Monday, August 27, 2012

The Gifted: A Novel by Ann H. Gabhart

By 1849, Jessamine Brady has been in the Shaker Village for half her life, but in spite of how she loves her sisters there, she struggles to conform to the strict rules. Instead she entertains dreams of the world outside. When Tristan Cooper seems to step out of those dreams to entice her into the forbidden realm beyond the Shaker Village, her life turns upside down. Will Jessamine be able to survive the storms of the world? Or will she retreat back to the peace of Harmony Hill?

The thousands of loyal fans of Gabhart's Shaker novels will love this entrancing story of learning to trust the gifts God gives us and let him guide us through life.

About this author

Ann H. Gabhart grew up on a farm in Kentucky. By the time she was ten years old she knew she wanted to be a writer. She's published twenty novels in several different genres and one non-fiction biography/memoir. She and her husband, Darrell have three children and nine grandchildren. She still lives on a farm and keeps on writing. Her Shaker books have been popular with readers and are set in a Shaker Village in the 1800's. The Outsider was a Christian Fiction Book Award Finalist in 2009. She's also written a series of books about a preacher and his daughter in small town America (the fictional town of Hollyhill, KY) set in the 1960's. Her new book, Angel Sister, has a 1930's setting.
Visit Ann's website http://annhgabhart.com for more chances to win free books.



My Review:

Ann H. Gabhart has again gifted us with another book about living with the Shakers. When I read about their lives, the work ethic is marvelous, but the idea of living without married love is not for me.
Young Jassamine Brady has lived with the Shakers since before she turned 10 years of age. She had been living with her Grandmother in the Mountains, and became a God loving free spirit. Now she has a hard time keeping fairy tales out of her mind, and just living the Shaker life.
She actually made me think Maria in the "Sound of Music". You will wonder how such a "free" spirit can stay a Shaker. She is under the watchful eyes all the time of the elders...can you imagine peep holes? The story begins when she wants to find out about parasols?? Huh! That is what Sister Annie thinks as she drags her through the woods and countryside looking for...um raspberries!
This is where the adventure begins, and life will never be the same. This is the third of the four books in this series that I have read. I also learn quite a bit of history reading these books. Don't miss this enjoyable book about a past segment of American life.

I received this book through Net Galley, and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

4 comments:

  1. Oh, how I need to gift this book to my mother. This is an author she will fall in love with. She so enjoys series, especially with this kind of setting and struggle for the ultimate triumph involved. Already added to my list.

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  2. We have a shaker village near us. I can't imagine living the life as all brother/sister and not being married after being married for 18 years. But you're right - the work ethic is amazing. Sounds like an intriguing story.

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  3. I bet this is a good book. You always find the best ones to read. This is an interesting subject mater.

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  4. My mom would probably enjoy reading this book as well. Elizabeth gave me an idea to give a copy of this book to my mom for her birthday or Christmas - her birthday is only five days before Christmas.

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