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.

SThis was my 1st book by Barbara Blakey and I found the Christian fiction and interesting on.
It is set in 1884 with the main characters of 17 year old Ida, her family and friend and Blaine, her romantic interest.
What was done well was the way their faith was written, with prayer, scripture and wanting to truly follow a Christian walk, not just religious attendance.. It was also very interesting to read about the discrimination against the Chinese, not just in business and work, but even in the church. The prostitution was written a bit differently with empathy from Ida and even their medical care was realistically described.. The challenges to their relationship by Blaine's parents gave the book was an engaging subplot.
Areas of opportunity are with Ida's character,, who while just 17, her immaturity with the various situations became a bit exasperating and difficult to understand. The end was also somewhat abrupt, with so much that still needed to be explained and too neatly resolved for such a big secret revealed.
If you enjoy a sweet, clean Christian romance read that has some interesting historical facts about the time and culture of 1884, with more of a younger reader feel, this would be for you.
A big thank you to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC, I' m always grateful for the opportunity. All opinions expressed are my own.

This story is set in 1884 California, largely in the city of Eureka. The female protagonist is a young woman who is determined to share Jesus with two of the city's marginalized populations. The male protagonist is a slightly older man who is determined to follow the path God wants for his life, but must learn to accept that may not be what he had always thought it was. While these two seem perfect for one another, life seems set on keeping them apart. That causes the reader much angst as they can see what's coming next when the characters can't. Isn't that the way it is sometimes in our own lives, those around us can often see where our path is leading even when we can't? That is when we, too, must truly surrender our plans to God.

Blakey has written a story that includes a sweet romance as well as lots of family drama that revolves around opposing priorities and allegiances. We understand how her characters think and feel, but we don't know a lot about what life events brought most of them to being the person they have become. The dialogue flows smoothly. The mental images the author creates are visually and emotionally vivid. The story comes to a satisfactory ending even though not everything is tied up neatly with a bow. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Angel of Second Street from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

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

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.

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!