Mine Is the Night

Here Burns My Candle #2

by Liz Curtis Higgs

SHE LOST EVERYTHING SHE LOVED. HE HAD EVERYTHING SHE NEEDED. BUT COULD SHE FIND THE COURAGE TO TRUST HIM?

Stepping from a battered coach on a rainy April eve, newly widowed Elisabeth Kerr must begin again, without husband or title, property or fortune. She is unafraid of work and gifted with a needle, but how will she stitch together the tattered remnants of her life? And who will mend her heart, torn asunder by betrayal and deception?

Elisabeth has not come to Selkirk alone. Her mother-in-law, Marjory Kerr, is a woman undone, having buried her husband, her sons, and any promise of grandchildren. Dependent upon a distant cousin with meager resources, Marjory dreads the future almost as much as she regrets the past. Yet joy still comes knocking, and hope is often found in unexpected places.

When more than one worthy hero steps forward to woo Elisabeth, she makes a bold choice, then must confess her heart's desire. Will he refuse her out of pride, or surrender to her love?

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

465 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2011

About the author

Former Bad Girl, grateful for the grace God offers. Happy wife of Bill, one of the Good Guys. Proud mom of two grown-up kids with tender hearts. Lame housekeeper. Marginal cook. Pitiful gardener. Stuff I love? Encouraging my sisters in Christ—across the page, from the platform, online, in person. Unpacking Scripture. Traveling wherever God leads. Listening to His heart. Leaning into His embrace.

Reviews

[Sarah Sundin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely satisfying - the rich character growth, Scottish setting, impeccable research, and not just one sweet romance - but three! Higgs writes historical fiction of the highest quality, and I can't recommend her books enough.

[Carrie Pagels · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not listen to the first book in this series but I didn’t have any difficulty following the story thread in this stand-alone book. The narrator was first rate and seemed to TRULY know the story and the author’s intent because it was none other than LIZ CURTIS HIGGS HERSELF!!! I sent her a Facebook message afterwards because I could not believe it really was her. But as a long time radio personality that was probably easy for her. And her passion for the story comes through in the narration. To me this is the best way to get her stories, if possible because it is SO RARE to have an author do that – to narrate.

And this Naomi-Ruth inspired story (Lady Elisabeth Kerr and Dowager Lady Marjory Kerr) does a fantastic job of examining the relationship between mother (in this case mother-in-law) and daughter. It is obvious that Liz understands the give and take between adult child and parent. I was awestruck and I practiced as a psychologist for twenty-five years, so that comment does not come lightly.

The love story was wonderful and because it was based on Boaz, I was glad to know I was not going to have some literary device where the great hero is yanked from the pages and the heroine is left with someone else. So while there was a lot of tension I could also relax into the read/listen a little.

The romance between mother-in-law (Marjory) and another character (won't spoil it for the reader!) was amazingly well done. I loved how we had a mature couple with genuine affection and respect and they develop these passionate feelings for each other and (well, read the book to find out what happens!) I get tired of the twenty-somethings having all the fun! Great example of how God can give us another chance even if the first part of our life was not so stellar.

Liz’s description of Scotland and the people were so vivid, it was as though I was there. It is set in the mid-18th century after the Jacobite rebellion. Liz has 950 books on Scotland!!! Astounding! All that research pays off for the reader.

I highly recommend Mine Is the Night and plan to listen to my version again and again. It belongs on the shelf (or Kindle, or audio download) of every Christian historical fiction reader.

[Melanie Kilsby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come...

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle, historical story about a young Jacobite widow and her widowed mother-in-law trying to survive after being denounced as traitors by King George. I'd hesitate to call it a historical romance, because although that does certainly feature in the story it's not the entire point - the point is the character development, the changes in each as they have to accept their new social ranking and struggle to make their way together, rather than alone, in changed circumstances.

No longer Lady Kerr, Marjory resorts to selling her last jewellery and even metal cutlery to get herself and her daughter-in-law Elisabeth to the relative safety of Selkirk. Once there, they will have to survive on their own, or by begging the charity of family.

If you hadn't guessed when reading it, this is a nice reworking of the Book of Ruth, with Elisabeth as the despised Moabitess Highlander and, worse, Jacobite.

And although technically this is listed as book 2, it stands very firmly on its own.

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nope. I listened to this while cleaning my apartment, and when the book expired before I was finished with it, I wasn't sad in the least. It has lots of stars, but I assume those are all from people who realized it was a religious historical fiction love story.
I did not.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The word that came to my mind after reading this book is comfortable. Higgs brings Scotland in the mid-1700s to life, and returning to the customs, speech and characters of the previous novel was wonderful.

It is a very sweet story. Loosely based on the book of Ruth, the plot was a bit predictable, but if you put it in perspective with the first book, Here Burns My Candle, the story flows perfectly. Plus, the first one is so heart-wrenching that I really, really wanted Elizabeth and Marjory to have a "happy ending." While the outcome might have been somewhat obvious, but watching the characters get there was a joy.

Some of the characters do speak in a dialect, but it has never bothered me or made the story hard to understand.

I hope Higgs will write more historical fiction set in the bonny land of Scotland.

[Kathleen Denly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me. I did not realize it was the second book in a series until I had finished reading it. I can therefore confidently tell you that you do not need to read book one in order to fully enjoy book 2. Mine is the night is an emotional read, founded upon thorough historical research, and filled with descriptive details that make you feel as if you are there. The characters are layered and compelling. The plot is well paced and involved twists I did not see coming. This was my first novel by Liz Curtis Higgs, but it will not be my last.

[Janet Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Read the first book in series before this one btw) I enjoyed all the happy endings of this second historical installment. The writing is very well done, and I learned a lot about Scotland's history in this two-book series. The end got a little long for my attention, and I found myself skimming some of the details, but I really enjoyed the story and this series!!

[Tammi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never read Christian romance before.
I absolutely loved all of this authors nonfiction books and decided to give her historical fiction a shot.
I am SO glad I did.
This duet was beautiful and heartwarming yet still had the authors humor creeping in at times.
FANTASTIC!!
I will definitely be reading more of her stories!!

[Alexia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hooked with this novel. I loved the continuing story and held onto each better circumstance for the women. I was so happy ever time they had enough money to eat well together.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok guys, I finally did it. I finished it. I did not enjoy the book. But that's at no fault of the book, it's just so radically outside of anything I read. And quite slow. And way too long. But really, I mean no ill respect to fans or the author, it's just personally a no.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.6 x 1.4 inches

After reading Here Burns My Candle, I just had to finish the story with Mine is the Night. To me, I liked this book much better. I enjoyed reading the glorious ending to a wonderful story as it follows the lives of Marjory and Elizabeth Kerr. The mother-in-law, daughter-in-law pair finally makes their way to Marjory’s cousin Anne’s in Selkirk, but Gibson should already be there but he hasn’t shown up, causing the two ladies to worry about him, and it seems no one else has seen him. Living was to be entirely different, with Marjory, Elizabeth and Anne now living in a one room apartment. Anne and Elizabeth had to struggle making the money to survive, leaving Marjory to do the cooking, which was interesting since she was the one that hired help to cook for her. Living by Faith and trusting the Lord was the only thing left to do. They had nothing, no money, home, husbands to take care of them, they had to make it on their own.

It was heartwarming to see the turnaround personality change in Marjory during this time, from the very wealthy to the very poorest of circumstances. She dealt with the change well, being willing to learn to cook and keep the one room house herself while the others worked. Elizabeth is a lady we all want to be like. Her love and care of her mother-in-law Marjory was unbelievable. And God did guide every step of their life, leading Elizabeth into a job as seamstress for the retired and very wealthy Admiral Jack Buchanan. Buchanan is not like most wealthy men, he really cares for his workers, and is especially attracted to Elizabeth, who was still wearing her black, mourning the death of her husband. But what about the 12 month mourning period? Does she really have to wait the entire twelve months? And then there is a twist to the story that makes the story even more interesting as an unexpected visitor/worker comes to town. As the story keeps unfolding, and finally comes to an amazing end, the reader will witness a heartwarming account of redemption and restoration that these ladies never imagined. Truly God loved them and was watching over them the entire time. What he had in store for the Kerr ladies was truly exceedingly, abundantly above everything they could have ask or even thought about. And to have it all take place in a Scottish setting was the icing on the cake! To feel the country of Scotland, the food, cloths, people, atmosphere, and beauty was breathtaking. This was Liz Curtis Higgs at her best!

