Saturday, February 19, 2011

Review: Lady in the Mist

Lady in the Mist (The Midwives - Book 1) by Laurie Alice Eakes

Publication Date: February 2011
Publisher:
Baker Publishing Group/Revell Books
Genre: Christian Fiction/ Historical
ISBN-13:
9780800734527
ISBN: 0800734521

(Received for review from Revell Books)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Laurie Alice Eakes on the WEB: Website, Blog

Excerpt from
Lady in the Mist
Book Trailer: This is an excellent fan-made trailer.


Synopsis (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 an 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.

Thoughts:

Laurie Alice Eakes began studying the role of midwives in history during grad school. Using her knowledge of the subject she has crafted an Christian historical novel that highlights the contributions of those in this profession while also giving the reader a tender love story, with a hint of espionage.

Tabitha Eckles is a mysterious woman. She has many secrets hidden in her heart. Working as a widwife in Virginia at the turn of the 19th century, Tabitha is suddenly caught up in a whirlwind of intrigue and adventure when she meets Dominick Cherrett, a British aristocrat, working as an indentured servant. Dominick has many secrets of his own and he must get closer to Tabitha in order to find information to redeem himself. With American men disappearing allegedly by British hands, Tabitha must decide if she can really trust Dominick. When her first love returns after a two year absence Tabitha it torn between Raleigh and Dominick. Can she really trust either of them?

This was a really interesting book. Midwifery is not a subject that I know a lot about. Only the general goings on and I felt like the author did an amazing job of weaving historical facts about the profession, as well as time period into this book. Her sense of history and what would be important for the reader to know was excellent. Her descriptions really brought Virginia in the 1800's to life. The tension between the British and the American's is palpable in the story, as the characters are caught up in the mystery of why American men seem to be disappearing from American soil. I thought the plot was refreshing and different for Christian fiction and will definitely appeal to historical fiction lovers as well as Chrisitan fiction readers.

The love triangle aspect of the book was very well written. Tabitha was jilted at the altar, so to speak by Raleigh, a fisherman and childhood friend. When he arrives back on the scene it puts our main character in a difficult position. She must choose between someone who has hurt her in the past and someone who she could possibly never be with. Dominick cannot marry while an indentured servant and when he is redeemed he is a titled peer of England. I liked both Raleigh and Dominick and it was interesting to try to figure out who was going to come out on top.

The characters themselves were well developed and I felt like the theme of secrets was revealed through each of them in different ways. Tabitha was a strong woman who had, had to endure a lot with the loss of her family and her lover. She persevered and even though she doubted her faith at times, she returned to it and found that forgiveness isn't received through penance for wrong doing but through a humble heart. Dominick was a great character, readers will love him. He is engaging and you just want to know more about him. He's mysterious and debonair and draws the interest of the reader easily. Together the relationship between Tabitha and Dominick is very tender and heartwarming.

I would recommend this book to readers of both Christian and historical fiction. The author mingles the two genres well and still gets across the main points. The Christan aspect of the book is easily integrated into the story and becomes a natural part of the novel. I think readers will find this a very refreshing book with a great plot and interesting characters.

Available February 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!





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.

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