The Angel of Second Street is a wonderful historical fiction novel with some mystery and some romance thrown in as well. You’re going to love this book. Good news, the second book in the series, as well as the third, are on their way! Book two comes out in August, so don’t miss it.

In this book, we meet Ida. Ida has a heart for people. She doesn’t really care about social status or what class someone is or even what they do for a living. She just cares about them as people. It’s admirable, but not acceptable for her time. And it could get her into a lot of trouble.

When people of standing start to notice that Ida is frequenting areas of the city that they deem unacceptable, life begins to be difficult. When Blaine meets Ida at a church picnic, he wants to know more. But his parents are telling him she’s not an acceptable choice for a match. Will he listen to them? Or will he pursue her?

And what happens when Ida disappears in the wake of riots in the Chinese area? Can Blaine find her?

I highly enjoyed this book and will be for sure reading the rest of the series!
Some things of note. I would not let my younger teens read this book. While it is not bad, there are things chatted about and mentioned that I personally would not be comfortable with them reading. That said, I would label this an adult book. There is talk of prostitutes and babies born out of wedlock. There are mentions of the clothing and what would be revealed. But to counter that, there are scriptures and a strong Bible and God presence in the book.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

I enjoyed this story and these characters. I loved Ida and her determination to help people who others look down on to find Jesus and have a better life. I loved how she didn’t give up no matter how many times she failed and people told her to stop. I also liked that Blaine was supportive of her and wanted to help how ever he could. I thought the story was well paced and it was easy to want to keep reading to know what happens next. I did think the story ended abruptly and would have loved a few more pages to wrap up the story. Besides that, I thought it was great and would recommend it.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

This historical novel piqued my interest because I always enjoy learning through reading and history is a particular interest. I did have trouble connecting with the characters at first. For some reason, although the story idea is compelling, the main characters seemed more surface level and not deeply engaging. The plot carried the tale in this one. I could identify with Ida’s longing to help the less fortunate and to share the good news of Jesus, but she does seem a bit naïve in undertaking her mission. It’s sad to witness such prejudice against a nationality and persecution of immigrants. Hopefully, we can learn from the mistakes and painful incidents of the past and become better people. The book also contains some suspense and an endearing love story. It would definitely make a powerful choice to discuss—both events and characters’ choices and actions. I received a copy from the publisher though NetGalley. All opinions are my own. #TheAngelofSecondStreet #NetGalley

I have read and enjoyed several stories lately with women in unconventional roles, such as young Ida Dempsy in The Angel of Second Street. I enjoyed this character and her unique story. I appreciate how the author doesn’t shy away from the seedier things in life, or the prejudice of believers and unbelievers alike, yet offers a strong Christian message.

Ida is a genuine and sweet-natured young lady with a strong desire to serve God. I admire her compassion for others and how she allows her heart and faith to guide her rather than following the accepted social “rules” and norms of her family and community. Because of her wholesomeness, fortunate upbringing, and youthful inexperience, she puts herself in dangerous situations (which makes me want to shake her at times) that reveals her unwavering desire and determination to witness to others.

Blaine is a sincere man who is easy to connect with and his passion to witness to others is also evident. I appreciate how he wants a godly woman and relies on his prayers and strong faith in God to deliver her to him. He is more mature than Ida and slightly balances out her (sometimes off-putting) immaturity.

This is a fresh story that doesn’t mask the ugliness of sin, yet revealing it through a lens of faith, hope, love, and grace. Though I didn’t connect with Ida like I’d hoped, I did enjoy this unique and quick read and will seek out new books in this series.

#CoverLoverBookReview received a review copy of this book. Opinions are 100% my own.

About this book:

“How Can Compassion be Considered Wrong?
When life is weighed down by challenges, pillars of enduring hope and love are always waiting to be discovered.
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.”


Series: Book #1 in the multi-authored series “Enduring Hope” and does not seem like it will be connected to any of the other books.


