Showing posts with label Ann H. Gabhart. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ann H. Gabhart. Show all posts

In the Shadow of the River by Ann H. Gabhart | Historical Romance Review

In the Shadow of the River by Ann H Gabhart

In the Shadow of the River
Historical Romance

If all the world's a stage, Jacci will play her part.

She only hopes her story does not turn out to be a tragedy.

In 1881, Jacci Reed is only five years old when a man attempts to kidnap her from the steamboat her mother, Irena, works on. Badly wounded during the confrontation, Irena takes Jacci aboard the Kingston Floating Palace, a showboat tied up beside them. There, Jacci's actor grandfather tends to her mother, and Jacci gets a first taste of the life she will come to lead.

Fifteen years later, Jacci is an actress aboard that same showboat and largely contented with her adopted family of actors, singers, and dancers. Especially Gabe, who has always supported her, and the gruff grandfather she has come to know and love. Jacci's mother has been gone for years, but the memory of the altercation that ultimately took her life--and the cryptic things Jacci has overheard about her past--is always there, lurking in the back of her mind.

When someone on the showboat tries to kill Jacci, it's clear her questions demand answers. But secrets have a way of staying in the shadows . . . and the answers she craves will not come easily.

Read an excerpt.
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My Thoughts

Ann Gabhart has such a knack for telling stories about tenacious women. This time around we actually get the story of two such women. Jacci Reed and her mother Irena are the epitome of tenacious. We meet them when Jacci is just five and follow them until Jacci is well into adulthood.

The story is at times gut-wrentching yet it is also intriguing. They both live their lives on a river boat. Irena is a maid but Jacci is a performer on the Kingston Floating Palace. I found it very interesting to peek behind the curtain and see how life is behind the stage. 

Along with the interesting aspects of stage life there is also a dark side to this story. Evil is lurking in the shadows and Jacci seems to be the intended target. She finds herself in some narrow escapes that lead to more questions than answers. 

I enjoyed this story immensely. Strong characters. Interesting plot line. And an ending that was unexpected but satisfying. 

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Ann H Gabhart
Photo Credit: © Memories by Chris




Disclosure

I received a copy of this book from the publisher to facilitate my review.






 

Murder Comes by Mail (Hidden Springs Mystery #2) by A.H. Gabhart | Cozy Mystery Reveiw

Murder Comes by Mail (Hidden Springs Mystery #2) by A.H. Gabhart

Book review disclosure.

Hidden Springs Mystery #2
Mystery

DOING A GOOD DEED NEVER FELT SO BAD

Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane doesn't particularly enjoy being touted as the hero of Hidden Springs after pulling a suicidal man back from the edge of the Eagle River bridge in front of dozens of witnesses--a few of whom caught the breathtaking moments with their cameras. But the media hype doesn't last long as a new story pushes its way into the public consciousness of Hidden Springs' concerned citizens.

Photos of a dead girl arrive in the mail, and Michael becomes convinced she was murdered by the man he saved. With a killer one step ahead, things in Hidden Springs begin to unravel. Now Michael must protect the people he loves--because the killer could be targeting one of them next.

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My Thoughts

Murder Comes by Mail brings us back to Hidden Springs and all of its quirky yet lovable characters. Since we last visited in Murder at the Courthouse life has gone on with the same daily happenings that the citizens have come to expect. 

When we catch up with them Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane is doing his christian duty by transporting the Senior Adult Ladies Sunday School Class from First Baptist over to Eagleton to see a play. Michael is less than thrilled but of course when his Aunt Lindy makes a request it is next to impossible to turn it down.

The trip is hot but uneventful. That is until they are about to cross the bridge. As they approach the bridge Michael spots a man that is obviously about to jump and take his life. Michael stops the bus and ultimately pulls the man from the ledge. Instead of being grateful the man leaves Michael with a parting comment. "You'll wish you'd pushed me."

