A Chance for Kallie Mae by Ann H. Gabhart - A Book Review

 

Set in the early 1900s in Rowan County, Kentucky, A Chance for Kallie Mae, immerses readers in Appalachian culture. I imagine many readers, like myself, will be absolutely amazed at what a young, Appalachian woman can accomplish in a day's time without modern conveniences, without even electricity and plumbing. The emphasis throughout the story on the importance of a basic education is something that many may take for granted today. Thankfully, people like Rowan County School Superintendent, Cora Wilson Stewart, never took it for granted, going above and beyond in order to make literacy and mathematics instruction available to all, especially to adults who had previously not had the opportunity. The relationships between the characters are central to the story as are the circumstances that molded those relationships. Ann H. Gabhart is a master of character development. She presents an accurate view of those living in the mountains of eastern Kentucky in the early 1900s without leaning on stereotypes.

I highly recommend A Chance for Kallie Mae and am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.  

 

The Song of Sourwood Mountain by Ann H. Gabhart - A Book Review

  

I absolutely loved this story. Set in the early 1900s, partially in Louisville, Kentucky, and largely in the Appalachian community of Sourwood, Kentucky, the story is filled with memorable, believable characters that readers will, for the most part, come to love and respect. Of course, there are a few more cantankerous ones to keep the story lively. Readers will share in the characters' joys and sorrows, and may come to see how the two can coincide in their own lives. They may also come to see that they, like some of the people of Sourwood, have more love to give and more backbone to support themselves than they ever realized. As with her other books set in Appalachia, Gabhart shows and understanding of, and a high regard for, the people there, honoring their ways and avoiding caricatures. The colloquial language she incorporates enhances the tale.

I give The Song of Sourwood Mountain five stars and am very grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

In the Shadow of the River by Ann H. Gabhart - A Book Review

  

Ann H. Gabhart has written a perfect mixture of historical fiction, mystery, and just a touch of romance. As always her characters are unique and memorable. There are those readers will love and root for, and those they will hope are foiled in their efforts. Jacci Reed's life has been filled with secrets since her birth; secrets that she had tried to put behind her as a young child always seemed to hover around the edges of her awareness. Now at the age of twenty those secrets have placed her in danger, with no way of knowing from which way the danger would arise.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading In the Shadow of the River. Ann H. Gabhart is one of those authors whose work I try never to pass up. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

When the Meadow Blooms by Ann H. Gabhart - A Book Review

   

One cannot help but let their heart become intertwined in the lives of the characters Ann H. Gabhart has so skillfully developed in When the Meadow Blooms. Sisters Calla and Sienna Meadows have been living at Louisville's West Side Home for Girls since their mother's admittance to Rest Haven Sanitarium following her tuberculosis diagnosis. The girls were separated even though both were living in the same facility, and Sienna in particular had endured some harsh treatment. Rose had never imagined being away from her girls for two years when she dropped them off at the home. Now each of them are desperate to be back together. Might the answer lie with their estranged Uncle Dirk, a man they don't really know who lives with both physical and emotional scars? Will he be willing to open his home and life to them?

This sweet, slow-paced story is perfect for an emotional, character-driven read. I am always amazed by Gabhart's versatile writing. No matter the style or genre, I have never been disappointed with any of her books. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of When the Meadow Blooms from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Along a Storied Trail by Ann H. Gabhart - A Book Review

   

Tansy Calhoun was blessed to be able to help her family with her paycheck as a packhorse librarian in the mountains of eastern Kentucky, especially after her dad took off looking for work. Most mountain girls her age were already married with a baby or two to care for, but Tansy figured there was no rush, after all she didn't even have a beau. Caleb Barton had left the mountain to work for the Civilian Conservation Corps after figuring Tansy was to marry another man. It wasn't until his brother's death brought him back to the mountain that he learned he'd figured wrong. The question the reader pursues the answer to is if and how will Caleb achieve his heart's desire with obstacles appearing all along his path. Secondary plot lines involving an unwed mother; a young widow; and a crotchety, old lady also spur the reader along. Gabhart does a wonderful job at including the culture of the place and time, valuing it and its differences from mainstream society.

I am grateful to have received a copy of Along a Storied Trail from Revell via NetGalley without obligation, and am happy to recommend it to fans of historical fiction and tales of Appalachia. All opinions expressed here are my own.