I recommend this book to anyone liking a good historical fiction playing out a story in Bible times. I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah blogging for books program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 55.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this last book of the trilogy by Liz Curtis Higgs. At the time that I started reading 'Here Burns My Candle', I didn't realize that this was a trilogy. But missing the first book did not bother me.

This book was slower paced than the previous one but that did not detract from the book. As before, there is a vocabulary list of Scottish words to help understand the dialogue. But I only referred to it twice since it was so easy to figure out the meaning from the context.

All the characters were well developed and I was very satisfied with the ending. I appreciate all the research that the author has done into Scottish history and weaving in the story of the Book of Ruth from the Bible. I must say that I will miss Elizabeth, Marjory, Anne and of course Gibson.

I love the way that Liz Curtis Higgs intertwined the customs and holidays of the times like Michaelmas into the story. After reading about the customs and feast for that holiday, I checked for more information and was surprised to find a custom that I grew up was derived from this holiday. Look it up yourself!

I was also pleased with the amount of humor and wit in this book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to go back in history again with the author. She makes it all come alive.

This book is a book of hope too. One of the verses from the Bible that she quoted was “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning (Psalms 30:5) truly sums up the book and makes you think about it in reference to our lives today.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves a book rich in thought and history. I truly enjoyed this last book of the trilogy by Liz Curtis Higgs. At the time that I started reading 'Here Burns My Candle' I didn't realize that this was a trilogy. It was slower paced but that did not detract from the book.

I love the way that Liz Curtis Higgs wove the customs and holidays of the times like Michaelmas. After reading about the customs and feast for that holiday, I checked for more information and was surprised to find a custom that I grew up was derived from this holiday. Look it up yourself!

I am definitely a Liz Curtiz Higgs fan!

[Patricia Kemp Blackmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book picked up right where book one, Here Burns My Candle left off. Elisabeth Kerr, no longer Lady Kerr steps off the coach along with her mother-in-law Marjory Kerr. They are on their own now seeking the meager home and hearth of their cousin Anne Kerr. Anne agrees to give them shelter. Since they have no money or husband they will have to provide for themselves by Elisabeth seeking work with a friend of Anne's that has a Tailor's Shop. Elisabeth is skilled with a needle but Micheal the Tailor can not take a woman for a partner and ends up hiring a man. So she is forced to seek work with at the residence of Admiral Lord Jack. Elizabeth is to sew dresses for the thirty female workers of Lord Jack's home. He becomes her hero finding out that she and her mother-in-law are penniless and he intends to make life easier for the two widows. They work hard to rebuild a life for themselves, while growing closer to God and His will.

The author did an outstanding job writing this book. The first book was tragic with loss of love and faith. But this book picks them up and leads them to a new beginning. This story is of healing and redemption. It was a beautiful book to read. The way the author worked in the history of Scotland made the story believable like you were there with Elisabeth and Morjory. The author gave these women so much strength and determination to survive while they gave each other love and comfort in such trying times. They were constantly watching and avoiding contact with the King's Dragoons, they feared being arrested. God's will was at work and they chose to have faith in Him and follow the path he set before them.

I highly recommend this book.

I rate this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure:
I recieved a copy of this book for review from Blogging for Books/WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing. I was in no way compensated for my review. It is my own honest opinion.

[Sandy]

This book does not deserve any stars and I have to say it is a pretty annoying one... yet I listened to the whole thing asI hate stopping partway through a book, so I stuck with it and kept hoping the writing would get better but it was a vain hope. The characters were not well developed and many of them are utterly unrealistic (child Peter) (cousin Anne), the story was incredibly predictable, the 'christian' factor rrrreeaaaeallllllly overdone. This author clearly has never had children. She writes about 7-year-old Peter Doglish as if he was 2 or maybe 3. This is a little boy in an era in history where children grew up a whole lot faster than in our spoiled, coddled child era. Even in this age, a seven-year old would be far more mature than this boy is. At 7, he would know his way around his neighborhood like the back of his hand. Peter is portrayed as a bright intelligent boy who has no mother and whose father works incredibly hard to support them both. If he got 'lost' at the fair, which takes place in his neighborhood, it is utterly silly to think that he'd be found scared and weeping. If he was found hurt or terrified of something, yes, reasonable thought, but not just in his own neighborhood in an era when children, if mentally 'normal', were only children for a very few years of their life.

I like 'historic novels' for their history - telling me something about different times and places and ways of life in world different from mine. But this book clearly misses a lot about the era. Is Annie economically 'poor' or is she what we might think of as middle class - 'linen napkins', a 'dining table' in a 20x20 room - as if it's likely there is more than one table in such a small space (as well as a bed, numerous chairs, a trundle bed and often enough food to question just what level of society she falls under. Not a book I'd recommend to anyone... took me to SOuthern Scotland but... it was not a very note-worthy trip.

[Laura Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a major complaint about this book. I didn't want it to end! The characters in Liz Curtis Higgs books, Here Burns my Candle and its sequel, Mine is the Night, were so endearing, I'll miss them! Mrs. Higgs is possibly the best storyteller of our time. However, she doesn't really tell the story; she shows it. I could see the colors, hear the lilt of the voices, feel the warmth of the kindnesses and the chill of the fears.

This novel concludes the story of Marjory and Elizabeth Kerr; but, I wish this were a series that would go on and on. I can certainly see it as a mini-series.

I was drawn into Mine is the Night quickly. The initial scene is one of action and suspense. The year is 1746. Mrs. Marjory Kerr and her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Elizabeth Kerr, were both widowed in the Jacobite revolution. They have lost their land, their money, and their titles as a result of their ties to the Jacobites. Danger abounds as dragoons search out remaining traitorous Jacobites. The Kerrs arrive in Selkirk in the Borderlands penniless to find that things were not as they thought they would be. Money sent to care for their cousin with whom they will reside and to care for the Kirk (church) has not been received. Their servant Gibson did not arrive and announce their arrival and make preparations. Poverty awaits; but, they make the best of it with industry and a determination to trust God with their future as well as their present.

I certainly do recommend this book if you are a reader of historical romance novels. It can be read as a stand-alone book; however, there is a depth of understanding that will be missing if you do not read Here Burns my Candle first. There are no graphic love scenes in this book. It is clean. I will not allow my teenage daughter to read it; because, I consider it to be a book for adult women.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

[Jennifer Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mine is the Night picks up exactly where Here Burns My Candle ended. For this reason, I do feel that it would be best to read them in chronological order. It's a story of redemption and restoration, following the biblical plot line of Ruth and Naomi with a different setting and era.

Higgs does a wonderful job creating believable characters who will steal your heart and make you feel their heartaches, joys and disappointments. A new cast of characters are introduced with excellent characterization to set them apart and create their own places in the story.

There are at least three romances that bloom and you see each character's growth from the first book to the second. For this reason, there aren't many character flaws in Elisabeth. She seems almost perfect. The flaws she once possessed where overcome in the first book. The hero is almost perfect as well. The only character flaw I could see in Lord Buchanan was the fact that he was unconventional for his station in society, which is a necessary ingredient for the the plot to be fulfilled with biblical accuracy.

Romance readers may find themselves a bit impatient as Elisabeth doesn't even meet the hero until after 160 pages. Still, the pacing is quick and it flies once the two finally meet. I enjoyed how Higgs used the political conventions of 1746 Scotland to resolve the ending conflicts of the plot in a similar fashion to the biblical plot of Ruth and Naomi. It's a very enjoyable read and one I would highly recommend.

[Jill Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last year I read the first half of this two-book series. I was very excited to get to read the second half of the story. Book one, Here Burns My Candle, was wonderful, but a hard read because of some of the subject matter. Not so with book two. Here our widowed ladies move to a small town and try to start a new life. They are nearly destitute. Elisabeth Kerr begins sewing shirts for the local tailor to bring in some money. But when the tailor hires an apprentice, he has no further need of Elisabeth’s sewing. So Elisabeth must go to the new admiral and apply to be a dressmaker for her new servants. In this man is hope. Will he be able to help the Kerr women out of their poverty? Or will he want nothing to do with anyone who was once a traitor to the crown?

