Lacemaker Vivienne Rivard never imagined her craft could threaten her life. Yet in revolutionary France, it is a death sentence when the nobility, and those associated with them, are forced to the guillotine. Vivienne flees to Philadelphia but finds the same dangers lurking in the French Quarter, as revolutionary sympathizers threaten the life of a young boy left in her care, who some suspect to … to be the Dauphin. Can the French settlement, Azilum, offer permanent refuge?
Militiaman Liam Delaney proudly served in the American Revolution, but now that the new government has imposed an oppressive tax that impacts his family, he barely recognizes the democracy he fought for. He wants only to cultivate the land of his hard-won farm near Azilum, but soon finds himself drawn into the escalating tension of the Whiskey Rebellion. When he meets a beautiful young Frenchwoman recently arrived from Paris, they will be drawn together in surprising ways to fight for the peace and safety for which they long.
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I LOVED this book.
It’s no coincidence this richly-detailed historical novel has mostly (if not all) five star reviews. As I read, I sat in wonder at how the author so deftly wove in elements of suspense, faith, and romance. I learned so much about the French Revolution and the Whiskey Rebellion with this novel, and it gave me a fresh view of characters like Alexander Hamilton. I liked the plucky main character Vivienne (something about her was so very French!) and I appreciated Liam Delaney’s drive to have land of his own. Side characters were as well-developed as the main characters in this novel. This is a must-read for fans of Christian historical fiction!
The French Revolution… As much as I love learning new things through fiction, some of the historical events included in this story are simply shocking. How do people (even revolutionaries) justify things like guillotines?!!
Fortunately, Vivienne Rivard makes her way out of France before she is sentenced for her “crime” of lace making. Vivienne is a strong, brave, and independent heroine. Her work ethic, determination, compassion, and authentic faith propel her through uncertain circumstances.
Liam Delaney may not be financially rich but he possesses everything that matters. This militiaman is well versed in integrity, intellect, devotion, and hard work. Liam’s ax and plow are just as sharp as his mind and his heart is his greatest strength.
Don’t misunderstand me, I want the grit of history! As a people, we need the three-dimensional historical truth and Green delivers in a fictional experience that far outshines any textbook or encyclopedia account. I highly recommend this story!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.
I recently enjoyed this new novel by Jocelyn Green, and what I loved about it was that she took a nearly unknown aspect of American history (intertwined with the French Revolution) and filled it with believable characters. The danger, intrigue, and romance abounded. The historical detail really made this book shine. A stirring and compelling read!
Jocelyn Green makes history come alive each time I pick up one of her novels. Whether she is writing about the Civil War, French Colonial America, or émigrés of the French Revolution—history, human struggle, and God’s sovereignty are key elements of her stories. Sure there’s romance, but it’s only one part of a much bigger puzzle. THIS is exactly how I like historical fiction.
A Refuge Assured opens with the attack on the Tuileries (August 10, 1792). Like the aristocracy itself, those who supplied silk or lace were growing just as unfashionable as the monarchy that wore them—dangerously so. Following the death of her mother, Vivienne Rivard narrowly escapes the guillotine that claimed her aunt and flees to America. Unfortunately, Philadelphia was not quite the refuge she was seeking.
As I mentioned, God’s sovereignty is always apparent in the lives of Green’s characters. You’ll see it in Liam and Henri’s story, although not as prominently as you do with Vivienne. Green really plucked my heartstrings through Vivienne’s relationship with her parents, longing for acceptance, and the loss of her Tante Rose. Through it all, Green shows how God can use our pain to mold and shape us, soften our hearts towards Him, and stir us to compassion for others. Despite her desperate attempts at self-sufficiency, it’s only through surrender that Vivienne finds peace.
My trip to Paris and Versailles in 2013 strengthened my familiarity with French history. However, through Vivienne’s story, I learned of the plight of the lacemakers and the existence of French Azilum in the US. Additionally, I discovered more about the conflict involving Alexander Hamilton and the Whisky Rebellion. It’s discoveries like these that make me a loyal fan of both the author and this genre. A Refuge Assured is a fascinating story full of history, hardships, and heroism.
Christian Shelf-Esteem received a book to facilitate this review. The views and opinions expressed are 100% honest and my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255 Guidelines, concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. https://christianshelfesteem.wordpress.com/
Travel with Vivienne from Paris to Pennsylvania. Come along for a journey that will sweep you off your feet and plant your imagination firmly in the pages of this epic tale. This story is a delightful kaleidoscope of vibrant picturesque phrases, abundant in historical details and a rich depth of emotion. In short, a veritable pleasure to the senses.
I enjoyed learning new details about the French Revolution as seen through the eyes of a royal lacemaker. I gained a deeper understanding of what the French Revolution looked like. Jocelyn brings history to life by putting you right in the thick of the action. The story and the people became real, not just another story on the page in history.
The characters are authentic and they draw you into their story, I felt a wide-range of sweeping emotion, from elation to sadness and everything in between. No stone is left un-turned. I felt fully immersed in the story and in the lives of Vivienne & Liam.
This story is a delight to any history loving bibliophile. You won’t want to miss out on this exceptional story! I give A Refuge Assured 5-stars and highly recommend it to any who enjoy reading historical fiction.
(I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)
“God is the Creator, is He not?” she had said with a smile. “So when we create, even if it is a mere length of lace and not the stars in the heavens, we honor Him. We bear His likeness when we work.”
I am embarrassed to say that this is the very first book I’ve read written by Jocelyn Green. I am so glad that I read this book, for she has now become one of my favorite historical authors. What a riveting tale of human folly, repercussions of sins, second chances and redemption, and God’s love and faithfulness.
Ms Green is a master story-teller who weaves a delicious story infused with historical events, unforgettable characters, a generous dose of intrigue, a subtle hint of romance, and a firm undergirding of faith and prayer. The plot is propelled by real history that blends seamlessly with fictional events. The intrigue that surrounds the young boy Henri’s identity and the trouble that follows him definitely adds a spark of adrenaline to the storyline.
Vivienne and Liam are incredible characters. Vivienne is a French lacemaker fleeing the Reign of Terror, who ends up in Philadelphia with emotional scars that haunt her. She is a strong, capable woman with a great talent but feels unworthy of love due to her past. She holds a disdain and grudge against her father whom she meets early in the book. Liam is a former officer in the American Revolutionary War and a recently retired schoolmaster, hoping to build a farm and love the land he worked so hard to obtain. He is loyal, compassionate, hard-working, faithful, and steady in his beliefs. Such a swoon-worthy hero! I love his solid faith – “I want you to remember something while I’m gone. That boy upstairs is a child of the King – the only King that matters – no matter who his parents were. And so are you.”
The secondary characters of Henri, Armand – Vivienne’s father, Tara – Liam’s sister, and Finn – Liam’s cousin, add deeper layers to the storyline to reveal how forgiveness, redemption, and healing can come from and through God.
I didn’t know much about the Whiskey Rebellion or the Frenchmen coming to this country to escape the Terror until this book. Although it’s a work of fiction, I learned an incredible amount of history through the book. And, as always, was struck by the cruelty of war and the evils of men, whether driven by greed, mistakenly directed ideals and ideas, or substance like alcohol. It was also interesting to see Alexander Hamilton and George Washington portrayed in a slightly different light from what we’re taught in elementary school.
What an incredible journey! Anyone who enjoys a well-written gripping historical fiction would LOVE this book. I was given a copy of this book by the author and publisher. I was not required to write a favorable review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
I’m not usually attracted to French history, but I learned and enjoyed with this book. It starts with the dangerous days of the early French Revolution, where anything that touched on aristocratic was endangered, even the lace makers who sold to the wealthy. Whoever could escape to America did so, namely one lace maker named Vivienne. Her adaptability allowed her to survive and thrive, where others did not. An interesting story that ends up in an unsettled area of the early U.S.
This story was so well written. Recently, I have discovered that in my reading style I tend to lean toward perfect stories where everything turns out perfectly.
Now this story doesn’t necessarily fit that profile. It’s more realistic, but it was so well written, that I couldn’t help but appreciate the realism. The story was poignant. The story was a romance, but didn’t involve instant love. The timeline was longer than most stories I’ve read, but it only made sense for the storyline and didn’t make it feel too long either. I really haven’t done the book justice in this review. The history is superb and the story was great.
As an author and historical imprints editor myself, I’m a huge fan of Colonial frontier romance, but this was my first Jocelyn Green book. It won’t be my last. In every crevice of downtime, I looked forward to immersing myself into this sensory-rich journey into the French Revolution and 1790s Pennsylvania. This sweeping tale is not for those who want to hurry through, but for the lingerers, those who reread carefully wrought phrases, who can almost smell and taste another era, who close their eyes and imagine …
An excellent story full of intriguing characters. I had never considered how far reaching the effects of the French Revolution were or the large influx of French refugees that escaped to America. I was totally immersed in post revolution America and the pages practically turned themselves!
I really enjoyed this book. I was fascinated about this historical period due to Ms. Green’s research. I learned more about the events of the day than I had known before. There were twists and turns and unexpected happenings that kept me guessing and turning pages.
Absolutely loved A Refuge Assured by Jocelyn Green. I’ve loved all of her novels (still need to read her newest), but this might just be the best one I’ve read yet. Loved the story and how it brought a slice of history alive to me and loved the characters and how they grew throughout the course of the novel.
And what an amazing storyteller and wordsmith Jocelyn Green is. Wow! As a writer myself, I kept noticing her masterful word choices that added so much to my reader experience—being able to envision the story, etc. I actually began making a list of many of these perfect word choices! If that doesn’t sound nerdy to you, you’re probably a writer too! 🙂 So, for me, this book was not only an excellent read but a bit of a writing class as well. Thank you, Jocelyn Green!
Enjoyed.
An engaging story, full of amazing history! I was caught up in this story immediately and couldn’t put it down. With all the historical events, the beautiful romance, the friendships, the hardships. It pulled me in and didn’t let go. I learned so much, but never felt like I was sitting in a history lesson. It was so well written. I truly loved A Refuge Assured!
