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No Safe Harbor (Edge of Freedom Book #1)
No Safe Harbor (Edge of Freedom Book #1)
No Safe Harbor (Edge of Freedom Book #1)
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No Safe Harbor (Edge of Freedom Book #1)

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The Thrill of Romantic Suspense Meets the Romance of 1800s America

Lured by a handful of scribbled words across a faded letter, Cara Hamilton sets off from 1896 Ireland on a quest to find the brother she'd thought dead. Her search lands her in America, amidst a houseful of strangers and one man who claims to be a friend--Rourke Walsh.

Despite her brother's warning, Cara decides to trust Rourke and reveals the truth about her purpose in America. But he is not who he claims to be, and as rumors begin to circulate about an underground group of dangerous revolutionaries, Cara's desperation grows. Her questions lead her ever closer to her brother, but they also bring her closer to destruction as Rourke's true intentions come to light.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateOct 1, 2012
ISBN9781441260451
No Safe Harbor (Edge of Freedom Book #1)
Author

Elizabeth Ludwig

Elizabeth Ludwig is an award winning author who is an accomplished speaker and teacher, and often attends conferences and seminars, where she lectures on editing for fiction writers, crafting effective novel proposals, and conducting successful editor/agent interviews. Along with her husband and two children, Elizabeth makes her home in the great state of Texas.

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Elizabeth Ludwig brings readers to 1890's America where Irish immigrant, Cara Hamilton, is alone in America and searching for the only bit of hope life has left her. No Safe Harbor is a historical fiction romance full of suspense, secrets, and mystery.Ludwig's excellent writing brings reality to this fictional tale. Cara's vulnerability when arriving alone in an unfamiliar country reaches out and grabs your heartstrings. When Rourke rolls around lending a helpful hand it seems like fate, until his intentions become known as less than generous. Switching between perspectives of the main players of this novel is a great way to keep readers engaged in the turn of events. While we may know what's going on, true intentions are still hidden until Ludwig is ready to reveal all.The suspense is light but saturated throughout the whole novel. Tension radiates from Cara as she tries to keep her secrets close to her heart while searching for her brother. Her searching gives her insight into the political unrest of Ireland that found its way to America. I liked that the story didn't just focus on the budding romance between Cara and Rourke, or the dislike that radiated from one of Cara's housemates. The historical fiction aspect is very prominent in the plot and helps you feel as though you've been transported back in time over a hundred years.No Safe Harbor is just the beginning of the Edge of Freedom series and it's extremely exciting to see how Ludwig will continue the plot! *ARC provided from publisher through LibraryThing Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review*Also published at Lovey Dovey Books
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    No Safe Harbor is an historical Christian novel that follows Cara as she leaves Ireland in 1896 in search of her twin brother, who she thought was dead. She doesn't know why he left Ireland and doesn't find out until well into the novel. While this is considered Christian fiction, it is not a preachy book - in fact, the religious message is not particularly strong, although it is present. While I did get caught up in the story in the end, I had some problems with some details that just made the book less than enjoyable for me. Right off the bat, I could not wrap my mind around this newly arrived Irish immigrant, a young woman, landing a 9-5 job as a bookkeeper for a candle maker. She seems to live quite well for an Irish immigrant during the time. In fact, a lot of this seems rather sugar-coated. Perhaps things were that way for some fortunate immigrants in New York, but it doesn't mesh with other books I've read from the same time period. While this is a romance, it isn't an overly pushy romance - what got me caught up in the novel was the suspense in the last part of the book. Sometimes I found myself confused by what was going on, like I was missing something. A brief summary of Irish history at this time would have been helpful, even just a page. I think it is assumed that everyone knows about Irish rebellions, and that isn't the case. Overall, the story is a good one, but some polish would make it better.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    This story is about a young Irish girl coming to the United States in search of her twin brother. Her parents are dead and for a while she believed her brother to be dead also. A letter from him tells her to TRUST nobody. The longer she is in the New York City the more she lets down her guard which puts not only her brother who is in hiding in danger but her life as well. Can she trust Rourke a man after she arrived in the States? Will she ever be reunited with her brother? Why do people want him dead? You will have to read to find out the answers. This was a good story but at times I had a hard time following the story and the book still left a mystery which I hope will be solved in sequels. I cannot give away what the mystery is because that would spoil it for those who want to read this book.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The mystery, romance, and period details wove together to create a nice story. I was a bit disappointed in the ending.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    No Safe Harbor is a captivating story, clearly book 1 in a series. Set in 1890s New York, No Safe Harbor tells the story of a young woman who emigrated from Ireland to find her twin brother, the brother who may be mixed up in the political discord of the day. Unbeknownst to her, Cara is searching for a brother who is being hunted by several parties blaming him for the deaths of their loved ones and thusly, fled to New York to hide. Upon arriving in New York, Cara meets Rourke. Ignoring her brother's admonishment to trust no one, she befriends Rourke and eventually falls in love with him. But Rourke is not who Cara believes him to be, and her growing feelings for him could put both her brother and herself in danger. For his part, Rourke is torn between is own growing feelings for Cara and his need to use her to find her brother.Ludwig slowly parses out the truth about Rourke and about brother Eoghan. Rourke's truth quickly becomes apparent, but not Eoghan's nor that of some of the others who seek him, which makes the story a little confusing at times. Still, Ludwig does a good job of capturing turn of the century New York, I believe, and overall writes an intriguing historical that makes me wonder what the rest of the series will entail.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I really liked the idea of this book. An immigrant sets off to America after learning that the brother she thought was dead is alive an well. She arrives in America and try to immerse herself so that she can support herself until her brother finds her. All the while she falls in love with the one person she shouldn’t. It was a pretty good plot. And it was executed fairly well. There were some slow spots to the story but there were lots of places where the story moves very fast and keeps you turning the pages.I didn’t really connect with any of the characters in this one though. I liked Cara well enough, but I just didn’t get pulled into her plight like I normally do. I liked Rourke – mainly because he had devious intentions when he came upon Cara. But as the story progresses we see a much softer, much more likable side of Rourke. The rest of the characters were well developed and played nicely into the story. I did like how the plots all came together and meshed into the main plot. It made for an interesting turn of events at the end and showed off the reason for all the character’s inclusion.The story takes place during a time of religious upheaval in the Irish American community. So there is a hint of religious theme to the story. But to me the faith Cara and Rourke struggle with really played a back seat to the rest of the story. So it was an interesting story, and I did like it. I just didn’t fall in love with this one. But it was worth the read, as the story was decent and there were a couple of twists that I didn’t really see coming. In the end it was mixed for me. I just didn’t get the connection with this one that I normally do.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Cara Hamilton left Ireland to go to New York to look for her twin brother. While on the boat she met a man who suggested she go and stay at a boarding house. When she first arrived in New York she thought it would be easy to find her brother but it didn't quite turn out like she had thought. Then she met a guy who befriended her in an attempt to also find her brother but she ended up falling in love with him. This book was full of suspense, twists and turns. Just when you thought you had it figured out something else happened. If you like historical fiction full of mystery you will definetely like this.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Cara Hamilton arrives from Ireland at Ellis Island...she got help getting through customs from a kind man she met on her ship? As soon as she is through she begins searching the crowd and looking at all faces for her brother.She thought her brother Eoghan was dead, and when she receives a precious letter from him, she set off to America. He has told her to "trust no one!"The trust no one rings true throughout the story. No one really seems to be whom they present themselves as.We travel around late 1890's New York City, and danger seems to lurk everywhere! Things I never thought of...fire wood in NYC. There still was!As we go along with Cara looking for her brother, you will wonder if she will ever find him? If she does will he still be alive. Will the people she ends up trusting betray her?The answers are here in this historical mystery, reaching from Ireland to NY. Enjoy!I received this book from Litfuse Publicity Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Cara Hamilton thought her brother (Eoghan) was dead until she received a letter. She travels to America to search for him. Despite the fact he tells her to talk to no one, she befriends Rourke Walsh, a man who says he's a friend. Not realizing all that her brother was involved in, she becomes a pawn in a deadly game of revenge. Rourke seems to care for Cara, but he's not who she thinks he is. Her growing feelings for him cause her to trust him. With little faith and hope left, she wonders if she should have trusted Rourke Walsh. As she gets closer to finding her brother the closer to danger she finds herself in. Will she learn the truth about Rourke? Will she ever find her brother or will revenge find it's target?What a wonderful turn-of-the-century story of Irish immigrants coming to America. It was loaded with danger, suspense and of course romance. As you arrive at Ellis Island with Cara, you immediately feel her apprehension and rightly so. Not knowing who to trust can make you weary. That immediately drew me into the story. The author keeps you turning pages to see how it will all turn out. The characters were well drawn and fully fleshed out. The tension between Rourke and Cara was tangible. It's easy to see why Cara reacted to Rourke the way she did. As I was reading I was thinking that despite our circumstances and though we lose faith, the Lord is always there. Sometimes we have to come to the very end of ourselves before we're reminded of that. I loved the very satisfying ending but the door is wide open for Eoghan's story. Looking forward to reading 'Dark Road Home', book 2 in the Edge of Freedom Series.Paperback: 336 pagesPublisher: Bethany House Publishers; Original edition (October 1, 2012)ISBN-10: 0764210394ISBN-13: 978-0764210396*This complimentary copy provided by Bethany House through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    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?
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    No Safe Harbor tells the story of Cara who leaves Ireland searching for her twin brother whom she had believed to be dead. She befriends a gentlemen on the boat who conventiently gives her a hand up by sending her to a boardinghouse run by a friend. While I admit that it seemed to come pretty easy for Cara compared to what I have read about other Irish immigrants it didn't distract overmuch from the plotline in the book. While a little more history on the Irish rebellions may have helped one know exaclty what was being discussed as Cara finds herself searching for the brother who never appeared to meet her enough dialogue takes place that you can easily follow the plot. While this is a Chirstian romance neither the Christian elements nor the romance are such that they overpower the actual plot. I LOVED this book and enjoyed trying to figure out who really were good/bad guys throughout. I would very much look forward to reading the subsequent books in this series!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Very suspenseful! This is good historical Christian fiction. Cara Hamilton has come to America from Ireland in search of her twin brother. She had thought he was dead but he had fled to America because of a misunderstanding involving the death of Daniel Turner. He warns her in a letter not to speak to anyone about her reasons for coming. But he doesn't show when she arrives and she begins to trust and fall in love with Rourke Walsh. A few twists and turns later, those trying to harm she and her brother meet with their own ends.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    No Safe HarborElizabeth LudwigBook Summary: She came to America searching for her brother. Instead all she's found is a web of danger. Cara Hamilton had thought her brother to be dead. Now, clutching his letter, she leaves Ireland for America, desperate to find him. Her search leads her to a houseful of curious strangers, and one man who claims to be a friend--Rourke Walsh. Despite her brother's warning, Cara trusts Rourke, revealing her purpose in coming to New York. She's then thrust into a world of subterfuge, veiled threats, and attempted murder, including political revolutionaries from the homeland out for revenge. Her questions guide her ever nearer to locating her brother--but they also bring her closer to destruction as those who want to kill him track her footsteps. With her faith in tatters, all hope flees. Will her brother finally surface? Can he save Cara from the truth about Rourke... a man she's grown to love?Book Review: The cover of this book is what drew me in first. I really was looking forward to reading this book and was not disappointed. I liked Cara and Ana. The premise and some of the details was complex regarding the civil unrest in Ireland. I was not always clear about who was on which side. Overall there seemed to be no good side that at some point in civil issues everyone loses something tangible as in the case of this book families were separated and/or divided. I loved the characters and how complex they were on the whole. The current secondary characters set up nicely for the next in the series. The mystery dragged at times and I am hopeful that it was due to setting up the series and the future characters which would help make all of them flow together. I think the real mystery was more subtle than Eoghan on the run from his civil enemies. This is a timely novel about significant division in a nation and the sides’ people choose. I would like to thank Library Thing and Bethany House Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I loved this book. I generally enjoy historical fiction and this did not disappoint. Cara Hamilton leaves Ireland in 1896 to search for her brother, armed only with a letter warning her to trust no one. She finds herself in a boardinghouse in New York City, living with several curious women and having drawn the attention of a man who claims to be a friend. As time goes on, she finds that things are more complicated than she ever imagined and people are rarely what they seem to be.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    "No Safe Harbor" by Elizabeth Ludwig is a wonderful book, that is both a romance and mystery. Cara is an Irish immigrant that travels to New York to find her twin brother. Her brother has been hiding in New York to hide from several groups of people, who all claimed that he had killed a relative. Cara is unsure of who to trust, in order to help locate her brother. The story twists and turns, and with a series of close misses of being killed, Cara falls in love with the right man. This book says it is volume one, so I look forward to reading more of this series!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was an excellent book. The story was engaging and kept you guessing! It seemed to be true to NYC in the 1800's towards the Irish.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Couldn't even finish the book. The plot line was interesting but it plodded along and could not keep my interest. I skipped to the end to see how it ended up and was disappointed that the story continued on into a next book and didn't really resolve. I have very little patience for heroines who are stupid and put themselves in danger because they don't burn letters they're supposed to and confide secrets to strangers.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    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.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I found this book an enjoyable read but not an overwhelmingly thrilling read. Elizabeth Ludwig has created an adventurous novel with excellent main characters to connect readers to the story. The story has a quick plot with the readers moving quickly through the story. The plot development is well structured if not very original. Having read similar novels, the storyline is overly predictable. For those readers who enjoy this plotline, No Safe Haven will fulfill their every wish.I felt some of the minor characters were a little underdeveloped. Cara and Rourke are fully developed characters, but many of the other characters are not developed enough especially the antagonists. Their appear to be character flaws in some of the minor characters. No Safe Harbor neatly wraps up part of the story with some ends hanging to make the reader anxious for the next book in this saga. No Safe Harbor is book 1 in the Edge of Freedom series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A good book. I enjoy historic fiction and Elizabeth Ludwig didn't disappoint with her take on New York City in the 1890s. I enjoyed getting to know the character, Cara, and her quest to find her brother. The suspense in the end left me wondering where the next book in the series will take us. I look forward to seeing where it leads.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The story of a sister who comes to America when the brother she thought dead sends her a letter. The book opens with the arrival of the ship into the New York harbor. Cara's letter from her brother warns her not to discuss her reason for coming to America or mention his name. And assures her he will contact her when she arrives. She learns there are revolutionaries who are looking for her brother and she is in grave danger.I found the character of Cara to be weak. She does not heed the dire warning given by her brother, ignores directions to not pursue situations because of the danger and even though the author tried to build her character as strong, she falls short. This is the first book of a series and even though I did not struggle to read the book, I am not sure I would spend money to purchase the next book. The ending did not leave a desire to find out what happens next.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This review originally appeared on the Historical Novel Society website. Review copy provided by publisher.Cara Hamilton arrives in 1897 New York alone on an immigrant ship from Ireland, looking for her brother Eoghan, who fled to America after becoming mixed up with Irish nationalists. She is helped by Rourke Walsh, and the pair fall in love but, unknown to Cara, Rourke also wants to find Eoghan—for revenge.Setting a romance against the fragmented politics of Irish nationalism is a bold move, and at times I feel Ludwig overestimates the reader’s familiarity with the Catholic/Protestant divide and the distinctions between northern and southern Irish. This impression is not helped by every character’s tendency to speak alternately in proper English and an improbable brogue; I would like to have seen more differences between them.The highly figurative language that Ludwig employs keeps the tension high, but many phrases sail too close to purple prose for my liking (“He added admiration to the growing list of things he liked about her, then carved it free with an inward snarl.”) But the novel delivers the sweet love story sought by readers of inspirational romance, and Ludwig does not over-preach the spiritual aspects.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    This book started off with great potential, but it quickly got predictable. I was excited by the premise of a yooung lady coming to America alone in such an age when it ws looked down upon, but the story was a bit slow. I did feel that the two main charachters were given enough attention, so you could root for them, but the women (and man) of the inn were only given bit parts, so you didn't really know where they were coming from. I also felt a little more background into the happenings in Ireland prior to the story would have helped. It was almost like this was the second book in a series and if you hadn't read the first you weren't sure what was going on. I guess I just expected a little more out of this book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Cara sets off to America to find her twin brother in New York City after receiving a letter. She has wrongly assumed that he was dead. The book has the undercurrent of "trust no one" with lies, danger, betrayals, and deceit twisting the plot in different directions to keep the reader guessing. Historical Christian fiction readers will enjoy this story, interspersed with just enough romance and suspense to keep the pages turning. Looking forward to the continuation of the series.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I found this novel difficult to get into, moderately enjoyable in the middle, and not unsatisfying at the end. It wasn't a bad book, but it was unremarkable in every way. I suppose I can only blame myself, as historical romance novels can be very hit or miss. A miss, for me, though others might enjoy it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    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.

