THE BLESSED

ANN H. GABHART

  • Publisher:Revell; Original edition (July 1, 2011)
  • ISBN-10:0800734548
  • ISBN-13: 978-0800734541

Product Description

It is 1844 and Lacey Bishop’s life is a tangled mess. Estranged from her own family, at age 16 she went to work for a preacher and his wife. When his wife died, the preacher convinced Lacey that the only decent thing to do was to marry him. That way she could continue to act as mother to the little girl who was left on his doorstop. But Lacey never expected he would decide to take them all off to a Shaker village. There she’s still married but living in a community that believes marriage is a sin. And to make matters worse, she finds herself drawn to Isaac Kingston, a man who came to the Shakers after his young bride died. But of course any notion of love between them is only a forbidden dream. How will Lacey ever find true happiness?

Readers will find themselves engrossed in this heartrending tale of commitment and forgiveness, the latest from popular author Ann H. Gabhart.

SOURCE: THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVIEW FROM THE PUBLISHER FOR MY HONEST OPINION!!
MY THOUGHTS:

THE BLESSED  by Ann H. Gabhart is an exciting inspirational
historical romance set in 1844 Harmony Hill,Kentucky. This is the 4th in this
author’s Shaker Novels,but can be read alone. See “The
Outsider”,The Believer”, and “The Seeker”.The story is well written with depth and details.The characters will capture your heart.It has a little romance,love,forgiveness,redemption,conflict,deception,secrets,a little mystery,a little
intrigue,choices,and a community.Trapped by obligations and circumstances beyond her
control,Lacey must weather the storm that is brewing and do what she thinks she
must do to survive. The heroine,Lacey Bishop’s life is a mess,due to
circumstance beyond her control,but she must face.As a young girl she was sent
away from her home and her family and was taken in by a preacher and his
wife.She loved the preacher’s wife,but the wife dies and leaves her to have to
choose marry the preacher or leave for the unknown.She has come to love the four
year old child,Rachel, that was left on the preacher’s doorstep for him to raise
as an infant.So Lacey did what she thought was best and married the older
preacher to help raise the child she has come to love and be the preacher
Bishop’s pretend wife.The hero,Issac Kingston’s wife has died and he takes her
back to her family,her father was a judge.Issac becomes filled with guilt over
his wife’s death,her father has branded him,he wants Issac dead.He is
shunned,vilified by his wife’s family.He encounters a Shaker man who offers him
food,shelter and a new start at life and forgiveness.So Issac goes with this man
to Harmony Hill.Lacey’s husband is seeking forgiveness for past wrongs and sells
everything and takes Lacey,and Rachel to Harmony Hill.Lacey finds these are
change people with change ways,but tries to fit in.In the Shakers relationships
are forbidden,other than as brothers and sisters.Rachel is taken away from
Lacey.Lacey and Issac are drawn to each other.This is a fast paced story of
love,redemption,faith,triumphs and is a heartrending story.Lacey,Issac and little Rachel will have their lives changed in this strange and mysterious place,Harmony Hill.Once again,Ms Gabhart has written an outstanding story involving the Shakers and their believes.A must read.It will keep you guessing about the preacher’s secret until the very end. This book was received for the purpose of review from the publisher.Details can be found at Revell,a division of Baker Publishing Group.

RATING: 4.5

REVIEWED BY: April Renn