An Appalachian Summer by Ann H. Gabhart - A Book Review

   

I was so happy to revisit Mary Breckenridge's Wendover and the Frontier Nursing Service. This time we meet Piper Danson who volunteers to serve as a courier with the FNS for one very special summer. We once again get to experience the strong mountain people of Kentucky as Piper adapts to their ways. Piper's hopes for the summer were to do something different, something important, to experience life, but mostly to forget about men and her father's expectations. How surprised she was when not one, but two men follow her to the mountains of eastern Kentucky!

Ann H. Gabhart is a master storyteller. Her characters have depth and feel like real folks, like someone you might know. Gabhart draws you into the setting without lots of flowery words of description, something I really appreciate. I highly recommend An Appalachian Summer, and am grateful to have received a copy from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

Murder at the Courthouse by Ann H. Gabhart - A Book Review

   

When recently reading Murder Comes By Mail, book two in Gabhart's Hidden Springs Mystery series, I noticed recurring references to the body found on the courthouse steps. Then I discovered that I already owned an electronic copy of Murder at the Courthouse. So, of course I felt compelled to read it. This book was more like what I had come to expect from this author than was book two of the series. I would describe it as a cozy mystery which would also fit into the category of Christian fiction. The characters are loveable, small-town folk, well with the exception of the murderer. Yes, I did figure out “who done it” mid-way through, but that did not diminish the reading pleasure of seeing how Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane came to the realization of the murderer's identity. This author, a fellow Kentuckian, remains among my favorites.

Murder Comes by Mail by Ann H. Gabhart - A Book Review

    

I have read quite a few books by this author: historical, romance, and mystery. This book is different than the sweet, cozy Gabhart books I have read in the past. This one is more of a psychological thriller and the murders are quite gruesome. While it is not my favorite Ann H. Gabhart book, it is still an interesting story that kept my interest and made me sorry that I had let it sit on my shelf for so long. While I would recommend her mysteries Gabhart's historical novels remain my favorite of her works.

The Refuge by Ann H. Gabhart - A Book Review

    

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.

River to Redemption by Ann H. Gabhart - A Book Review

    
     I loved this story of Adria Starr's rescue as a child caught in the cholera epidemic of 1833 by two of her town's slave community, and her being raised by Ruth Harmon who was widowed during that same epidemic. I loved it even more after reading the author's note following the story. Learning which characters were the real people, the ones who lived through the cholera epidemic and around who the story was built, made me want to read it over again through the lens of that new information. I live not far from Springfield, Kentucky where the story is set, and hope to visit the memorial monument in honor of one of these true, historical characters, a person of great faith, courage and compassion.
     The theme of River to Redemption is faith after great disappointment. Both Ruth Harmon and Reverend Will Robertson prayed for their critically ill spouses, standing on Scriptures about the power of prayer and God's faithfulness to answer prayer, but their spouses died anyway. With their faith rocked, they now stood on shaky ground longing for assurance. They must learn again how to “pray believing.”
     I highly recommend this book to those who are also longing for the type of faith that brings assurance, to those who enjoy historical fiction that is well-researched and based on true events and people, and to those who love a story that is carried on by a sense of mounting tension. I thank NetGalley and Revell Publishing for providing me with a copy of River to Redemption in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.

These Healing Hills by Ann H. Gabhart - A Book Review

   

     Do you remember reading Christy, Catherine Marshall’s 1967 novel about a young woman who moved to the Smokey Mountains in 1912 to teach school, and who came to know and love the people who lived in that region, people whose culture was much different than the one in which she was raised? It is a story that once read will live in your heart forever. Ann Gabhart’s 2017 novel about a young woman who moved to the Appalachian Mountains of Eastern Kentucky as World War II was ending to join the Frontier Nursing Service resonates in one’s heart in much the same way, as she too comes to know and love the mountain people. Gabhart’s writing reflects her own love of the people of her home state, both in These Healing Hills and many of her previous novels set in small town, Kentucky.

     Francine Howard, stifled by an overbearing mother, and jilted by the man she expected to marry, sees the opportunity to join the Frontier Nursing Service and to train at its midwifery school as a way to not only escape an uncomfortable situation, but also as a way to discover herself. She did not foresee the love she would experience for the people who lived in the Eastern Kentucky mountains, nor for the very mountains themselves. A love that would far outweigh the pleasures of the modern conveniences which she would leave behind. Francine is one of those rare people who sees past stereotypes into the hearts of people, a trait we sorely need in today’s society.

