The Refuge by Ann H. Gabhart

From the back cover: When Darcie and Walter Goodwin hear of a new cholera epidemic sweeping the area, they join the Shakers whose villages seem immune to the disease. It's meant to be a temporary stay, but Walter is killed in a riverboat accident. With no family and no money, Darcie has little choice but to stay with the Shakers. To complicate matters, she is expecting a baby conceived before she and her husband came to the Shaker village. Marital relationships are considered sinful in this celibate community, putting Darcie in a unique--and lonely--position. Can the arrival of widower Flynn Keller and his headstrong daughter offer Darcie the hope of happiness . . . and family?

My review:

Flynn Keller is a widower with a young daughter Leatrice. They live with his father-in-law, Silas, also a widower. Silas makes the mistake of marrying a gold-digging woman he doesn't know very well so that his granddaughter will have a woman's influence. And the men? They need someone to cook for them. The story gets extremely interesting from that point on. Flynn realizes Silas's wife has her sights on Flynn, too. He decides to sleep in the barn to avoid her. Eventually, he takes Leatrice to the Shakers temporarily so that she can learn to read. But this arrangement also gets Leatrice away from the bad female role model.

Ann Gabhart is a master writer, and this book is my favorite so far. I've enjoyed her Shaker books because I have visited Shakertown in central Kentucky and studied Shaker beliefs. Each character has a different reason for being with the Shakers as a resident or visitor. Every one of them comes alive, pulling you into the story so that it's hard to put the book down.

The reader learns a lot about Shaker customs. They would take in anyone in need. But all are expected to conform to the Shaker routine and beliefs. There are several "sisters," as the Shakers call all the women, who have come to Harmony Hill solely because they have no way to take care of themselves.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book compliments of the author and Revell Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Photo source: https://www.annhgabhart.com/

These Healing Hills by Ann H. Gabhart

Set in rural eastern Kentucky mountains after WWII, this is a heartwarming story of a city girl who came to the hills to learn to be a nurse-midwife. That's not the only reason she fled to the hills, though. Francine (Fran), a Frontier Nursing Service trainee, was running away from an overbearing mother and a former sweetheart, Seth. He went off to war and came back with a British girlfriend.

Among the mountain families the nurses served was the family of Ben Locke, home from war and wondering what the future holds for a battlefield medic. His father died while he was off to war, and he felt an obligation to stay and take care of the family. But, he wanted to go to college on the GI Bill, too.

Francine met Ben under embarrassing circumstances, but they both felt the spark of attraction. The both thought they had little in common. Fran went home for a visit and found her mother as overbearing as ever and the old boyfriend jilted by the British woman. He wanted to get back together with Fran, but she couldn't wait to get back to the hills and the people she came to love.

Gabhart is a master of bringing the setting and characters to life. The mountain people in this story are colorful yet not stereotyped. I particularly liked Granny Em, the mountain healer, who took a liking to Fran in spite of herself. The Frontier Nursing Service still exists today. Take a look at https//frontier.edu if you are interested.

Do Ben and Fran get together in the end? I'll never tell. Read it for yourself and find out.

#TheseHealingHills

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book compliments of the author and Revell Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Murder Is No Accident by A. H. Gabhart

What's it like to be a deputy sheriff in a small Kentucky town where nothing exciting ever happens? Michael Keane, whose roots run deep in Hidden Springs, should know. But lately, unusual things are happening. New businesses have opened in town with newcomers running them. Then, a local real estate agent falls down the stairs on one of her showings and ends up dead. It was an accident. But was it? Michael tries to convince himself. His girlfriend is in town temporarily. She's a lawyer from Washington, DC, and he hopes to keep her from going back by convincing her to marry him.

But, first, was the recent death an accident? Maggie Greene, the daughter of the lady who cleans the vacant old home where the accident occurred, knows something about it. She was there when it happened, but she wasn't supposed to be there. She was hiding in the tower writing in her journal when she heard the noise of the accident. Miss Fonda, the older lady with dementia, who used to live in the house showed up just after the "accident." She is on the loose from the assisted living facility. She has no idea what happened.  Maggie calls 911 but leaves before Michael arrives.

Michael is about to decide it was an accident when another murder takes place in the same house, and he's no longer certain. Things get complicated, because Maggie is around the house again. She tells what she knows, which isn't much. But, she has never seen the killer. She's just heard voices. It seems that everyone in town contributes to the mystery, natives and newcomers alike. Who dunnit? Does Michael succeed in keeping the love of his life from returning to Washington? What happens to Maggie? Read it and find out. You'll enjoy every minute.

Ann H. Gabhart is a veteran writer, with numerous published books under her belt. But she had never written mysteries before the Hidden Springs Mysteries. Previous books in the series are Murder in the Courthouse and Murder Comes by Mail. .A. H. Gabhart is the pseudonym she uses for this new genre. I've read a number of her books, and they are always entertaining. Her characters come to life on the page. Her sense of humor shines through often. I highly recommend the entire series.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free of charge from Revell, the publisher. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255  : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Photo source: http://www.annhgabhart.com/

Love Comes Home by Ann H. Gabhart

Love Comes Home, the 3rd book in the Rosey Corner series, is the best yet. The characters I loved in the first two books are growing up, getting married, and having children, while they deal with the aftermath of war. It's an emotional story, full of love as well as loss.

Two out of three of the Merritt sisters' men came home from WWII. Victoria's Sammy did not make it, and she's trying to cope with life as a single mother while her sisters, Evangline and Kate, are welcoming their soldiers home and starting families. A young farmer who didn't go to war (because farmers were needed as much as soldiers) has his eye on Victoria (Tori). Everybody except Tori knows he's the one for her. Let the matchmaking begin.

