“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 Oberlin, Ohio – 1844Lawrence Stewart is a rare man. Raised with his grandmother’s Miami Indian tribe, as a Negro he has consistently walked between two worlds most of his life. He devotes his time and study to becoming a lawyer, … becoming a lawyer, fully intending to obtain justice for the ousted Miami Indians. No Negro man has accomplished these things before, but he is not daunted. He studies for his exams as he rides circuit through the backwoods of Ohio, handing out justice to people who cannot easily reach a courthouse. His life is perfectly set until one June day….
Aurelia “Realie” Baxter made her way from enslavement in Georgia to the free land Lake Huron in Ohio. Far from happy as a slave doing the bidding of a woman cooped up in a house all day, Realie is a bona fide tomboy with a special gift with horses. Now, she is so close to freedom in Canada, she can smell it, but her plans are interrupted when Lawrence shoots her…by mistake….
Lawrence cannot study encumbered with the care of an enslaved woman, but he’s responsible for her injury…
Realie wants to get to Canada, but Lawrence won’t let her get away in trying to help her…
One chance meeting can change your life from what you thought you wanted….to what you really need.
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An excellent inspy historical romance set in 1840s Ohio. I confess, I rarely read historical romances set in America, but this one is really special. Piper Huguley’s knowledge of the period adds a richness to the story, and an authenticity that both breaks your heart, and makes you cheer for the hero and heroine all the more as they battle seemingly insurmountable odds in order to gain their happy ending. A gem of a story.
History with a dash of humor – this story has it all. Lawrence and Realie (loved her name) face many challenges. Life isn’t easy in their world, but they’re both strong, intelligent people who don’t back away from life’s challenges. This story was as original as Ms Huguley’s voice. Loved the details about riding circuit and the fun the author had with the horse’s name. Can’t wait to read her next book!
Sweetly romantic love story about a runaway slave and the lawyer who sets her free. I loved the chemistry and insightful dialogue between these two characters. I only wish the story lasted longer–I wanted to spend more time with the characters!! I will certainly be looking up the full novels in the series.
A lovely novella set in 1844 USA that deals with the intricacies of slavery and ownership and loans, while also being uplifting and providing hope. A lovely read, and the way Lawrence falls hard and fast for Realie makes him a wonderful romance hero.
I had a rough start on this one but ended up pretty into it (so if you’re stuck keep going!). A great, quick read with plenty of historical detail and insight. I’m interested in Huguley’s other works.
Actual rating of 4.5.
I was nervous the moment I read page one of this book. Slavery is a topic I have to be in a certain mindset and mood to read about. I don’t shy away from it, but I am cautious about it. I had all sorts of terrifying notions running through my mind when the main character went in search of his horse. Without giving any spoilers away, my mind was much darker than this author’s intent.
Still, this author didn’t diminish the harsh reality of slavery later on in this short story. I did find it refreshing that the overall tone of the story was practical, yet spiritual. A belief in a higher being was there from beginning to end, even when slave characters contemplated a god that would allow slavery to exist. But to be clear, this is a short story and many themes introduced in this book are not fully covered and I don’t think they are meant to be. This is just a prequel. It’s a great move on the author’s part to pull in readers.
This story itself could almost be humorous if it weren’t for the slavery. The way our two main characters meet is ideal for the love story that follows. I am definitely interested in reading more about these characters.
This was an overall light read, even with the tough subject matter. It’s a love story and a reflection of American History that needs to be remembered so it will never be repeated. Plus, it’s really uplifting.
Highly recommended.
Great historical fiction book. A well written page turner. I’m looking forward to reading other books by the author.
Piper Huguley has written a wonderful inspirational romance with her novella The Lawyer’s Luck. Although this is a quick read, she draws you into the story with her excellent writing and obvious research. I wouldn’t hesitate to read more by Ms. Huguley, and happily recommend her work.
A lovely beginning to a couple’s story.
Piper Huguley is a trailblazer in the inspirational historical romance genre. I was especially impressed with her skilled treatment of a painful part of American history. She is also powerful wordsmith with a unique voice. Huguley has a rare writing talent. Definitely and author to read and re-read!
Heartrending and beautiful.
Gaining insight into truth of these paths people walked is inspiring and humbling. An important veiw key to understanding. Much respect to Author for depth of history exposed by this love story.