Heart's Safe Passage

The Midwives #2

by Laurie Alice Eakes

It's 1813 and all Phoebe Lee wants out of life is to practice midwifery in Loudon County, Virginia. When Belinda, her pregnant sister-in-law, presses Phoebe to accompany her onto a British privateer in order to cross the Atlantic and save her husband from an English prison, Phoebe tries to refuse, then finds herself kidnapped.

Captain Rafe Docherty is a man in search of revenge. His ship is no place for women, but he needs Belinda in order to obtain information about the man who destroyed his family and his life. Between Belinda's whining and Phoebe's hostility, Rafe can't help but wonder if he made the right choice.
When it becomes apparent there is an enemy among them on the ship, the stakes are raised. Will they reach the English shore in time? Can love and forgiveness overcome vengeance?

Book 2 in The Midwives series, Heart's Safe Passage is a stirring tale of love, intrigue, and adventure on the high seas. Readers will feel the salt spray and the rolling waves as they journey with Laurie Alice Eakes's vivid characters on the treacherous path toward redemption.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Christian, Historical Romance, Historical, Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2012

About the author

Laurie Alice Eakes used to lie in bed as a child telling herself stories so she didn’t wake anyone else up. Sometimes she shared her stories withothers; thus, when she decided to be a writer, she surprised no one. Family Guardian, her first book, won the National Readers Choice Award for Best Regency in 2007. In the past three years, she has sold six books to Baker/Revell, five of which are set during the Regency time period, four books to Barbour Publishing, as well as two novellas to Barbour Publishing and one to Baker/Revell. Seven of her books have been picked up by Thorndike Press for large print publication, and Lady in the Mist, her first book with Revell, was chosen for hardcover publication with Crossings Bookclub. She also teaches on-line writing courses and enjoys a speaking ministry that has taken her from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast.
Laurie Alice lives in Texas with her husband, two dogs and two cats, and is learning how to make tamales.

You can learn more about her and her work at http://www.lauriealiceeakes.com

Reviews

[Debbie Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I just finished this book and LOVED IT! Laurie Alice Eakes is one of my favorite authors. In this book she delves into some tough issues instead of skirting around them. She had me dying to finish it and trying to sneak time away to read. The emotion in this book is amazing. The hero and heroine are so real you feel like you are right there with them, feeling their joy and their pain. The story kept me on the edge of my seat! I never knew what was next and I am good at guessing story lines. But it was so nice to read a story that was new and fresh. The story was fast moving, the characters well developed, the setting very real. I think this is my favorite yet. I really hated to see it end. I felt like I was having to close the book on friends. One of the best books I've read. It is a MUST READ!

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great sequel. I liked how the restoration was simple in the end - a good reminder that coming to the Lord does not need to be done as an elaborate scene. Faith is simple.
Part of the book really gave me the "heebie-jeebies" :) and I didn't like the description of what happened to Rafe's 1st wife - little much for me. Thus the 3 stars. I did enjoy the story, though.
Looking forward to book 3: Choices of the Heart

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love reading a good atmospheric Laurie Alice Eakes book! She definitely takes you back in history and makes you feel like you're living it in the moment. I also enjoyed having an appearance by Dominick and Tabitha from the first book!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars - http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...

Heart's Safe Passage is book two in Laurie Alice Eake's "The Midwives" series, and since I haven't read A Lady in the Mist yet, I hoped this book would be good on it's own - it was!

The story was engaging from the beginning when Phoebe refuses to travel with Belinda (her sister-in-law) on a British privateer during war, but she is then taken against her will to the ship (oh, I mean Brig).

Heart's Safe Passage had a lot of action/danger with ships fighting, attempted murder, and a man seeking justice/revenge for the death of his wife. Include the romance story between Rafe & Phoebe and I don't think there was ever a dull moment.

I'm not great with understanding pirate/sailor talk, so a few times some of the words were confusing, but it did make the story more believable.

Overall, another great read from Laurie Alice Eakes! I look forward to reading more of her novels in the future, because the two that I have read were absolutely wonderful! I recommend Heart's Safe Passage if you enjoy historical romances or books with sailors/ships!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

“Available February 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”


Was my review helpful? If so, please click yes on Amazon. :D

http://www.amazon.com/review/R1XB9E0U...

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

First posted on my blog, Legacy of a Writer.

While I have really enjoyed all the books I’ve read by Laurie Eakes, I think Heart’s Safe Passage has been her best book yet! The characters are realistic and memorable, the story plot woven with suspense, danger, and hidden enemies, and the tempo of the book fairly fast-paced.

Okay, I just have to say this—Rafe is an awesome name for the captain of a privateer brig! But, really, regardless of his name, he really was a neat character to get to know. So complex! We meet him and his path is dead set. Determined. But through the course of the adventure…he’s not so sure anymore, and you feel for his uncertainty.

Phoebe made for a strong heroine—though who had her own faults and fears. The reason for her seasickness was rather neat, in my opinion, but I felt the author kind of forgot about it for the second half. And, just for the record, I think Phoebe had amazing tolerance—I would’ve slapped Belinda, with everything she did to Phoebe and put her through!

The story takes place on the sea, so readers who enjoy a book sprinkled with sailor terms and what life aboard a ship—I mean brig!—is like will enjoy this book! It reminded me of MaryLu Tyndall’s swashbucklin’ romances…though without the pirates! (Sorry pirate-lovers! ;-) So, if you want adventure on the high seas and romance that will leave you breathless, then get a copy of Heart’s Safe Passage and dive right in!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book I've read by Laurie Alice Eakes, and once again she captivated my heart and swept me away to another time. From my first glimpse of the title I knew this would be a story in which the threat of enemy ships and tumultuous weather would not pose the danger that the interpersonal storms would, and the physical dangers are hardly inconsequential! The characters are easy to either like or loathe, as the case may be, and the pages fairly pulsate with emotion, making me feel as if I had stepped into the book. Laurie Alice Eakes expertly paints each scene and doesn't waste a movement or a glance in creating a perfect storm of romantic, spiritual, and family tension. Best of all, the message of faith is strong without being heavy-handed. I love the lesson that Phoebe had to learn, although I ached for the way she had to learn it. Add this book and this author to your must-read list; you won't be disappointed!

[MaryLu Tyndall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the priviledge of reading an advanced copy of this book for an endorsement. Laurie continues to be one of my favorite authors but I think this is her best work yet! Of course it didn't hurt that the story takes place on a ship crossing the Atlantic. But it is so much more than an adventurous tale. It is deep and passionate and romantic. The hero and heroine will take hold of your heart and never let go. If you're looking for a fluffy romance, look elsewhere. If you're looking for something that deals with the hard issues of life, with the ugliness and pain of abuse and betray..if you're looking for something that will stir your soul and leave you beathless with the romance, then look no further.

[Victoria Bylin · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Laurie's publisher asked me to read "Heart's Safe Passage" for endorsement, I jumped at the chance. I thoroughly enjoyed "Lady in the Mist," her first midwife book, and I enjoyed this story even more.

From the very beginning, sparks fly between Phoebe and Rafe with a delightful intensity. This book has a little of everything--intrigue, high seas adventure, family ties--but it's first and foremost a romance. There's nothing better than a story that shows two strong people struggling with the big questions in life.

"Hearts Safe Passage" is the finest kind of Christian fiction. Not only does it take the reader on a high seas adventure, it explores the bounty and suffering of the human heart. I loved it!

[Melinda Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good, one of the better ones I've read in awhile. Though it is the second in a series (the Midwives) and I hadn't read the first (Lady in the Mist), I had no issues knowing what was going on; it was very much a stand alone story. Complex characters, vibrant descriptions, good plot... this book has a little bit of everything!

[Roseanna White · Rating 5 out of 5]

A couple chapters in and loving every page!

[Victoria (hotcocoaandbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Phoebe has not been a midwife for long. Her pregnant sister-in-law dragged her into a ship in order to get to her husband before her baby was to be born, but at the same time, she doesn't really want Phoebe to touch her, which makes for a strange situation.

While on board, Phoebe finds out that the captain of the ship is using her sister-in-law to help get her husband free from captivity in order to get to another person. This whole book is about whether or not one should seek revenge and what God would want one to do, however, the captain is not a believer.

There is a love story that unfolds throughout the book. It is not a bad story, but the whole "ken" thing said constantly by the Scottish captain gets to be annoying. Also, They don't have to type "doot" when they mean "doubt". . . just have him talk and I'll hear the Scottish accent while I read it, knowing he is Scottish. haha.

[Leighann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm. I generally relish Eakes' writing and have finished several of her books--including the first installment in this series.

This one was...curious. An innovative plot or setting is something I appreciate, so midwife on sailing vessel hooked me there. The book kept drawing me back: I had to figure out what was going to happen! But at the same time, I was confused.

I was confused by the romance between the two main characters. It showed itself early-ish in the book, but I didn't see much reason for it.
As the book progressed, the confusion continued. This time about the characters' emotions and inner turmoil. I was reading the words, but it just wasn't making sense. Several times, I thought we were coming to a nice sum-up moment so I could grasp what the conflict was and where the resolution came from, but it never really coalesced.

None of this stopped me from finishing the book! And I quickly picked up the third one from the library.

[Christine Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phoebe Lee has known tragedy and heartache in her young life and now she wants the opportunity to help others. She has trained to be a midwife and is trying to begin her practice, but the response from her community has been less than enthusiastic. However, a light appears on the horizon when her friend Belinda Chapman asks her to be her midwife...but at sea? When Phoebe expresses concern for Belinda's and her baby's health if forced to deliver at sea, Phoebe finds herself kidnapped and forced upon Captain Rafe Docherty's ship. As anger rolls through her, fear strikes an even bigger blow as Phoebe must fight for her very life as well as Belinda's and her unborn child amid turbulent storms, dangerous enemies, and war...all to get to England and free Belinda's husband from an English prison. How will she ever escape?

This was book 2 in the The Midwives series and I really liked this one. While linked to the first, it really could be a standalone story.

[Isabel Hinen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 stars
Age: 18+
Genre: Christian fiction, historic fiction, romance
Content: some gruesome depictions of violence and injury, etc

Review: Laurie Alice Eakes is becoming a favorite author for me! Her books, including this one, are so well-written. This story has such a strong theme of faith, while also including so much depth and excitement throughout. The plot is seamlessly and intricately woven in a way that keeps you glued to it! The romance was so sweet and pure, not sleazy like so many contemporary novels these days. There is some graphic material, like depictions of death in some gruesome ways, but it all serves a purpose to understanding the characters and the story. I would definitely warn readers that a couple of those violent scenes are not for the faint of heart, but it’s worth getting through (and maybe I’m making it sound worse than it is too). I will forever recommend this series!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story....mostly. The first half of the book was excellent and exciting, and I’m always a sucker for enemies falling in love. But just shy of the end it became a drag with phoebe constantly begging Rafe to return to god, wait no I don’t care I shouldn’t be with you anyway.....wait no I love you I need to be near you.....I’m going to pressure you into finding Jesus.......but wait I don’t care I’m leaving without you....ugh. And same with him, since we got his POV as well, with the constant pushing and pulling her back and forth with his indecision. It was almost pukey. But the last few chapters were back in action and more tolerable and left off with a satisfying ending, which made me give it the fourth star.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. Some elements I liked, some became a bit tedious and frustrating for me. I liked the historical details and some of the friendships. Some of the choices made by the characters seemed inconsistent. Many of the thoughts on faith, forgiveness, etc.... grew a bit tiresome and repetitive. Often lessons were not learned as quickly as I thought they should be, and the timing on some things seemed a bit off. Despite all that, it was still an interesting story with a unique situation and interesting historical details. I am also a fan of midwifery and enjoy books that feature midwives. The epilogue at the end was a nice addition so that I could get a peek at their life and the lives of the main characters of the first book several years down the road.

[Yinka A · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing story with so many different elements to it. Phoebe and Rafe are a match made in heaven.

There were bits in the middle that I didn’t like much for the genre of book that it is but it does show the horrors of war and how men desperately risk their lives for blood and gold.

The story has a lot of suspense elements to it and atimes it felt like a murder mystery after reading the synopsis, you never knew who you could trust.

The Phoebe-Rafe dialogue were inspired and interesting to read.

I felt it dragged on a little too long but it has a satisfactory ending, no, a perfect ending that’ll leave you wanting to know more about the lives of all the characters especially Mel who will have a lot of challenges to deal with.

[Liza Lehman · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, I strongly dislike Belinda, who is not the main character but is ever so annoying. This is an enemies to lovers romance, though Rafe and Phoebe feel strong attraction to each other from the start. Among plot twists and mysteries revealed, there is abduction, war violence, brutal rape, murder, domestic violence and more. I appreciated the scene where Phoebe comes face to face with her own hypocrisy and self-righteousness, as I believe those sins are the downfall of many a Christian.

[Bre Mckae]

OK for a person who has been getting into nautical stories, I'm SO GLAD I waited to read this-- I enjoyed this amidst some other nautical stories and having just begun to delve into this setting of the sea more as an adult!

The story was very satisfying in the conclusion, and I would be open to reading more from this author!

The Biblical tie ins were well balanced, I feel, for the type of story it is. I'm not sure I want to read more in the series, but if there's more on the sea I may consider it, haha!

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

This had some fairly graphic descriptions of battleship injuries and a brain injury with lots of gore. The characters never grew on me and some were downright irritating. I felt several times there were poorly explained changes in how characters felt about each other. And they each spontaneously came to the conclusion that they were treating each other poorly and decided to make their relationship work.

[Heidi Morrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book that I thoroughly enjoyed, and learned more about midwives. Due to subjects dealing with brutal murders and spousal abuse, I would recommend this for adult readers. I love how this author really dug deep into the hearts of her characters. Though they each had their own issues to deal with, they learned, individually, how to forgive and let go of the harbored bitterness they'd been holding onto. The growth for each, I found, was both timely and genuine.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, this second book of this series was an enjoyable read, with back stories to be revealed that effect the reactions and choices of the main characters. High seas adventures, troubled souls seeking rest and freedom from the past, duty and desire, it is all found in the pages of this well written book.

[Joan Arning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Midwife Phoebe Lee is the leading female character in this book taking place mostly on a privateer during the War of 1812. You'll have mixed emotions about Captain Rafe Docherty as he seeks revenge on a man who killed his parents and wife. I recommend Heart's Safe Passage to others who enjoy historical fiction.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart’s Safe Passage

This book grabbed me from the beginning. It is a page turner. Strong wonderful characters in Phoebe and Rafe. There’s intrigue and adventure on the high seas. The Lord is woven wonderfully into this story. Phoebe shows great determination and strength and courage. Rafe learns to trust, forgive and love again.

[Esther N · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had little trouble keeping up with some of the details, trying to keep track of the different countries and the characters representing them and who was betraying whom, but I really liked the story. I kept coming back to it any time I had a chance. Ms. Eakes has quickly become one of my favorite authors! On to book 3.

[JoAnn McGowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book - a sequel but still great! I really enjoy this author - the story takes place on a brig - lots of individual stories within the book - but all come together . Mostly it’s all about finding the Lord ❤️

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, dramatic read of a woman who is taken hostage as part of one man’s war to seek justice for the death of his wife nine years before. Gripping high seas race across enemy waters during the war of 1812 and two people on opposite sides of the Lord’s Grace or so they think.

[Julianna Crockett · Rating 5 out of 5]

👍🏻

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christian, nautical romance, with midwifery and Scottish brogue :)
Although I thought the Christian aspect was a little overdone...no need to hit me over the head with it! But a lovely book overall.

[Kerstin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise to the story just didn't work for me.