Saturday, May 28, 2016

Through the Shadows {a Litfuse Blog Tour review}

I've recently been reading the third book in The Golden Gate Chronicles by Karen Barnett.  Through the Shadows has been as much fun to read as the previous books in the series.  I reviewed the second one, Beyond the Ashes, about a year ago.

This book really felt like it could stand alone, despite it being the third in a series.  There are a few things that add some depth to the story, but this one didn't ever feel like you were missing something huge by starting later in the series.



About the book:


As San Francisco rises from the ashes, an age-old battle looms between corruption and the promise of new beginnings.

The devastating earthquake is just two years past, but the city of San Francisco is still trying to recover. Destruction of this magnitude is not so easy to overcome---and neither are the past regrets shadowing Elizabeth King's hopeful future.

Hoping to right her wrongs, Elizabeth dedicates herself to helping girls rescued from slavery in Chinatown brothels, even if it means putting her own life at risk to sneak through the gloomy alleys and rooftops where dangers lurk.

Putting her life on the line for a worthy cause is admirable. But opening her heart is even more terrifying. So when Elizabeth meets attorney, Charles McKinley---a man who dreams of reforming San Francisco's crooked politics---Elizabeth begins to doubt: Can she maintain her pretense and hide her past? Or will her secret jeopardize both their futures?

My thoughts:

I really like Elizabeth.  She has made mistakes in her young life, and she's trying to atone for those.  A friend drags her to a meeting, where a lady is talking about rescuing Chinese girls from slavery in Chinatown, and rescuing them from the brothels as well.  Elizabeth feels drawn to this work, especially after hearing Miss Cameron say, "We are all God's children.  None have fallen so far as to be unredeemable by his love and sacrifice on the cross."

That quote hits home, and soon Elizabeth is packing up and moving to San Francisco to work as a teacher in the mission.  Elizabeth has siblings in San Francisco, and if you have read the previous two books, you are familiar with them already.  They flit in and out of the story, but primarily, this book is about Elizabeth and the rescued Chinese girls, and also about Charles as he starts off in his career as an attorney.

Barnett does a great job of incorporating faith lessons in the story without being preachy. 

One thing I find interesting is how two of the biggest issues in this story, set in 1908, are still such big issues today.  Sex trafficking and corruption in politics are headlines today, and it sure doesn't seem like things have improved at all.

What is wonderful about this story, though, is that it is clear that an individual can make such a huge difference, even in a such a big issue.  What are you doing to make a difference in people's lives? 




You can see what others had to say about the book at the Litfuse Blog Tour page!

Disclaimer:  I received this book through LitFuse Blog Tour.  No other compensation was received.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own.  
You can see what others had to say about the book at the Litfuse Blog Tour page!

Disclaimer:  I received this book through LitFuse Blog Tour.  No other compensation was received.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own.  
- See more at: http://debrakb.blogspot.com/2015/07/beyond-ashes-lifuse-book-tour-review.html#sthash.sRJeUKwm.dpuf
You can see what others had to say about the book at the Litfuse Blog Tour page!

Disclaimer:  I received this book through LitFuse Blog Tour.  No other compensation was received.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own.  
- See more at: http://debrakb.blogspot.com/2015/07/beyond-ashes-lifuse-book-tour-review.html#sthash.sRJeUKwm.dpuf



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