A Lady of High Regard

Ladies of Liberty #1

by Tracie Peterson

Born into affluence, Mia Stanley is a winsome socialite with a knack for matchmaking. She's also a writer for Godey's Lady's Book magazine, much to the disdain of her family and their society friends. A proper young lady of her social standing isn't meant to labor in such a way, but Mia has always had a way with words...

When her writing draws her into the world of downtrodden seamen's wives on Philadelphia's docks, Mia uncovers a scheme that puts her in harm's way. But her heart ends up on the line as well.... Has her determination to always make a match driven away the one man whose esteem she covets?

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

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Tracie Peterson is a bestselling author who writes in both historical and contemporary genres. Her novels reveal her love for research as well as her strong desire to develop emotionally meaningful characters and stories for her readers. Tracie and her family live in Montana.

pen name: Janelle Jamison

Reviews

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls)]

DNF @ pg 138. I was forcing myself to try to finish this book, but why would I do that to myself? I have plenty of other books that interest me and I'm pretty sure (about 99.998%) that I wouldn't mark this book above a two star rating if I did finish it, so .... DNF it is! :)

Main Content-
Trigger Warning for mentions of rape/sexual assault.

Mia is kind of an idiot. I hate to say that because it sounds so mean but the girl went to confront a man she knows has sexually assaulted many women. Thinking that she’s going to use her status to let him know that what he’s done has “come to the attention of many in power”. Say whaaaat? No. That's a terrible idea. There's many mentions already (just in what I read) about this man forcing himself on women to pay for their husbands' debts (that he did things to him, the women tried to fight, he was too strong and didn't stop, are all said with tears by the women). The word "rape" is used somewhat often. He also kidnaps the women's children and makes them work.

Also a random thing that didn't settle well with me was that Mia's parents want her to stop writing for the magazine because of others in their society circle complaining and acting like it's absolutely scandalous. This isn't the part that bothers me, it's the fact that she does quit but is still in contact with the head woman at the magazine and will send her what she finds out about the women they're trying to help, but since that head women can't contact Mia, she thinks that she's not lying to her parents about quitting. ??? I mean, yeah, technically, she's not, but if you're having to jump through all of these hoops, it doesn't exactly make you innocent, now does it? (To be fair, she could realize this later in the book, but I'm not finishing it so I don't know.)

There's faith content and praying and church going.

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

My first thought when it was done was "thank goodness." This was just boring, cardboard.

Stereotypical headstrong young woman who fights against the constraints of society. But then, she's not even relateable because I got so sick and tired of her reckless, stupid decisions. There's fighting against society and then there's just being impetuous and foolish. Despite the fact that Mia is told that other people are helping her and that it is unsafe to hand things herself (what does she intend to do to a villainous rapist? scold him into morality?), she recklessly ignores such offers and intentionally throws herself into danger. Which leaves who but her knight in shining armor to rescue her? And how many times can we run through that routine? Danger - sudden rescue - danger - sudden rescue - and on and on. That plot mimics the romantic plot between Garret & Mia, which becomes farcical. I cannot even count how many times they have a moment where they come thisclose to revealing their feelings...only to be interrupted. It was absolutely a joke.

I expect certain things from a romance novel, so I don't have too much problem with predictability. But when the characters are cardboard, farcical stereotypes, it's not worth my time.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really had trouble making a connection with the characters in this book. The story was stiff and the wording very formal. It was not the type of book you could relax and read. The premise of the story was good but I do wish it had been presented in a more relaxed atmosphere!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely historical novel dealing with 1850s Philadelphia and the troubles common to many of the sailors’ wives and kids living along the docks. I really enjoyed both MCs and was rooting for them to come to an understanding with each other!

[Dani · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the time that I listened to this audio book, the only other Christian romance author I knew was Lori Wick. Even though this book was based in the same time period, there was definitely a different tone as Peterson's characters are based in a city and high society rather than on the prairie. This meant that the characters had more to do than just eat and go to church :-). If you don't like the in-your-face devotional nature of a Wick book, then you may want to try Peterson. The characters in this book obviously considered God's will when they had to make a decision, but Peterson did not write long passages about the Bible study meetings and such.

The reader, Judith West, was pretty good. She isn't distracting when she switches voices for the characters. I could definitely listen to her again.

[Jtreed06 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved how clean this book was. Its always a risk to check a book out from the library without a recommendation from someone you trust. This one caught my attention so I gave it a try. I really enjoyed it. The author is obviously religious and talks about the importance of prayer. There were no language issues or questionable scenes. It was set in Philadelphia during the 1800's. The story reminded me of a Jane Austen plot but was not near the caliber as Jane Austen novels. Still I enjoyed it and I want to read some more of her books now.

