He believes them to be strangers... The door opened suddenly, and there she was. Carter forgot what he was saying and simply stared at the vision before him. Hang his imagination; this woman was far more intriguing in the flesh... Yet she knows the truth... Catherine found she couldn't look away, he was so very handsome. His face had a rather rugged look, perhaps more so than she'd noticed five years ago. How strange that he'd never married... Now that their paths have crossed again, can Catherine break free from the past to embrace the chance for love?
A life of privilege becomes only a distant memory when Catherine Newbury's father is falsely imprisoned and she is whisked away from her home in England to America. Forced to disguise her past and create a completely new life, Catherine takes on a servant's last name and carves out a tenuous future for herself as a seamstress. Soon her dress designs are sought throughout Philadelphia. When the dashing Carter Danby accompanies his mother and sister for a design consultation, Catherine suddenly encounters her past face-to-face. Is Carter's avid interest in her genuine...or does he, as she suspects, recognize her as the young lady he met while touring England? She cannot deny the attraction, but admitting her true identity may jeopardize her father's only hope for freedom. Will Catherine be forced to sacrifice her dreams of love?
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"It was a fun fast read. Catherine was brought up in luxury but also had a very kind father (noble and gentle) So when his business is turned upside down via a partner that used his good name and money in the slave business. Catherine is forced to flee with about trusted servants to America. Her father goes to jail and nobody defends him or comes to his aid (although many believe he is innocent). Catherine stays hidden for that fact that the fathers business partner attach, or maybe she go to prison herself, basically fear that it might hider her father as well. So She is talented seamstress...thank goodness that her governess required her to learn it well. Anyway she is second in command at the sewing house. Many girls are there living and working doing long hours. Her designs get really well know and the owner of the business tries to make her a partner because of how much business she pulls in and new clients. So one of the girls has a grudge against her and snoops around. Catherine is forced to tell her employer which she is understanding and compassionate. She also has been spending time with winnie a girl who is of high society yet wants nothing to do with it. Her brother has his sights set on Catherine and to get her to participate in everything, and have outing with his sister. Cater wants to learn more about her so he highers his friend Lee (a lawyer) to find out more. Eventually they learn the truth of her plight and they seek to rectify her fathers wrongs. They work on getting him out of prison and clearing his name, along with catching his shady business partner. They keep their actions secret because he wants her to like him for him not what he is doing. Caters career in architect takes off. Sewing business booms, Catherine is threatened by the snoopy girls so she flees back to New York and thinking of going back to England. Cater goes after her, tells them of his plans and that her Dad should be coming to America. Ask her to marry him. Eventually it all works out. They get married and winnie marries Lee. Sweet ending"
— Sarah (4 out of 5 stars)
" This was a very enjoyable, quick and easy read. I liked the storyline even though the ending was a bit contrived. Surprisingly good for something I just snagged off the shelf on the way to checkout in the library! "
— Jennifer, 2/13/2014" What I enjoyed most about this book was the dress making.It is an old fashioned romance story. "
— Rebecca, 2/9/2014" I felt like this book was a bit watered down. The plot was okay and the love story was sweet, but by the end it kind of dragged. "
— Michelle, 2/8/2014" I picked this book up at a yard sale because I'm always looking for Christian fiction that is well-written. This book was a great fluff read. I was engrossed in the storyline within the first twenty pages, and enjoyed it the whole way through. It's not going to win any literary prizes, or maybe even make anyone cry, but all in all it was a nice way to spend a couple afternoons. "
— Lori, 1/20/2014" This was a great fun read! The story was Cinderella-ish, but totally enjoyable! "
— Wendy, 1/19/2014" I guess I should always list books when I read them. I added this to my 'to read' list when I saw it on my sisters lists, ordered it through the library, finally got it, and realized I'd already read it. If I remember right, it was a clean and entertaining easy read. "
— Dawn, 1/16/2014" This is a fun Cinderella sort of story and the historical element is enjoyable yet subtle. The heroine Catherine is strong despite the many trials she has been handed, and with some help is able to maintain hope for her future. She is surrounded by characters that you can't help but like, and her love interest Carter is quite charming. "
— Rebecca, 1/5/2014" I really would give this book 3 1/2 stars. I liked it, didn't love it. I love books written during the era when ladies were still expected to be ladies & a man was always a gentleman. Tracie Peterson is no Jane Austen (far from it) but I was entertained nonetheless. It was a very easy read & not really very climatic at any point. I did enjoy it though & might concider reading another of Tracie Peterson's books if I ran out of other books to read. I don't love that she referred so much to religion & praying. I'm all about being religious but this one was written almost like a christian romance novel. Man, I really sound like I hated this book...not so, just telling you what annoyed me so if you read the book you'll be forewarned. "
— Julie, 1/1/2014" I listened to the audio book and enjoyed it a lot. I always enjoy stories from this time period. It was a bit predictable but sometimes that can be relaxing and a nice diversion. "
— Chrystal, 12/26/2013" It was pretty good, a light read, nothing too terribly deep but satisfying for the genre and the characters were pretty good. "
— Suzette, 12/9/2013" It was fine. Didn't love it or hate it. "
— Karina, 12/5/2013" cute, easy, not enough romance... too much side plot:) "
— Lindsey, 12/5/2013" A little churchy at the end. "
— K, 12/4/2013" not really impressed. I had no idea she was a Christian romance writer - which was fine, but it just started creeping in mid-way through the book and where it was inserted, it felt just like that "oops, I have to say something about God here". Unfortunate, because otherwise it was a decent story. "
— Mary-Frances, 11/8/2013" I liked this book better than the first one. The only problem that I had was that it seemed to drag out at the end making me think something else was going to happen even though it didn't. "
— Cynthia, 10/21/2013" I liked the story in this one, as well as the class differences. "
— Melissa, 8/17/2013" coulda toned it down a bit with the guy element "
— Katie, 5/20/2013" This was just as good as the first one. These books don't need to be read in order, they are all separate. "
— Shellie, 3/28/2013" The book was interesting enough and for such a short novel the character development was okay. "
— Tara, 1/16/2013" Another easy read; early american love story "
— Cathy, 6/29/2012" I really liked this book, I thought the history was fascinating - I always enjoy learning about lifestyles in years past, rather than the wars and government and politics. I also enjoyed the love story, I thought it was quite sweet and that anyone at any age level would enjoy it. "
— Carolyn, 12/9/2011" I loved this one And I think that it is the best one in the series! It had danger, but not the serious life theatening kind. It was really enjoyable. "
— Hannah, 9/29/2011" This was a fun historical fiction read. A little cheesy at times but a sweet romance. I loved the fact that I have acutally been to Bath so it was great to relate to that portion. If you like Jane Austen stories, this one is very close to that, except written by a modern writer. "
— Shelley, 4/1/2011" This has been my favorite of this author's books that I've read. The storyline was well developed with lovely characters. "
— Alison, 3/4/2011" I felt like this book was a bit watered down. The plot was okay and the love story was sweet, but by the end it kind of dragged. "
— Michelle, 2/26/2011" This was a very sweet quick read. I read it today. Great subliminal message about having faith and just a cute little love story. "
— Ginny, 1/21/2011" This was really cute. Sometimes the story was a little slow in places but I enjoyed reading this book. "
— Tierra, 1/5/2011" cute, easy, not enough romance... too much side plot:) "
— Lindsey, 12/30/2010" A little churchy at the end. "
— K, 11/27/2010" It was fine. Didn't love it or hate it. "
— Karina, 10/19/2010" A cute, clean and fun story. I would give it 4 1/2 stars. "
— Tiffany, 9/15/2010" Alyson this one's for you! It is a historical fiction which I like to read for fun! A feel good story that starts in England then ends in Philadelphia. "
— Kristen, 6/29/2010" Great book!! Couldn't put it down. Can't wait to start the next one in this series. "
— Judy, 4/27/2010" It was pretty good, a light read, nothing too terribly deep but satisfying for the genre and the characters were pretty good. "
— Suzette, 3/27/2010" I guess I should always list books when I read them. I added this to my 'to read' list when I saw it on my sisters lists, ordered it through the library, finally got it, and realized I'd already read it. If I remember right, it was a clean and entertaining easy read. "
— Dawn, 2/9/2010Tracie Peterson is the award-winning author of over one hundred books. She was awarded a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews in 2007 for inspirational fiction and has won a number of other prestigious awards. She previously managed Barbour Publishing’s Heartsong Presents book line and teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences every year.
Aimee Lilly is an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator who has been involved in the broadcasting and radio drama field since 1989. She has read audiobooks by many bestselling authors, including Elizabeth George, Janette Oke, and Francine Rivers.