The Angel of Second Street

Praise for The Angel of Second Street It’s love at first sight for Ida Dempsey and Blaine Prescott, who share a deep faith and a desire to help others. But nothing is easy for this couple as they face challenge after challenge in pursuing a future together in their home town of Eureka, nestled between the Redwoods and the Pacific. Barbara Tifft Blakey deftly weaves historical events, a family secret, and forbidden love, tying all the threads together in a delightful story of faith, love, and grace. The Angel of Second Street is a must for fans of historical fiction! –Leslie Gould, bestselling author of The Shop Down the Lane The Angel of Second Street is a well written book, filled with diverse characters that were likeable and sympathetic to the reader. The plot was believable and drew me in from page one. The setting was painted so vividly I could picture the Victorian homes, smell the saltwater, and hear the clanging of the streetcars. There were more than a few shocking plot twists that kept me turning pages well into the night, but Ms. Blakey skillfully tied everything together and crafted a satisfying and happy ending. –Debby Lee, 2024 Selah Awards nominee, author of Beneath a Peaceful Moon, Heart of Endurance, and Tailed Sweethearts from the Sew in Love collection The Angel of Second Street exposes the darker side of Chinese immigration in Eureka, California, in the mid 1800s. Ida Dempsey’s one desire to serve God takes her to Second Street where the “working women” make their homes. Blakey tells a tale that is both raw and sweet. The love story between Ida and Blaine is woven through the fabric of the conventions expected of a young woman in that era. But Ida’s desire to please the Lord causes her to press against the expectations of society to be a wife and mother to the exclusion of all else. This book accurately tells how the Chinese population in Eureka was forcibly expelled from the city. It shows how prejudice can influence decisions with lasting consequences. –Jane Daly, author of the Broken series and Where is my Sister In The Angel of Second Street, Barbara Tifft Blakey takes readers on a journey to the streets of Eureka in the mid-1800s, where a delightful protagonist fights to share the gospel with Chinese immigrants and ladies of the night. Single and carefree, Ida dismisses the censure of others while exhibiting the