Monday, November 19, 2012

"No Safe Harbor" by Elizabeth Ludwig Book Review {Giveaway}


*Congratulations to the latest winners! Tammy has won a copy of Julie Lessman's A Light in the Window and Amy, Stephanie, Gabrielle & Maria have each won one Hot Buttons book by Nicole O'Dell!
Thanks to everyone who entered and shared these giveaways!*

I am a wee bit obsessed with anything Irish. Irish music, Irish history, Irish food (there is Irish butter in my fridge as I type.) Someday, I plan to run away and live in Ireland. I have the children brainwashed on board, just working on the Soldier... 
When I read for fun, you can usually find me reading about the history of Ireland and it's people. The Army brats can recite Irish mythology and the five year-old is sung to sleep to the tunes of Kitty of Colraine and Molly Malone. When I saw this book - about an Irish immigrant in New York - of course I said yes!

No Safe Harbor

She came to America searching for her brother. Instead all she’s found is a web of danger. 

Cara Hamilton had thought her brother to be dead. Now, clutching his letter, she leaves Ireland for America, desperate to find him. Her search leads her to a houseful of curious strangers, and one man who claims to be a friend–Rourke Walsh. Despite her brother’s warning, Cara trusts Rourke, revealing her purpose in coming to New York.

She’s then thrust into a world of subterfuge, veiled threats, and attempted murder, including political revolutionaries from the homeland out for revenge. Her questions guide her ever nearer to locating her brother–but they also bring her closer to destruction as those who want to kill him track her footsteps.

With her faith in tatters, all hope flees. Will her brother finally surface? Can he save Cara from the truth about Rourke… a man she’s grown to love?
 
My thoughts:   
Cara is to trust no one when she arrives in America. As she searches for her brother, she lands herself right into the hands of those who want him dead and they aren't against using her to find him.

No Safe Harbor is set about fifty years after the potato blight sets off the Great Famine and in the time that Home Rule was becoming a major issue. With the huge influx of Irish immigrants coming in, the Fenian Brotherhood was gaining strength in America... What a great background for a book!

This is the first book by Elizabeth Ludwig that I have read, so I wasn't sure what to expect. She did a great job with giving her characters life and setting a scene. For those who like a little history and mystery mixed with their romance, this book gives you just enough of all three.  

I enjoyed No Safe Harbor, but the history addict in me would have loved more details; about the clothes, about the immigration process, about the rebels... But I am not sure I can count that against the book. It was an intriguing read and I will look forward to Ms. Ludwig's next book!

About the author:
Elizabeth Ludwig is an award-winning author and an accomplished speaker and teacher. Her historical novel Love Finds You in Calico, California earned four stars from Romantic Times. She is the owner and editor of the popular literary blog The Borrowed Book. Along with her husband and two children, Elizabeth makes her home in Orange, Texas.

Learn more at www.elizabethludwig.com.

The giveaway and fine print: 
The winner will receive a copy of Elizabeth Ludwig's No Safe Harbor via media mail.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. The opinions expressed are all mine and I was not required to give a positive review. 

Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. You must leave a blog post comment to be eligible to win. None of the other entries count without it!

8 comments:

  1. My favorite time period has to be the early-to-mid 20th century.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  2. I agree with Jenny. My favorite time to read about is the 1st half of the 20th century, specifically World War Two. This book sounds really interesting. If I don't win, I'll have to see if my library has it. Thanks :-)

    Amy

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  3. My favorite time period to read about is the mid to late 1800's.

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  4. For some reason I have always enjoyed reading books about Americans going across the country on the Oregon Trail. Not sure why, they faced so much hardship and many didn't make it, but for some reason I like these books. Maybe because they were so brave to give up their current life for a totally new and different one.

    Patty

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  5. I love reading about the Roman Empire, Regency England and Western US!

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  6. I can't say I have a favorite time but I do enjoy reading about the late 1800's among many other time periods. :)

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  7. I seem to get drawn into whatever historical book I am reading and want to know even more about that time and the people being written about by the author. So my favorite time is the current historical book I am reading...it changes as I read different books.

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  8. I enjoy reading historical fiction in general! I particularly enjoy novels set in the 19th Century. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Jes
    jswaks at gmail dot com

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