When getting out with your friend is easier than getting in on your own…

Synopsis

London, 1817: When Barclay Durbin, a young street preacher, encounters Honora Goodwin, injured on a London street, he doesn’t know she has just escaped from Titania’s Bower, a brothel. Taking her to his ancestral home to recover amongst his family, he falls in love with the vivacious girl and comes to believe that she is divinely appointed to become his wife.

Honora begins to feel similarly and knows that the good-hearted gentleman’s attentions would likely ensure her future happiness, but she is intent on liberating Celia Woodlow – the friend she was forced to leave behind at the Bower. Telling Barclay only parts of her own story, Honora enlists the besotted young man to help her.

When their plan goes awry, Honora realizes that only the truth can deliver them from the emotional and societal maelstrom in which they find themselves. But if she divulges all, what will become of Honora and Barclay’s budding attachment? And will Celia ever gain her freedom?

Out of the Bower tells the tale of a forbidden romance, an ardent friendship, and the ever-essential redemption of self.

My review

Barclay Durbin is a young street preacher, ready to help and rescue people in need. So when one day he meets an injured Honora Goodwin, he doesn’t hesitate one moment to offer his helping hand and takes her to his home, allowing Honora to recover from her injury.
Honora is welcomed not only by Barclay, but also by his family. As times passes, Barclay realizes that his feelings for this beautiful woman are deeper than imagined.
But he doesn’t know that the day he met Honora, she was running away from a brothel, Titania’s Bower.
Honora knows that Barclays is a righteous man, and she also develops feelings that go deeper than just sympathy. But how can Barclay ever be thinking of marrying a woman that escaped from a brothel? And Honora has a mission of her own: rescue her friend Celia Woodlow, who Honora was forced to leave behind.
If Honora wants to move on with her life, she first must find a way to save her friend and find the courage to come completely clean with Barclay…

When reading how Honora ended up working at Titania’s Bower, I found her a bit naive. Where did she expect to be working, especially after having witnessed the behaviour of the other girls?

But Honora is not only a naïve young woman, she is also a strong one. Because she is determined to leave that place as soon as she can. Besides being strong, she is also loyal. In that horrible place, she befriends Celia. And no matter how bright her future can be with Barclay, she will not just abandon the one friend she has!
Honora just being Honora, made it very easy to like her.

Barclay is an admirable man. Being a preacher, you would assume anyone in that position would show his kind and forgiving and accepting heart, but unfortunately, that is not always the case.
However Barclay is the good kind of man. Not only doesn’t he judge Honora, he doesn’t judge the other women in the same position.
He knows that not everyone is there on their free will, and wants to help, no matter what.

This is a dark story, because we also see the reasoning of the villains. And it’s despicable the lengths some people would go!
But there is also so much beauty in it, because there are good people around. Barclay and his family welcome Honora, despite her past.
We see a love blooming, we see the lengths a man would go for a woman, we see friends being made.
We see women not just being compliant, but fighting for their freedom, we see them stand with their heads high, not ever just giving up.

I found it an inspirational, hopeful book to read. the reality is not being sugar-coated, however the author managed to switch the darker moods with lighter moments. and it somehow restores the hope for mankind, because as long as there are people like Honora and Barclay, showing real kindness, there is always that ray of light that not everything is lost…