Book preview

No Safe Harbor (Edge of Freedom Book #1) - Elizabeth Ludwig

Cover

1

ELLIS ISLAND, 1897

A mischievous wind lifted the tips of Cara’s hair and tossed them into her eyes. She brushed the strands away, then blew on her shaking fingers to warm them. The day was overcast, like every day before it for the past two weeks, but thankfully the snow had stopped and the sea had settled into something less than raging. She stood against the rail with no fear of being tossed over.

Few passengers crowded the rails of the ship Servia. Most were kept belowdecks by the frigid February temperature and the choppy Atlantic Ocean, but not Cara. Bad weather had lengthened the crossing, made her longing for her first glimpse of America sharper.

America. And Eoghan.

Just thinking of her twin brother brought a wash of hot tears to her cheeks. Eoghan was alive. After two years of bowing under the villagers’ whispered condemnation, of bearing in silence the brand given her family name . . . finally . . . the chance to uncover the truth behind his disappearance. His letter in hand, she’d scrambled aboard the first ship to America she could find.

Her fingers crept inside her coat to press the precious scrap of paper against her chest.

Soon, my sweet lad. I’ll be at your side! And then we’ll prove you were no traitor to your church or your country.

Gently she caressed the twisted leather bracelet encircling her wrist. Eoghan wore one identical to it—a gift from their father on their sixteenth birthday.

Ah, Miss Hamilton. You made it on deck, I see.

Cara tucked the bracelet into her sleeve, then turned toward the boisterous voice. Douglas Healy was a kind man. A bit loud for her liking. Nonetheless, his generosity had rescued her from steerage—a fact for which she would be forever grateful, and his good-humored jokes had made the trip across the Atlantic bearable. His presence had also kept some of the more amorous lads at bay, since they’d assumed mistakenly that he was her father.

She greeted him with a smile. And you, as well, Mr. Healy. Here to catch your first glimpse of America?

He snorted, his full mustache stirred by the force. I’ve seen it before. This is my fourth crossing. Business, you know.

