Cassandra Stover can't believe her luck when she becomes the companion to Mrs. Jameston, a wealthy society woman. Not only can she help her widowed mother and sister, but Cassie genuinely comes to care for the elderly woman who treats her like family. Enter Mark Langford, an insurance investigator, and everything changes for her.
When Mark reveals that he is investigating Sebastian Jameston, the son of Cassandra's employer, she agrees to pretend they are courting so he can stay in close proximity to the family. Motivated by her devotion to Mrs. Jameston and her own suspicion regarding Sebastian, will the game of pretense that Cassie and Mark embark upon allow a tentative love to grow...especially when unexpected danger puts them both at risk?
In Tracie Peterson’s book, A Lady of Secret Devotion, young Cassie Stover of Philadelphia is invited to become a companion to a Mrs. Jameston, a very wealthy widow who lives in an upscale part of town. What Cassie does not know is that the elderly woman’s son, Sebastian, is a rogue and a scalawag, greedy and malicious. He appears at Mrs. Jameston’s home to continue his insurance fraud schemes and his hopes of depriving his mother of all her money one way or another. Enter Mark Langford of Boston, a handsome widower who arrives to investigate Sebastian and to try to get him to confess to the murder of his friend, Richard Adkins. What follows is a love story intertwined with the investigation, and the story builds to a logical conclusion with the proper characters in their rightful places, both in and out of jail.
As part of her Ladies of Liberty series, Peterson’s novel is lightweight and predictable. There are constant religious references, including a passage from the Bible, “I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people; for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house” (Is. 42:6-7). However, the references to God seem contrived, as if entered into the storyline out of necessity and not really serving the plot.
Cassie and her love interest Mark are the good guys, while the widow’s son is completely evil and without any redeeming qualities. All of that is quite straightforward. A mildly interesting theme is Mrs. Jameston’s relationship with her son Sebastian. They argue about how Sebastian was mistreated growing up and about the guilt the mother feels in how she reared him. But this doesn’t quite fit with the character of the older Mrs. Jameston, who is cheery and elegant, while her son is bad in every possible way.
This book is a good entertainment for readers who are looking for a lighthearted romance novel, and is recommended as such. -- Anita Tiemeyer, www.ChristianBookPreviews.com
Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars(4.5 out of 5 stars)
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5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by AJH (Modesto, CA), July 28, 2009
This whole series was great! Tracie Peterson is one of the greatest writers I've come across in a long time! Anything by her I would recommend!
3.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Pia Atwal (Mississauga, On,), February 02, 2009
The book was an amazing read. It at some parts reminded me of Janette Oke's novel "Love Takes a Wing," but I still loved every bit of the book. Tracie Patterson has an amazing gift to keep you reading her books.
3.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Claudia Martis (Curacao,), September 30, 2008
Hi, This book was a blessing to me. it came in just on the right moment. It made me believe again and to understand the ways God can work through. God is Good. It is a nice and understandable book. I'd like the way the author write and explain the matters. It is romantic but in a save way. And have a Godly perspective of life. For me it was very great.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Amy Kittel (Beaver Dam, WI), September 24, 2008
I really enjoyed this book: the situations, the caring, the captivation, acceptance, and love. I wish everyone could be like them. More books like these, please!
3.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Nicole Smith (Lake, MS), September 08, 2008
This was really good book and very easy to get interested in. Enjoyed the plot and the characters were welldeveloped. Great ending! Very sweet.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Deborah (Reston, VA), August 12, 2008
The Ladies of Liberty series has been a delight to read. While each book in the series can be read by itself, it is very refreshing to see a bunch of strong women in a time where women were seen and not heard. I really liked Cassandra's character. She was a faithful companion and not afraid to speak her mind. She's a very good and clean character but neither is she too perfect to be unbelievable. Her chemistry with Mark is excellent. I enjoyed watching their relationship grow throughout the story. Wow, Sebastian is one of the worse villains I have ever read in a book. Just the way he treated his mother was absolutely horrible. I'm glad that while she was not able to change his ways, she did not approve of him and was even disgusted with him. I'm tired of reading in novels where the mother is oblivious to the faults of her children and then blames others for their wrongdoings. It was refreshing to see that she realized that she had helped with his downfall and that also she wasn't going to put up with his dastardly shenanigans. This has been my favorite series of all of Tracie Peterson's books and this novel makes an excellent addition to the collection. I am hoping that there will be another lady to read about in the near future.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Jennifer Peters (Vermilion, OH), August 07, 2008
Tracie Peterson has not disappointed me yet. Awesome read very strong in having faith in God in any situation. You'll not be disappointed.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Sarah Murray (San Bernardino, CA), August 07, 2008
This one was my favorite. The suspense and Mrs.Jameston's quick wit made for delightful reading.
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