Tide and Tempest - A Review

Published - March, 2014, Bethany House Publishers

Series - Edge of Freedom Book 3

Author - Elizabeth Ludwig

Title - Tide and Tempest

Format - ebook, paper

Buy from Amazon

Two years ago, Captain Keondric Morgan delivered the grieving Tillie McGrath to the steps of a boardinghouse in New York. Yet, he's not been able to get her out of his mind. When a deathbed confession from a member of his crew reveals that the death of Tillie's fiance may not have been the illness she was led to believe but murder, Morgan decides to check up on Tillie. Tillie McGrath came to America from Ireland wanting a new life with the man she loved. Yet both his death and the death of her baby have shaken her to the core. The faith that she once claimed is now a bitter shell. When Captain Morgan appears on her doorstep with the startling news that her fiance was murdered, Tillie is of course shocked. Together the pair sets out to discover the truth behind the claims of murder. When they unknowingly stir up a hornet's nest, Tillie's safety becomes paramount for Morgan. Enlisting the help of his brother, Morgan vows to not only protect Tillie but to end the threat once and for all. Will he be successful? With two men vying for Tillie's affection, which will win her heart? And will she ever see her own dreams of opening an orphanage come to light?

This is by far my favorite one of this series! I'm so glad that I didn't let the lack of connection I had with the characters from the first book dampen my enjoyment of either books two or three!

I found that this book was very suspense filled. It was good to get answers to questions that arose from the first two books. I'm not sure if this is the conclusion of the series or not. I kinda hope it's not as I'd love to see Cass's story. I loved the way that Morgan went above and beyond to ensure the safety of his brother and Tillie. I also loved how he was willing to sacrifice his own happiness to ensure that the woman he loved was happy.

I loved Tillie's struggle to find herself worthy of others. She had to come to the point where she realized that the mistakes she made in her life were not a stopper on her future. Yet once she realized that the decisions she made in the past did not have to stop her future, she was free. She recognized the truth of needing to surrender.

Overall, while I'm glad I'd read the others first, I found this one to be truly enjoyable. It was by far my favorite of the series. That could be that the characters were more fleshed out.

I received this book from Bethany House Publishers for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of historical fiction, romantic suspense, Elizabeth Ludwig, Jody Hedlund, Karen Witemeyer, Carol Cox, Julianna Deering

Rating - 5 stars

Dark Road Home - A Review

Published - August 2013, Bethany House

Series - Edge of Freedom Book 2

Author - Elizabeth Ludwig

Title - Dark Road Home

Format - paper, audio, large print, ebook

Buy from Amazon

Ana Kavannagh still has nightmares from the fire that claimed the lives of her mother and sister and left her scarred. She also feels abandoned by God. Living in a boardinghouse, Ana has built a new life for herself. She doesn't know that people from her past in Ireland want her dead. Eoghan Hamilton feels betrayed by his twin sister Cara for marrying his enemy. Working as a handyman at a church, he meets Ana. The lovely young woman stirs up his protective instincts. Even when she asks him to do the unbelievable - forgive his sister, he wants to  please her. Yet when information comes to him that puts both himself and Ana in danger, he's willing to do anything he can to see her safe, including meeting with the brother-in-law he doesn't trust. Can these two troubled hearts find freedom and love together?

I've got to say that I enjoyed this book WAY more than the first one, No Safe Harbor. In the first one, I found myself rather bored with it. Not so with this one. This one captured my attention from the beginning and held it til the last page.

I really loved Eoghan in this book. I thought that he was a sweetheart and loved how even though he didn't intend to remain at the church, he found he couldn't resist the nuns. I also loved the way that he struggled with accepting his brother-in-law and forgiving his sister for marrying a man he considered an enemy.

The suspense in this book seemed more entwined throughout the story as opposed to the first book. While you don't have to read the first one first, it does help some.

I read this book for pure pleasure. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of historical suspense, Jody Hedlund, Carol Cox

Rating - 4 solid stars.