Thanks to Jacqueline Friedland & Caitlin Hamilton Summie for the ARC paper back copy and NetGalley for the ecopy for my kindle.
This book is a historical/romance fiction novel. I do enjoy reading historical fiction but the middle section of the book went kind of slow for me. Once I got to the last few chapters, I really enjoyed the book. I was puzzled as to why the book had the title but the last page reveals the real reason.
If you enjoy reading historical/romance fiction set in the south just before the Civil War, you'll enjoy this book.
Over all, it was a good first book, and I look forward to the next one.

Loved the history this book offered during such a troublesome time in the United States. It was fun learning our history from an outside perspective.

This was a refreshing read for me. There's a nice complexity to the story and the writing.

Would have been an instant classic with a bit more development. There's a crossover of story lines that could have been more evolved. I could have easily read 200 more pages for that sort of expansion on characters and story.

Overall a very redemptive story. I enjoyed it.

I enjoyed this historical Novel. The novel takes place before the US Civil war in South Carolina. Abigail has been sent to SC to live with an old friend of the family after her family falls on hard times. When she arrives she must learn how to navigate in society and romance. Her benefactor is involved in the underground railroad and abolitionists and they decide to face the danger together. The author does a very good job with the historical background and the Charleston setting. The characters are well developed. The book is a quick easy read. I was a little disappointed in the ending and it seemed rushed. Enjoy

This is a historical romance that takes place about 20 years before he Civil War. When the Abolition movement and the Underground Railroad were a part of life for some. Douglas Elling had taken a stand against slavery, but it cost him more than he ever imagined. The loss of wife and daughter made him cold and distant, but his fight did go away.

Abigail Milton has recently been sent to stay with the friend of the family, she’s only 17, impressionable and never been this type of society. She did not like Douglas at first, but he wasn’t around all that much so it worked out for her, but she finds herself being swept up in all the balls and dinners that she’s invited to attend. Who woulnd’t?! The author did just an amazing job capturing this era of time, from the houses to the people and how they carried themselves and their beliefs. It was so easy to get caught up in it all, the Gala’s and dresses and the dancing were just amazing. But there no shortage of lies and secrets to go around though and those who were set to ruin things for Abigail as well as Douglas.

Douglas Elling is a grumpy and standoffish man, but after the loss he suffered, I wouldn’t blame him at all. He did have a soft side to him, and I enjoyed those times so much much like I enjoyed his continuous fight for slavery to end. I coudn’t help but to root for him to succeed. And something about Abigail started to pull him out the rut he was in. Their times together were sometimes kinda intense, then as the story continues they seem to come together. It was sweet and endearing that these two could see the other for who they truly were. Especially when so much stood in the way.

Trouble the Water was a wonderful story of love during a time when all odds were against them.

Combining the allure of Southern Life with the British Victorian era, seventeen year old Abigail Milton finds herself sent off to America by her parents as a way of reducing their financial burden and getting rid of a temperamental daughter. When Abby arrives in Charleston, South Carolina she must rely on the hospitality of Douglas Elling, a friend from her dad's college days. Although wealthy, Elling has some unresolved issues and leaves his new charge to the guidance of a governess to prepare her for the southern aristocracy of the 1840's. Thrown into the mix is the abolition movement with Douglas
instrumental in the migration of slaves through the Underground Railroad. Abigail's curiosity and support in this cause leads to a reawakening of Douglas's heart which is complicated by some major misunderstandings which tear the two apart.

Jacqueline Friedland has done some extensive research on antebellum life in the south for her debut novel, Trouble the Water, placing the focus on slavery front and center, although, at times, tending to be a bit preachy. Told from the points of view of Abigail, Douglas, and the slave - Clover, Friedland needs to watch the repetition and pacing of her story. A good first attempt. Three stars and a thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Set in Charleston, S.C. During the 1840's, Trouble the Water is a richly detailed story about beytral, loss, love , deeply seeded beliefs, and the power of freedom.

I fell in love with this book - the setting, the building relationship between Abby and Douglas, and the driving power of Clover to seek freedom and a better life for unborn children all drew me in. But what truly captured me was Clover through her strength of conviction, belief in self, and absolute determination to escape slavery. Her love for her children is palpable - and so is her desire for a different life for them.

The growth of Abby and Douglas's relationship felt real to me and I appreciated how independent Abby was. Not an easy thing for a woman during that time period. The two of them, by the end, felt like partners and not just two people in love. And by that I mean, yes they overcame misunderstandings/misinterpretations, and yes they love each other, but they also come together as equals in the relationship with mutual respect for what the other is capable of. And for me that is the mark of a true love match.

If you can't tell, this was a wonderful read to me and I would highly recommend it!