His gray eyebrows bunched as he claimed the spot next to her at the rail. Teased by the wind, the fedora on his head lifted slightly. He caught it with a gloved hand and jammed it firmly back in place. You, however, have yet to reveal your reasons for making the journey. Still no hope of finagling the information?

Her heart thrumming, she smiled and turned her face to the waves. Always the same question. Every night, at dinner, she was forced to hide the answer, even when he tempted her with treats he’d bribed from the steward.

Ah, my coy Irish lass, that winsome grin will get you far in the New World. He leaned forward to rest his thick forearms on the rail. I only hope you do not undertake those challenges alone?

Cara shook her head, though in truth she did not know what awaited her in New York. Her plan, like Eoghan’s letter, was vague: find her brother, force him to tell her what he’d done, and then convince him to return home. I . . . have kin in America. I hope to reunite with them when I arrive.

He clucked his tongue and dipped his head to peer at her over his spectacles. The city is quite a large place for a mere hope.

But ’tis more than I had a few weeks ago, she whispered, pressing her hand against the letter at her chest. A stiff breeze tore at her words and carried them away.

I’m sorry? Mr. Healy bent his ear toward her, out of the wind.

She cupped her hand around her mouth. I said I’ll be fine. Do not worry yourself, Mr. Healy.

He gave a satisfied nod and straightened. All right, then. Still, you might be able to use this. He removed a piece of paper from a pocket of his woolen overcoat. An old friend of mine runs a boardinghouse near Battery Park on Ashberry Street. Amelia Matheson is her name. I’ve listed the address there in case you need a place to stay. When she lifted her brows, he added, Until your relatives arrive, or until I can check on you—see how you be faring.

Cara accepted the piece of paper and studied the unfamiliar handwriting. When she looked up, Mr. Healy watched her, his kind gaze dark with concern. She patted his hand, warmed by the compassion on the elderly gentleman’s face.

A bright sheen filmed his pale blue eyes. I had a daughter once, not quite your age. Did I tell you?

She shook her head, surprised by the waver in his voice. Not since stepping foot on board the Servia in Liverpool had she seen Mr. Healy without a smile creasing his wrinkled face. What happened to her?

A deep sigh seemed to rumble from the depths of his soul. He cast his gaze upon the sea, a vacant look in his eyes that said his thoughts, too, had gone adrift.

She was only seventeen, and oh, so beautiful. She had red hair like her mother . . . and you.

The wind snatched Cara’s hair again, sending coiled strands spiraling into the air. She caught them with one hand and jammed the tangled curls into the collar of her coat.

Mr. Healy watched, a sad smile curving his lips. Olivia used to do that same thing, just so.

A flock of sea gulls circled overhead, their mournful cries providing a fitting backdrop to the sorrow with which he spoke.

She slid her hands into the pockets of her coat. Olivia. That was her name?

He nodded. After her mother.

A lump formed in Cara’s throat. She, too, had been named after her mother, and she felt a strange affinity for this lass whose story mirrored hers. How did she die?

Surprise flitted across Mr. Healy’s face and as quickly disappeared. Ah, ’tis a tragic tale, that. One I’ll not trouble you with today. He mimicked her brogue in a gentle way that inspired no ire and turned toward the rail, his finger jutting out over the edge of the ship. Look, there. Do you see?

Her hand shading her eyes, Cara squinted toward the horizon, where a strange gray haze dipped in and out of the waves. What is it?

Wait, Mr. Healy said, patting her back.

Salt spray washed high on the side of the ship, but Cara remained welded to the deck, excitement building inside her chest as the haze thickened and took shape. Is that . . .?

It’s what you’ve been watching for, me dear girl, the reason you made this voyage.

Cara tipped her head back and searched his face. He smiled in the way her father used to when bestowing a gift. Faster and faster her heart raced, until the pulse pounding in her ears drowned out the roar of the ship’s steam engines.

His broad mustache twitched, then parted to reveal even teeth and his hand swept over the rail. Miss Hamilton, welcome to America.

Welcome to America, Miss Hamilton.

For a second, Rourke Turner thought he’d heard wrong. After months of watching and listening, his senses had gone dull, though with the clamor of crying infants and shouted questions in myriad languages echoing from the ceiling, he was surprised he’d caught the name at all. He jerked his head up and scanned the crowded Great Hall. It was his cousin’s turn to stake out the island. Rourke had swapped places with him reluctantly, and only after much haggling as to who would assume the duties the rest of the week. Could it be that today . . .?

There.

His gaze locked on a tall redhead accepting her registration papers from a dour-faced inspector. Rourke eased through the press of people, stepping around baggage and parcels, until he could hear clearly.

I am finished?

The inspector shuffled a stack of papers. Everything appears to be in order. You have money and a place to stay.

In the girl’s hand was a scrap of paper. She gripped it until her knuckles turned white.

