Amelia Sophia Le Feuvre (1861-1929) was born in Blackheath, London, England in 1861.
She grew up in a large family which employed a governess for the children's education. Her father worked as a Surveyor at H. M. Customs. Her grandfather, James Mainguy, was a reverend in Guernsey.
She dedicated her life to writing and wrote many books and stories that are filled with Biblical principles and her popularity began in the 1890s and continued for over three decades. She also wrote for magazines like 'Sunday at Home' and 'The Quiver'. Her writing was typical of the new approach of the evangelical writers to the young reader and, like many of the writers of the period she was particularly fond of the "quaint" child, "old fashioned" with delicate health, a type modelled on Paul Dombey. She also wrote of family life, specialising in the outwardly naughty child, the odd one out, whose motives are consistently misunderstood by the adults.
Her publishers included Revell in Chicago, Dodd Mead in New York, the Religious Tract Society in London, and Hodder and Stoughton in London and latterly the Lutterworth Press kept her works in print.
She died at Exeter, Devon, on 29 April 1929 after 68 fruitful years.
Her first book, 'Eric's Good News', was published in 1894 and her last, 'A Strange Courtship' was published posthumously in 1931. She wrote more than 65 books in her career, including at least one, 'Laddie's Choice' (1912), using the pseudonym Mary Thurston Dodge.
Note: Her exact date of birth is not known, she was born in the first quarter of 1861 so the date of 1 March has been used for convenience.
This book neared the top of my list of favorite lamplighters! It lives up to it's title. Bridget is swore to keep hidden her heritage and her marriage as she tries to build a bridge of peace between feuding families. Through it all, she is reacquainted with her Heavenly Father. He guides and comforts her as she is forced against her better judgment to deceive those around her. Though not a page turner, The Secret Bridge was a sweet and noble tale of two young people whos love for each other overcame all obstacles.
This was an intriguing story that taught me much about trust, loyalty, promises made and kept, and the ladder that we all must climb as we seek to know more of Christ and to “Acquaint yourself with Him.”
The clear and concise gospel message that is given to Bridget was such a blessing to me. The way that Bridget seeks to grow in and learn of Christ was a sweet thing to read about.
I was blessed as I read how this young married woman sought to honour her mother-in-law, whom she couldn’t claim, and also her grandmother, whom she didn’t even know existed, even though the two families were resentful and hateful to one another. The soft conscience this girl possessed, that caused her promise to her husband to weigh heavy on her, was such a tender thing. Oh, that the Lord would give us consciences just as soft!
I appreciated the concept of a ladder, and the rungs we must climb up. The passage found in Job, that formed Bridget’s ladder, as it were, is such a precious one to me! "Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Receive, I pray thee, the law from His mouth, and lay up His words in thine heart. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles . . . for then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God." Job 22:21 – 23; 26
The promise here, that we seek after Him, and He’ll give us peace, is precious and so very true, and all of us who have cast ourselves on His mercy have proven it to be true!
It was enjoyable and well written but I felt like the beginning was a little unbelievable, and frankly a bit creepy. The love between the spouses was sweet, and the reconciling of the families was well done.
This author has done it again! I’ve read a few books by her now and I’ve enjoyed every single one. You can always count on her stories to carry a strong Christian message that is refreshing and this book was certainly no different.
What I Liked: This story had a very interesting plot line. Bridget was a very sweet interesting main character and I enjoyed reading of her struggles to honor her husband’s request of secrecy about their marriage as he went off to sea. Her conversion to Christ was sweet to read and her spiritual growth was encouraging to me.
There were a few quotes in the book that really stood out to me and encouraged me.
What I Didn’t Like: There really wasn’t anything that I disliked about this book.
I give this book 5 stars for another excellent book by this amazing author.
The Secret Bridge has definitely earned its place in my list of top 10 Lamplighters! The cover is gorgeous, but the story is even better. :) I had a little trouble getting into it, but I could hardly put it down after the first few chapters! The author kept me on the edge of my seat with all the twists, turns, and unexpected connections. The wholesome romance, the family drama, the highlightable quotes...this book is a gem! Mr. Jocelyn is a wealth of wisdom, and I loved reading his mentorship of Bridget as a new Christian. I would definitely recommend this book!
Don't be deceived by the beautiful blue cover and the gold embossing. This book is unfortunately among the worst books I've read this year. Strap in to hear about why this book should (in my opinion) have never been reprinted.
SPOILERS: Don't read on if you don't want spoilers. Yet, I encourage you to not read this book so do with this review as you please.
The story begins by introducing the two main characters aboard a ship bound for England. The first, Godfrey Bullingham, is a well-to-do military man of some rapport, on his way back to his homeland for a short time until he is shipped off on another mission. The second, named Bridget Channing, is a young 20 year old woman who is returning to England to live with her uncle (whom she's never met) after her father tragically passed away in India, and her mother died when she was young.
Immediately, the book makes clear that Godfrey had been stalking Bridget aboard the ship for some three weeks until he finally decides to make her acquaintance. This was the first tip-off that something weird was is going on, and unfortunately it only gets worse.
Once they finally reach England, Godfrey (a complete stranger to Bridget) decides to follow her to her uncle's house (even though she told him she didn't need help getting there) and just shows up at the uncle's doorstep as Bridget is being rejected from entering the household. We find out that Bridget's uncle died 2 weeks earlier, and the housemaid/inheritor wants nothing to do with her. Godfrey then approaches and asks if he can help her out by setting her up at his sister's hotel nearby. Kind offer right? Wrong. He just wants to know where she is staying. Since she has very little money and it's getting late in the day, Bridget very reluctantly agrees (after initially insisting she could get there on her own) and he brings her to the hotel.
Next, we are given a super weird discourse between Godfrey and the captain of his military ship "Captain Lowe". Godfrey begins by asking his captain friend "Do you think three weeks a long or short time for a test of character? I mean, to acquire knowledge of a person through and through?" Excuse me? Might I remind you he stalked her on the boat for 3 weeks without speaking with her until the final day aboard, and then followed her to her uncle's house and put her up in his sister's hotel. This is HARDLY a test of character. Lowe replies, "Depends on the sex and opportunities of intimacy, my dear fellow. You would never acquire knowledge of a woman's character if you lived with her for fifty years." Sorry what? Lowe is essentially claiming you cannot truly know a woman, so it's a fruitless endeavour to try. NOT TO MENTION the part about intimacy! Lowe continues, "It depends on the age of the woman, of course. I should say three weeks would gauge the depth of that young slip of a girl to whom you introduced me yesterday morning. Is she out of the schoolroom?" While we are never explicitly given Godfrey's age, we can assume he is in his 30s. It's quite disturbing to think of the men speaking of her in this manner, especially considering she's in London all alone, and is literally 20 years old. At this point, we are merely 22 pages into the book.
The next day, Godfrey makes another appearance at the hotel and finds Bridget crying in the drawing room over the death of her father, and the predicament she finds herself in. Godfrey decides to tell her (while she's literally mourning the loss of her dad) that he considers them both "old friends" after he watched her onboard for a "long time" and that he wants to marry her. EXCUSE ME? You know nothing of this woman! Bridget (rightfully) refuses, stating that they've known each other for such a short time and that she "could not think of it for a moment". Godfrey then takes her hand and exclaims "I will make you love me. I will not take no, for I want you to be my wife. Don't tremble so, I will not take advantage of your friendless position. (...) I am glad and thankful that you have failed to make yourself independent." I have no words. Bridget pushes back saying that they are almost strangers (VERY TRUE!) and that he's just feeling sorry for her. Eventually, Godfrey leaves in a huff and Bridget lives another week in her lodgings.
Shortly thereafter, Godfrey finds Bridget in a park and once again makes his proposal clear, promising a life in the countryside. Bridget again declines, stating she will make her own way in London. Bridget encourages him to "make haste and go" once their conversation ends but Godfrey instead states, "Ah! I see in your face what I have been waiting for. I have won you at last." After she literally told him to leave her alone. Godfrey states that whether she likes it or not, he's going to arrange for her to move into his house in the countryside. In conversation with Captain Lowe again, Godfrey states "She's so determined, and yet so pliable. Such a child in her ignorance of the world, and yet has such pride and spirit. I wonder if I have forced myself upon her, but I saw her slowly yielding long before she knew it herself." Yes. YES. You did force her! Why is this book promoting this type of behaviour?
Two pages later, we learn that Godfrey and Bridget were married. Yet, the last time we heard from Bridget she was still telling him no. Bridget comments while on the way to the countryside house, "I do not feel that I belong to you." Godfrey's reply? "Naturally not, but that will come. You do, you know, for good and all." Bridget then shivered. Yuck, yuck, yuck.
Once they arrive at the farm in the countryside, we hear that Godfrey "congratulated himself anew on his forcible wooing". I don't think I need to even comment on that. Next, Godfrey goes back to sea for a time, and Bridget is forced to keep her marriage to him a secret as the Bullingham's (his family) would not approve of such a "penniless woman". Godfrey encourages her to get into his family's good graces before they decide to reveal the marriage to them. So, forced marriage, and forced to keep it quiet. Got it. That's real healthy considering she'll be forced to lie every time she interacts with them (they live in the same town as the country farm where Bridget is living). Over the following chapters we see Captain Lowe hit on Bridget (pg 139), and when the husband and wife are reunited, Godfrey calls her a "sad-eyed hollow cheeked, pale-faced maid" and that only now she has developed into being serenely bright and beautiful. After months of hiding her identity, Bridget begs Godfrey to tell his family who she is and he “drew her almost forcibly to him” as he spoke, saying “you belong to be Bridget, do you not? My darling, your husband must come first. Do not tremble so. You have assured me of your love. No one has to come between us.” After Bridget pleads some more, Godfrey finally agrees and says “I thought I married a gentle pliable maiden, who would consider every act and word of her lord and master to be her law; but I find I have come back to a strong-minded woman, who means her will to come first. (...) You will end by being the ruler." Meanwhile, this whole time he put HER in this predicament, and SHE has been stuck between the Bullingham's and (who we find out to be Bridget's family) the Fitzroy's who are part of a decades-old quarrel where neither family will reconcile.
Godfrey tells Bridget he wants to know nothing of her family, but once he finds out that she's a Fitzroy (a rival family to his own) he does nothing to comfort her and even will not say if he loves her less now that he knows her true identity. At this, she becomes rightfully upset and he calls her a "silly child" for crying after he's effectively said he doesn't love her as much now that he knows she's a Fitzroy. (Mind you, the whole family quarrel is over a ridiculous carved, ornate mantel-piece). Godfrey's own sister asks him if he likes Bridget less because of her family name, and he continues to neither confirm nor deny! If it was "true love at first sight" as he claimed earlier in the book, why does her family name matter at all??
Near the end of the book both families manage to reconcile (in quite possibly the dumbest way possible) and then husband and wife set sail together on the military boat and supposedly live happily-ever-after.
This book is quite honestly gross, it allows for stalking of women, tells of a man making all the decisions for a woman who he isn't even married to, promotes forced marriages, sets a precedent of emotional manipulation, etc, etc. Nowhere in the book is Godfrey's behaviour demonized.
In my humble opinion, this book should have never been written, and most especially not re-printed. Why Mark Hamby decided this story deserved a second chance, I will never know. 0.5/5 stars. Please don't read this monstrosity.
I just recently discovered Lamplighter books at a homeschool conference earlier this year and I was instantly drawn to the absolutely gorgeous cover of this book! I devoured this book and am immensely impressed by the beauty of this story written in 1899. What starts out as a simple tale is soon woven into an intricate and intriguing plot. Beautiful faith based story on many levels!
This is the sweetest story with romance, beauty, twists, fun tension, and redemption. I really couldn’t put it down! The story lives up to how gorgeous the cover is. This will be a reread for me!
This is my second time reading through this book, and in order for a book to be worth a re-read for me, it has to be a really good book. This is one of those. Though not my favorite Lamplighter book, this story has several concepts which make it into my top ten favorites. Surprisingly, this book does not have much “action”, per se, as the books I usually enjoy, as it is more of a family drama. However, the presence of a family feud, a secret marriage, and a hidden lineage make this book very engaging and made me keep reading to the end and warranted a re-read. While not an edge-of-your-seat story, it definitely kept me turning the pages, and I highly recommend it for those who enjoy family stories and dramas.
My first read of 2019! I'm pleased to have gotten this beautiful Lamplighter book for Christmas. I've loved everything I've read from Le Feuvre so far, and this was no exception.
It reminds me pleasantly of Jane Austen's books - perfect for cozying up in bed to read about wealthy old families, secrets, romance, and mysteries of the English countryside. Le Feuvre weaves in enough spirituality to feed your faith without making you feel as though you've had it shoved down your throat. There's also quite a few parts that made me giggle out loud!
While the beginning of the book is not short of action, I had the feeling that it started out slow. However, Amy Le Feuvre does not disappoint. I found myself drawn into Bridget’s faith ladder as much as I was by her troubles. In fact, afterwards I went back and mapped out the verses used in her “ladder” that Mr. Jocelyn gave to her. Most of this is in Job 22:21-26. The book includes a very clear gospel message that cuts through some of the self-righteousness that so often hinders our progress towards the Almighty. In fact, the end of the story is one of redemption and hope, so I hope you will read this book and be encouraged in climbing your own “ladder” of faith.
At first this little book seems a bit dull and slow going, but oh fellow reader, give it a chance! It will sweep your heart away and you will not want to put it down. Towards the end of the story, you truly do begin to see God's work in Bridget's life. So many lessons to learn from this little treasure of a book. I highly recommend this book. A delightful read, but one that will leave you with many truths to meditate upon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was a very good book. I like this one better than "Chateau by the Lake" and "The Treasure of the Secret Cove," other books by Amy Le Feuvre. So many plot twists! The book starts out slow, so I took a break, but after I picked it back up in June, a third of the way in, it got really good. It was hard to put down. Next on my list by Le Feuvre are "On the Edge of a Moor" and "The Locked Cupboard."
Oh this one was so good! I think I will love anything Amy Le Feuvre writes. She has such a wonderful way of storytelling and does characters so well. A beautiful story of redemption with a good dose of mystery and high stakes! Her books are always convicting without being preachy and I always walk away from them with a lot to think about.
This book was amazing! I'm a pretty busy person and managed to read it within a couple days. It was so intriguing I could hardly put it down! One thing after another drew me into the next chapter each time. So much suspense! =D. A must read!!!
An exceptional book on relationships and bringing old grudges to an end. A dear soul in the book, loved by all has the mind of Christ and teaches, not in church, but on the highway of life.
After the death of her beloved father, young and educated Bridget Channing sets sail to London to live with an uncle she knows very little of. While on the voyage she catches the eye of Godfrey Bullingham, a handsome sailor who is genuinely taken with her. When Bridget gets to London everything in her life goes from bad to worse and she has no home or family to go to. So, when Godfrey gives her an unexpected offer of marriage, Bridget takes a leap of faith that changes her life and give her something she had never thought of before. Faith itself.
However, this is not just Bridget's story. This is also a story of two warring families and their small community. After Bridget comes to this quaint village for safety, she finds herself caught in the middle of a family feud that has been created from secrets and lies. Unbeknownst to Bridget or anyone else, she will the only person who can uncover these secrets and bring the truth to light.
A lovely and endearing story from Lamplighter Collections, which includes an equal amount of romance, mystery and intrigue all wrapped together. There is also a sub-storyline of faith as Bridget comes to terms with her belief in God and what her life has been leading up to. The Secret Bridge is a charming book with a great deal of emotional and spiritual depth and of finding faith in the darkest moments of life.