[Raye · Rating 1 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook of this Christian romance and I was infuriated by both the writing, and to a lesser degree, the audiobook reader. The book itself starred a heroine who repeatedly made stupid choices and had to be rescued by the men in her life, which made me feel this book must have been written decades ago, but, no, it was published in 2007. Next, the men in her life (her father and the love interest) continually patronized her and talked down to her in the name of "looking out for her". There's even a hideous scene where the men talk to each other and agree that someone needs to get her well in hand. Basically, this book was a lot of me driving and yelling at my CD player. It got so bad that I almost didn't listen to the last CD.

Plus the storyline is filled with noblesse oblige, as Mia works to help "those poor women at the docks." Sigh.

Finally, the narrator of the audiobook delineated her characters well, but her voice for the hero made him sound so old and stodgy that his value as a love interest was lost. Not recommended.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm so torn on this book. While I was annoyed more than once over Mia's idiotic tendencies and ninny ways, I do see that she meant well and had a good heart. I liked the ending. The writing is wonderful as always but I agree with some of the other reviews. Garrett being interrupted from confessing his love multiple times got old. Once or twice, ok. But six times or more?! Just annoying. Overall, I enjoyed this book though I was tempted to put it down more than once .

[Haley S · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good historical romance. However, the main character Mia was quite annoying. No female of that time would do some of the things she did, no matter how headstrong or stubborn. It was too over-the-top in my opinion what she did.
But, overall, it was a cute read!

[(Katie) Paperbacks · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐

I read this series probably in high school, and I didn't remember anything (but that's just how my brain works. I enjoyed it the second time around, but if memory serves me right I think I'll like the second or third book the most. 😂

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lady of High Regard takes place in 1852 Philadelphia, it deals with areas that a lady of higher standing shouldn't be sticking her nose into. Because after all it isn't proper for women to get involved in such matters of oppression and poverty. She is to be home having tea parties with her friends and gossiping about the latest fashions from Paris.

Mai lives a comfortable life, and hadn't realized that in her own town just a few blocks from her home down on the docks, people are living in poverty, barely getting by. Women are left alone to raise a handful of children while the husband has either passed on or are away working on the boats. They can not afford to pay the rent collector, feed their children and pay off their husbands debt. So they are forced to pay in other ways, the men force themselves and make them pay with their bodies or take away a child to sell in labor to pay it off.

Through her work with Godey's Lady's Book magazine, she finds about the seaman's wives and is determined to help them. She dresses below her station to find out more about what happens down on the docks, she wants to so desperately help these women and way she can, but in doing so is she is putting herself in many dangers.

"I'm sure with your help, poverty would not dare remain in Philadelphia"

Garrett, upon finding out what Mai has been up to wants to her to stop going down there and putting herself at risk, not because he doesn't care about what happens, but because he cares way to much about Mai to see her come into any danger.

They have been best friends and neighbors all their lives, everyone else can see that they love each other more then a brotherly/sisterly way. Will they ever see it and will they get the chance to express their feelings before it is too late?

I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more books by Tracie Peterson. I leave you now with Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Philadelphia

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good book, the plot was gripping and the descriptions of life among high society were a delight to read about. The main focus was Mia Stanley, the headstrong, intelligent, and courageous daughter of a wealthy family. I identifed easily with Mia, and the other characters were convincingly portrayed as authentic individuals.
The plot, based on historical fact, kept me very interested. As Mia got more concerned with and involved in helping alleviate the plight of the seamen's wives and children of Philadelphia's seaports, the whole story drew me into the world of contrasts between the impoverished and the elite, the ensnared and the free.

I think what most readers who criticized this book were missing was the historical significance of the story! Mia worked as a writer for Godey's Lady's Book, which was one of the most widely read, sought after and popular magazines of the decade! (Don't people know about history any more?) Sarah Josepha Hale was Mia's boss, and in real life she was an influential writer and the editor of Godey's Lady's Book. She advocated education for women, and helped to establish Vassar College, among other accomplishments, not to mention she was the individual most responsible for making Thanksgiving a national holiday in the United States. The plight of the families of the dockworkers and seamen's wives and children was very real in history at that time, too. Alcoholism, infanticide, child slavery, prostitution, gangs, and a host of other crimes was rampant in Philadelphia's seaports in the mid-1800s.

Again, most readers who criticized this book missed the main stories of this book, and that is the depiction of a small part of the REAL history of Philadelphia in the 1800s.
I was also thrilled to see how skillfully Mrs. Peterson wove the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Christian principles into the story. This was a first-rate historical fiction novel.

[Sydney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really disappointed with this book. It started out promising, but it was very repetitive and I got bored with it after a while. Garrett and Mia get interupted about 5 or 6 times (possibly more) when trying to tell the other how they feel about each other. Literally about everytime Mia goes to wherever Garrett always is there to save her. It doesn't seem repetitive when reading these couple sentances, but when you have about 330 pages is a lot... Or at least enough to get me annoyed.