You passed your medical exam proving your ability to work, the inspector continued, and you have family who will be meeting you once you leave the island. He bobbed his head once, twice, and then handed her a small card. You’re free to go.

My thanks to you, the redhead murmured, a distinct quiver in her voice. She looked to the right and then the left. In her other hand she clutched a leather valise whose worn edges testified to its age. The voyage had soiled and dampened the hem of her blue traveling skirt, and her curls lacked luster, but no one could dispute her beauty, even with worry lines marring her face.

Beautiful, yes . . . but was she the girl he sought? He rather hoped not. A pretty lass such as she could prove a welcome distraction. He forged closer, straining for a glimpse of her eyes.

The inspector did not react with impatience as expected. Rourke had spent enough time on Ellis Island and witnessed enough immigrants passing through the Great Hall to be surprised by the sudden change that came over the man’s face. His scowl disappeared, and with one finger he nudged the rim of his spectacles higher onto his bulbous nose.

The Kissing Post, he said gently.

The woman swung back to look at him, her fine brows lifted in surprise. Your pardon, sir?

Setting down his pen, he pointed toward a flight of stairs. Go down those steps and to your right. You’ll see a row of benches near the exit for the steamer to Battery Park. The pillar by the door is where people usually wait for their loved ones to arrive. If you’re expecting someone, that’s likely where they’ll be.

Her face cleared of anxiety as she reached out to clasp the inspector’s hand.

Bless you! she breathed, then ducked out of the line and hurried in the direction the man pointed.

Rourke followed at a distance. The crowd on either side of the aisle had become a living thing, swelling and undulating like a wave upon the sea. At any moment he expected them to part and release one of their number to greet the woman. Instead, she reached the place nicknamed the Kissing Post and whirled, her face hopeful as she searched the people bustling past.

So, she was looking for someone. Anticipation flared in Rourke’s chest. Settling against another of the square pillars stretching toward the ceiling, he assumed the casual posture of the other men gathered to await the arrival of a loved one. One by one they were joined by wives, brothers, sisters, or fathers whose faces had been freshly bathed by tears. Excitement high, they showered one another in kisses and then made their way out of the Great Hall.

At first, the woman straightened every time a happy shout indicated another joyful reunion, but gradually the hopeful gleam faded from her eyes. A full hour passed before she reached for the valise at her feet and turned hesitantly for the exit.

She was leaving!

Rourke’s heart raced. Likely he’d never find her again in a city the size of New York, if indeed that was where she was headed.

He shoved away from the pillar and cut a path toward her through a family shouting in loud Italian. Somehow he’d learn the truth. Somehow he’d find out if she was tied to the man he’d spent years looking for . . . the man he intended to kill.

2

With a roar of the engines, the last ferry of the day lurched away from Ellis Island. The ship rode low on the waves, her deck packed from bow to stern with sweaty, tired passengers. Cara hugged the small valise in her lap, glad for the comfort of something to hold after the trauma of health screenings and inspectors back on the island. Many around her clung to nothing but the hand of a person they loved. Still, she’d have traded everything she owned for one glimpse of Eoghan. Of their own will her fingers crept to the bracelet on her wrist.

A man hunched on the seat next to her elbow, his jaw clenched and face pale. With every roll and pitch of the boat, he groaned and bent lower, clutching the edges of the bench they sat on. Stirred with compassion, Cara wondered how he’d managed a voyage across the ocean. As though in answer, the man stumbled to his feet and staggered across the deck toward the lavatory. No doubt he’d remain there until they docked. Lucky for him it wouldn’t be long. She’d heard an hour at most.

Once the steamer gathered speed, a stiff breeze lifted the cloying scent of unwashed bodies and swept it out to sea. Cara turned her nose into the wind and breathed deep. The hint of fish on the salty air was not unlike Ireland. Different yet familiar.

As if conjured by the longing in her spirit, a man’s voice thick with an Irish brogue pulled her attention from the waves.

This seat be taken?

Cara looked up into the bluest eyes she’d ever seen. Thick, dark lashes framed those eyes, and a friendly smile lit the man’s face. He gestured to the seat next to her. Would anyone be sitting there? he repeated.

Cara glanced toward the lavatory. Green as the man had looked, it was unlikely he’d be returning soon. No. Please, help yourself.

He lifted a dark eyebrow as he sat. Irish?

She nodded, her heart thumping. Eoghan’s letter had warned against speaking to anyone until he’d had a chance to fill her in on who they could trust. But this man was only making conversation, she chided herself.

Me too. He pointed to the tweed cap on his head and scarf around his neck and laughed. In case you couldn’t tell.

She returned his smile with a careful one of her own.

The boat pitched and the man reached out to steady her, then just as quickly pulled his hand away. What part of Ireland are you from?

Derry. It was out before she could consider whether she should reply.

His head bobbed. Ah, a northerner. I have kinfolk up that way.