Lorena Birdsong, the little girl adopted by the Merritts in Angel Sister, is growing up and wants to know about her birth family. Other characters like Aunt Hattie, Fern, and Graham have a part in this story, too. They're all interested in how things work out for the other characters, and they're even willing to meddle in the affairs of others to see results.

This is supposed to be the last of Rosey Corner series, but I hope the author will do more. There are some story lines to explore, like "will Lorena find her long-lost sister?" Or, "will Lorena make it big singing on the radio?" I'd like to know how things turn out for the other characters, too, as they build their lives and have families during the post-war economic boom. The returning soldiers show signs of post-war stress in this story, and there could be lingering effects.

I've always liked historical novels, and I think Ann Gabhart is one of the best at writing this genre. She takes you back to another time and makes you feel like you are part of the story. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Publishers. I was not required to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Christmas at Harmony Hill by Ann H. Gabhart

The story opens in 1874, near the end of the Civil War. Heather Worth follows her husband's army unit (Union) for a while. But, when she becomes pregnant, she goes back home to her parents' home in central Kentucky. But, she's not welcomed at home. Her mother is dead, and her father won't take her in because he's a Confederate sympathizer. So, Heather does the only thing she knows to do. She goes to the nearby Shaker village and asks them to take her in temporarily. At least she hopes it will be temporary. Her husband is still fighting the Rebels, and she's afraid he might not come back to her. Her mother's last letter reminded her of an aunt who had gone to the Shakers years ago. Heather hoped to connect with her at Shaker village, especially now that her mother was dead.

But, the Shakers have peculiar ways. They don't believe in families living together. But, Heather has no other place to go. The baby comes during the Christmas holidays. Heather's thoughts often go to Mary, the mother of Jesus, how she must have felt as she gave birth to the Lord.

A Shaker Christmas novella---what a great idea.Whether you've read any of Gabhart's Shaker books before or not, you're sure to enjoy this one. The author lives near Pleasant Hill, a restored Shaker village that now is open to the public. In all of Gabhart's Shaker stories, you learn about Shaker beliefs and how the Shakers interacted with those who came to them for help. This will make a great Christmas gift for readers of historical fiction.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Publishers. I was not required to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Image source: http://annhgabhart.com

Small Town Girl by Ann H. Gabhart

Ann Gabhart has done it again. She's served up another great historical romance set it rural Kentucky. Small Town Girl takes place in fictional Rosey Corner just before WWII. Kate Merritt, the heroine of Angel Sister, is now older and in love with her sister's soon-to-be husband. And it's their wedding day. Talk about starting off with conflict!

Jay, the best man, a drifter with no family, takes an interest in Kate. But she's not so sure about him. He decides to stay around town a while after the wedding. A local fellow has had his eye on Kate for a long time. She considers him a friend but not a beau. Another conflict. The young men are concerned about being drafted because there are rumors that the USA will get involved in the war in Europe. Pearl Harbor changes everyone's plans. Will Kate and Jay get together? Will her family approve? Will he go off to war and never be back?

If you liked Angel Sister, you'll like Small Town Girl. Many of the characters are the same, only older. Gabhart has the gift of taking you back to another time, making you feel like you are part of the story. You don't have to read Angel Sister to enjoy this one, but I think you will want to read it eventually. I reviewed Angel Sister here.  There will be another installment in the Rosey Corner series, and I can't wait to see it.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Publishers. I was not required to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Gifted by Ann H. Gabhart

The Gifted is the fifth in Ann Gabhart's Shaker series. It's the story of Jessamine Brady, an orphan who was sent to live with the Shakers at Harmony Hill when she was just a child. Jessamine loved the Shakers who took care of her, but she had not joined the group officially because she was not yet of age to sign the agreement.

The Shakers believed that God gifted people with certain abilities. Jessamine loved to make up stories, but that gift was not acceptable to the Shakers. Hands to work. Hearts to God. That was their philosophy. Life in the Shaker colony was very structured, and Jessamine had a hard time conforming. Enter the stranger from "the world" who had been shot. Jessamine and her berry-picking partner found him on the road and brought him to the colony for treatment by their doctor. The story started slow, but, once the stranger, Tristan Cooper, entered the picture, the plot thickened and the suspense built.

The story contrasts the life-styles of the simple Shakers and the wealthy who are vacationing at White Oak Springs resort nearby. Tristan is one of them. Jessamine is attracted to the world and to Tristan. A potential killer on the loose and the conflict between Tristan's commitment to marry a wealthy woman and his love for Jessamine make for an absorbing story. But, that's not all. Other characters in the story will surprise you. The Shaker song, "The Simple Gifts," is referenced throughout the book. Tristan and Jessamine both have gifts, and the underlying theme in the story relates to the text of the song.

As I mentioned, I thought the story started slow. There was a lot of build-up to the girls' finding Tristan, probably so that the reader could absorb the Shaker beliefs before putting them in conflict with the world. Once Tristan entered the story, though, I was hooked. I've read all Gabhart's Shaker books, and I've found them all interesting. She captures the tension between the Shaker colony and the world they try to avoid.

If you like Amish fiction, you'll like The Gifted. Learn more about the author and the other Shaker books on her site.

Read a sample on Amazon at this link. Buy the Kindle version here.

Disclaimer: I received this book as a gift from the publisher, Revell books. There was no requirement for a review, positive or negative.