For a book that is over four hundred pages long, I was surprised how quickly the pages flew and how much I savored the story. I love how authentic the story reads. The historical aspects are marvelous. Liz Curtis Higgs does a wonderful job with the Scottish dialect, the descriptions, and the daily ways of life. Her characters are deep and a joy to read. I just loved this story. Very well done.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book on First Reads, so I gave it a go, but unfortunately it fell flat. First off, the book is way too preachy for my taste. The characters are always giving each other pats on the back for how good and pious they are and whenever something even remotely bad is about to happen something or someone saves the day. Suffice to say, the book is very predictable and frankly, really boring. I would have much rather read about the Bess who used to worship the moon and seemed to have some imagination (she doesn't anymore and all she does is sew).

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, wonderful story! This is the final installment of the series on the Book of Ruth. Here, the characters have reached rock bottom and have to rely on God daily to survive. I'm glad I read both books, Here Burns My Candle and Mine Is the Night back to back. I would have hated waiting a year after the first in order to see where these characters were going. Wonderful hero, and as my daughter said, so many details that lined up with the original Biblical account. All the loose ends were very nicely tied up.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually liked this better than book 1 in the series. I liked the new characters and loved the way they found love in a world where they were fighting for food and a roof over their heads. From a world of luxury, they experience the lowest poverty but it does not keep them down. Their deep faith in God helps them to find a way out of the grinding poverty to a life full of love for all of them. Highly recommended.

[Dana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I thought it would be. I kept waiting for something to happen and it never did. Sweet stories which would have made for compelling stories. However, I was really disappointed by the lack of movement in this book. I will not be reading anything else from this author because it was slow and nothing exciting happened.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the first book of this series as part of a book club and I really enjoyed. I REALLY enjoyed this second book. I could hardly put it down. It made me think of the Psalm "weeping may last for a night but joy comes in the morning."

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the conclusion to this series! Liz Curtis Higgs does a wonderful eighteenth century interpretation of the Biblical story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz.

[Jessica Dotta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely stunning!

[Joleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs
Timeframe: 1746
Location: Selkirk, Scotland
Main Characters:
Elisabeth Kerr: Twenty-four year old widow
Marjorie Kerr: Elisabeth's mother-in-law, also widow
Anne Kerr: Cousin by marriage who takes them in
Jack Buchanan: Retired Admiral who hires Elisabeth as dressmaker
Gibson: Butler who is very important to Lady Kerr

Well, after Whence Came the Prince I thought I'd be done with this author. But as it was, I had already started an audio-book which was the conclusion to her two-part retelling of Ruth, Naomi and Boaz, told from an 18th century Scottish point of view. I'm so glad I continued listening to this book as it was exceptional.

In Here Burns My Candle, based on the first part of Ruth and Naomi in the Bible, Marjorie's family is torn apart by the war that takes her two sons, eventually leaving her with nothing. This book begins with Marjorie and her daughter-in-law, Elisabeth, traveling across Scotland, hoping a cousin in Selkirk would allow them shelter.

Their cousin has little, but takes them in. So Elisabeth, a very talented dressmaker, finds a job receiving just enough to keep the women in meat, and little more. The town is abuzz about Lord Jack Buchanan, the retired admiral from the Royal Navy who is settling in Selkirk and hiring servants to staff his estate. Elisabeth is hired on a temporary basis to make all the uniforms for the new staff. The Admiral had decided to give up his life on the sea in order to finally settle in Selkirk and marry. He's a Godly man who automatically sees the goodness and faith in Elisabeth, and takes an immediate liking to her. However her lowly status, and the fact that she had been a Jacobite sympathizer are a hindrance to a relationship, but he is still drawn to her and feels the need to protect her.

The year before, a relative of Marjorie's, very close to the crown, took everything from her when he had word of her son's fighting for Prince Charlie, claiming she was a traitor, leaving her homeless and penniless. She believes he knows where she was traveling and planning to live, and may send dragoons to arrest her for treason. On top of that, an old Jacobite friend of Elisabeth's comes into town under suspicious reasons, and his presence there is not a welcome one.

This was my favorite book by Ms. Higgs. There is romance aplenty, always a faith-driven story-line, just enough conflict to keep it interesting, and a satisfying conclusion!

I'm so glad I read it.

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mine is the Night was enjoyable from the very start. The setting in Scotland, building a new future, struggling to make ends meet, and the romances all wove together to make an enthralling tale. I was never bored throughout the book. There was always something developing, evolving, or changing. There were a lot of great traditions and customs woven into the story. This made for an entertaining and authentic experience. The first book was so sad and depressing that the turn around and hope in the second book was much needed. As a series, maybe the stories could have been a little more balanced so there is more likeability in the first book to match the second. She also seemed to shape a lot of the men as scoundrels. There were a lot of upstanding gentlemen in the town and working at Bell Hill with Bess, but otherwise it seemed like all of the direct encounters that Bess, Marjory, or Annie had with other men they always turned into lecherous villains. So there was a lot of risk of rape in the story without actually having it ever occur. I loved all of the dressmaking details in the story. Bess' assessment of all of the maids at Bell Hill and sewing customs of the time were all fun to read about. The ending was sweet. She did an excellent job of weaving the story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz into this setting. Jack was very clever, and I liked all of the things that he did at the end to take care of Bess and her family. Overall, this is a really enjoyable book if you can make it through the backstory in the first one.

[Rachael Robbins · Rating 2 out of 5]

The majority of this book has nothing to do with the story of Ruth & Naomi. Only the last 3rd of the book is remotely related; the first 1/3 isn't even a relevent part of the story! The first 3rd introduces a man that you THINK will turn out to be Boaz - but he falls in love with someone else. The second 3rd introduces an old friend - who demonstrates his frustrated life-long love by attempting rape. The final third is actually the story of Ruth & Boaz.

Smuggled into this 465 page book under the cover of a "biblical romance" are lies, foolish decisions, women proposing to men (3 separate times! Not only Ruth - but also Naomi and an additional cousin), attempted assault, abusive husbands, and drunken accidents... what about this is beneficial (Eph 4:28-30) or excellent (Php 4)??

Just because its loosely tied to the story of Ruth - does that give Christians an excuse for wallowing in the depths of sin?? I'm starting to become a little nauseated by "Christian Romance". It's like living on organic, grass fed beef steaks and homegrown organic potatoes - then spending a day eating fried, junky, fair food. Anyone would feel a little queasy after that adjustment!

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I didn't read the first book in this series, I found this novel to be adequate as a stand-alone read. This was a long read - the audiobook was 12 hours I think - and there were occasions when I think the author could have shortened some of the details and made the story move a little faster. But she is a good author, has obviously done her research, and wrote a very engaging story, loosely based on the story of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz of the Bible. And the author reads the audiobook herself, so she has a good grasp of how her characters speak and act.

There were several very suspenseful parts, and some great historical description; one could almost feel that one was living in this historical time and place. The only thing that sort of seemed out of character for the time period was having three single women propose marriage to their intendeds. It's difficult to imagine even one woman doing that, but all three of them?

A very satisfying ending, and I wish there was a third book to this "trilogy" but apparently at some point, the author decided to quit with this one.

[Joy Lokey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tender tale of Ruth in the 18th Century

Bess, for short, followed her mother-in-law, just as Ruth did. The story line was strong, rather parallel to Ruth and Naomi's story, but oh so tender. Bess's character stood the test of time, and stood out. This captivating story had all but Pirates in it to intrigue the reader and keep you on the edge of your seat. Another book I could not put down. The addition of Cousin Anne was sweet. Liz's method of character development is most satisfying thorough. As are her story conclusion. Though it is hard to say goodbye to the life like characters, she draws things to a close in a most complete yet brief enough way that allows the characters to gently move on without leaving the reader hanging. The subtleties lead the reader into a softly hopeful mood, yet allows suspense to build just enough to give a finely edgier story, without seemingly being overdone as some authors tend to do. Ms. Curtis has quickly become one of my new favorite authors!