Her fingers closed around the handle of her valise, but she forced her voice to remain light. Really, now? So, what brings you to America?

Despite his friendly demeanor, his eyes narrowed and Cara felt he was studying her. I’m looking for someone. I thought perhaps I’d find them coming on a boat from England.

You’re not . . . She swallowed, hoping he’d missed the hitch in her voice. You are not just arriving, then?

No. What about you? He flashed a quick smile, and then his gaze fell to her clenched fists. Your pardon, miss. I did not mean to unnerve you. It’s just, you looked a bit forlorn, and when I saw you sitting here alone, well, you reminded me of my sister, is all. I’ve not laid eyes on her in almost a year.

An embarrassed blush colored his cheeks. He braced his hands upon his knees and moved as if to rise. If you’d rather I left . . .

He had a sister. Was that the person he’d been looking for? Cara winged a prayer for direction heavenward.

The shock of finding out her brother lived, combined with his mysterious letter, kept her on edge. But despite Eoghan’s dire warning, the prospect of facing America alone birthed terror in her heart. She wouldn’t tell this man about the purpose behind her trip, but maybe she could ask a few questions. He had a kind face, after all, and he was bound to know more than she about the city looming in the distance.

She stayed the stranger with a light touch on his arm. Forgive me. The voyage has robbed me of my manners. Please, stay. She motioned around the crowded ship. It’s unlikely you’ll find another seat.

He hesitated, but then settled back on the bench. True enough.

Cara Hamilton, she said with a dip of her head.

Rourke . . . Walsh, he responded.

Pleased to meet you, Mr. Walsh.

The pleasure’s mine, Miss Hamilton. Or is it Mrs.?

Heat fanned her cold cheeks at the flirtatious gleam in his eyes. I am not married. Cara pulled the note Mr. Healy gave her from her pocket. You said you have lived in New York a while?

He nodded and looked at the paper curiously. Almost a year. My family was hit hard by the famine a few years back. We had to sell much of our land. I came here looking for work.

Cara took care opening the note and pressing it flat. I . . . thought you were looking for someone?

I am. I have a cousin who is supposed to be joining me, but I’m not sure when. I went to the island hoping for word.

He crossed his arms, his wool coat pulling at the shoulder seams. He was a big man, obviously fit and heavily muscled. Undoubtedly, he’d had no trouble finding work. Her heart fluttered. Maybe he knew Eoghan. Only how to ask without giving herself away? She couldn’t. Her gaze fell to the name on the note.

What have you there?

Cara held out the paper. I wonder, would you be knowing this person?

He took the note, glanced at the writing, then handed it back. I’m afraid not. His voice lowered, but he leaned forward so she still heard him clearly over the noise of the ferry’s engines. Is she family? Was she supposed to meet you today?

Her throat tightened. Too quickly his questions had turned to a topic rife with risk. Her fingers clutched the collar of her coat. No . . . I . . . I do not have any family. My parents died years ago.

That much, at least, was true. The rest? Up until a few weeks ago she’d believed that true, as well. She breathed a prayer for forgiveness at the half-truth and dropped her chin.

But . . . Hesitancy filled his voice. The island? His dark brows bunched as he peered at her.

What?

Single women dinna often make it through registration alone.

Shame flooded her. I told them Amelia Matheson was my grandmother.

Forgive me. I should not have pried.

Was that relief mixed with the compassion in his voice? Cara’s head, and her heart, lifted. Thank you, Mr. Walsh.

You’re welcome, and please, call me Rourke. His shoulder bumped hers. We’re two Irishmen in a land of foreigners, after all.

The gleam in Rourke Walsh’s eyes as he studied her left no doubt that he liked what he saw.

So did she. Her gaze drifted down the length of his strong jaw and settled on his mouth. Fortunately a stiff breeze blew up, and Cara used the motion of brushing the hair from her face to hide her embarrassment. You have that wrong. Here, we be the foreigners.

Rourke laughed and settled against the seat. True. So? What will you do when you reach the city? He caught the fluttering end of his scarf, then jammed his hands into his pockets and hunched deeper into his coat.

Cara shrugged. Search for Mrs. Matheson, I suppose. See if she can offer me a place to stay. After that, I’ll need to find— she glanced at him and away—work.

He extended his hand. May I see the note again?

She dropped the slip of paper into his palm and then blew on her stiff fingers. What she wouldn’t give to curl up someplace warm tonight, with the quilt her dear mother had sewn for her snuggled under her chin and a peat fire crackling in the hearth.

Ashberry Street? Rourke frowned and returned the paper to her. I know the area. You say she runs a boardinghouse?

She nodded. That is my understanding. Mr. Healy said she’s an old friend. Though I only just met him, he seemed quite pleasant during the crossing.

I don’t know. He shook his head slightly. There be many unsavory people in the city. Are you certain this Mr. Healy can be trusted?

