The Lady's Slipper    by Deborah Swift Order:  USA  Can Griffin, 2011 (2010) Hardcover, Softcover, e-Book Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Wanda Plourde Alice Ibbetson is a talented artist who loves plants. On her neighbor's land, she spies a rare orchid called the Lady's Slipper. She digs up this rare plant by night, in hopes of saving it and using its seeds to plant more. Her intentions are good, but a white lie to Richard Wheeler causes Alice inner turmoil. Richard, a Quaker and a recent convert, believes the plant should be left as it was, because God intended it that way. Both Alice and Richard feel an attraction, but Alice is married. Alice finds herself trying to avoid Richard at all costs - she doesn't want him to know about the orchid. Her stealing the plant accidentally sets off a chain of events. Alice runs into an old woman (reputed to be a witch) who wants to see this rare orchid. After the woman is brutally murdered, Alice is accused and sent to jail. Richard wants to save her, but any type of violence is against his newfound beliefs. Can Alice help save the Quaker woman in the cell with her? Will she finally have peace and tranquillity in her life? Will Richard be able to save her? All in all, I found The Lady's Slipper a good read, and appreciated its historical background. This revealed the brutality of 1660s and the unrest after King Charles II returned from exile, as well as insights into the Quaker way of life. Though I found the story a bit soft in the beginning, it grew stronger. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Historical books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews