The Refuge by storyteller extraordinaire, author Ann Garbart, is a delicious serving of Christian historical romance.  Set in the Shaker Village at Harmony Hill, Kentucky in 1850’s, this 391 page paperback is wonderful!  I found it to be a page turning delight.

If you are not familiar with the Shaker religion, this book will give you a quick lesson.  I love fiction books that teach me new things.  However, this time I was well acquainted with the strange sect that believed in celibacy and did not believe in marriage.  I still shook my head in disbelief and was frustrated with them even though I knew what to expect.

Author Gabhart has a magical way with telling a tale.  Actually, it is a God given talent.  Her words are woven together and I am spellbound.  Within the first few paragraphs I am walking inside the book and captivated.  She teaches me things that I don’t know and always has a healthy dose of faith and inspiration included in the story.  These are two of my favorite things, actually must haves, in historical Christian fiction.

This book has been well researched.  The author knows a lot about the Shakers, and it is evident she has visited their historic village.  Characters are very well defined and easy to imagine.  I loved feisty Leatrice, daughter of widower Flynn.  Darcie caught my heart and my emotions.  At times I felt trapped like she did with the Shakers.  The variety of personalities in the Shaker sisters was delightful and true to life, I’m certain.

This is a book about romance, faith, trusting God, and friendship.  There are some twists and turns to keep readers on their toes.  Book Clubs will need to come up with their own discussion questions as it does not include any.

I highly recommend this well written novel.  Learning about the Shakers is worth reading it, but there is so much more to glean.  I rated it 5 out of 5 stars.

I received a copy from the publisher, but was under no obligation to write a review.  These are my own, honest thoughts.

 

About the Book:

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?

Ann H. Gabhart returns to the enigmatic world of the Shakers in this emotional exploration of the power of love and the bond of family.

About the Author:

Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of several Shaker novels–The Outsider, The Believer, The Seeker, The Blessed, and The Gifted–as well as other historical novels, including Angel Sister, These Healing Hills, and River to Redemption. She and her husband live on a farm a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Ann enjoys discovering the everyday wonders of nature while hiking in her farm’s fields and woods with her grandchildren and her dog, Frankie. Learn more at http://www.annhgabhart.com.

Recipe Time by Nyla Kay:

My paternal grandparents lived near Shaker Town so I have many memories of going there to eat with them.  Among the recipes I accumulated is this one for Shaker Lemon Pie.  It is so tasty and very different.  The key is to slice your lemons extremely thin.

Shaker Lemon Pie

• 2 lemons (about 9 oz. each), sliced paper thin (rind and all)
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 double pie crust

Directions

Combine lemon slices and sugar in a shallow bowl; let stand until lemon slices are juicy, 4 hours or overnight. Remove any seeds that float to the surface.