I received a review e-arc via NetGalley from SparkPress. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Abigail Milton was born into British middle class, but when her family is faced with debt, her father sends her to America. She is staying with Douglas Elling, an old family friend. Douglas is a widower who doesn't really want anything to do with Abigail. After overhearing Douglas planning the escape of a slave, Abigail realizes that this man is not what he seems. As they both discover secrets about each other, they become closer and fall in love. A good love story that takes place 20 years before the Civil War. I liked it and would recommend it to all readers who like to read stories about slavery and abolitionists.

Jacqueline Friedland’s TROUBLE THE WATER is an intense and intriguing novel that will captivate readers from the first page to the very heart-wrenching end. She describes the turmoil of the times of the 1840’s in Charleston, S.C. as well as many parts of Europe. Friedland’s historical fiction delivers a vivid picture living in a southern city like Charleston and throughout southern and northern states. Readers find themselves in the middle of life in the high society of Charleston, where they experience issues of trust, adventure, and romance as Friedland introduces characters dealing with the slave trade, slavery in America, the early Abolitionists movement, and the Underground Railroad.
Readers meet the principal character Douglas Elling, a wealthy Brit transplanted to Charleston, a widower after the tragic death of his daughter and wife, and an eligible bachelor. Friedland continues to develop her storyline as if readers are viewing a motion picture. She describes life in Charleston’s high society and the class system from wealthy landowners to dock workers. As the result of economic downturn in England, Douglas agrees to become the benefactor of Abigail Milton, the daughter of close family friends from England who has fallen on hard times. He accepts the responsibility to care for her and to provide a governess to educate Abby so she can enter society in fashion.

TROUBLE THE WATER storyline centers on the timeframe in the early 1840’s. Friedland shares the attitudes of the wealthy landowners towards slavery and places her readers inside Douglas and Abby’s heads as they deal with their feelings towards owning slaves. The author skillfully creates support characters who add to the action of the story. Friedland shares Abby’s family history including details of past betrayals, manipulation, and trust issues. Abby responds quickly when she discovers deception and lies from those she thought she could trust. The author demonstrates how Abby continues to develop confidence and the ability to take charge of what she wants to accomplish.

Using great support characters and subplots in TROUBLE THE WATER, readers are included in an adventure that comes to life and has a heart-warming as well as a heart-wrenching ending. Friedland’s historical fiction story is a must read and earns a five-star ranking.

Trouble the Water takes place in Charleston, SC during the 1840's. It follows Abigail Milton who is sent from England to stay with Douglas Elling - an old friend of her fathers - after their family encounters some hard times. Suffice it to say Abigail's first impression of Douglas is not the best.
He is not what she expected and it's obvious from the get-go that he's hiding something.
Over time she begins to warm up to him but it isn't until she accidentally overhears a private conversation that she realizes he isn't the man she thought he was.

I didn't enjoy this as much as I thought I would. the middle was a bit slow going and I began losing interest about halfway through. I was hoping there would be more involvement with the Underground Railroad and I could have done without the added drama from the Cunningham sisters - one of which was Abigail's friend.

This book started on a gut-wrenchingly vivid note, but it ultimately fell flat for me. Early on, I thought I would not be able to read it. I thought it was too heavy of a subject matter. The story was told from multiple characters’ perspectives and takes place primarily in Charleston, South Carolina. I would say there were three main characters. Douglas, a successful businessman in shipping, Abby, his temporary ward, and Clover, a pregnant slave. It is a romance and historical fiction and is trying to do too much within the page space allotted.

Douglas has dealings in the Underground Railroad. Abby is from Liverpool sent by her family because of her unmanageable temperament, which is explained and understandable, but her family doesn’t understand and thinks a change of scene is in order. Clover is a slave in the nearby Cunningham household. Abby is in her presence maybe twice. and I don’t believe Douglas ever was so there was little connection between the Clover and the other MCs. I felt the characterization of the Cunningham family was off. They seemed like a caricature of a quintessential Southern family, and their role was to show the Southern way of life with slaves, throwing in facts and statistics (that were suspect at times) into conversation as way to show the author did the research rather than true to character.

The romance was nice enough but not very compelling. Not enough time spent on the development of the relationship to be very satisfying. The writing is clean and strong, but it needed something more to standout. Not a bad read. Just not a great either.

*I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars.


1840’s Charleston, SC, slavery and the Underground Railroad, when abolitionist sentiments and actions can destroy your family. 1840’s England when a change in economic situation can change the life of a middle class family forcing them to send their 17 year old daughter to a place of safety with a friend in Charleston. There is hardship and despicable treatment and loss. Two people whose lives have not been easy will change each other’s lives. This is a love story, but I gradually found it to be more . It’s about the pre-war south, a view of the white upper class society vs the plight of their slaves, about the lengths that people who stood for humanity and freedom would go.