I received a complementary copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
That moment when you’ve finished a wonderful book and you don’t want to let it go … so you read the author’s notes … and you find YOUR NAME in them. What!? Wow. I’d forgotten that Jocelyn Green had asked a horse question on Facebook probably a year ago. She was looking for a good breed of horse to use in a Colonial-era story. I suggested the Narragansett Pacer, and sure enough, she used it. She even remembered me. How sweet is that?!
It’s no secret that I’m a huge Jocelyn Green fan, so you won’t think it odd that I gave this book five stars, but honestly, it’s that good. Well-researched, engaging characters, unique setting, and all wrapped around a very interesting period in history, when the French were fighting for their freedom and the U.S. was struggling to hold on to theirs. Beautiful story. Read it. Soak it up.
Somehow Green continues to outdo herself. Each book she writes is better than the last. A Refuge Assured is no exception. Great for readers who like their historical fiction without the sugar coating.
He fought for revolution. She was outcasted because of revolution. Can they still find common ground?
“Law and liberty. Order and freedom. It was all a tangled mess”.
A deluge. That’s a perfect word to describe this book.
The fight for liberty is for equality, freedom, justice. Or isn’t it? If we stop and look at the costs can this truly be what was fought for?
Vivienne Rivard and Liam Delaney were on different sides of revolutions oceans apart. Who would dream the influence one would have on the other? So, when Vivienne arrives in America as a refugee, will she truly find the safeplace she’s after? Or will a country deeply scarred by separatism, now between its own people, bring violence to Vivienne’s life once again?
The setting of this book is a world in madness. Countries that will never be what they once were or what they were expected to become. People grieving what was left behind, having to come to terms that their expectations might never be. There seems to be no time to take a breath, enjoy the peacefulness brought by ardently fought liberty. Injustice and persecution seem to never go away. Will there ever be a respite? And how can one finally find sanctuary with deception lurking at every corner?
The author’s craftsmanship was amaaaaazing! Truly, it was like I could feel every emotion, taste all the tavern’s goodness, hear the wilderness surrounding Asylum.
The plot is completely absorbing and realistic. It’s gutwrenching and heartbreaking at times, but also solemn and pleasant as you see the faithfulness with which the characters take up a task and forgiveness being wound into lives tainted by loss and abandonment.
The place Vienne expected to be her refuge will come with more surprises and responsibilities than she could ever imagine. But life is a made of choices, and justice and lawlessness, forgiveness and bitterness, anger and gentleness are not on the same side, one must choose where to stand. And Liam (oh endearing, even if slower-than-a-slug-to-notice Liam), alongside a young boy, a one-eyed man and a freed slave might just be with whom she’ll finally figure out where refuge truly can be found. Or, better yet, in Who.
A Refuge Assured is treat for readers who love historical fiction. Jocelyn Green expertly weaves historical times, places and events with fictional story and characters that draw you right into the pages of her books. I didn’t want the story to end!
You know that moment when you finish a book and you know that what it spoke to you is not what it did not probably any other reader. Ever. Oh, that doesn’t happen to you? Well, perhaps I’m just weird but from random time to time it happens to me. When I sat down to read ‘A Refuge Assured’ I was expecting an interesting historical romance with a touch of intrigue or even a bit of action-type stuff. I mean, it’s the second book about a French lacemaker set around the time of the American Revolution I’ve read this year. There was the twist of the child who may or may not be the smuggled out future King of France during their revolution. I figured that would bring about that intrigue and actionish stuff. I mean I totally got that book. But that’s not what I took away from the book.
Everywhere you go there is greed and envy. No matter what time period of life you look at or what geographical location or even race and creed of people you study; greed and envy. Greed and envy breeds hate. And when a group of people band together in their hate even the innocents are not safe. Any time something is undertaken due to greed or envy then nothing is sacred. Hate brings hate. Individuals may not hate the same things or even for the same reasons but hate is contagious. Hate breeds hate. This book was written, ultimately, because of hate. When people band together through shared hate innocent people stand to lose everything, including their lives, because of it. Hate has no reasoning skills, hate has no rationale, hate fuels itself through added hate. A young woman, Vivienne, sneaks out of France, not with a title or as nobility, but because she is a lacemaker. She is not the object of their hate but an innocent who is running for her life. A child, Henri, who has not yet had time to make enemies of his own or make mistakes to fuel others aggression toward him, but his life is in danger because of who they think he might be. Not who he is but by the thought that he could be the future king of France.
This book gave me amazing characters set with a well-researched backdrop of the French Revolution set in America just after their successful fight for freedom. I see the parallels between the rationale of the separate revolutions and it’s hard to understand how to take sides. I’m sure people felt the same way even then. I promise this book is not about greed and envy and hate. That is just the wonky way my mind worked as I read this book. Well told with strong characters and a strong story-line this book is pretty amazing. I’d highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys a light historical romance. While it is Christian fiction it is subtly woven into the threads of the story and enhances it overall instead of detracts (which is a pet peeve of mine!).
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Bethany House, NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.