     These Healing Hills is a heartwarming story, one that I would most highly recommend. I thank NetGalley and Revell Books for providing me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I received no monetary compensation for providing the review. 

Angel Sister by Ann H. Gabhart - A Book Review

   

     I read and reviewed the third book in the on-going story of the Merritt sisters in July of 2014. It was a treat to read Angel Sister, the story of how it all began. Set in Rosey Corner, a small town in Kentucky, in 1936, the story follows the trials and the blessings of the Merritt family and their closest friends. Two of the main characters struggle with a crisis of faith, as another maintains faith in the Lord while having little in herself.  The reader encounters an elderly woman with unshaken faith that has been strengthened through times of adversity and loss, and a young girl with blind faith who is just beginning her journey. Each of these characters will touch the readers’ hearts and will live on in their thoughts.

     Recently Chris Tomlin released the song “Good Good Father.” You can listen to it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqybaIesbuA. The lyrics resonated with me as I read Angel Sister. Both of the Merritt sisters’ parents struggled throughout their lives with earthly fathers who could not be described as good fathers.  As a result their views of God as Father were impacted. The same may be true for many of us. The message in this book is the same as in the song; God is indeed a good good Father.   

     I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys meeting deep characters and lingering in their lives, to those who themselves need to know God as Father, to those who have experienced or are experiencing a crisis of faith, and to those who have not yet experienced the pleasure of finding themselves immersed in a story by Ann H. Gabhart. 

The Innocent by Ann H. Gabhart - A Book Review

    

     Page 140, that is where this book came alive for me. Prior to that point, it was a pleasant read, but not compelling in any way. From that point, and through the remaining 242 pages, I could not put the book down. I am so glad that I had agreed to review the novel, otherwise I may not have continued reading, and I truly would have missed out. 

     While I have read a number of Amish fiction novels, this is the first Shaker novel I have read. I will be looking for other Shaker novels by Gabhart. I know that there are at least five more from which to choose. While I have visited the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill near Danville, Kentucky several times, I learned a great deal more about the Shakers while reading The Innocent. I did do an internet search on some of the information included in the text, and found it to be accurate every time.

     Carlyn Kearney, Gabhart’s main character, grew up under her pastor father’s legalistic thumb, cushioned only slightly by her mother’s teaching of God’s grace and love. After marrying Ambrose, Carlyn blossomed as she came to understand the joy of the Lord. That joy was difficult to sustain, however, due to Ambrose’s uncertain fate two years after the end of the Civil War. Being unable to support herself, let alone pay her debts, Carlyn seeks shelter and peace within the boundaries of the Shaker village of Harmony Hill. While thankful for food and shelter, Carlyn does not readily fit into the Shaker way of life.  Sheriff Mitchell Brodie cannot deny his attraction to Carlyn, but respects her faithfulness to her husband even though the townsfolk assume that she is indeed a widow. He longs to insure her safety as every instinct within him is on alert to something being very wrong in the Shaker village. It is at that page 140 mark that Carlyn herself becomes aware of dangerous undercurrents among the sisters and brethren. 

     One thing I really appreciate about Christian fiction is the lessons that one can take away. I hope that in the darkest and most difficult times, the times when hope seems lost or when my body is exhausted, I will remember the echo of Carlyn’s mother’s admonishment to, “Pray anyway.” When looking for the answers I desire, the good I want to come, I hope I recall her saying, “Assuredly. God is love. But he sees the whole woven fabric of our lives and not simply the few threads we are trying to twine together at the moment.  Good and bad weave into the pattern of our lives.  Together they make us strong and able to endure whatever must be endured.” God equips us in many ways, some easier than others.  

     I recommend this book to those who have the time and patience to allow the author to develop her characters before increasing the tension that drives the reader forward. It is my belief that readers will find it worth the wait; I certainly did.  I thank Revell Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for providing The Innocent for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.                  

Love Comes Home by Ann H. Gabhart - A Book Review

Love Comes Home by Ann H. Gabhart – A Book Review

     For this reader Rosey Corner was a special place to spend a weekend.  In rural Kentucky, this idyllic community is home to the lovely Merritt sisters, each very different from the other, but all grounded in their faith.  Each impacted by World War II in ways that did not always show, and in ways that that were at times glaringly evident.  The Merritt family includes an adopted child, an adopted favorite uncle/grandfather figure, and a very wise, respected adopted aunt; and the family is still expanding!  Sometimes they even adopted people into the family by making them in-laws.

