learning how to say, “yes, Lord,” when I hear His still, small voice.
I discovered I enjoyed writing when my seventh-grade English teacher assigned our class
to finish a story that began with one sentence, a “once upon a time”
premise. My version ended up being a romance, and what amazed me most
was when someone turned to me after my story was read aloud and told me
how much she liked it.I then went on to write a spy thriller—complete with my own illustrations—and knew I wanted to be a writer.
There were many detours along the way as I pursued more realistic goals. I studied comparative literature at Smith College, where I received a Bachelor’s degree; I spent my junior year in Paris; taught English and lived as an au pair in the Canary Islands; and worked in international development in Miami, Florida. It was there I met my future husband, a Dutchman from Suriname, who took me to the Netherlands to live for six years.
In Holland I began my life as a stay-at-home mom. For the first time in my life I was able to seriously pursue my dream of writing full-length historicals. During my six years there, I completed three manuscripts. The second one gained recognition when it was a finalist in the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Contest in 1994.
We moved back to the U.S., to the down east coast of Maine to a small village where I had spent childhood summers.
Maine has been a place of discovery—from discerning the varying faces of the sea and likening them to the color of my current hero or heroine’s eyes, to observing the changing seasons and the wonders of a flower or leaf or icicle, to simply learning how to say, “yes, Lord,” when I hear His still, small voice.
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