How Can Compassion be Considered Wrong?
When life is weighed down by challenges, pillars of enduring hope and love are always waiting to be discovered.
Ida Dempsey has grown up in a privileged life of luxury thanks to her aunt and uncle. Although Second Street—where women of ill repute ply their wares—is off limits to respectable citizens, her heart of compassion compels her to frequent the area, hoping to make a difference in their lives. Ida has also befriended Qui Shau, a Chinese woman who keeps house for her family, but friendships between the whites and Chinese are taboo in Eureka. Ida tries to keep secret her forbidden compassion, but someone is watching and will use it against her.
When Blaine Prescott meets Ida at a church picnic, his parents warn him away from any relationship with the young lady who has been seen on Second Street in the company of a Chinese woman. But how could such a kindhearted, lovely young woman be anything but good? But when riots break out in Chinatown and Ida disappears, Blaine will do anything to find out where and why she has gone.
When life is weighed down by challenges, pillars of enduring hope and love are always waiting to be discovered.
Ida Dempsey has grown up in a privileged life of luxury thanks to her aunt and uncle. Although Second Street—where women of ill repute ply their wares—is off limits to respectable citizens, her heart of compassion compels her to frequent the area, hoping to make a difference in their lives. Ida has also befriended Qui Shau, a Chinese woman who keeps house for her family, but friendships between the whites and Chinese are taboo in Eureka. Ida tries to keep secret her forbidden compassion, but someone is watching and will use it against her.
When Blaine Prescott meets Ida at a church picnic, his parents warn him away from any relationship with the young lady who has been seen on Second Street in the company of a Chinese woman. But how could such a kindhearted, lovely young woman be anything but good? But when riots break out in Chinatown and Ida disappears, Blaine will do anything to find out where and why she has gone.
MY THOUGHTS.....
The Angel of Second Street is set in Eureka, California, in 1884, when influential people often had Chinese servants, and social class distinction was very real! Ida Dempsey was determined to share friendship with her uncle's Chinese maid and also change the lives of the 'ladies of the night' who worked on Second Street. Could a seventeen-year-old girl hope to make a difference? What would people think when they saw her frequenting this area?
I enjoyed this novel by a 'new-to-me' author, Barbara Tifft Blakey. The Angel of Second Street has suspense, adventure, and some clean romance, but I was especially drawn to the faith thread and the historical details woven into the plot. In her author's note, Blakey reveals fact versus fiction surrounding the Second Street brothels and the efforts of a committee chosen to rid Eureka and Humboldt County of its Chinese residents. These were unknown facts until I read this book! I recommend this book to all who enjoy historical Christian fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this novel by a 'new-to-me' author, Barbara Tifft Blakey. The Angel of Second Street has suspense, adventure, and some clean romance, but I was especially drawn to the faith thread and the historical details woven into the plot. In her author's note, Blakey reveals fact versus fiction surrounding the Second Street brothels and the efforts of a committee chosen to rid Eureka and Humboldt County of its Chinese residents. These were unknown facts until I read this book! I recommend this book to all who enjoy historical Christian fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Barbara Blakey is a freelance writer and the author of the award-winning literature-based language arts program Total Language Plus. Barbara is also a nationally recognized speaker, conducting workshops and seminars for Christian women's groups and homeschooling conventions for more than fifteen years. She lives in Olympia, Washington, with her husband, Terry.
Learn more by visiting her Website
ENDURING HOPE
The Angel of Second Street by Barbara Tifft Blakey
The Undercover Heiress of Brockton by Kelly Goshorn
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