     The residents of Rosey Corner share their joys and their heartaches.  They lend physical, moral and spiritual support when it’s needed.  They also give one another nudges in the right direction when that is what is needed.  Tough times were not new to Rosey Corner, but as Kate’s husband, Jay, learned from his sergeant, nothing in the Bible says life here is meant to be easy.  It’s the next life where easy is the assignment.  Kate learned from experience that, “The Lord didn’t promise easy coasting.  He promised to stay with those who loved him, whatever the ride. Or walk.”  Aunt Hattie would tell them that, “everybody had dark valleys to walk through.  That wasn’t the Lord’s doing.  It was just the way of the world,” and that, “prayer gets you through when you’s thinkin’ there is no way through.”  There are lots of valuable life lessons to be learned by spending time in Rosey Corner. 

     As always Ann Gabhart draws you into her story with unique and interesting characters, characters that are believable and with whom the reader can easily identify.  As is often the case her story takes place in a simpler time and place.  However, simpler does not equate with easier.

     Gabhart’s expert wordsmithing evokes deep emotions and empathy in her readers.  It is easy to be in the place, in the moment, and in her character’s shoes.  Reading her books is a pleasure, and feels like a privilege.  I thank Revell Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for providing Love Comes Home for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.  

Summer of Joy by Ann H. Gabhart - A Book Review

     When I was working time to read for pleasure was in short supply, so I tended to play it safe with authors I knew and loved. One of the best things about retirement is having the time to meet and spend time with authors that are new to me.  I was thrilled to spend time with Ann Gabhart in the pages of her book, Summer of Joy.  Now I was a little concerned about reading book three of The Heart of Hollyhill series without having read books one and two, but there was no need to be.  The story was easy to follow and enjoy, with just enough references to the previous books to provide necessary information and to motivate me to read those books in the future. 

     Hollyhill, Kentucky, the setting of this story, is a small town where everyone knows what is going on with everyone else.  In the 1960s it is still a town where children can safely roam free (well most of the time).  It is also a town where emotions and secrets run deep, and where they can be brought to the surface by a returning former resident as well as some new characters in  town.  It is a town that protects and nurtures its own, and those it adopts as its own.  It is peopled by those who know how to forgive, and those who don’t, and by some who don’t even realize the need.  It is a town slowly changing as the world around it changes, beginning to see the similarities more than the differences among its people, but also experiencing the accompanying growing pains.  It is a town where people are working to get a right and accurate view of themselves and of God. 

     Character development is one of the things that Ann Gabhart does best.  She fills Hollyhill with a cast of quirky characters: those that are down to earth, those that have been earthed (You’ll have to read the book to understand that one.), those with their heads in the heavens, and those whose heads may be just a bit scrambled.  As I read the thought kept coming to mind that fans of Jan Karon’s Mitford series would love Summer of Joy. David, pastor of Mt. Pleasant church, and Leigh’s romance is reminiscent of Father Tim and Cynthia’s.  Wesley Green’s stories of life on Jupiter made me want to return to Mitford and visit with Uncle Billy and some of the other eccentric characters who reside there.  They also made me want to get the first two books in Gabhart’s Hollyhill series so that I could join Wes and his young friend and surrogate granddaughter, Josie, David’s teenage daughter, on their adventures.

     I believe that Summer of Joy will appeal to a wide audience.  Young adult readers will identify with Jocie and her coming of age story.  Young wives and mothers will be touched by Tabitha and Leigh’s stories, and the love they have for those they nurture along with the insecurities they feel.  Older readers will enjoy reminiscing about a time gone by, and will be touched by the wisdom as well as the frailties that come with age.  All will enjoy the ebb and flow as Gabhart builds and releases tension as her story unfolds.  Tensions are bound to be present when the first wife, who abandoned her husband and young daughter, is headed back to town, as her former husband and his fiancé make plans.  They are bound to be present when a teacher takes an immediate dislike to one of his students, and when that same teacher sets his sights on her father’s fiancé.  Tensions mount when someone oversteps her bounds and sets off a series of events related to a past her co-worker prefers to forget.  Tensions will mount as you read this book, the kind that readers love, the kind that keep them reading. 

Thank you to Revell, the publisher, for sending me a copy of Summer Joy for my honest opinion of the book.