As the mystery deepens and unfurls cryptic letters begin to arrive in Hidden Springs. Why is this happening? Who was the mysterious jumper? Even though the jurisdiction for the incident is in Eagleton more and more of the clues keep arriving in Hidden Springs. 

The first book in the series read like a cozy mystery. This installment has more of a psychological thriller feel. I enjoyed the journey as the mystery is solved. I was led back and forth trying to figure out who exactly was behind everything. In the end it was a big surprise even though breadcrumbs of clues were left all along the path.

I'm really liking Ann Gabhart's writing in this genre. I've come to love her other novels so it is a great delight to have another type of storytelling to be entertained with. If you enjoy a cozy mystery that is clean but has depth you should give this series a try. 

If you are considering this mystery for your book club there is an online Reading Group Guide that you can download for discussion starters.

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Ann H Gabhart



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Murder at the Courthouse (Hidden Springs Mystery) by A. H. Gabhart {Cozy Mystery Review}



Cozy Mystery

Michael Keane's stressful days as a Columbus police officer are done. He's ready to relax into his new position as deputy sheriff in his sleepy hometown. Nothing ever happens in Hidden Springs, Kentucky--and that's just fine with Michael.

Nothing, that is, until a dead body is discovered on the courthouse steps. As Michael works to solve the case, it seems that every nosy resident in town has a theory. When the sheriff insists Michael check out one of these harebrained theories, his surprising discovery sends him on a bewildering search for a mysterious killer that has him questioning everything he has ever believed about life in Hidden Springs.

Bringing with her a knack for creating settings you want to visit and an uncanny ability to bring characters to life, A. H. Gabhart pens a whodunit that will keep you guessing.

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My Thoughts

Ann Gabhart's first foray into the cozy mystery category is fabulous! I've always enjoyed her writing so it was no surprise that this new genre was a great fit for her as well. She took all of the elements that I love in a cozy mystery and combined them to come up with an engaging and entertaining read.

The small town of Hidden Springs is a sleepy little place where nothing much happens. But things take a turn when eccentric Miss Willadean Dearmon comes upon a dead body on the courthouse steps. Believe it or not this part was kind of funny. Miss Willadean thought the man was just being rude to her by not acknowledging her greeting. When she mentioned the snub to Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane she speculates that he is possibly a drunken bum. Deputy Keane says he'll take care of it but soon discovers that the drunken bum is in fact a dead man and the investigation begins.

Murder at the Courthouse strikes a good balance with its humor and serious situations. I was delighted to slowly watch the mystery unfold and I was even more thrilled to not figure out the total scenario surrounding the murder until very late in the story. 

If you are looking for a great read on a cold winter night get this one! There's a bit of everything thrown in with the mystery, humor, and romance so it should appeal to a wide audience. 

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Photo Credit: © Memories by Chris










The Innocent by Ann H. Gabhart {Historical Romance Review}

The Innocent by Ann Gabhart

Book review disclosure.

Historical Romance

SHE LONGS FOR PEACE--FOR HER LAND AND 
HER HEART--BUT CAN IT TRULY BE FOUND 
AT HARMONY HILL?

Carlyn Kearney has spent two lonely years not knowing whether to mourn or to hope after she receives word from the Union Army that her husband is missing. When the war ends without further word, Carlyn finds herself penniless, in debt, and forced from her home. With nowhere else to go, she seeks refuge at the Shaker village of Harmony Hill.

The Shakers profess peace through simple living, but to Carlyn, the Shaker life seems anything but simple. When mysterious deaths disturb the peace of the village, Carlyn falls under intense scrutiny. Can a kind sheriff help her expose the true culprit?

Bestselling author Ann H. Gabhart invites fans back to Harmony Hill for a story laced with intrigue, romance, and heart.

