You know how it feels when you finish a really good book?
You’re elated to see the characters you’ve come to know, at last have their
happy ending. But then…you’re disappointed. The book is over.
It’s a feeling I just experienced as I turned the last page
of “Tide and Tempest” by Elizabeth Ludwig.
An absolutely riveting novel, it kept me on the edge of my seat as
Keondric Morgan and Tillie McGrath struggle to uncover the mystery of who
murdered Tillie’s fiancé and through it all find healing and love.
Being the first Elizabeth Ludwig book I have read, I wasn’t
sure what to expect. However, as I was pulled deeper into the story, I was
struck by four things.
1 - The
intricately woven plot. I decided to put this at the top of the list, not
only because of the genre, but because it was so well done. Believable, yet complex.
2 - The
romantic element. At times it can be difficult in a mystery to give both
elements equal ground, yet Elizabeth Ludwig handled this splendidly and I found
neither wanting in this story.
3 - The
description. Be they dark alleys or fashionable parlors, everything was
described so vividly, yet in a subtle way so as not to overwhelm the reader.
Wherever the characters were, I could see it perfectly and felt as if I were
right beside them.
4 - Last, but definitely not least, Elizabeth
Ludwig’s beautiful writing. Without this, all the above would not be possible.
Bravo Elizabeth!
These are only four of the qualities I saw in this book.
There were so many more, but alas, I don’t have the time to mention them all.
So…I suppose you will have to read the story yourself to discover what other
treasures are to be found.
Happy Reading!
Amanda
Two years ago, her fiancé perished
during their voyage to America.
Now she discovers it may have been murder...
Dreaming of a better life, Tillie McGrath leaves Ireland behind and,
with her beloved fiancé by her side, sets sail for America. But when illness
robs her of the man she holds dear, she's left alone with only a handful of
tattered memories. While forging on proves difficult, Tillie soon finds some
new friends at her New York boardinghouse, and begins pursuing a new dream--to
open a home for orphaned children.
Despite two years passing, Captain Keondric Morgan has never forgotten the lass
who left his ship so heartbroken. When a crewman's deathbed confession reveals
her fiancé’s demise was the result of murder, the captain knows he must try to
contact her. But his attention draws the notice of others as well--dangerous
men who believe Tillie has in her possession something that could expose their
crimes. And to their way of thinking, the best way to prevent such an outcome
is to seize the evidence and then hand Tillie the same fate as her naive
fiancé.
