A Refuge Assured

Author: Jocelyn Green
Genre: Historical Fiction

Lacemaker Vivienne Rivard never imagined her craft could threaten her life. Yet in revolutionary France, it is a death sentence when the nobility, and those associated with them, are forced to the guillotine. Vivienne flees to Philadelphia but finds the same dangers lurking in the French Quarter, as revolutionary sympathizers threaten the life of a young boy left in 

her care, who some suspect to be the Dauphin. Can the French settlement, Azilum, offer permanent refuge?

Militiaman Liam Delaney proudly served in the American Revolution, but now that the new government has imposed an oppressive tax that impacts his family, he barely recognizes the democracy he fought for. He wants only to cultivate the land of his hard-won farm near Azilum, but soon finds himself drawn into the escalating tension of the Whiskey Rebellion. When he meets a beautiful young Frenchwoman recently arrived from Paris, they will be drawn together in surprising ways to fight for the peace and safety for which they long.

Reviewer: Becky Hrivnak

A Refuge Assured, written by Jocelyn Green, is another lovely read by this author. From the lace being made in France to the lace being made in a small refuge in Pensylvania, we are taken on a journey of words at the ends of our fingertips as each page turns to see, hear, and experience the trauma of the French Revolution that didn't cease when these French escaped to America. We also felt the deep relationships that were built, crushed, wished for, and sometimes saw them successful in not just passion of country but of heart. From innocent children to grown adulterous men, we saw God's protection and plan worked out each step of the way.

My favorite characters were Vivienne as she is the epitome of a strong courageous woman. And Liam...yep, just have to love him! He was a school teacher, turned militiaman, turned farmsteader... willing to help grow minds, grow crops, and of course, defend those who needed it most. He gave up so much and still was willing to give more. The exact man I'd want for my daughters! <3

This is a heavy historical read with just the right amount of romance. It's not a light read. It is lovely in all aspects. It is truly inspirational in that God never gives up on people. Just like thread is on a bobbin waiting to be used for the queen's lace, so are we to be turned into what He wants us to become because of His great love for us. 

I was given an ARC by the publisher. All thoughts and comments are my own.

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Reviewer: Mindy Houng

"God is the Creator, is He not?" she had said with a smile. "So when we create, even if it is a mere length of lace and not the stars in the heavens, we honor Him. We bear His likeness when we work."

I am embarrassed to say that this is the very first book I've read by Jocelyn Green. I am so glad that I read this book, for she has now become one of my favorite historical authors. What a riveting tale of human folly, repercussions of sins, second chances and redemption, and God's love and faithfulness.

Ms. Green is a master story-teller who weaves a delicious story infused with historical events, unforgettable characters, a generous dose of intrigue, a subtle hint of romance, and a firm undergirding of faith and prayer. The plot is propelled by real history that blends seamlessly with fictional events. The intrigue that surrounds the young boy Henri's identity and the trouble that follows him adds a spark of adrenaline to the storyline.  

Vivienne and Liam are incredible characters. Vivienne is a French lacemaker fleeing the Reign of Terror, who ends up in Philadelphia with emotional scars that haunt her. She is a strong, capable woman with great talent but feels unworthy of love due to her past. She holds disdain and grudges against her father whom she meets early in the book. Liam is a former officer in the American Revolutionary War and a recently retired schoolmaster, hoping to build a farm on the land he worked so hard to obtain. He is loyal, compassionate, hard-working, faithful, and steady in his beliefs. Such a swoon-worthy hero! I love his solid faith - "I want you to remember something while I'm gone. That boy upstairs is a child of the King - the only King that matters - no matter who his parents were. And so are you."
The secondary characters of Henri, Armand - Vivienne's father, Tara - Liam's sister, and Finn - Liam's cousin, add deeper layers to the storyline to reveal how forgiveness, redemption, and healing can come from and through God.

I didn't know much about the Whiskey Rebellion or the Frenchmen coming to this country to escape the Terror until this book. Although it's a work of fiction, I learned an incredible amount of history through the book. And, as always, was struck by the cruelty of war and the evils of men, whether driven by greed, mistakenly directed ideals and ideas, or substances like alcohol. It was also interesting to see Alexander Hamilton and George Washington portrayed in a slightly different light from what we're taught in elementary school.

What an incredible journey! Anyone who enjoys a well-written gripping historical fiction would LOVE this book. I was given a copy of this book by the author and publisher. I was not required to write a favorable review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

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Reviewer: Laura J. Davis

Once again Jocelyn Green has written a book filled with intrigue, romance and historical fact. How do I know it is a fact? Because I trust the author and I know she has done her research.

Vivienne Rivard has escaped from France because her life is in danger for the simple crime of being a lacemaker. She flees to Philadelphia and finds that the threats of the revolution have followed her. Vivienne is a likeable character with a backstory that is sad in that her mother rejected her at birth, so her aunt raised her. Vivienne carries this rejection with her all her life so when her mother dies, and she discovers who her father is, she is embarrassed and ashamed. Her growth at her discovery of the reasons for her mother's abandonment is very satisfying in the end.

The character of Liam Delaney was everything you want your hero to be, and the love story between him and Vivienne blossomed in a tender moment that was swoon-worthy.

The only thing that I found confusing about this book was that right at the start the author called her main character both Vivienne and Vienne. At first, I thought another character had entered the room and wondered why the author would have two characters with names so alike. And then I thought it was a spelling mistake. It wasn't until many pages into the book that I realized it was a nickname for Vivienne. I was so frustrated by this that I almost stopped reading the book! Also, it would have been nice to know what some of the French words meant. I'm still trying to figure out what a "pension" is and no it isn't what you get when you retire. But, don't be put off by these little warbles. This is an excellent book and one worthy of investing your time!

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