Spiritual Content- Scriptures are quoted, mentioned, & remembered; Prayers; Witnessing to others; Church going, singing hymns, worshiping, & trying to focus on the sermon; Many talks about God, witnessing to others, & His will; 'H's are capital when referring to God; Blaine has been praying for God to direct his steps to find the right woman to marry and shortly after meeting Ida, believes her to be the one; Ida desperately wants to share about Jesus with others, especially with the women of ill repute and the Chinese people she knows; Ida and Blaine both notice hypocrisy from others about helping missionaries in foreign countries, but not being willing to witness to people in their own area; Ida doesn’t like to “bother” her heavenly Father with every little thing in her life, but prays about an overwhelming event; Ida’s best friend reminds her that women can’t be preachers and later Ida pretends when alone in her church by reading a Scripture from the pulpit (she doesn’t want to get up in front of everyone and is very embarrassed by being caught by her reverend because “women were not allowed to preach!”, but he is kind about it); Ida is discouraged when her reverend says that God will use her in ways she is better suited for (compared to her hopes of witnessing to the prostitutes), but their next conversation is him apologizing for discrediting her; When at church, Ida wonders if her prayers will be more effective there or even in front of the altar; Blaine wonders if there are situations where God approved of duplicity (in terms of deceit and lies), but sincerely doubts it; Ida struggles with thoughts about Scriptures telling one to obey their parents when she is hiding her actions from her guardians; Blaine believes that Jesus is the answer to everything, including poverty and crime; Ida thinks that going against what Jesus has called her to do will grieve her soul and thus continues to do it even if it grieves her conscience to disobey her aunt; Mattie, Ida’s best friend, says she gets enough religion on Sunday in church; Many mentions of God, Jesus, witnessing to others and sharing the gospel, faiths, & God’s will; Many mentions of churches, church going, services, sermons, hymns, & a reverend; Mentions of Bibles, Bible reading, & Bible studies; Mentions of those, events, & books of the Bible; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of missionaries; Mentions of a Chinese gang forbidding for their people to convert to Christianity & possible persecution; A few mentions of a nativity scene; A few mentions of sins; A couple mentions of Christian denominations; A mention of the Holy Spirit; A mention of morning devotions; A mention of Sunday school; A mention of Ida making a “holier-than-thou” impression on some of the prostitutes;
*Note: Ida’s best friend says she prays for finding a rich husband; Chinatown is called a pagan community twice; Someone says the Chinese has their own religion and it isn’t possible for a Chinese woman to understand Christianity as it will only confuse her because of her own religion; A few mentions of mythological creatures (nymphs, gnomes, and fairies).


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘balderdash’, a ‘blast it’, a ‘dumb’, a ‘stupid’, and two ‘idiot’s, A bit of eye rolling; Blaine thinks of a sarcastic retort to something his mother says, but chooses to reply with respect instead; Being hit, Pain, Injuries, Blood/Bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Ida lies & tells half-truths often because of her plans; Ida struggles with hiding her plans and her feelings from her aunt (which she wonders if that’s part of growing up and if so, she doesn’t like it; She thinks the deception of it all and disobeying doesn’t suit her and is unsettled by going behind her aunt’s back); Ida’s aunt forbids her to go to Second Street (known for prostitution) because it could shame their family if she’s seen there, so Ida has the idea to dress like the prostitutes to blend in with them (she keeps this a secret from her aunt and feels twinges of guilt; She wonders if the end justify the means and hopes it does; Later, Ida consoles herself that the greater good demands the skulking around; Her best friend joins her as well, but is more excited to toe the line and go to taboo places; Towards the end, Ida grieves going against her aunt, but the idea of going against what she believes Jesus called her to do would grieve her soul); Ida has not specifically been forbidden to visit Chinatown, so she ventures there (despite knowing it’s not a place for moral young ladies to visit); Ida’s cousin drinks from a flask and offers it to her (which she does not partake in); Mentions of deaths & grief (Ida’s parents); Mentions of a massacre (which killed women and children as well) & planned hangings; Mentions of gangs, rival gangs, violence, and shootings (which causes a death); Mentions of criminals, thieves/looters, & stealing; Mentions of a man drinking from a flask, drunks, saloons, & bootleggers; Mentions of lies, lying, & deceit; Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of opium dens, gambling dens, & gamblers; Mentions of pipes & smoking; A mention of a woman threatening to drown herself in the sea (not seriously);
*Note: Blaine’s parents are against him courting Ida, but he continues on with that plan because he believes she is the woman God has for him; Blaine’s friend wants his help deceiving her parents, but she doesn’t think of it like that because they refuse her happiness because of their misconceptions and says it wouldn’t be her fault; Blaine recalls his mother saying that women who attend college are unfit for domestic life; Many mentions of prejudice (towards Chinese workers and prostitutes; There are talks from business men in the town about removing the Chinese people, burning down Chinatown, making it illegal to hire them, and making them board an outbound ship; Blaine doesn’t see the problem if the Chinamen do their jobs and handle things themselves as along as no one on the outside gets hurt; Towards the end, tensions continue to rise and the white townsmen call for the Chinese to be hanged; Blaine doesn’t understand how some of the men like his father can go to church every Sunday and still be so prejudice); A couple mentions of a book & a quote from it (Pride and Prejudice).


Sexual Content- a cheek kiss (barely-above-not-detailed), a nose kiss, four head/forehead kisses, two blown kisses, two barely-above-not-detailed kisses, and a semi-detailed kiss (which makes Ida think afterwards “So that was kissing. No wonder people did it” and wishes to “explore this kissing thing” with Blaine again; Later, her aunt who witnessed the kiss tells Ida that she is too young for such things and makes Ida promise her not to let that happen again); Wanting to kiss & Thinking about kisses/kissing (barely-above-not-detailed); Touches, Embraces, Cuddling/Snuggling (including falling asleep next to each other on a couch over night), Hand holding, Tingles, Warmth, & Nearness (up to semi-detailed); Winks & Blushes; Noticing & Staring (barely-above-not-detailed); Two ‘hussy’s; Ida thinks her father might have been a “rogue” based on the way her aunt avoids talking about him (*Spoiler* Ida was conceived out of wedlock and Mrs. Prescott holds this against her, adding to Blaine that no one knows what blood flows in her veins and will be passed on to her children; *Major Spoilers* Towards the end, she finds out that her mother is still alive and is a prostitute; Ida is very upset and feels like her life is a lie *End of Spoilers*); Ida asks Blaine if he has ever visited Second Street (known for the red-light district) and he has not; Ida has the idea to dress like the prostitutes to blend in and not be noticed (so she won’t bring shame to her family) and her best friend joins the plan, asking if they can show cleavage (which makes Ida blush; Later, her friend says they are “missionaries with cleavage” and they try on their form-fitting dresses which makes Ida blush and Mattie proclaim to liking the bare shoulders; Ida feels older and less innocent in the dress, which she doesn’t understand because it’s not like she’s done anything impure in her life; Mattie says one of the prostitutes is jealous of the two of them because they aren’t “droopy” anywhere like her; Mattie comments on the prostitutes covering up with a lot of make-up and Idea says they are covering up the wrong thing; Ida wears her “provocative” dress and does a “sultry sashay” like she’s seen the prostitutes do; One of the prostitutes asks if Ida is working around the area); Ida’s aunt, uncle, and reverend are concerned about her being exposed to the seedier side of town and her innocence being tarnished; Ida only goes to Second Street in broad daylight (because her “timidity disallowed going at night”) and doesn’t see any men; When referring to the prostitutes’ “work”, Ida stumbles and is awkward when referring to it; Ida’s best friend is also interested in Blaine and Mattie asks if she can have him (it causes a rift in their friendship for a bit); Many mentions of the women in an area known for prostitution, brothels (including one with the name “Joy Emporium”), the women (who have fake names like “Delight” and “Midnight Joy”; Ida comments she would have a Bible name and her best friend offers “Jezebel”), & them working at night and sleeping late into the day; Mentions of the prostitutes being checked for health concerns every two weeks, conditions such as “syphilis” and “gonorrhea” (which Ida does not know what those are), some of the women receiving pills to “set herself right” after missing their monthlies (which Ida isn’t sure what that means either and asks her best friend about it), & women lifting their dresses for a doctor (which makes Ida think that the others might be right and she’s too young to see this); Mentions of women having to turn to prostitution because of desperation; Mentions of out-of-wedlock pregnancies & unwed mothers (one says that her baby is her biggest blessing); Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of the men (also called “clients”) who visit Second Street and the women there; A mention of a woman being found beaten and having torn clothing outside of an opium den; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: Blaine has to change his wet clothes, but a female friend won’t leave the room and turns around instead which makes him unable to change his britches; A couple mentions of a mother nursing her baby; A couple mentions of scandalous dresses with high slits; A mention of modest, virtuous women not visiting men in their private rooms; A mention of a theater not being of a burlesque nature or of otherwise questionable on moral grounds.

