Review | The Smuggler's Wife | Evie Grace

We’re delighted to be sharing Elena’s thoughts about The Smuggler’s Wife by Evie Grace on the Arrow tour today.

The Smuggler’s Wife (The Smuggler’s Daughters)

KENT 1815 Her heart led her to him, but will loyalty be enough to make her stay . . . When the beautiful but naïve Grace Lennicker falls for Isaiah Feasey, son of a rival smuggling family and owner of a local tavern, her sisters try to intervene. But as tensions grow, there is another suitor also hoping to win her hand in marriage, the dashing and more favourable Albert Enderby, a young lieutenant in the Revenue. Grace is unwittingly drawn back into the world of smuggling that her sisters fought hard to leave behind, and as violence erupts, she finds herself unable to stand by, knowing the rival gangs will kill anyone who stands in their way. When her husband becomes involved, Grace is forced to make a difficult decision - turn him in and risk her life, or stay loyal and risk the lives of those she loves . . .

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Set in the early 1800s in Deal, Kent, The Smuggler’s Wife is a fabulously atmospheric read which tells the story of Grace, a seventeen year old girl and that of the lives of her sisters Winnie and Louisa and her love affair with Isiah, otherwise known as ‘Black Dog’.

Set amidst a backdrop of smuggling, Louisa and her husband have turned their backs on the ‘free trade’ and are now upstanding members of society. Winnie too has settled with Billie, their smuggling days well behind them. Unfortunately Grace just cannot resist Isiah and despite her sisters’ disapproval they get married. Isiah can’t put the smuggling life behind him and so therefore Grace becomes ‘The Smuggler’s Wife’.

The story has lots of different plots within it and the characters are brought to life skillfully by the author with the use of their accents and descriptions of the areas – Deal and Romney Marsh. I loved learning about the rich smuggling history of Kent and the love story between Grace and Isiah. The way their relationship played out surprised me and I was relieved by the end of the book at how things turned out for Grace.

I really admired Grace’s character – she proved herself to be strong and tenacious. She has a lovely relationship with her sisters too and makes a great friend in Sarah. The females are what makes the novel so great and you get a sense that they are the strength behind the smuggling trade.

A thoroughly enjoyable book in which the author’s deep historical knowledge of the area can’t help to run off on the reader. Despite not having read any of the other books in the series it could truly be read as a standalone book and I would very much love to read the next installment in the series!

Evie Grace was born in Kent, and one of her earliest memories is of picking cherries with her grandfather who managed a fruit farm near Selling. Holidays spent in the Kent countryside and the stories passed down through her family inspired her to write her Maids of Kent trilogy. Evie now lives in Devon with her partner and dog. She has a grown-up daughter and son. She loves researching the history of the nineteenth century and is very grateful for the invention of the washing machine, having discovered how the Victorians struggled to do their laundry. Twitter @eviegrace2017

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Shaz Goodwin

My passion is helping others to find their own oasis, their own centre of calm. I’m a qualified Dyslexia Therapist, Massage Therapist, Reiki Master, Sleep Consultant, Parenting Programme Facilitator, Mindfulness practitioner, Mental Health First Aider and hold a crochet diploma.