I do not feel like the characters or the plot was thought out well at all. There were things that made me go back and wonder if I missed something because the thought came out of nowhere. I thought Mia acted more like a teenager than a grown woman, especially for someone of her class and for the time period given. I thought the language was too modern to be mid 1800s. I thought there was very little development in pretty much every aspect of the story.

All in all, I will probably not continue this series and do not recommend it to anyone.

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very predictable. The most interesting story line followed the poor sea men's wives, but unfortunately the book focused on Miss Prim and Proper Mia Stanley. Very boring. Too much time was spent detailing her lavish life of society. It would have been much more interesting had it focused on those actually suffering. The life of a woman trying to survive a low-paying dangerous factory job while caring for her many children and having to deal with horrifying corruption sounds far more intriguing than tea parties and shopping trips.

Additionally, I listened to the audio version of this book and would not recommend it. The narrator is so boring that she only adds to the often monotonous tone of the book.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can’t stand Mia Stanley. She’s compassionate, I’ll give her that- but she’s also stupid. Totally and completely stupid. It almost made the story unreadable to me. She took many unrealistic risks with her safety and if she referred to Garret as her “big brother” one more time I would have screamed. Another reviewer commented on how many times Garret was interrupted when he tried to proclaim his love for her- that was quite ridiculous. I liked the idea of this book, but it could have been much better. I don’t think I’ll be reading the rest of the series.

[Cara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I get that it's historical/period piece, but the dialog was just so... unnatural and overly formal (like awkward, not necessarily the proper-formal required for a historical piece) - and I found myself getting frustrated with the characters. ugh. Yet I had to finish it. Some of it felt like God was randomly thrown in there, or the faith questions & prayers not really genuine -- though there was one particular scene that was well done, faith-wise, I felt. But just one.

[Maureen · Rating 2 out of 5]

A pleasant and light clean romance, but not particularly interesting. Vaguely historical, tangentially religious, and often redundant.

[Kenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how Tracie Peterson tells a story with a lesser known part of history woven into it. Great story!

[Alis Aracena · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm on page 276 out of 336, and I've never forced myself this much to try to finish a book. I've read all the Ladies of Liberty series and this is by far the worse one. I loved the first two, but this one... I just can't even feel empathy for Mia. Her cause is objectively nice, but not her person. I do see the injustice that she's trying to advocate against, but she is just to imprudent. I've gotten bored at how dumb she is. She can't accept people taking care of her. Her ego doesn't allow her. I've had to skim over all her parts because they're just annoying. The only reason why I've persevered is Garret. And honestly, I would prefer him marrying Mrs. Duff instead of Mia. That is because she is always trying to oppose him. This book is taking the idea of independence too far. It is 1852 and the amount of rebellion that Mia has in her is not even fitting to that time. She says she is Christian herself, but I just can't see it. One might argue that it is shown through her help to the sea men's wives, but her disobedience completely contradicts a Christian character. After several warnings from her father and Garret, it is only until she's realized that she's put them in danger that she asks God to set things right. She's telling God to fix the same problem that she was told many times she would cause. Her character is just not a good example for others. And honestly Garret would be much better off marrying someone besides Mia.

[Samanta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh Mia, Mia...such a big heart you have that it often defies common sense, but I can relate so I can't judge. :)

Mia Stanley is a memeber of Philadelphia's high society of 1850's. She is also an avid social activist who often discards her own safety in order to help those in need. Thank God (who is, by the way, mentioned alot throughout the book) she has her long-time best friend (or maybe even something more) Garrett to think of her safety for her.

Mia and Garrett reminded me alot of Emma and Mr. Knightley. She is a young and beautiful, but headstrong girl who often does foolish things (and is a self proclaimed matchmaker), and he is an older and wiser "brother" who keeps an eye on her and makes sure she doesn't fly too high. They, of course, figure out that their brotherly/sisterly love is much more than that but the path to true love never runs smoothly. :)

Although I loved how their conciousness of their feelings for each other developed, at times I got exasperated with the quantity of misunderstandings and interuptions. The back story was also very interesting, with serious social problems that pained the people of that age, and unfortunately do to this day. It is obvious that the author did a thorough research of the matters she was writing about which I admire and respect.