-Ida Dempsey, age 17
-Blaine Prescott, age 24
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1884-1885
256 pages
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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star
Older High School Teens- Two Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars

You could say this book was a wild card for me. I’m hesitant about reading books that deal with prostitution because that always adds in some sexual content and sexual innuendoes; but on the other hand with this book, I was interested in seeing Chinese characters in a Christian Fiction book. It’s unfortunately not the most positive representation or treatment, but our main characters are determined to do right for the Chinese workers and the prostitutes in their town even when prejudice runs rampant.

As far as our main characters: Ida feels like God has put not only the Chinese workers on her heart, but also the prostitutes. I mean this as nicely as I can say it: Her heart was in the right place, but her brain wasn’t fully in a logical place. Her first idea is to blend in with the women of ill repute is to dress like them and go to town during the day. Thankfully, nothing happens to her, but there’s so many ways this could have gone wrong. It was good to see the final plan and how it impacted not only the women, but also Ida and her best friend. It took some trials and errors on Ida’s part, but that final idea was a better one.

I will note that Ida is seventeen and she felt every bit of it. I don’t mean to say that rudely, but it’s a fact that she’s been coddled by her lavish lifestyle and act very young for most of the book. Perhaps that’s an element of her child-like faith and these experiences will grow her, I’m sure, but she had her moments of being a teeny-bopper that made me cringe.

With Blaine, it was very much love at first sight for him and yes, they were definitely cheesy together, but I really liked that they both had strong faiths and encouraged each other to pray and seek what God has for them to do. Overall the plot-line was pretty simple with a basic writing style, but it had some cute parts and strong faith content.

I will say that while the prostitution parts were lightly handled in regard to the details of their actions and “work”, I found it sad to see a doctor hand the women pills that would take care of the problem interfering with their periods. Ida isn’t sure what this all means, but because we can read between the lines to know it’s a birth control pill that will kill a baby, it’s not commented upon negatively or frowned upon. Yes, that’s life and it happened in this setting, I’m sure, but for a Christian Fiction book to just brush it under the rug really disappointed me. Compared to the other Christian Fiction books I’ve read that feature prostitution, this was definitely on the lighter side, but it’s still not one I would recommend because of Ida’s actions. She means well but has little tact or grace when handling what she thinks she’s been called to do.

The ending was really rushed and a bit choppy. An event that is shared on the back-cover doesn’t happen until the last five percent, which felt added in at last minute for some additional angst/grief for the couple. Not a bad story as a whole, but not one I’m going to highly recommend.



*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Barbour) for this honest review.

I had such high hopes for this story, and was rather disappointed with it. The title and blurb promised an interesting story the book failed to deliver.

First, both main characters, Ida and Blaine, were frustrating cardboard cutouts. They lacked the nuances that make characters stand out as unique and believable, focusing on simply one-thing. In addition to this, the story was plagued with their thoughts claiming they were one thing, i.e. honest, and yet everything about their actions belied it. It truly felt like the author decided to give them certain character traits, never mind that their actions evidenced the complete opposite of those claims.

