Set in the 1800s, this book tells the love story of Ida and Blaine as they navigate through society's expectations and dislike from Blaine's parents who dissapprove of his choice of Ida as his bride.
In the midst of their love journey, Ida is shown as a strong courageous woman although sometimes impulsive but determined to serve God and to bring God's love to others especially the less fortunate women who had to do less than honorable job to survive. The way Blaine supported her is admirable even though he had misgivings at times of some certain steps she took. Standing up to his parents and making the choice of Ida reveals a man of character which grew as their love grew.
Angel of second street is a tale of love, perseverance, hope even in the midst of hardship and society's expectations. The effect of prejudice and how it influences decisions with lasting consequences can be seen even as the Chinese are forced to immigrate from Eureka, a town in California. Filled with different characters who make their choices, Angel of Second Street is fiction woven around history; the pain and struggles as well as the desire to spread the gospel to all.
At some point, I felt the story rushed along some parts but overall it was a good read, one that shows faith, love, hope and growth.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Angel of Second Street by Barbara Tifft Blakey

Book 1 of 2: Enduring Hope
How Can Compassion be Considered Wrong?
Ida Dempsey has grown up in a privileged life of luxury thanks to her aunt and uncle. Although Second Street—where women of ill repute ply their wares—is off limits to respectable citizens, her heart of compassion compels her to frequent the area, hoping to make a difference in their lives. Ida has also befriended Qui Shau, a Chinese woman who keeps house for her family, but friendships between the whites and Chinese are taboo in Eureka. Ida tries to keep secret her forbidden compassion, but someone is watching and will use it against her.
When Blaine Prescott meets Ida at a church picnic, his parents warn him away from any relationship with the young lady who has been seen on Second Street in the company of a Chinese woman. But how could such a kindhearted, lovely young woman be anything but good? But when riots break out in Chinatown and Ida disappears, Blaine will do anything to find out where and why she has gone.
Ida Dempsey pinned her bonnet on and skipped down the staircase, eager to enjoy the church picnic among the redwoods. It was a perfect sunny day for such an outing. She bobbed into the kitchen where Qui Shau prepared food for the hamper.

“Come on, Qui,” Ida’s older cousin, Wallace, begged. “Just one piece.” He eyed the three-layer chocolate cake then winked at Ida. “Shouldn’t someone taste it to make sure it’s up to snuff?”

Qui slapped his hand. “No, you wait.” As her lips drew thin, a twinkle remained in her eyes. She pointed toward the door. “Go! You get out my kitchen.”

Wallace grabbed a cookie. “Thanks, Qui.” The door banged shut behind him.
“Yes, Father, I’ll be there.” Blaine Prescott handed his mother into the brougham coach. “I’ve a few things to do, but I’ll arrive before the croquet game begins.”

“See that you do.” Mr. Prescott closed the coach door.

Mrs. Prescott addressed Blaine through the carriage window. “We are eager for you to meet important people. It is imperative you make a good impression.”

“You mean important people in the form of eligible young ladies, I assume?”

His father leaned forward, making eye contact with Blaine. “I didn’t send you to Santa Clara University so you could fritter away your life. Now that you’ve graduated, it’s time you married.”
The Angel of Second Street: Volume 1 (Enduring Hope) by Barbara Tifft Blakey is a 4 star book.
I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed here in this review are entirely my own.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys meticulously researched historical fiction that weaves together sweet romance and mission-driven narratives! You’ll also encounter some suspenseful moments throughout this captivating story. The protagonists’ steadfast dedication to pursuing God’s purpose for their lives is truly inspiring. The author sheds light on the prejudice faced by Chinese immigrants through her fictional account. This powerful tale beautifully illustrates Christian themes of faith, love, grace, and forgiveness.

My sincere thanks to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. I was under no obligation to leave a favorable review.

Ida and Blaine meet through happenstance, or so it would seem, at a church picnic shortly after Blaine's college graduation. He feels strongly that Ida is the young woman God has planned for him to marry someday, the one he has prayed to find. Both want to change the world for the better by serving God actively, telling the world about Jesus, and they quickly enter into a courtship with Ida's guardian's blessing. Ida is determined to help the women on Second Street better their lives, which would ultimately help them escape Eureka's redlight district, while Blaine is concerned over the efforts local businessmen discuss to deal with the Chinese, although most employ them within their own homes.

Generally, the novel progressed quickly, and I rooted for the characters, even Abigail, once I figured out what was happening with her as a side character, and I even guessed the situation with Esther. I am already looking forward to the next installment in the series (the likely still unpublished "The Undercover Heiress of Brockton") and really hope Ida's friend gets her own story. From a possible eBook standpoint only, it was difficult at times to keep up with the shifting perspective from Ida to Blaine and back again without any clear divisions.

For Ida Dempsey and Blaine Prescott, it is love at first sight. The two are committed Christians, very different in their behaviour and attitude to their peers.

This is especially true of Ida who does not conform to the societal norms of a well brought up young lady whose only concern is to marry well, have children and gain a reputation as leader of society. She has other ambitions and goals - chiefly to fulfill the plans God had for her when he created her. She wishes to evangelize the "fallen women" on Second Street and the Chinese immigrants, all of which good church goers and "pillars of society and the church", including her aunt and uncle are against, seeing it as beneath their status and dignity, earning them a questionable reputation.

