A Lady's Honor by Laurie Alice Eake

From the publisher:

Society is concerned about her honor, but Elizabeth must realize her worth doesn't lie in her inheritance.

In order to avoid a forced marriage to a dangerous man, Elizabeth Trelawney flees London. An unexpected stranger arrives to help her, and as they elude her pursuers across Cornwall in the night, Elizabeth realizes her rescuer, Rouan Curnow, is familiar.

Their differences in social status kept Rouan from pursuing a courtship with the lady his heart wouldn't let him forget. Now because of dangerous smugglers and local murders, the two are plunged into a reckless alliance that rattles Rouan's fledgling faith in God.

The closer they get to Bastian Point-Elizabeth's true home-the more she realizes it is the only place she longs to be. Even the sight of its solid structure perched on the cliffs makes her feel safe. Elizabeth is the most likely to inherit Bastian Point if Grandfather never learns she spent the night, however innocently, with a near stranger.

As spring warms into summer, Elizabeth finds herself torn between wanting to be the perfect grandchild and her growing love for a man of whom no one will approve as a match for her, a man she knows she shouldn't entirely trust. Unsure whether she is being foolish or following the right path, she sets out with Rouan on a quest to find the true culprit behind the local violence.

Their quest leads them to danger, and she must choose whether to follow the man she loves or cling to the safety of her family home.

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Having never read anything by Laurie Alice Eakes I was not sure what to expect.  I thought it would be more of a traditional period novel.  However, I was surprised to find it filled with intrigue and murder and mystery.  Readers who are tired of reading “just a love story” will enjoy the suspense of this book. 

I found it interested how Elizabeth’s struggle with unconditional love is even there with her grandparents who profess to know and serve Christ.  It was revealing of human nature that even when we say we know Christ, we do not always live it out for others to see. 

I enjoyed the spiritual aspect of this book and the quotes from the time period literature about God. 

Overall I felt that this could have been an even better book had the character’s been more developed.  The writing seemed to keep me from really getting to know the characters.  As I read it, I felt told about Elizabeth, Rowan, and the rest—but not really shown.  The language of the story left me wanting more.

I received this book from BookLookBloggers in exchange for my honest review.