In the Shadow of the River by Ann H. Gabhart

About the Book

Jacci Reed grows up aboard the showboat, Kingston Floating Palace, as an actress, surrounded by actors, singers, and dancers.  However, the hazy events of that one night when a man tried to kidnap her and instead wounds her mother still haunts her, driving her to ask questions and find out what happened.  When someone aboard the showboat attempts to kill Jacci, all of the mystery surrounding that night comes rushing back.  She turns to her lifelong friend Gabe to help her seek out answers, hopefully before the danger looms once more.

About the Author

Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of many novels, including Where the Meadow Blooms, Along a Storied Trail, An Appalachian Summer, River to Redemption, These Healing Hills, and Angel Sister. She and her husband live on a farm a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Ann enjoys discovering the everyday wonders of nature while hiking in her farm’s fields and woods with her grandchildren and her dogs, Frankie and Marley. Learn more at http://www.annhgabhart.com.

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My Thoughts

I enjoyed the setting of this novel and found the history of the showboats and the entertainment provided along the Ohio River to be very fascinating.  I thought the author did a great job researching the history of the book.  I also enjoyed the mysterious twists in the novel and was as curious as Jacci to find answers, even if parts of the novel were predictable.  The entertaining and quirky characters on the showboat were the perfect antithesis to the more serious mystery.  I also liked the romance as one of my favorite tropes is friends to lovers.  I really liked the story and found the novel easy to read.  A recommended book to those who enjoy historical fiction!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing.  Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

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When the Meadow Blooms by Ann H. Gabhart

About the Book

Rose and her daughters go to her brother-in-law’s Kentucky farm, Meadowland, after the loss of her husband, hoping to focus on recovering from the tragedy and learning to move on without him.  Dirk Meadows is willing to host his brother’s family at the farm, but he avoids personal connections due to past hurts.  As Rose and Dirk begin to repair the broken pieces of their hearts, they find themselves drawn to each other in their tragedy.

About the Author

Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of Along a Storied Trail, An Appalachian Summer, River to Redemption, These Healing Hills, and Angel Sister, along with several Shaker novels–The Refuge, The Outsider, The Believer, The Seeker, The Blessed, and The Gifted. She and her husband live on a farm a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Ann enjoys discovering the everyday wonders of nature while hiking in her farm’s fields and woods with her grandchildren and her dogs, Frankie and Marley. Learn more at http://www.annhgabhart.com.

Purchase Links

Amazon

Baker Book House

Barnes and Noble

Books-A-Million

Christian Book

My Thoughts

This novel has characters with such great depth and growth!  There is tragedy in the story, but also hope as Rose and Kirk are finally able to take their broken pasts and depend on God with their future.  Ann Gabhart is able to write characters that seem realistic and authentic and it’s easy to love them.  There is also something comforting about the way she describes Meadowland as well and easily draws you in with her setting.  The spiritual themes of healing and faith are central to the storyline.  The ending wrapped up rather quickly, but I greatly enjoyed the detailed journey.  I really liked the depth to the story and I highly recommend this novel!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing.  Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

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Along a Storied Trail by Ann H. Gabhart

Tansy Calhoun is a packhorse librarian during the Great Depression, delivering books along the rough trails of Kentucky.  But she longs for the romance she reads about in her books.  Spunky spinster Perdita Sweet is determined to use her experience with a failed romance when she was young to help Tansy find love.  As Tansy and Perdita navigate love, they learn more about themselves than they ever thought possible.

The gorgeous cover is a great introduction to a story full of rich history and characters.  I liked the unique background of this novel and I learned a lot about the culture and history of the setting in this novel.  The beautiful setting was indeed easy to picture with the vivid descriptions.  The characters were endearing and likeable.  I enjoyed the lessons and growth learned by the characters throughout the novel.  I thought the writing drew me into the story easily and allowed me to immerse myself into the book.  There were slow moments in the novel, but overall, I did enjoy it.  I look forward to more by this talented author.  I recommend this novel to those who love historical fiction!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing.  Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

The Refuge by Ann H. Gabhart

Darcie and Walter Goodwin join the Shaker community initially to avoid the cholera epidemic, but when Walter is suddenly killed, Darcie has nowhere else to go.  She harbors a secret, though, a pregnancy conceived before she and her husband came to the Shaker village.  Worried about their judgment, Darcie forms an unlikely friendship with widower Flynn Keller and his headstrong daughter.

This story gives an interesting perspective of the very strict Shaker community.  I learned a lot about their culture and their history. The characters immediately grabbed my attention and drew me in.  I really liked Darcie and felt the emotions that she was feeling in the story.  The details of daily life make it easy to picture the backdrop to the story.  The theme of trusting God is well incorporated into the storyline.  I enjoyed this book and recommend it to those who enjoy unique historical fiction.

I received a copy of this book from Revell Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

River to Redemption by Ann H. Gabhart

Adria Starr was cared for by a slave, Louis, after her family perished in the cholera epidemic in 1833, leaving her alone and afraid at the tender age of seven.  Louis cares for Adria at a great cost to himself, choosing instead to help the whites of his community over the chance to become free. Now twelve years later, Louis is being sold after his master dies, despite his heroic actions all those years ago.  However, Adria has not forgotten and is willing to risk everything in order to save the man who once saved her.

I enjoyed the time period and history in this novel.  The author did a great job of crafting a story with depth that allowed me to get a glimpse into what life may have been like in the mid-nineteenth century, including tackling difficult social issues.  I liked Louis a lot and appreciated the way his story ended.  I also enjoyed the romance that Adria encountered and ultimately her decision, although her ending is unsettled and I do hope that she gets a second book!  This novel demonstrates that no matter the shape or size or color of your family, love conquers every situation.  The spiritual themes are gently woven among the storyline.  I liked this book a lot and recommend it to lovers of historical fiction.

I received a copy of this book from Revell Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

The Innocent by Ann H. Gabhart

Carlyn Karney still hopes that her husband, declared missing by the Union Army, will return home. However, the landlord for their farm is not nearly as patient and uses the local sheriff to force Caryln to move on. Desperate, she turns to the mysterious Shaker village for assistance, an act that requires her to leave behind any thoughts of her husband, home, or former life. But strange events begin to happen while she is adjusting to her new life, causing many of the Shakers to become suspicious of Caryln. Caryln finds herself trusting an unlikely friend to help her unravel the odd circumstances, but she must be careful before she gets hurt.

Being not at all familiar with the Shaker lifestyle, I was surprised to discover how legalistic and strict the followers were in this religion. This created an interesting and unique backdrop to a rather unexpectedly mysterious plot that really began to take shape a few chapters into the novel. The beginning pages were good for setting the background of the reminder of the story, but were not certainly gripping by any means. However, once strange things began to happen, the storyline picked up its pace and became much more interesting. Something about the Shaker village still left me unsettled by the end of the book, despite a good conclusion. Overall, the novel is unique and not quite what I expected, but worth reading nonetheless.

I received a copy of this book from Revell Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Love Comes Home by Ann H. Gabhart

This lovely story follows the Merritt sisters introduced in the first two books in the Rosey Corner series. At the end of World War II, there is much rejoicing amidst the changes to both the men and women in ways they were not expecting. Victoria grieves the loss of a life she once dreamt of. Evangeline must cope with new transformations in her husband as she receives news that could change their lives. Kate is happy to spend more time with Jay after their whirlwind romance but is not prepared for the pain she encounters. And Lorena is quickly growing up, observing the happy families around her, and wondering about her birth parents. Each girl must cling to God as He transforms and strengthens them in new ways, allowing them to share joys and sorrows with each other during this crucial time in their lives.

This novel is a continuation of previous stories, but may also be read alone. Like the previous two books in the Rosey Corner series, Ann H. Gabhart creates a sweet storyline that contains both wonderfully happy and despairingly sad portions. The plot moves along relatively quickly and with ease, but in the process of telling the tale of four sisters, it looses a bit of detail and distances the reader from each individual girl. The story is not overly romantic or dramatic, although the real-life scenarios of the characters are believable and touching. The book slows a bit in the middle, but the ending is a wonderful conclusion to the struggles the girls encounter throughout the book. Overall, this novel is sweet and recommended to those who enjoy stories of strong female characters overcoming realistic hardships.

I received a copy of this book from Revell Publishing in exchange for an honest review.