A Lady of Hidden Intent

Title: A LADY OF HIDDEN INTENT
Author: Tracie Peterson
Publisher: Bethany House
March 2008
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0146-2
Genre: Inspirational/historical

When Catherine Newbury’s father is falsely accused and imprisoned for slave trading, Catherine is forced to flee the country with two of their trusted servants. They are able to secure passage to America, but there Catherine is forced to keep a low profile because people might be searching for her due to her father’s problems, even though all his land, holdings, and money have been ceased.

Catherine is able to take a job as a seamstress in Philadelphia, and is soon sought after as the most talented designer in the Americas. She worries that this new-found fame will hurt her as she tries to hide.

Carter Danby met Catherine when he toured England many years ago, but when they meet again at the design shop in Philadelphia, he can’t place her, even though she seems familiar. He’s instantly drawn to Catherine, but Catherine’s desires to free her innocent father are Catherine’s greatest desire. Will she sacrifice love?

A LADY OF HIDDEN INTENT is the second book of the Ladies of Liberty series. Even if the reader hasn’t read the first book in the series A Lady of High Regard this story stands alone. Ms. Peterson is a talented author and its apparent she does the needed research for historical writing, making it a pleasure to read.

Catherine instantly wins our sympathies, and even though we only briefly meet Carter in the first few pages, it is obvious that he’s the hero. I couldn’t wait for him to make his way back into the picture in a more permanent manner so I could get to know him too. The story has a strong romance, as well as a bit of suspense, as the man guilty of the crimes that imprisoned Catherine’s father’s roamed free. I hoped that the father would get out of prison. Fans of historical fiction will love A LADY OF HIDDEN INTENT. $13.99. 352 pages.