Anyhow, this is a very good and light read with alot of plot twists that will keep you well entertained.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it ok. The romance was very Emma/Mr. Knightly-esque: girl and guy have known each other forever, he's 8 years older and friends with her father, he's super successful and acts as her moral soundboard, he's very handsome and is finally looking to take a wife, she's young and beautiful, adored by her family, loves playing matchmaker amongst her friends - I mean seriously, is any of this sounding familiar? Set in Philadelphia during the 1850s, it really was a nice setting for a novel. My only beef is that I found it far too preachy. Paragraphs upon paragraphs devoted to the discussion of God's will and why He allows suffering among innocent people and how can the rich help the downtrodden. It got real preachy, real fast. And while I'm not opposed to talk of God, I typically read it in a religious-type book. This is touted as fiction. It simply rubbed me the wrong way. I found myself skipping over pages at a time just to get to the "plot". I guess I'm more of a heathen than I thought!

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book. It was a typical story line where the hero and heroine love each other and don't realize it until it's almost too late. They are both trying to "protect" each other. during this read, I realized why I was so frustrated with dating as a single person. All of the "games" and conventions that was are taught we "need" to observe as we "court". Blech. What it does is drive a wedge and you are destined to never understand each other. Tell your "other" what you feel. Be respectful, and be genuine. Talking in circles and never really talking just creates heartache.

[Mandy Spigle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tracie Peterson is one of my favorite authors and this series doesn't disappoint - especially since my mom was able to snag the author's signature on each one! Aside from the autograph, Tracie depicts a whole time-line of characters through the books to teach lessons from life. Her sense of what a woman needs to hear about trusting God and being a virtuous lady is uncanny and she delivers in a completely unpretentious way. I highly recommend.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful read. Fun story line that is very similar to Jane Austen's book Emma. If you enjoy romance based on a solid friendship this is a great read for you. Loved the determination of the main character. It was easy to relate to her.

[Gayle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this book quite as well as others by this author. The heroine kind of annoyed me with how stubborn/blind she was about the danger she was putting herself in. I also thought there were too many "almost" conversations between the two main characters. But I liked the time period and learning more about the historical issues that the book dealt with.

[Cintia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the kind of book the three-star GoodReads rating is reserved for. It’s not a complete mess, but it’s not that good either. Did I like it? Yes, and no. It’s fluffy and romantic, but I’m honestly not impressed.

FULL REVIEW IN MY BLOG: http://abookandateacup.blogspot.com/2...

[Cindy B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely done Christian mystery with twists. Love reading her novels. Never a pushy message, just regular people living a Christian life (of course there’s murder, theft and other real life happenings). Recommended (as usual for this author).

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story and the writing...the ending could have been more developed and longer, though.

[Talia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mia sure knows how to buck the system in all the (dangerous) ways.

So many times, I found myself thinking, "Don't do that!" and "Stop endangering yourself (in dumb ways)."

It was beyond the normal kind of slightly-thought-out-endangering-of-one's-self. She admitted later on in the book that she thought no harm would come to her since she was trying to seek justice and that explained why she did so much dumb stuff. Anyways, it became a little tiring just how little she heeded others' warnings. Especially when they knew personally the dangers involved with the situation she kept trying to fix.

However, she did soon realize that she had to stop being careless about her own safety, so at least she didn't stay ignorant.

Garrett was a nice guy. I couldn't figure out why he didn't just tell Mia that he was trying to help the seamen's wives too. He said he couldn't talk about it but that excuse didn't make that much sense to me, considering Mia already knew a lot of what was happening on the docks anyways. Mia thought he didn't care at all, and she didn't find out that he had been investigating the horrible things happening to those women basically ever since she had told him about it. I guess it was to add the thickening of the plot?

I found Mia's matchmaking attempts for Garrett pretty amusing most of the time haha.

And I almost shed a few tears over someone dying in the book. That was a little sad to read in my opinion.

Jasper Barrill--definitely a pervert. Some of the scenes with him were kind of uncomfortable to read. There is nothing super graphic in this book, but some of the innuendos were kind of gross, even if they didn't go into a lot of detail. In the end, he definitely fit the description of 'psychopath' very well.

All the romance was clean, and there was only one kiss in the book, which is not described.

3 out of 5 stars from me. I liked this book enough to keep reading it, but it wasn't my favorite by Tracie Peterson.

[Liane Sparrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - I read this coming off of a not-great historical fiction/romance book, so my expectations were very low, but I was pleasantly surprised. The book has a similar air to Jane Austen's Emma, only here the well-meaning but meddlesome matchmaker also has a penchant for social justice. That being said, she rushes into things and makes them worse. What did she actually expect to do to Jasper Barrill, a suspected murderer and known rapist? And then, she gets angry when her family (and her handsome, older best friend...*cough* Mr. Knightley allusion *cough*) tell her she needs to stop putting herself in danger.
The pacing of the book was fine, but there were many repetitive scenes ( Garrett and Mia attempt to confess their feelings several, several times and continue to get interrupted ).
An author's note would have been nice because I've read that the book actually contains a lot of historical information! In the end, it was a good escape from reality for a few days, but I doubt I will be re-reading it.