The writing itself felt stilted and awkward, and frequent POV changes - multiple in one chapter - made it jarring and hard to relate to either of the characters, as well as giving the feeling of the author choosing the easier route of switching heads to share something the author wanted the reader to know, instead of using body language and dialogue to show it in the story.

Overall, this story did not impress me, and I ended up skimming the last several chapters because it was so frustrating.

“On my way to the picnic yesterday, I asked God to show me the woman He’d chosen to be my wife, someone who loves Jesus as much as I do. I saw you first.”

Wow! Barbara Tifft Blakey held me spellbound as she wove the historical story of 1884 Eureka, California, and its Chinatown. While I love to read historical romances, I am finding they are often not something I would want to live through. The Angel of Second Street tells of two young people who are immediately attracted to each other upon meeting. Rich, eligible Blaine sees beautiful Ida as a direct answer to his prayers for a godly mate. His family puts up every roadblock possible to keep the two apart, including throwing a family friend’s daughter into his path repeatedly.

I love Ida and Blaine. Both truly want to do more than follow society’s rules and make their families happy. Ida’s biggest wish in life is to tell others about Jesus. “God had opened the eyes of her heart, and everywhere Ida looked she saw hurting people. Even Mrs. Prescott.” She has a purpose, a mission, and a passion. She doesn’t give up. But she does battle within herself, having to deceive in order to carry out her definition of doing right. “Was anything more important than telling the lost about Jesus? But also important were the scriptural directives to obey one’s parents. In her case, didn’t that mean her aunt and uncle? Never before had she been forced to choose between two equally indispensable commands.” Blaine has his own struggles with his shipping tycoon father who has no interest in anyone’s true well-being.

Whew, it’s incredible the mental struggles both Ida and Blaine must wade through, accompanied by much prayer, to figure out the right path. Sometimes the paths they choose are funny. Sometimes the resulting paths are loaded with strife. I wondered if I’d be brave enough to choose some of the paths they did, or would I choose to please people and just make life easy?
I loved seeing the growth of thinking in both Ida and Blaine.

Some characters are surprising. How fun it was, to discover characters acting quite differently than what I expected of them! Great twists!

My fave character is Reverend Huntington. It took me a while to figure out how he feels about the workers from Chinatown that the town wants to expel, or the ladies of Second Street that Ida is determined to help. At first he is unwilling to encourage Ida in her endeavors. Eventually, we see him in another light.

It is so sad to see the general attitude of the town’s affluent businessmen. While their households and sometimes businesses benefit greatly from the Chinese workers, they despise them immensely. “Less than.” That is the rich, white opinion towards the Chinese. Blaine is like Ida in his disregard for class. He understands the prejudice he is seeing, directed at the Chinatown residents. “The way he saw it, the problems discussed were symptoms of underlying issues. Tackle those, and the contemptible manifestations would take care of themselves.” Hmmm… makes one think about today’s atmosphere of cancelling whole groups of people for the actions of a few.

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit via Netgalley. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“My heavenly Father is responsible for my joy—and for yours. You cannot protect me from this world’s trials. You don’t need to, because I have His defense and refuge.”- Ida

“If a man lost integrity, what did he have left?”

“I believe God is calling me to act, and I’m willing.”

Set in 1884 California with interesting history of the challenges of the time period for a young couple seeking to follow God's calling. The characters are very likeable, each facing personal struggles in a world full of sometimes harsh rules and prejudices. Blaine and Ida are brought together by God and seek to make a difference in their community, especially with the large Chinese immigrant population and Second Street prostitutes. The story moves along well and presents strong themes of faith and the hope and love of Jesus. I'm looking forward to more books in the new Enduring Hope series.
Thank you to Barbour Publishing and Net Galley for the opportunity to read for my honest review.

What does it mean to walk step-by-step following God’s call, even when it leads you down streets the world calls off-limits?

In Angel of Second Street, I felt as if Barbara Tifft Blakey had an inside scoop on my own heart and soul. This is so much more than a Christian historical fiction novel—it’s a story of obedience to God’s Word, even when it’s costly. Ida’s compassion shines bright against the harsh prejudice of her world, and every choice she makes felt like Scripture brought to life. “I want to serve God… I want to talk about Jesus, share His love.” That heartbeat of faith ran through every page.