Luckily for her, she has Blaine's full support, as he embarks on his courtship of Ida, despite strong parental disapproval.

I like the premise, but I disliked the novel. The characters seemed unidimensional, flat and rather saccharine. Ida has a propensity for tumbling into scrapes as she sets to be a "do-gooder." Important conversations were never completed; to keep the tension I suppose, but it failed.

On the whole it just didn't capture and keep my attention, though at one point for a few pages, everything seemed to meld together instead of standing stiffly apart.

Try it, maybe you might like it more than I did. I was given an ARC courtesy @NetGalley & @Barbour Publishing The opinions expressed here are mine alone.

#TheAngelOfSecondStreet #ChristianHistoricalFiction #BarbourPublishing #NetGalley #TheBookishPilgrim

Christian historical fiction readers will enjoy this heartfelt story. Ida sets out to share the gospel with the ladies of ill repute on Second Street and comes up with some very creative ways to do so. When Blaine meets Ida at a picnic he is immediately smitten but his parents are dead set against a courtship. Neither of them understand why. Blaine sets out partner in his dad’s shipping industry but will he be successful? Enlightening story set in Eureka and San Francisco set in the 1880’s, Recommended.

Interesting story dealing with friendship, love, and hope. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

The Angel of Second Street
by Barbara Tifft Blakey

I have to say, this book just didn’t resonate with me. Despite my efforts to finish it, I found myself skipping ahead to the last chapter at about the 70% mark. While I typically enjoy Christian stories, this one focused too heavily on the religious aspects and lacked the romance and historical depth I appreciate. Additionally, I didn’t connect with either of the main characters in the story, nor did I feel any chemistry between them. Overall, it simply wasn’t the right fit for me.

A precious story of perseverance no matter the obstacles, all for the sake of making sure the gospel reaches ALL people! Ida Dempsey will stop at nothing to be able to share the gospel with the outcasts and downtrodden, despite numerous people and circumstances pushing back against her. Her love interest, Blaine Prescott, fights along beside her as she defies convention and brings the love of Christ straight to the door of those that need it most. A wonderful read that will leave you encouraged and uplifted!

Overall, I enjoyed this book. There were times that it felt cheesy and not very realistic. I'm not sure how historical accurate certain aspects were to that time period (having her spend the night, however innocent it was, likely would not have happened in this time period to the families in question).

That being said, I appreciated that her heart was in the right place & fighting for what she believed in. I didn't care for the fact that she had no consequences for her disobedience to her authorities. She seemed to run around a bit too freely for the prominent family she was a part of.

There were some surprising twists that I wont spoil. The book/author does draw you in & keep you coming back to find out what happens.

A clean, lighthearted read.

I received this book as an ARC read. All opinions are my own.

Ida is ready to change the world and bring all to Jesus. Including prostitutes or especially prostitutes . Blaine is ready to take over the family business but meets ida first.

The book addresses Chinese stereotypes , prostitute , religion , social hierarchy , some parts are a bit slower and it took me a bit to get into the book .
Super fascinating historical information which made me want to research more of the time and age .

Lots of religion and what Christ can do in one’s life .

Thank you to netgalley for a download in exchange for an unbiased review .

Beautiful story of Ida and Blaine! These two individuals come from different worlds but won’t that stop their love or faith in God. Ida and Blaine want to be with together but are they just two different for each other? Racial divide in town, social status, and difficult family members are a lot to overcome for each other. Can they overcome?

I liked this story. I loved that the author touched on topics like social divide and the struggles of Chinese people in that time. I do think the story like was a little bit quick and felt slightly forced. I would probably recommend to friend and family.

The story in "The Angel of Second Street" is a story for readers who like the genre of Christian historical women's fiction with a bit of romance in it. The main character Ida is so inspiring in her God given urge to minister to the least of these in the book. It's set in Eureka, California where vices are found within the town in the Chinese neighborhood and 2nd Street where women of the night are found. There are some very difficult subjects brought up in this book which include various vices (prostitution, drugs, gambling, alcohol) and racial prejudices so readers sensitive to these topics should be aware. It definitely adds to the story with Ida as a missionary to the less fortunate so is done to not only highlight the reality of Eureka's history, but to move Ida's story along.

Ida sees one of the women in the drugstore one day and at 17 is very curious about the woman, whose appearance is different from those she normally interacts with. As she asks questions, she learns that there are others out there that need to meet Jesus. One of the others is her family's cook Qui. The social pressures dictate that she stays away and keeps to her own social class but Ida and her friend Mattie see things differently.

There is also a man of her acquaintance Blaine who is instantly attracted to Ida's faith and how different she is from the women he's met before. His family sees her differently and fights to keep him away. He encourages Ida in her missionary work in Eureka and seeks to find his own path.

I really liked reading about Ida's faith and her passion for mission work. As one door closes, her heart guides her to seek another path to bring Christ into the lives of these people who don't know Him but so desperately need him. This book is an inspiration for faithful Christians to get out of their comfort zone and seek paths to bring people to faith. The Holy Spirit, though not mentioned a driving force behind Ida.

I did have some difficulties with the romance portrayed and wish the path wasn't so twisted and difficult for Blaine and Ida. Despite that, there is a HEA and a really great twist at the end of the book that surprised me as a reader.

This book is the first of a series put out by the author and Barbour Publishing and I look forward to seeing what is next in the series.

Thank you to Barbour Publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book on NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Ida Dempsey is determined to follow God's will for life. She meets Blaine who is not put off by her unconventional ways a day believes God has put her in his path. Ida has been raised by her aunt and uncle but has always been a very determined individual, failing to conform to social norms and the prejudices of the day. She feels God is leading her to bring Jesus to the prostitutes on Second Avenue as well as the Chinese workers in the area.
Blaine's parents, especially his mother, are not happy with his choice and do their best keep him away from Ida. He diies his best to help Ida and keep her out of trouble.
Ida is a great character, though very young and a but immature. She asks for guidance but then goes off on her own, not following it. I love that she caressing deeply for those who do not know Jesus even though she doesn't understand the obstacles that may keep them away out to fear. Blaine could have been more open and honest with Ida abd his family at times but that would make the book less dramatic. Overall I enjoyed it and thank Netgalley and Barbour Publishing forbthe opportunity to read this advance copy.

'The Angel of Second Street' is a phenomenal, faith-forward historical romance! Ida and Blaine share an instant connection, and their love story demonstrates that an ideal marriage is one where a man and woman can glorify God more together than they could apart. They are deeply committed to obeying God and making a positive impact on their broken community in 1880s California. While their decisions can seem rash at times—which is understandable given their ages—I found their forthrightness and sense of urgency refreshing, especially compared to other romance stories that unnecessarily stretch the narrative through passivity and indecision.

I highly recommend this book to fans of well-researched historical fiction, sweet romance, or mission-focused stories!

Special thanks to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

3.75 Stars.
I liked the premise of this book, and overall did enjoy the story. I felt Ida, mostly, was quite naive but had a good heart, and her intentions to spread the gospel was honorable, but she sometimes went about things the wrong way..
Blaine was a good man, and he believed that God put Ida in his path, so to speak. He seemingly, had a tough time with his parents, especially his Father.. I thought the Christian aspect running through this book, was well done.
I felt though, that the book was quite slow going, from my perspective, and didn't really keep me engaged. I also thought the book ended abruptly. I know there is going to be another book in the series, so maybe it will be a follow up???
I Thank Netgalley for giving me a chance to read and review this book. This review is my own, honest, review.

Angel of Second Street has Ida (an orphan raised by her aunt/uncle) who feels to her bones that she has a calling to take care of the prostitutes and Chinese immigrants. NO MATTER WHAT. Blaine asked God to show him a wife and then he meets Ida at a church picnic and determines to marry her. Ida wasn't so sure. But then agrees to give it a try. Blaine's family is against it and tries to thwart it.

Now Throw in heavy prejudices against the Chinese workforce of the time...which Blaine's father wants to get rid of. And Ida wants to preach the gospel to the Chinese too--so his family cuts Blaine out because he won't stop with Ida.

The story started slow. I had to stop reading it also because of Ida's senseless behavior. Seriously. She acted like such an immature 17 year-old. No care for what anyone says about her visiting places on her own. Completely rejecting common sense. I can't stand characters like that. And even as the story continued and she learned some lessons--well She didn't improve on me. Honestly her friend was a better character.

I grudgingly finished the book but i won't be reading anymore in the series. it just didn't do it for me. I just felt Blaine and Ida fell flat.

Now there is a heavy Christian message in this book which is refreshing after so many CF lacking one. So you will definitely find that in this book.

2 stars because it just didn't do it for me and I had to keep putting it down and taking a break.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the PUblisher for a chance to read the ARC. All opinions are 100% my own.

This was an engaging book. The first meeting of the MMC and FMC was very swoon worthy. The characters were likable and you cared for them through their journey. I love how they relied on the Lord and spend a lot of time in prayer. Their commitment to the Lord and each other was wonderful to behold.

Ida Dempsey is a tough character for me - she lacks the polish and tact that she would have definitely been raised with and makes HORRIBLE decisions. She lacks sense, and that makes this a difficult book for me to read.
The Christian message of the book is good, and it is an easy read. I really enjoy reading Christian books, but the ending of this book is abrupt with nothing really to keep reading for. I won't be looking for the sequel.
Thank you to Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book.

Loved this passionate, moving story!!

Ida lives with her aunt and uncle and had a wealthy upbringing. Her passion to spread the gospel is fierce, but lands her into trouble at times, as crossing cultures isn't done. She meets and develops a friendship with wealthy young man, Blake, whose parents want him to have nothing to do with her and her scandalous ways. I love how Ida continues to follow God's call on her life, and to see how the Lord brings people into her life to help equip and guide her to obedience. It's also pretty sweet how things turn out for their relationship.

You'll find some suspense along the way in this novel, it was a very satisfying Sunday afternoon read. Highly recommend!

*A big thanks to the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.