Book Review: Mine is the Night

Mine is the Night     
                                                           
by Liz Curtis Higgs

Waterbrook Multnomah


It is April of 1746. Elisabeth Kerr and her mother in law, the Lady Marjory Kerr, are penniless. Both widows must flee their home in Edinburgh; Marjory hopes to find refuge in her old hometown with a distant cousin. 

This sequel to Here Burns My Candle finds Elisabeth and Marjory en route to Selkirk. The trip is a dangerous one, for unrest over recent political conflict is afoot. Dragoons patrol the roads, harassing travelers as they search for traitors to the Crown. There is no guarantee either, that they will be welcomed by Cousin Anne. The only option is to trust their Heavenly Father. Elisabeth aims to trust Him, but can Marjory?

The late Donald Kerr, Elisabeth's husband, left a less than stellar legacy for his devoted wife. Even so, Elisabeth chooses to remain by her mother in law's side. The cost of this decision remains to be seen, but like Ruth in The Old Testament, Elisabeth's devotion to Marjory is steadfast.

Lady Marjory struggles to grasp the reality of her loss of social standing, possessions, and her sons. Trusting the Lord does not come easily to a lady who is used to being in control. All that remains of her past life are a few items in her trunk, her daughter in law, and memories. Even her devoted former servant, Neil Gibson, who was paid to deliver a message to Cousin Anne, is nowhere to be found.

Residents of Selkirk are gearing up for the arrival of Lord Jack Buchanan. Recently retired from the Royal Navy, Admiral Buchanan looks to settle into his English estate. He is hiring servants, and Elisabeth hopes to secure a position as a seamstress. Despite the fact that she was a lady of means, the skills her father (a tailor) taught her, may now come in handy.

The Kerr ladies struggle to make their way through the complicated labyrinth of society. Where is their place? Who will accept them? Does Elisabeth, at age 24, dare to hope to find love again?  I will not give any secrets away, but can assure you that there is a happy ending. For that I was very glad. It is an outstanding conclusion to Book One.

Ms. Higgs is one of the most gifted storytellers I know. Her fiction is filled with layers of rich and meaningful details. Biblical parallels abound, and stir the reader beyond the fictional realm. I savored every morsel of this tale. It will surely be counted among my favorite books.

To read an excerpt of Mine is the Night, click here.

To view the book trailer, visit here.

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


What gems have you read lately?

Happy weekend,

Karen

Winner of Here Burns My Candle

                                                                                                                                      

Congratulations to Cecelia, the winner of the Blog Tour Giveaway! She will receive a copy of Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs.

 

Thanks to all who participated in this special Blog Tour Giveaway.

Click here if you would like to read my review.

Have a blessed and happy weekend!.

Here Burns My Candle Review and Giveaway

Review:

This month's Blog Tour feature is:

Here Burns My Candle

by Liz Curtis Higgs

Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers

Check out the trailer here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2nPMBA_rgM

Liz Curtis Higgs fans can rejoice. Her newest book, Here Burns My Candle has arrived. No disappointments here; as always, Higgs treats the reader to a marvelous tale set in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1745.

The reader is immediately immersed into the Kerr family's world, a world laced with secrets. Lady Elisabeth Kerr and her husband Donald live with Donald's mother, the widow Marjory Kerr. Donald's brother Andrew and his wife Janet complete the family in residence.

Elisabeth, a Highlander by birth and a Lowlander by marriage, has secrets hidden in her heart and past. Donald's secrets are in danger of being revealed, and one of Marjory's secrets is buried under her bedroom floor. But wait! There are other secrets, and they are revealed as the story weaves its way around the events in which these intriguing characters find themselves. Marjory has not completely accepted Elisabeth into the family as Elisabeth's heritage as a Highlander stands in the way. Elisabeth struggles for acceptance and to find true peace in her heart.

To further complicate matters, Bonny Prince Charlie aims to capture the crown, and comes to Edinburgh as part of that quest. When Simon, Elisabeth's brother, appears on the scene, the plot thickens, much to Marjory's dismay. Will the ensuing emotional and physical battles take their toll on the Kerr family? Of course they do, for it would not be a classic Higgs' tale otherwise!

Joy and heartache and trials and triumph make this engaging story a pleasure to read. Readers will ponder their own faith, desires, and challenges as they venture forth into this historical tale. Higgs' fans will enjoy this, and new readers may find another favorite author. It's a lovely work of fiction from which we can learn much.

*This was book was provided for review and giveaway purposes by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Giveaway:

Many thanks to the folks at Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers who have graciously provided an additional copy for giveaway purposes.

To enter this Blog Tour giveaway, follow these simple steps:

1) Leave a comment. Include your email address. Entries without email address will not be eligible.

2) Receive an extra entry by becoming a follower, or by reminding me that you already follow.

3) Receive a bonus entry by posting about this giveaway on your Facebook page. Please leave a comment telling me so.

4) Receive a bonus entry by posting this giveaway on your blog. Please leave a comment with the link.

*Entry deadline is Thursday, March 25, 2010 at midnight. Winner will be notified on Friday and will have 48 hours to respond, otherwise a new winner will be chosen. 

Thanks for sharing in the fun! 

 *Open only to residents of the United States. My apologies to my overseas followers.

Happy Writing and Reading!

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