Customer Reviews

A Lady of Hidden Intent (Ladies of Liberty, Book 2)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Catherine Newbury and her father are introduced to a charming young American, Carter Danby, at a ball they host at their home in England. Later that night, after all the guests have left and the house has gone to bed, Catherine over hears her father in conversation with his partner. Their shipping buisness has been discovered to have been shipping slaves and the (crooked) partner is in the process of fleeing the country. After he leaves, Catherine confronts her father and they decide for her to leave England as well.

Five years later, in Philadelphia, Carter Danby accompanies his mother and sister to the dressmakers. The fashion designer, Catherine Shay, strikes a familiar chord with him, but he can not place when and where he has seen her. Curious about her past, and wanting to know her better, Carter asks his friend to investigate her.

Catherine recognizes Carter immediately, but says nothing. Instead she turns her attetion to drawing out Carter's sister, Winnifred. Winnifred is a shy, retiring girl with few friends and an overbearing mother. Catherine listens to Winnifred's desires for her dress,and also becomes her friend.

This is an enjoyable read because of the interactions of the characters. I also enjoy that Catherine is such a compassionate, strong character. The relationship that develops between Catherine and Carter draws you in and keeps you turning the pages as you wonder what will happen next.

This is another great book in The Ladies of Liberty series by author Tracie Peterson. It kept my attention throughout and it resonates with the power of God. It helps us remember that His ways are not always our ways and we may not always understand why things happen in our lives, but can be assured that God has His reasons.

The heroine in this book (Catherine) had lost a lot, yet she perseveres and has a strong faith in God that sees her through.

It was very enjoyable reading.

Although I enjoyed the story of rich girl turned poor and then fighting back to make a name for herself, I felt the book dragged in spots. It was filled with details of things that I thought were of little importance to the story (for example, the meeting at the seamstress shop discussing hours, wages, etc.) I also would prefer to have a little more interaction between the two main characters before a declaration of love. I felt Carter hardly knew her when he started making references of a future life together especially when she wasn't even friendly to him and hardly smiled or spoke during their brief meetings.

Overall, it is a good read but not my favorite Tracie Peterson book. I enjoyed her Westward Chronicles series much more.

This is a good little novel. I found myself quite interested in the descriptions of life in the "sewing house" where the heroine lived. I felt the story dragged on a bit in parts, but nothing too bad. It didn't set my world on fire, but I didn't find it an excruciating struggle to finish, anyhow. There were some interesting characters and even a "villain" of sorts, which kept my interest sufficiently.

The religious aspects of the novel were integrated nicely. I didn't feel like I was being hammered over the head with sermons all the time.

I read at "above average" speed, and can finish a book of this length in maybe 4-6 hours. Had I been a slower reader, maybe this book would have dragged a bit more. If you take a few days to finish a book, you might not be as forgiving; but for me, it was okay.

A LADY OF HIDDEN INTENT by Tracie Peterson is the second title in her Ladies of Liberty series. We meet up with Catherine Newbury- a girl of seventeen - as she dances at one of the many functions she is accustomed to in the life she leads in the elitist set in England. Her partner, Carter Danby, is a visiting American who is study the architecture of Bath. He is taken by Catherine, and she too is smitten by the handsome man with the witty tongue, but he is merely a visitor who will soon return to the Americas.
Later that night, Catherine's stable and indulgent world is turned up-side down. Her father's business partner has corrupted the company and fled, leaving Mr. Newbury to take the brunt of the punishment. In fear of Catherine's safety, Mr. Newbury sends her, along with two of his loyal servants to America. Five years later, Catherine has taken on the sir name of Shay, and finds herself as a much sought after seamstress in Philadelphia. Saving all her money for her father's defense, she lives in sadness from both the separation and the concern for his well being.
When Carter Danby accompanies his mother and sister to the local seamstress, he is introduced to Catherine and sense something about her. Catherine immediately recognizes Carter and does her best to stay out of his watchful eye. Carter is intrigued by the women who labors, yet has an air of sophistication and upbringing. He intends to find out more about Catherine Shay.
Though Catherine is quite sweet and considerate of all those she works with, Felicia is not taken in or appreciative of Catherine's charms. She senses she is not who she claims to be and decides to find out what she can about Catherine's past.
A LADY OF HIDDEN INTENT is another fine book by Tracie Peterson. Catherine, though demure and sweet, is also stoic and single minded in seeing her father exonerated and freed. Carter is quite charming and will stop at nothing to secure Catherine at his side.
I enjoyed A LADY OF HIDDEN INTENT, though I felt at times certain plots were left flat. So much more could of become of Felicia hateful ways or Carter Danby's father's balance of business and corruption. Other than that, it was an entertaining read as always.