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My Thoughts

Prepare to have your heart broken for the awful situation that Carlyn Kearney finds herself in. Her beloved husband went off to fight in the Civil War. The war has since ended and the men have come home, except for her husband. He's considered missing and presumed dead. But with no definitive word on his condition Carlyn is left in a state of limbo. 

Meanwhile the mortgage is due on her home and she has no way to pay it. Her only alternative seems to be to join the Shakers at Harmony Hill. While she doesn't adhere to their odd beliefs she knows she'll have food and shelter and be relatively safe until her husband comes home. Much to her dismay several very treacherous events happen that leave the whole village unsettled.

I have enjoyed several of Gabhart's Harmony Hill novels and this one is no exception. I appreciate the peek into the mysterious Shaker community. The author does a wonderful job of presenting the beliefs of these people without pandering to them. What they believe is strange and she makes no bones about it. 

Carlyn Kearney is forced to face the worst nightmare of any married woman. When do you give up hope? When is it okay to move on? I loved Carlyn's faith in the Providence of God. She didn't always understand what was happening and had many doubts but in the end she relied on God. 

When I closed the last page of the book I was left with a deep sense of gratitude for the provision that God continues to provide His children. Gabhart did a marvelous job of juxtaposing the Shakers with the believers in Christ without disparaging either group. I will be eagerly awaiting her next book.

I look forward to reading this book with my local book club. If you are thinking of reading it with your group there is a helpful Reading Group Guide with lots of insightful questions that you can download here.

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Photo Credit: © Memories by Chris



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Love Comes Home by Ann H. Gabhart ~ An Historical Fiction Review



Rosey Corner, Book 3
Historical Fiction

Back of the book:

WHEN THE FLUSH OF A VICTORY FADES, 
THERE REMAINS A WINDING ROAD TO 
AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE.

World War II is finally over and the people of Rosey Corner are joyfully welcoming the boys home. The Merritt sisters in particular are looking toward the future. Kate is eager to start a family and live out her dream of happily ever after with Jay. Evangeline craves a beautiful house and encourages Mike to pastor a big-town church. Victoria wants what can never be. And Lorena is growing up and wondering more and more about her birth family.

Each sister must learn to hold her plans with a loose hand, trusting that God will guide and strengthen them as they share the joys and sorrows of life in their little corner of the world.

Award-winning and bestselling author Ann Gabhart invites you back to Rosey Corner for a heartfelt story that closes the distance between the things that were and things that can yet be.

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My thoughts:

This is another one of those series that just kills me that I have to wait so long for the next book to come out! I absolutely fell in love with the Merritt family in Angel Sister and delighted in the continued story in Small Town Girl. 

Now we come to the third book, Love Comes Home. The story begins just as World War II is declared over. There is great celebrating going on across the country and especially in Rosey Corner. Their men are coming home! 

Well, most of the men are coming home. Three of the Merritt sisters have husbands serving in the military but only two of their husbands will be coming home. Such a bittersweet time for those that lost their loved ones. You rejoice that the fighting is over but you mourn over and over the loss of the one you loved and planned a life with.

Even though the other two brother-in-laws come home, they are not the same. War changes everyone. The men have seen things that are just too horrific to forget. The women have been holding down the home front by taking jobs that their men used to have. When the soldiers come home everything changes. The men need the jobs and the women are expected to go back home. Such an unsettling time for the citizens of Rosey Corner. 

All these changes bring upheaval. I enjoyed the contrast between Evie's neediness and Kate's strength. They both are faced with similar life challenges and it was enjoyable to read about each woman's struggles and how they coped with what was put before them.

This is a great continuing story about the seasons of life. There is mourning and rejoicing. There is death and new life. There is loss and there is gain. This really is a gentle story about the everydayness of life in a rural town. The characters remind us that our faith in God is what will get us through all the changes that come about. The enduring love of a family, whether from birth or adoption, is long-lasting and where we can feel safe and cared for.

