A Refuge Assured

A group of French refugees escaping the French Revolution should have made for a faster moving plot I think but I found it a little slow moving at times. However the characters were well drawn and I cared about what happened to them. Despite its minor flaws, I enjoyed learning about a culture and time I know little about - always the beauty of good historical fiction. The nickname Vienne for Vivienne confused and then irritated me for some time. But the end, the last third of the book was set at a a fast and furious pace which kept me riveted to the page and wanting more from this author.

As a resident of Central Pennsylvania, I do have two bones to pick, though.First, there are several references to mosquitos buzzing around during daytime hours. Prior to the Tiger mosquito arriving in the northeastern United States in the latter part of the 20th Century, I wasn’t aware of mosquitos being active during the day in this part of the country - only at dawn and dusk. But perhaps there was a species of mosquito during that time period that was. I’m curious to know if there are historical references that indicate there was daytime mosquito activity.Second, fairly early in the book there is a reference to Vivienne buying fresh cherries at a market in Philadelphia and giving some to Henri, who then proceeds to smear cherry juice on his face and hands while eating them. This event was to have taken place in August. Sweet cherries ripen about mid-June and sour cherries ripen in early July in Pennsylvania; so - unless the cherries were imported from elsewhere (how likely is this circa 1790?) - then I believe this to be an inaccuracy. Peaches are the most widely available fruit available in Pennsylvania during August.I can deeply appreciate how hard it must be to get every historical detail correct. It’s obvious how hard the author has worked to get everything right, and I’m assuming she would want to know if something was hitching in a reader’s mind.All of that said, this was a wonderful piece of historical fiction which taught me a great deal of Pennsylvania history that I did not know-particularly with regard to French immigrants. I knew there was an Asylum Township, but I did not know it’s history. I also was not aware of the injustices associated with the Whiskey Rebellion. Sincere thanks to the author for providing all of that education.

"So when we create, even if it is a mere length of lace and not the stars in the heavens, we honor Him. We bear His likeness when we work."And so, French lace makers Vivienne Rivard and her Tante Rose, worked tirelessly to create the exquisite lace that graced the clothing and furnishings of the queen herself, until a violent revolution separates them forever. Fleeing France, Vivienne boards a ship bound for America and determines to re-establish herself in Philadelphia where the French Quarter is seething with opinions about the fallen monarchy, unsettling Vivienne's peace of mind about her new home.Liam Delaney is a patriot of the American Revolution and travels to Philadelphia regularly from his farm in Asylum, stopping to visit his sister at their family's Four Winds Tavern. He cannot help but notice the lovely young woman whom he met briefly at a local ball, but who is now accepting his assistance after an unruly parade crowd injures her escort. Learning about her newly acquired skills in the kitchen, Liam's sister hires Vivienne as the tavern's baker, providing her with much needed income to support herself and the young child she has become responsible for.As rebellion swirls around an exorbitant whiskey tax, and continued violence causes Vivienne to worry about the mistaken identity of her ward, she is desperate to find a place of refuge. In spite of the fact that she and Liam have politely sparred about the merits of revolution, when lives are at stake will Vivienne concede that Liam is a man to be trusted?"A Refuge Assured" is a magnificent display of history, expertly knitted into the fabric of a story whose characters are full of courage, intelligence, loyalty and compassion; making them totally unforgettable and fondly remembered.I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.

This was one of the best books I have read and I read lots of books. It was one of those rare books that keep your interest the whole time. There was always something happening and I could not put it down. It is just a wonderful book and should be far more expensive than it is. Highly recommended it is a beautiful book in every way.

I have read many, many books with wonderful history written with the times and the people, totally fascinated and touched by the actions and beliefs of the real and imaginary people. I have shivered with how the times and actions mirror the prophecies that have been given to us in the Bible and I see some of the things that are yet to come. Anarchy is just a word or an action waiting to happen at any time in history, any locale. Thank you to the author, editor and publisher and to those who helped the book to be offered to the public .

Combining French and early American history, this novel is full of exquisite details and intriguing characters. There are a lot of personalities and I was surprised at the depth of each one. I’m still curious about Martine and I want another book for Liam’s sister and one for Henri and Jethro and Finn too. Ms. Green, you could be busy writing a series here!It’s beautifully phrased, I highlighted way too many paragraphs, but I couldn’t help myself. This is one of those books meant to be savoured and read many times.Published by a Christian house, I didn’t find it preachy and highly recommend for any historical fiction fan.

Most enjoyable read! Vivienne is a strong, sweet heroine & the slowly developing love between Liam & Vivienne was a delight!

This novel is beautifully written and is full of historical information that is weaved into the story. The outstanding attributes of the lead characters is diligent work and choosing to defend the weak even at great cost.