In 1850 in Bath England, Catherine Newbury has lived a luxurious lifestyle without a care in the world. Her idyllic life ends when she learns the police are coming to arrest her father Nelson for co-owning a slave ship. Knowing he is innocent, Nelson refuses to run. However, he wants his beloved daughter safe while he corrects the mess.

Five years later in Philadelphia, Catherine is a popular dress designer who desperately needs to find a way to prove her father is innocent and get him released from prison; only her belief in God keeps her going. American architect Carter Danby, whom her dad introduced to her on her last party night in England, sees her when he escorts his mother and sister for a fitting, but does not recognize her. Still he desires her and wants to help her as he believes by her demeanor that she is carrying a dark mystery, but though she finds him attractive, she refuses to reveal her secret as she trusts no one except God since her father was incarcerated falsely.

A LADY OF HIDDEN INTENT is an entertaining inspirational Victorian romance. Catherine holds the story line together as she changes from pampered debutante to self sufficient designer while never losing sight of her objective or her faith in God not man. Sub-genre readers will appreciate this fine heartening historical.

Harriet Klausner

The other readers have given an adequate description so I'll just share my opinions.

This was a GREAT story but I found it much different from her other books. I found A Lady of High Regard different, also, but it still had the suspense that I have grown accustom to from Peterson. This was sans all of that. I mean, there was a little blackmail but really nothing to write home about.

However, I still found this book riveting. I was glued to the pages and couldn't put it down. Peterson writes her characters with such depth and feeling that you really feel like you know them and understand them. THe love portion of this book might have been a little rushed but not so much that it ruined the book or made it utterly unbelievable. Especially since Carter and Catherine had met early in the book and seemed to have made a connection there.

Carter was a true white knight and Catherine stronger than a typical damsel.

You will not regret reading this book... you will not regret re-reading this book!

Catherine Newbury is forced to leave England in wake of a scandal of which her father is caught in the middle. She flees to America where she creates a new name for herself as a fashion designer. Everyone in Philadelphia wants to be wearing her designs including the family of Carter Danby. The two met years ago in England but a chance reunion brings them together again in America. Catherine tries to hide her identity while Carter can't figure out why this young designer keeps triggering his memory.

This was another enjoyable entry in this series. The writing in this story is top notch and keeps you wanting more. Peterson keeps her trademark writing with an enjoyable heroine and a storyline that you can't put down. I enjoyed reading about the fashion of the time period. It was very interesting to read about the lives of the fashion industry of that time period. I liked learning about what had to go on to design and create the outfits. The sewing house seemed very different from a factory because people enjoyed working there and got good wages. I also thought it was VERY poignant to bring up the issue of mistresses and how this corrupted the family in this time period. Carter's father and brother were horrible in how their view of women and the way his father treated his wife was disgusting. When Carter realizes how many abortions have cost the lives of his half-siblings, it makes the reader really think about how sacred life is. I was pleasantly surprised to read about how Felicia fails to usurp Catherine at the sewing house. Honestly I get tired of reading about jealous rivals who ruin everything for the unsuspecting innocent heroine. This might sound sadistic but it was a total joy to read about how everything backfired on her. Just a refreshing change from other Christian fiction that always involves the bad winning out over the good. Even though the stories are not connected I have been enjoying the books in the Ladies of Liberty series. It's awesome to read about strong females who like both fashion and leadership in the regency era. This is, in my opinion, one of Peterson's best novels. HIGHLY recommended.

I read this like every year! I just now bought the other books on my Kindle! It is a thrilling, romantic, awesome book I reccomend it highly! Five stars forever!!!!! <3

The interaction between the main characters was limited, making their 'love' seem hollow and baseless. Every other page had bible references and actual verses strewn across it. Confusingly (and DISAPPOINTINGLY), the male lead speaks out against his father's and brother's treatment of their wives, but then once he gets his own fiance (an apparently strong and independent woman who's done amazingly well for herself despite her circumstances), starts telling her what she can and can not do (and she lets him!!!).
Stories can have believable - "sinless" - interaction between characters and still be great reads even for those not of the holier-than-thou persuasion, but this is NOT one of them. Definitely will not be reading more from this author. Would give it half a star if I could.