I was moved by how God opened Ida’s eyes to see the hurting around her—how she saw souls, not social status or skin color. Ida’s courage to step into places deemed off-limits, to befriend those shunned by society, reminded me that real faith always crosses the lines of comfort and convention.

Blaine’s journey—his wrestling with what others think, his search for the truth about the woman he’s come to care for—added a tender echo to this story of standing firm in faith. Together, Ida and Blaine’s choices made me ask: Am I living out God’s call in the face of fear? Am I loving with compassion that doesn’t flinch?

Barbara Tifft Blakey’s storytelling is a beautiful reminder that God’s Word isn’t meant to be read and set aside—it’s meant to be lived out loud with joy and determination. In Ida’s passion to obey, I found a challenge and a quiet reassurance: that grace shines brightest when it’s lived in the streets, not just in the pews.

In my heart, this is a five-star story—a reminder of what God continually puts on my own heart and a living testimony to the quiet, bold faith He calls me to each day.

I received a digital ARC of this book from Celebrate Lit and the publisher Barbour Fiction via NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review nor paid to do so. This is my honest and unbiased review. My thoughts and opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on writing and story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability.

The ladies of ill repute live on Second Street and the Chinese people of Chinatown are considered people not wanted in the city and if you are seen with them, your reputation is ruined.

Ida Dempsey, raised by her aunt and uncle in a life of luxury, is a very devoted Christian woman and feels that God has directed her to minister to these two particular groups. Her aunt and uncle do not want her in those areas of the city, but she is determined to find a way no matter what it takes.

She meets Blaine Prescott at a church picnic, but his parents do not want him around her, but do not give her a good reason. He cannot imagine why as she is so kindhearted and good.

This book is filled with mystery, goodwill, and romance. You will not want to put it down until you see how things are resolved.
I received this advanced copy from Barbour and the author. My review are my opinions only.

5 stars, Impetuous Miss

THE ANGEL OF SECOND STREET (ENDURING HOPE BOOK 1)
BY Barbara Tifft Blakey

Ida lives with her aunt and uncle in Eureka, California in 1884. Ida wants to minister to the Ladies of Second Street that live in the brothels there. She would also like to share her faith with her Chinese cook and other immigrants in Chinatown. Ida doesn't believe that those areas aren't safe for young misses. She daringly takes chances that could have poor outcomes for her, with no caring for her own personal safety.

Blaine lives with his overbearing parents and looks forward to helping his father run the family business.

Ida gets into all sorts of mischief while trying to minister to the downtrodden of her town. She doesn't understand why no one wants to help the unfortunate souls.

Blaine's parents want him to marry well to beautiful powder puff, with no brains or personality. Blaine wants more.

Ida reminds me a little of Lucille Ball. How Lucy was always getting into messes.

I liked Blaine, he was a determined young man who knew what he wanted from life and had no problems going after it. His life would never be dull, with Ida around.

The author used historical facts surrounding the Chinese during this time period.

I received a complimentary copy of #TheAngelOfSecondStreet #EnduringHopeSeries from #BarbourFiction #BarbourPublishing #BarbaraTifftBlakey #NetGalley I was not obligated to post a review.

#historicalfiction #EurekaCalifornia #ChristianFiction #inspirational #sweetromance

