by Ann H. Gabhart
Publisher: Revell
Release Date: July 1, 2012Source: sent by publisher
My Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars
Summary from goodreads.com:
By 1849, Jessamine Brady has been in the Shaker Village for half her life, but in spite of how she loves her sisters there, she struggles to conform to the strict rules. Instead she entertains dreams of the world outside. When Tristan Cooper seems to step out of those dreams to entice her into the forbidden realm beyond the Shaker Village, her life turns upside down. Will Jessamine be able to survive the storms of the world? Or will she retreat back to the peace of Harmony Hill?
The thousands of loyal fans of Gabhart's Shaker novels will love this entrancing story of learning to trust the gifts God gives us and let him guide us through life.
My Review:
I always enjoy Ann H. Gabhart's Shaker novels, and this one is no exception. I may have liked this one even more than the others that I have read previously.
Jessamine was a great heroine, she definitely had her own mind even though she lived in the restricted Shaker community. I think this was very realistic because the Shaker lifestyle did have a lot of positives and benefits, which Jessamine acknowledged and appreciated. The Shakers took her in when she was only 10 and her grandmother passed away. Since then, she always had a great home, a roof over her head, and meals on the table. However, there were many drawbacks and restrictions to their lifestyle which she felt stifled her personal freedom. I think Jessamine's story could be a lot of real-life Shaker's stories.
I feel like the author explained the Shaker beliefs a lot more in this book than in her other novels. I liked reading the sayings and teachings that Jessamine had heard over the years, some good and some not so good. It really enriched the setting and helped me learn more about the Shakers and how they lived.
Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Romance: 4/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Cover: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Bottom Line: Another great Shaker novel by this author.
And I can't say I know a lot about the shakers
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