Voices Whisper

Graham continues the adventures of three British immigrants to late 18th-century America in this enjoyable follow-up to Voices Beckon. In 1790 Philadelphia, former indentured servant Scot David Graham is married to fellow immigrant Elisabeth Hale, an upper-class Englishwoman whose father vehemently opposed the union. Meanwhile, the couple’s friend Liam Brock worries he won’t have a place in their lives after the marriage, as he struggles to find his footing. A series of poignant episodes ensues. First, a pregnant Elisabeth tries to reconcile with her cantankerous father, then David receives a gift of a printer’s type case from a mysterious source, and Liam is introduced to an attorney who offers to mentor him in the law. Things heat up after Elisabeth’s friend from England, Rhiannon Wynne, comes to visit. Turns out Rhiannon’s in a loveless marriage and is open to Liam’s flirty attention. Readers are advised to start with the first volume to get a better handle on the characters, but it’s an investment worth making for the author’s vivid historical detail and convincing slice-of-life predicaments. Historical fiction fans should take note. (Self-published)