Through the Shadows by Karen Barnett

This has very easily become one of my favorite series to read. Considering I don't know too much of the history of San Francisco, I have really enjoyed the historical elements of this series. Karen Barnett does an interesting job blending history and fiction and leaving her readers with a good understanding of the time period.

Through the Shadows was one of the books that left me researching a few things on my own as the story unfolded. I absolutely love when books make me curious enough to hop online and dig a little deeper.

One of the things I most admire about this book is how it focuses on something most would rather sweep under the rug and pretend doesn't exist. I love how she brought to life these brothels and revealed them for what they are and how they run. I also appreciate the courage Elizabeth has in facing dangers to help those in these places. There were a few times that I found myself with my heart racing as I wondered how things would turn out.

Charles was just as an enticing character as Elizabeth. He has his own struggles and has been beaten down, despite his family name. He's left doing a job that he'd rather not do, in more ways than one.

I hate saying goodbye to the King family, but I do look forward to the next family Karen Barnett introduces us to and the next historical time period she chooses to let her readers learn about.

Read more about this book at http://litfusegroup.com/author/kbarnett.

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Enter to win a copy of Through the Shadows—five winners will be chosen! Click the image below to enter to win. The winners will be announced June 7th on Karen’s blog!

{More about Through the Shadows}

Through the Shadows (Abingdon, May 2016)
As San Francisco rises from the ashes, an age-old battle looms between corruption and the promise of new beginnings.
The devastating earthquake is just two years past, but the city of San Francisco is still trying to recover. Destruction of this magnitude is not so easy to overcome-and neither are the past regrets shadowing Elizabeth King’s hopeful future.
Hoping to right her wrongs, Elizabeth dedicates herself to helping girls rescued from slavery in Chinatown brothels, even if it means putting her own life at risk to sneak through the gloomy alleys and rooftops where dangers lurk.
Putting her life on the line for a worthy cause is admirable. But opening her heart is even more terrifying. So when Elizabeth meets attorney, Charles McKinley—a man who dreams of reforming San Francisco’s crooked politics—Elizabeth begins to doubt: Can she maintain her pretense and hide her past? Or will her secret jeopardize both their futures?
Learn more and purchase a copy.

{More About Karen Barnett}

Karen Barnett is the author of “Beyond the Ashes,” “Out of the Ruins,” and “Mistaken.” Named the 2013 Writer of Promise by Oregon Christian Writers, Karen lives in Albany, Oregon, with her husband and two kids. When she’s not writing novels, she loves speaking at women’s events, libraries, and book clubs.
Find out more about Karen at http://karenbarnettbooks.com.

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I received this book free from Abingdon Press and Litfuse Publ
icity Group in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.