This is a faith filled tale of a time when social standing was of the utmost importance and prejudice reigned. Ida has grown into a tender-hearted young lady under the care of her aunt and uncle, the only parents she has ever known, but even they have their prejudices. Blaine is kind, polite and always considerate of his parents, but when he returns home from college to join the family business, he finds that he disagrees with them on many points in regarding to acceptance in society and racism directed at the Chinese immigrants inhabiting their city. Both Blaine and Ida have a deep faith and a yearning to share that faith with others who may not know the joys in serving Jesus. Meeting each other at a picnic, they both feel as if they have discovered the one God has chosen for them. Unfortunately Ida doesn't meet the expectations of Blaine's mother which sets off a course of events that cause them to have to fight for their relationship, often butting heads with their families. Ida's desire to share her faith with the ladies of ill repute working on Second Street, also intrigues Blaine, but their parents forbid it as well as sharing their faith with th Chinese servants who work in their homes.
Will Blaine and Ida stand strong in their determination to do God's will and follow His way, or will they let the love they have found for each other dwindle as one by one, their hopes and dreams seem to shatter around them. This is a heartfelt, faith-filled story of romance despite the difficulties, fighting for they believe in and trusting God to point the way.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review

Set in 1884 California, The Angel of Second Street is a sweet novel about two young people who love the Lord and desire to make a difference. Ida is immature and has lived a sheltered life. But her passion is commendable and her focus spot on to achieving what she seeks – a life existing with beyond marriage. Unfortunately, her innocence also gets her into some potentially dangerous situations.
This book moves at a careful pace. I think it would make a great young adult read. And it is refreshing to read a book focused on two young people determined to live godly Christian lives. I received a copy from Net Galley with no obligations. All opinions expressed are my own.

I enjoyed this christian historical novel, partially based on true events in California. Ida is always looking to help others, so when she sees a woman who is in need she is determined to find her out and help her. Although Ida is a little naive in understanding that those women who do need help, also live dangerous lives and in a dangerous area. She decides to enlist the help of her friend and the two end up in some trouble. She reaches out to her pastor who offers to help where he can but also warns her of the dangers Chinatown. Meanwhile her romance with Blaine is budding, but her good works is calling her reputation into question. Also wanting to better understand the Chinese she tries to engage with their cook, Qui but her mother has made it clear she should not infer their religion and beliefs onto them, however Qui is eager to learn but knows the danger of this. As Ida continues to try to help, she only seems to be met with failure after failure until Blaine helps her come up with a plan. Will this one finally work or will she again feel she is not able to succeed in doing the Lord's work? I enjoyed this storyline and the history that was woven throughout. Thank you to the author and Barbour Publishing for the complementary novel. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

In Eureka California in 1884 two God-fearing young people are trying to live up to their parents’ expectations while still trying to honor God. Ida just wants to spread the good news of Jesus to the Chinese community and the ladies of questionable virtue on Second Street, although her methods are decidedly immature. Blaine has graduated college and plans on joining his father in the family business, but his parents are pushing him to find a suitable bride.
A meeting at a picnic has Blaine pursuing Ida who he finds captivating, refreshing and meets his standards for a Christian wife.
The story captures the atmosphere of 1884 and the controversy over the Chinese taking over jobs and living in squalid conditions.
The characters are mostly likable and the situations are realistic for the times. It would not be a good story if there was not conflict and godly situations represented. The author draws on historical events to put that into play, and the personal struggles of the main characters give many lessons.
* A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Barbour via NetGalley. All opinions are mine alone.*

3.5 stars

I'm not sure how to review this book. On one hand, I found it refreshing that Ida has a passion for reaching out to prostitutes on second street and presenting the hope & love Jesus has for them. As well as Chinese immigrants—especially their cook Qui—in her hometown of Eureka California in 1884. On the other hand, her methods of going about it shows she lacks the maturity or common sense a young lady of her standing should. With no idea of the level of danger going into areas of Chinatown or the red light district unaccompanied poses, she puts herself in precarious situations seemingly without thought as to what could happen. I feared for her character on more than one occasion & the position she often put herself in. However, I do admire how Blaine helps her find ways to fulfill her desire to reach out to the lost and lessen the dangers surrounding her impulsive nature. It seems these two work well together in spite of resistance from their families.

Overall, it's a good book and the intent of the heart of both Ida & Blaine is admirable. It made me ponder ways in which I can reach the lost in my own life; whether it be unsaved coworkers, family members or those whom I deal with in everyday life. To have the same passion & drive to want to preach Jesus is what I want more than anything. It gave me much to think about!

