ELIZA'S HOPE
Author: Vicki Gaia ISBN: 0778324397 8/2007 HISTORICAL Publisher: ENSPIREN PRESS
Time Period: 1910s, Independence and New York City
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Eliza Lily is a woman harboring a terrible secret she cannot fully recall. With her past exposed, and her reputation ruined, she leaves for New York with her guardian—William Bennett and his sister, Jewel.
Hoping to forge a new life for herself, will her past come to haunt her future happiness?
Eliza Lily's fragmented memories torment her of the terrible day she fled Jeb Harris, her foster parent. William Bennett finds Eliza by the river with blood on her dress. She insists its from an animal, but being an avid hunter, he knows better. Ignoring the inner alarm in his head, he makes a decision that will forever change his life. He brings Eliza home to live with him and his sister, Jewel.
When ugly rumors resurface years later, Eliza and Jewel take shelter with William who now lives in New York. He plans to marry Eliza to a suitable gentleman who can give her a home and safety from her past. Eliza thwarts his plans in her quest for social change. To make matters worse, stirrings of love for this exasperating women challenge his determination.
Even in a city of millions, Eliza's past once again resurfaces. Only by going back to the scene of her lost memories can she hope to discover the truth. But will the truth set Eliza free or dash all hope? |
 RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS: 
ELIZA'S HOPE is a tale of love and suffering, of running from the past while dreaming of the future. Eliza has a secret, one that she's managed to hide even from herself. When she's faced with a life filled with injustice and accusations, the two people who love her most, Jewel and her brother, William, make plans to shield Eliza from other people's cruelty. The trio leaves their small town and goes to live in New York. In the City, though, Eliza shows that her education and her willingness to uncover her past, goes much further than anyone would have believed.
I loved this book. I was completely pulled into the story, right from the very first page. Eliza is an amazing character, a woman with firm beliefs and the strength to stand up for her convictions. This story is steeped with the details of the time, and I could fairly hear the shouts at the suffrage rallies! ELIZA'S HOPE shows that even those with the bleakest of beginnings can overcome enormous obstacles and find their own happily-ever-after. This is truly a wonderful book.
Kay James |
