Ann
H. Gabhart's books never fail to provide a pleasurable reading
experience. The Refuge
revolves around a Shaker village in the mid-1800s. There were those
living among the earnest Shakers who were there simply because they
had no place else to go. Among those was a young widow, Sister
Darcie, who had come with her husband to escape a cholera epidemic.
After her husband was killed in an accident, Sister Darcie learned
that she was with child. A deep longing to be mother rather than
sister to her child weighed heavily on Darcie's heart and mind.
Leatrice,
daughter of widower Flynn Keller, came to temporarily live among the
Shakers in order to provide for her safety and education. Her father
visited her often, and he couldn't help but ponder the situation
Sister Darcie appeared to be in, that and her beautiful smile. Might
there be a way to solve both of their problems?
I
learned a great many things about the Shaker lifestyle and beliefs
while reading this book. This added to the enjoyment of the story
itself. It makes me want to plan a day trip to the Shaker village at
Pleasant Hill near Lexington, Kentucky. I am sure Gabhart's
characters will fill the walkways and staircases there, at least in
my mind's eye.
I
highly recommend The Refuge
to fans of historical fiction. I appreciate having received a copy
from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was
under no obligation to write a positive review and received no
monetary compensation.
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