The Believer
August 24th, 2009. Filed under: Monday's Musings.
ISLAND BREEZES
I loved this book. I learned so much about the Shakers; their believes, lifestyle and community. This book was worthreading just for that knowledge, but it didn’t stop there. I fell in love with the characters. They became family and often, this book broke my heart. It also gave me times of joy and wanting to run out and join a Shaker community. Of course, one can’t do that now, but the simple lifestyle holds allure.
This is primarily Elizabeth’s story. Elizabeth is like us. She has her ups and downs. This book touches your soul as you are carried along with Elizabeth and Ethan, the love of her life. How terribly wrong love can go. Is it possible for love to triumph over so many obstacles?
I didn’t like the end of this book very well. That’s because it ended too soon. I want the story to go on and on. I guess I’m just greedy. When I get my hands on a good book, I want to just keep reading. I want to know what’s going to happen next.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
What will happen when forbidden feelings of love begin to arise?
Celebrated novelist delivers another fascinating historical romance
that takes readers into the life—and sacrifices—of the Shaker community
The Shakers are remembered today for their minimalist, understated aesthetics. One thing they are not remembered for is their love stories. That’s because the religious values of the Shakers required they practice celibacy so that they could concentrate their energies on work and worship. This devotion sparked the interest of author Ann H. Gabhart, who lives only miles from a restored Shaker village.
As she learned more about the lives and beliefs of Shaker communities, which flourished during the early 1800s, Gabhart began imagining what might happen if feelings of love were awakened within the community. The Believeris Ann H. Gabhart’s newest exploration of love and devotion in this quiet Shaker community in 19th century Kentucky:
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The Believer by Ann H. Gabhart ISBN: 978-0-8007-3362-9 August 2009, $13.99 |
In The Believer, Elizabeth Duncan has nowhere to turn once her parents die and she is left in charge of her younger brother. When she hears that the Shaker community in the next county takes in orphans, she presents herself and her siblings at Harmony Hill. Despite the hard work and strange new beliefs around her, Elizabeth is relieved to have a roof overhead and food to eat. But when she feels a strong attachment to a handsome young Believer named Ethan, life gets complicated. Ethan has never looked on the opposite sex as anything but sisters, but he can’t shake the new feelings that Elizabeth has awakened in him. Will Elizabeth be forced to leave the village to keep Ethan from stumbling? Or will Ethan’s love for her change their lives forever?
Well-researched and brilliantly written, The Believer takes readers into the quaint Shaker life, and the difficult decisions that must be made when love and faith are at odds with one another.
“…rings with researched authenticity and will appeal to Amish romance fans.”
—Publishers Weekly
Ann H. Gabhart is the author of the successful Shaker-inspired novel The Outsider. Living just thirty miles from a restored Shaker village in Kentucky, she has walked the same paths that her characters might have walked in generations past. Her thorough research provides a convincing and colorful backdrop for her Shaker novels.
For more information, visit www.RevellBooks.com.