Love Finds You In Liberty, Indiana (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
Would anyone suspect that the beautiful Quaker, Anna Brent was harboring runaway slaves in her attic? Liberty, Indiana served as a stop on the Underground Railroad, as brave Quaker abolitionists risked their lives and the lives of their family and friends to aid those determined to flee slavery and live in freedom by travelling to Canada. Anna and her father are particularly drawn to a young slave woman who has just given birth to her master's son and risk their very livelihood to secure her travel northward. When the handsome young newspaper editor, Daniel Stanton, crosses paths with Anna, her guarded world experiences upheaval; and her entire future is jeopardized when Daniel appears to be unraveling her secrets. This story is beautifully written and full of historical drama that makes one admire the bravery of the "plain friends" in Liberty, Indiana. Well, well, well....I have to say, this surprised me. I'm not sure why I picked this up because I wasn't in the mood for another syrupy sweet typical story about a girl who needs help,' and along comes someone she doesn't like, but through his persistence he helps her, they fall in love and ride off you know where.THIS book was not like that...Immediately when Quaker Anna Brent saw Daniel Stanton debating a slave owner, she was taken with his abolitionist stance, not to mention his striking looks. But he doesn't know she's a station master for the Underground Railroad and to keep it that way she can trust no one, nor can she ever marry.She, as with everyone assisting the railroad, takes risks that jeopardize her whole household, and the slaves they hide and pass along to Canada.Things I learned:There are false names for the conductor, and none of the station masters know each other, nor their names. They can trust no one. No station master is supposed to go to the house of another station master...they only know the way so they can give directions to the slaves as they go from one station to the other, where they are fed, rested, then sent on.There are signals at each house to let the slaves know if it's safe to approach...like flower pots or quilts outside, or lights on in a certain room.Even freed slaves with jobs in a town weren't safe, as a slave hunter could whisk them off and sell them into slavery after destroying their freedom papers.There were black slave hunters...in other words, they were big, freed slaves who hunted their own kind and brought them back to their master for a bounty...Often that returned slave was killed or in some other way brutalized to make them an example. No, this was not some piece of fluff. Thought provoking, intense at times, entertaining and well written.Yes, I do recommend this book.
What do You think about Love Finds You In Liberty, Indiana (2009)?
Interesting to find out that Liberty was a stop on the Underground Railroad! Enjoyed this!
—durby
Excellent story! A favorite author of mine!
—Bonhomme