Cara laughed, surprised to admit his concern ignited an excited tickle in her belly. I’ve only just met you, too. How do I know you can be trusted?

A roguish smile curled his lips. A fair question. Instead of answering, he shrugged. I’ll help you find the place. Check it out, perhaps, just to make sure it’s safe.

Suddenly Eoghan’s warning rang clear in her mind.

Trust no one. Speak to no one until I come for you.

Rourke dashed the cap from his head and laid it across his chest, then followed with a wide smile. Upon my honor, miss, no harm will befall you so long as you be under my care.

Cara laughed outright. Good or bad, the exaggerated concern on his face put her apprehension to rest. Eoghan used to tease her in a similar manner, before his new friends pulled him farther and farther away from the family and home. Aware of Rourke’s steady gaze, she resisted the urge to touch her bracelet.

Very well, sir. Ashberry Street it is. Are you certain you know the way?

If I didn’t, I wouldn’t admit it now and risk losing my chance to escort a pretty woman.

She hid a smile and narrowed her eyes. Fie. I’m sensing a bit of the blarney in ya.

More than a bit.

They laughed, and for the first time Cara allowed herself to relax against the back of the bench. It felt good to let go her guard, if only for a moment. She hadn’t done so since receiving Eoghan’s message.

She gave a quick lift of her chin. So, what about you?

Me? Rourke slapped the cap back on his head. I’m as boring as a milk bucket. Not much to tell.

But you work in the city?

I do. Odd jobs mostly, and whatever I can wrangle at the wharf. They always be looking for a bit of muscle unloading the ships that come into the harbor.

Cara cast a longing glance at the shore growing larger in the distance. That had to be how Eoghan intended to find her. Perhaps he’d be waiting when she arrived, his bonnie eyes welcoming, his arms spread wide to wrap her in a hug as he’d done when they were children. She clasped her hands in her lap, afraid Rourke would see their trembling and know there was more she wasn’t telling.

A quiet murmur rose from the other passengers, and almost as one they shuffled toward the rail, rocking and bobbing in rhythm with the boat, pointing at something Cara couldn’t see.

What is it? She craned her neck to look over Rourke’s shoulder.

He smiled, his eyes sparkling. You haven’t seen it, then?

Seen what?

The statue.

She nodded. From afar. We caught a glimpse as the ship was docking, another as the barge carried us back to the island.

It’s different up close. He rose and held out his hand, then guided her to a spot near the stern. The ferry always passes by so that those coming to America for the first time can get a glimpse of her.

Looking up into the Lady’s earnest face, Cara gasped. She’d seen a tintype of her features cast in stark relief, but this close . . . Never had she imagined the way the sight would make her feel. No wonder people who intended to make their home in America were filled with such hope. Like the passengers gathered around her, Cara fixed her eyes on the glowing torch splitting the overcast sky.

Beautiful, isn’t she?

Tears filmed Cara’s eyes. Clutching the edges of her coat shut, she managed a weak She is indeed.

In fact, the image impacted her so, it burned onto her memory. Long after they passed, she pictured the spires of Lady Liberty’s crown piercing the air, like the points of a star reaching toward the sky. Among the folds of her robe, Cara imagined the souls of foreign lands taking shelter—orphaned children yearning for a mother. Was that why Eoghan had chosen to hide in America?

Rustling stirred among the passengers as the ferry docked, the excitement in the air almost tangible. Cara rose, but before she could reach for her valise, Rourke hefted it for her.

Ready? He smiled as he motioned toward the gangplank.

A tremor weakened Cara’s knees. Departing here was different from the landing on Ellis Island. Here, the land was vast, the city stretching farther than her eyes could see. She had not the means to return to Ireland alone. If Eoghan wasn’t waiting on the dock, if she couldn’t find him . . .

Drawing a deep breath, she shook the melancholy from her limbs and walked forward, down the wooden gangplank that rumbled with the footsteps of many passengers, onto the dock. From this moment forward, her feet would seek a new path. Which way it wound, she couldn’t guess, but for better or worse it led through American soil.

3

Marta! Wring out those damp clothes and bring them to me. Don’t let them drag. It took me hours to get them clean.

The strident voice curled on fingers of woodsmoke rising from the alley. Soon a young woman carrying a basket laden with laundry ducked out of a shop door. Marta, Cara assumed. The girl spared Cara a brief glance before she plodded around the corner of the building and disappeared. Down the street and along the sidewalks, children in patched coats darted and ran.

Cara’s feet faltered on the path. Before her rose a large gray building, the bricked sides mottled with dirt and soot. Shutters framed each window, but with the shades half drawn and no light peeping through they merely gave the house a sleepy-eyed look she found daunting.

It’ll be all right, lass. God’s help is nearer than the door.

Her mother’s words ringing in her head, Cara let her gaze drift upward. At the boardinghouse’s peak, twin dormers stood guard beside a

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