If you are a fan of Jan Karon's Mitford series or Louisa May Alcott's Little Women you are going to enjoy the people of Rosey Corner. Each book can be read as a stand alone, but I would suggest that you treat yourself and begin your trip to the sweet little Kentucky town of Rosey Corner with Angel Sister.

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Photo Credit: © Scott Campbell Photography








Summer of Joy by Ann H Gabhart ~ A Contemporary Fiction Review



The Heart of Hollyhill, Book 3
Ann H Gabhart
Contemporary Fiction

About the book:

As summer draws to a close Jocie's world seems serene--but is it just the calm before a storm?

Unbeknownst to Jocie Brooke and her family, two people are making their way to the small town of Hollyhill, Kentucky. One everyone thought was gone for good and the other no one's ever heard of. Still, one thing is sure--they promise trouble. The past is coming to call, threatening to destroy strong relationships that everyone has simply taken for granted.

The summer of 1964 may be winding down, but the controversy in this little community where nothing ever seems to change is just heating up.

Bestselling author Ann Gabhart invites you to Hollyhill for a story both exciting and enduring that will stick with you long after you turn the last page.

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My thoughts:

Summer of Joy takes us back to rural Hollyhill, Kentucky in the mid 1960's during a turbulent time in our nation's history. The characters that we have come to know and love in the previous two novels are all back. What seems to be a time of joy for the Brooke family comes to a startling halt with the arrival of a person they all thought was long gone.

Ms. Gabhart has done a beautiful job of showing us that family isn't always blood relation. Sometimes family is comprised of those that are related by heart. I enjoyed seeing how each of the members of this family let love and forgiveness shine the light of Christ to those around them. 

I suppose that this could technically be classified as a stand alone novel, but I wouldn't personally recommend it that way. There is so much rich history that goes into the complete story that I think you will miss out if you limit yourself to only reading this novel. In my opinion you really should treat yourself and read the whole series in order. It is a wonderful  piece of literature that captures the angst and innocence of the timeframe. 

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Photo Credit: © Scott Campbell Photography






 


Book Review ~ Christmas at Harmony Hill: A Shaker Story by Ann H. Gabhart


Ann H. Gabhart
Contemporary Fiction/Christmas

About the book:

It is 1864 and the nation is still torn apart by civil war when Heather Worth discovers she is with child. She has been working as a laundress with her husband's army unit, but when the army gets orders to march south to Tennessee, Gideon insists Heather go home to have their child under safer conditions. Heather agrees, but returns home to another kind of devastation-deaths in the family and a father who refuses to forgive her for marrying a Yankee. With nowhere else to turn, Heather seeks refuge at the Shaker village of Harmony Hill, where her great aunt Sophrena lives. There, after many peaceful years at Harmony Hill, Sophrena is having doubts about her Shaker path. Both women are in need of love and forgiveness-whether given or received. With Christmas coming, can the miracle of new life fill their hearts with unexpected joy?


My thoughts:

The Shakers have long been of interest to me. Their furniture inspirations are beautiful but their actions are odd. In this Christmas novel about the Shaker settlement of Harmony Hill, Ann Gabhart allows us a peek into the traditions and doctrines that go along with the Shaker movement.

We are transported to Harmony Hill when Gideon sends his very pregnant wife home from the battlefield during the Civil War. Heather thinks she'll be going home to have her baby with the help of her momma. Once she makes it there she finds that circumstances have changed and she leaves to seek refuge with her Aunt Sophrena at the Shaker village of Harmony Hill.

Unbeknownst to Gideon and Heather they are both going to be brought through the valley of the shadow of death. Providence brings people alongside them to help them through their trials. Their lives will never be the same nor will the lives around them.

I enjoyed reading about how the hand of God is at work in situations long before those situations come about. Ms. Gabhart doesn't gloss over the flaws with the Shaker movement, nor does she bash their ways. I appreciated learning more about the movement while being entertained by a heartwarming Christmas story.

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