Abby Milton is sent to stay with her father’s old friend Douglas Elling. She is reeling from things that happened to her in England when her family faced poverty and he is withdrawn and grieving awful losses. She learns of his involvement in the abolitionist movement and sees him in a different light. He discovers things about her life in England and vows to protect her. As we suspect, they begin to heal each other by their presence.

I was disappointed that there was not more of the abolitionist activity. It was when characters came to life with their passion for helping others that the intensity of the story was deepened. The antics of the Cunningham sisters made this feel a little melodramatic, but in spite of this , I found I was captivated by the story. Oh and I loved the Epilogue!


I received an advanced copy of this book from Spark Press through NetGalley.

This is an incredible book! Even with knowing a lot about this time period, it's not my usual historical fiction time period to read about. That being said, a fantastically researched book that is fast-paced with a cohesive, fantastic plot. Wonderful character development throughout the story. along with relationships between the characters.

Beauty and the Beast meets Gone with the Wind in Jacqueline Friedland's Trouble the Water. Abbey, a poor and emotionally damaged "beauty" from England seems to have won the lottery when she is sent to live with a well off family friend in Charleston, SC. Douglas, a "beast" still reeling from the deaths of his wife and daughter wants nothing to do with his new ward, but when fate throws them together they begin to see what really makes each other tick. Will they be able to find love and help slaves escape on the Underground Railroad along the way? A simple and lovely penned story.

I had a hard time getting into this book. It just seemed like one long run on sentence after another. Since I did not finish book, I do not intend to publish a review.

I got almost all the way completed before my book expired, so I will be leaving a full review when I am completely done (book on request from my library)..

With thanks to the author, Jacqueline Friedland, the publisher, Spark Press, and NetGalley.com for the advanced reader copy.

"Trouble the Water" is an enjoyable historical fiction novel set in Charleston, SC in the 1840s. Abby is a young British girl sent to live with a dear friend of her fathers after her family's fall into debt. She arrives and finds the widower who is entrusted with her care to be a gruff and irksome man, and the ways of the American South different from her homeland. Well researched, the publisher blurbs spoke of abolition and teh end of slavery. All told, it is more of a romance novel, with the ending fairly predictable from about the 4th chapter. I found the characters all questioning their own emotions and reaction to be repetitive and niave at best. I enjoyed the prose, but the story, in the end, lacked enough depth to be worthwhile.

1840's Charleston, South Carolina. This is a new to me publisher,SparkPress and I must say I am very impressed with this historical fiction book they have published . I am open to reading more by this publisher. The cover is the book is very eye catching.
Abigail Milton (Abby) is from a middle class British family but when finances become an issue she is sent to America to live off the charity of their old friend, Douglas Elling. Very unsure of herself and not sure what to do with her time Abby is miserable. The widower who is take take care of her is a grumpy man who has lost his daughter and wife and wants nothing to do with her. Staying out of his way is the preferred thing for her. Life starts to open up for Abby as she gets used to her new living situation an starts to become more comfortable. Unable to help but overhear her benefactor making plans for the escape of a slave. Does she really know, Douglas? He sure doesn't seem to be the man she thought the was. The author has really done her research as this book is rich in details about abolitionist,Charleston’s aristocratic planter class, American slavery, and the Underground Railroad all taking place 20 years before the Civil War. Fascinating and I highly recommend it.
Publish date 08 May 2018
I received a complimentary copy of this book from SparkPress through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Most of this book takes place in the 1840’s in Charleston South Carolina and we meet slavery head on, but there are so many other stories going on here, a bit of romance, unrequited love, jealousy, abuse, and more.
The author has given us a man who has suffered greatly from the hate of others, and we find him rebounding back to life, and then it seems to be snatched away from him.
There is also a young woman who is sent to live from England to an unknown place in South Carolina, she goes away from her family in hopes that life will be easier for them, but there is another reason she leaves.
You will need tissues handy when you get to the epilogue, has a happy, but very sad ending. This is a compelling page-turner, and you won’t be able to leave it until you have all of the answers.

I received this book through the Publisher SparkPress, and was not required to give a positive review.

This novel by new author Friedland is historical fiction at its best.  The reader can easily imagine both the story as well as the setting.  Set about twenty years before the Civil War begins, it contains all of the elements required to keep the attention of readers, including action, mystery, a bit of thriller, and also romance.  

Abigail Milton is the daughter of English parents who have fallen on hard times.  She is sent to Charleston, South Carolina to live with an old friend of her father's, Douglas Elling.  Immediately Abigail does not like him but is pleased when he leaves her in the care of a governess.  Time and circumstance cause changes in both Abigail's opinion of Douglas as well as his opinion of her.  

The descriptions in this book were superb.  Friedland easily captures the juxtaposition between the manners of the old south as well as the cruelty.  I look forward to reading more by this new author.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel.