Desperate to locate her only family, Cara finds herself at the mercy of dangerous revolutionaries—and the man she thought she knew and loved. Via Hoopla and Overdrive

Looking for historical romance with mystery and intrigue? Then No Safe Harbor by Elizabeth Ludwig could be for you. Set amidst the bustling immigrant population of New York at the end of the 19th century, it has danger and suspense and an enduring love story. A perfect read for the cooler nights of Autumn.

Cara Hamilton believed she had lost everyone she loved until receiving a mysterious letter from her twin brother she had presumed dead. Summoned to New York City, Cara braves the Atlantic crossing determined to find her brother and discover the reason behind his flight to America. Rourke Turner/Walsh believes Cara is the key to finding his father's murderer, but as their relationship strengthens, he is torn between family duty and love.

Cara and Rourke are great characters. They each struggle with faith and loyalty to family. The mystery surrounding Cara's brother Eoghan leads them into danger. And you can never be sure whom can be trusted. I liked the New York that Ludwig recreates -- streets busy with vendors and carriages and wagons, dark alleys filled with secrets and danger and a boarding house with women hurt by the past and determined to make a new life in a new land. Ellis Island is a central landmark and familiar to all of us whose great-grands passed through its gates. Irish politics makes its way to New York as well, and I was glad for the lesson on Fenians and the role of immigrant support in the quest for Irish Home Rule. The theme of revenge vs. forgiveness runs throughout the No Safe Harbor. It is clear that revenge leads to bitterness and corruption, yet forgiveness leads to freedom. And God is never far from His people. I loved how Clara recalls her mother's words -- God's help is closer than the door.

No Safe Harbor is the first in the 3-part Edge of Freedom series (all are currently available). I am looking forward to more with those I met in this book.

Recommended.

Audience: older teens to adults. ( )

I loved this book. Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. I fell in love with Cara and hoped through the whole book that she would find her brother. I knew once she trusted Rourke that everything would get more complicated but I hoped that in the end things would work out for her. On a side note I have recently started listening to a group of singers called Celtic Thunder and I imagine Rourke to be one of the singers from that group so I always liked him. Anyway, back to the review I have to say I liked the ending in once sense but on the other hand it made me sad as well. I wish that everything would have worked out for her but the way it is left it could still work out and I hope that it does. ( )

The year is 1897 and the excitement of being in New York Harbor is spreading among the new immigrants that came from far away places to start over, Cara Hamilton clutches a reminder of someone she longs to see again. She searches the crowds for a glimpse of a familiar face which in the massive crowd she finds impossible. With only a letter from her missing brother she is destined to set out to find him not knowing where to start. /all seems overwhelming until a strange man befriends Cara and guides her to a rooming house where she is introduced to a group of curious strangers. Being forewarned to not trust anyone Cara allows herself to trust Rourke the stranger from the boat. As she searches for clues to the whereabouts of her brother she gets drawn into a world far beyond anything she could have imagined. A world where her life is threatened and she is repeatedly warned to leave things alone. Cara finds that Rourke is far more than the helpful stranger and soon starts to mistrust his intentions while Rourke learns he has been mislead by those he works with and decides to aide Cara in finding her brother. Through a world of attempted murder, angry revolutionaries who seek revenge and a mysterious secret that hangs over everything Can Cara find friendship, love and possibly a new meaning to her life? ( )

A historical thriller inundated with drama and romance, No Safe Harbor is steeped in the late 1890's of New York City. Rooted within a Christian foundation it is painted with rich Irish culture.

Elizabeth Ludwig obviously possesses quite a bit of knowledge on Irish customs and, gratefully, a talent for coloring the story with the famous Irish humor. The latter is an enormous pleasure, as well as a window for envisioning what it must have been like for my own Irish family arriving to the US from their homeland.

In addition to this delicacy, the suspenseful events and unveiling of three-dimensional characters keep those pages turning like a propeller. Being a seasoned enthusiast of countless riveting tales, this one is in a superior class that has you guessing until the end: a trait many writers fail at satisfying their audiences with. Trust is the core ingredient to every mystery occurring in No Safe Harbor. With subtlety and grace, the author abandons the reader in the midst of an alarming cliffhanger upon its conclusion. However, this is not done in a disappointing manner. In fact, with an finale like that, you can bet I snatched up a copy of its sequel the very moment it was offered for review.

A splendid tale, the anticipation is overflowing for the continuation. As an avid book collector, researcher and reviewer, this particular piece worked its way into my schedule unexpectedly. It is a delightful blessing to be introduced to this enchanting story and its marvelous author, Elizabeth Ludwig: most definitely one of my literary highlights of 2012! ( )