"no safe harbor" by elizabeth ludwig

About the book: 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?

My take: I did not expect to enjoy No Safe Harbor. The cover is gorgeous, and the book summary is intriguing, so why was I prepared to dislike this book? Because I did something I never do with books I'm reviewing: I read another reviewer's take before picking up the book. My mistake was innocent enough—I forgot I'd requested the book. After reading the lukewarm review, I planned to stay away from No Safe Harbor. (This particular reviewer often enjoys books more than I do, but I'd never seen him give a negative review to a book I liked.) Then a few days later, the book arrived on my doorstep. I put off reading it as long as possible, and when I started reading, my fears seemed to be confirmed.

But then ...

I kept reading, and soon I found myself swept into the story. The mysteries regarding Cara's brother and Rourke's father kept me guessing, and I couldn't wait to figure out who was really calling the shots. I also enjoyed the romance between Cara and Rourke, as well as the relationships Cara built with the others in her boardinghouse.

The other reviewer's criticisms are valid (you can see his review here), but these issues did not diminish the enjoyment I got from reading No Safe Harbor. In fact, I'd expect all of those questions he had to be answered in upcoming books. (No Safe Harbor is book one in Ludwig's Edge of Freedom series.)

No Safe Harbor is well written, engaging, and full of intrigue. Reading this book reinforced my belief that while reviews are important—especially for building buzz about a book—they should be taken with a grain of salt. (As a book blogger, should I even be saying this???) We all connect with books—or fail to connect with them—for different reasons. A book I love, you may hate. And I book I pan, you may think is the greatest book ever written. But that's part of the joy of reading fiction—discovering great stories for yourself. And if you hate a book? Well, no one said you had to finish it! (Unless, of course, you're a book blogger...) 4 stars.

Buy the book.
See what other reviewers are saying.

About the author: Elizabeth Ludwig is an award-winning author and an accomplished speaker and teacher. Her historical novel Love Finds You in Calico, California earned four stars from Romantic Times. She is the owner and editor of the popular literary blog The Borrowed Book. Along with her husband and two children, Elizabeth makes her home in Orange, Texas.

Learn more at www.elizabethludwig.com.

About the giveaway: Elizabeth Ludwig is celebrating her new book with a Kindle Fire Giveaway and connecting with readers at a Facebook Author Chat party on 12/6.

One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• No Safe Harbor by Elizabeth Ludwig

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on December 5th. Winner will be announced at the "No Safe Harbor" Author Chat Facebook Party on 12/6. Connect with Elizabeth, get a sneak peek of the next book in the Edge of Freedom series, try your hand at the trivia contest, and win some great prizes—gift certificates, books and a Book Club Prize Pack (10 copies for your book club or small group)!

So grab your copy of No Safe Harbor and join Elizabeth on the evening of the December 6th for a chance to connect with her and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 6th!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."