Tide and Tempest by Elizabeth Ludwig, ©2014

Edge of Freedom Series, Book 3



   Her fingers tingling with excitement, Tillie counted the last of the coins from a worn leather pouch she kept hidden beneath a floorboard under her bed. Combined with the money she and Braedon had saved before crossing over to America, and what she'd netted from selling her jewelry and a string of pearls left her by her grandmother, she had just about enough.
   Grabbing the pouch from the bottom, she gave it one last shake, just in case any more coins lay tucked inside its folds. Instead, a slender gold ring fell out and rolled onto the floor with a thump. Braedon's ring.
   As she'd done often in the past, Tillie lifted the ring to examine it more closely. Though the metal was worn with age, two clasped hands were clearly visible--one larger and obviously masculine, the other smaller and more delicate. Female. Twisting slightly, Tillie dislodged the two clasped hands, spreading the ring so it became two distinct bands, and beneath them a third band upon which a glittering ruby shaped like a heart lay hidden. The sight never failed to rob her of her breath. Where Braedon had come by the ring or how much it was worth, she didn't know, but it belonged to him, and she'd vowed never to part with it.
   --Tide and Tempest, 13-14

Tillie McGrath is desiring to buy a six-roomed farmhouse advertised in the window at the land office. Just the home to begin an orphanage. Realizing vacancies left from Breda, Deidre, Cara, and now Ana leaving the boardinghouse, empty rooms have left Mrs. Matheson low on funds. Tillie sets aside her plans so as not to cause an additional vacancy. Tillie designs hats for Mrs. Ferguson at her millinery shop. Successfully replicating society magazine styles from memory, she has brought added business to the shop and is given an overseeing position and raise in her wages. Along with serving with the nuns at the shelter for the evening meals, Tillie has settled in since her arrival to New York from Ireland two years earlier. Thankful to the captain of the Caitriona Marie for setting her in this good lodging in the city, amid her sorrow in the death of her fiancé, Braedon McKillop, aboard his ship in the crossing.

Captain Keondric Morgan has returned to New York hearing a deathbed confession on the ship revealing that passenger Braedon's death wasn't an accidental illness but planned and carried out slowly. With the intent of going to see Tillie to let her know of the truth he has newly learned, he is unable to deliver his message but instead asks to return her to Ireland to her family via his ship. She declines. Upon repairs needing to be accomplished before returning to his next voyage, he and his first mate and brother, Cass, rent rooms at the boardinghouse. Not only helping Mrs. Matheson, they both become further interested in spending time with Tillie with their nearness.

The further motive is to keep Tillie safe. While discussing repairs and the time it will take, the brothers talk about Tillie and a crew member is listening on the other side of the door. Sabotage from a trusted mate who has connections with The Celt?

Brilliant writing with in-depth detail!

Fully developed, Tide and Tempest reveals the heart of those trying to save Ireland's freedom from England, those trying to profit from it, and those trying to stay alive! Author Elizabeth Ludwig has brought this story full around concluding the Edge of Freedom series. I especially liked the relationship between the two brothers and Tillie. So respectful and friendship building, the three will be able to be friends for a long time. Very satisfactory ending for all three of them as their future lies before them. I was watching a couple of the characters, wondering if they were friend or foe? I trusted one and was uncertain of the other ~ they turned out to be reversed from what I thought they would be! A surprise to me was The Celt being an acquaintance in Ireland with an unsuspected character.

I liked this book!

Adventure abounds in this final novel as the Edge of Freedom series concludes. Tide and Tempest may be read as a standalone but you will want to become further acquainted with those in the earlier Book 1, No Safe Harbor and Book 2, Dark Road Home.

                                   Edge of Freedom Series

 

Elizabeth Ludwig is an award-winning author and an accomplished speaker and teacher. She is the author of No Safe Harbor and Dark Road Home, books 1 and 2 in this series, and Love Finds You in Calico, California; each earned four stars from RT Book Reviews. She owns and edits the popular literary blog The Borrowed Book. Along with her husband and two children, Elizabeth makes her home in Orange, Texas. Learn more at elizabethludwig.net.

And the LORD answered me: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets,

so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time

  --Habakkuk 2:2-3a

***Thank you to author Elizabeth Ludwig for sending a print copy of Tide and Tempest to me to review in this blog tour. This review was written in my own words. No other compensation was received.***