Sunday, February 6, 2011

Angel Sister by Ann H. Gabhart

Three years ago, I had never heard of Ann Gabhart. That all changed when I met her at Kentucky Christian Writers Conference last year. Since then, I've read several of her books, and I must say this. She is a master of the historical fiction genre.

Angel Sister is the best yet, in my opinion. It is set in the fictitious  Kentucky town of Rosey Corner in the 1930s. The Great Depression is in full swing---"tough economic times" that make today's economy look pretty good. Fourteen-year-old Kate Merritt finds a little girl abandoned on the steps of the church where her grandfather is pastor. Little Lorena's parents could not care for her, so they left her where someone would find her and take her in. Kate becomes her "angel sister," but not without causing controversy in the family and in the church.

Like most small towns, Rosey Corner has its drama and family secrets. The drama escalates, the secrets come out, and Kate is right in the middle of it. We learn how the conflicts in Rosey Corner came to be, from her father's post-traumatic stress from WW1 to the reasons for other town characters' peculiar behavior.

It's an entertaining story, and the book is not as long as some of Ann's other books. The historical details add interest. For example, the flashbacks to the WWI days when Kate's parents were newlyweds give us a picture of what our forebears have sacrificed for our freedoms.

Buy Angel Sister on Amazon.

Disclaimer: This book was sent to me, unsolicited, by the publisher, Revell Books. I was not required to read or review the book, nor is my review in any way influenced by the publisher or the author.

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