That being said, I'm not sure this book was for me. The story was well-paced, well-written, engaging and left me pondering my own walk with Christ. I think because of Ida's immaturity & impulsive ways, it was quite off-putting. I do realize she was only 17—and sometimes young people of this age bracket don't always think things through—but with her genteel upbringing & time period in history, I feel she would have been a bit more mature in her decisions. Lastly, the story ended much too abruptly and left me with more questions than answers. I did enjoy reading the Author's Note at the end of the book explaining much of the historical tidbits included in the book.

I hope as a reader you come to your own conclusion about this story, it might be just the perfect book for you!

* 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 Blakely has a good premise but I found the story to be lackluster. The story lacked depth. The characters are not developed, and they are saccharine. Ida Dempsey and Blaine Prescott have good motives. Of course, they also have the money and social status to accomplish their goals. Ida is extremely naïve, but she had a good heart. I felt that she was immature and lacked common sense. Ida is one of those characters who manages to get herself into one scrape after another (and needs to be rescued). The romance between Ida and Blaine is love at first sight (I found it a tad too sweet like a coffee with sugar, sweetened milk, caramel drizzle plus whipped cream with sprinkles on top). I did not feel any chemistry between Ida and Blaine (we know that Ida found Blaine to be handsome because she mentions it often). The story moved at a slow pace, and I felt that the ending was rushed. Faith was a strong element in the story (it was too much for me). The author did add in some historical characters and incidents. I liked the author’s note at the end. I found myself skimming in the latter half of the book to read the end. I was not keen on The Angel of Second Street.

The Angel of Second Street is book one of the Enduring Hope series. The setting is Eureka, CA.


Handsome young Blaine Prescott was taken in by the beauty and simple playfulness of Ida Dempsey. Ida wanted a husband and children but she was still waiting on the Lord's timing. As the supporting character Blaine Prescott caught my attention the most.


I wanted to live out her life for the Lord even more than wanting a husband. Everywhere she looked she saw hurting people who needed the Lord.


The quality of the writing is clear and concise. I would recommend this book to YA readers and fans of Christian historical fiction giving it 5*. I believe the title is memorable.


Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including publishers, publicists, authors, the Libby app, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

This story started just a little bit slow for me. My mind tended to wander during the beginning, but soon picked up and I was intrigued at the idea of this young lady, Ida, who was so bold and determined to share her faith and belief with the downtrodden. However, I don’t believe her story to be believable, especially without being harmed in anyway, so even though this is a story of fiction, I like to read fiction that at least can be plausible. The fact that her betrothed was attacked is proof of that.
The family dynamics and social classes made for interesting reading, including the matchmaking mommas, disinheritance of family business, and secrets of parenthood to name a few.
The sweet romance and faith in Jesus Christ was uplifting and inspiring.
This story also portrays the injustice and cruel treatment of the Chinese people in and around Eureka, California. I have read other stories that reiterate this in other parts of the country as well. It’s unfortunate that people cannot treat each other as their equal, be it from the past or in the present.
I did think the ending was too abrupt. It would’ve been nice to have at least had an epilogue.
So while I enjoyed much of the story, there were a few parts I struggled with, which is what led me to my 3.5 rating rounded up to 4.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Ida Dempsey has a strong desire to help the Chinese women on Second Street by bringing them the words of Christ & tell them of His love for them. Ida has had a good life & is unaware of the struggles and hardships of of the lives of these women. But she is still determined to see it through. What she finds along the way is that society, her church & family keep people separated according to class (color of skin, difference of religion, nationality) and that is a line that upper society does not cross. Blaine Prescott is pressured to "do the right thing" and marry within his own social class & take over the family business. When he meets Ida Dempsey, he finds her to be unlike any other woman he has ever met. His family disagrees. Together they face their struggles head on in spite of what society demands. I found this book to be very unique in its subject matter, the characters were endearing & the frustrations they felt you can really connect to. Barbara Tifft Blakey did an excellent job in describing everything around these characters. I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Barbour Publishing & was under no obligation to post a review.