Into the Deep

by Lauralee Bliss

In 1843 Kentucky, Susanna Barnett longs for the finer things in life. Mammoth Cave brings them to her and her family. Not only does the cavern attract curious folks paying top dollar for tours, but its unique atmosphere promises to heal the sick. Surely God Himself etched out this place as a blessing to all men. Jared Edwards has been played the fool. Mammoth Cave's doctor promised miracles for consumption victims. Instead of celebrating recovery with his aunt Mattie, he's burying her and being sent away amid his uncle Dwight's accusations. Driven by guilt, Jared determines to close down the death cave. Will Jared and Susanna's attraction to each other prove more powerful than their connection to Mammoth Cave?

Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Lauralee Bliss is a published author of over thirty Christian romance novels and novellas in both historical and contemporary with nearly 600,000 sold. In 2018 she received a 25-book published award from ACFW. Her recent releases are Escape from Amsterdam and two books in the Angel Series - Christmas Angels of Virginia and Angel in the Crossroad.

Lauralee enjoys writing books reminiscent of a roller coaster ride for the reader. Her desire is for readers to come away with an entertaining story and a lesson that ministers to the heart. Her new imprint HeartSoul Press exemplifies this.

Lauralee is also an avid hiker, hiking the entire Appalachian Trail twice from Georgia to Maine and from Maine to Georgia, one of only 24 women to accomplish this feat. She has also completed other trails totaling over 10,000 miles including the Florida Trail of which her Florida Trail adventure "Gators, Guts and Glory" is part of the Hiking Adventure Series along with Mountains, Madness and Miracles - 4000 Miles Along the Appalachian Trail.

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Since I just finished reading a non-fiction book about Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, I thought I would enjoy this book. I did like the parts about the cave and found it interesting that people would believe the cave air would cure those with consumption. Susanna and her family work at the Hotel; she is saddened when people who have died are brought out of the cave. Jarred sent his aunt to the cave with the hope that she would be cured. When she dies, his uncle blames Jarred and sets out to destroy the cave. Jarred is torn between helping his uncle and saving Susanna and her family.

[Jill Twigg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Susannah and her impoverished family gets a second chance at life by working at a hotel where it gives tours to "The Mammoth Cave" not too far away. In this cave houses invalids who have the consumption and are rumored to be healed from it. Jared's aunt Mattie is the first to succumb in this cave and therein starts the war of trying to get the cave closed down. Jared and Susannah strike up a friendship she is talked into helping Jared with cave shutdown.
The story was good, but long.

[Jackie · Rating 1 out of 5]

A boring book! I skipped parts thinking maybe it got better. No dice. It is such a letdown after the pirate book. The characters were not really developed so they seemed mechanical. There was basically no plot. It was about a cave that was supposed to have magical powers and people with consumption went there. More like a short story than a novel.