MY REVIEW:
The Seeker tells the story of Charlotte Vance whose life was turned upside down by the abandonment of her fiance and the marriage of her father to a gold-digger young enough to be her sister. Strong willed and determined, Charlotte knows what she wants from life and makes every effort to see that she gets it. When her new stepmother starts to make her life unbearable, Charlotte’s first step is to join the Shakers in order to convince her fiance to change his mind. Little does she know the drastic changes her life will undergo.
The Seeker is filled with details about life during the early Civil War era, including contrasts between Charlotte’s privileged life as a senator’s daughter and her life in the Shaker village. Details of the Shaker belief system and some of its history give the reader insight into a religion previously a mystery to many. Scenes from the Civil War camps and battlefields help to round out the story. The romance between Charlotte and Adam takes place mostly within their letters but is satisfying nonetheless.
Although The Seeker is a lengthy book, it is rich in personal and historical elements that kept the narrative interesting. Some of the characters veer from the expected and manage to break some long held stereotypes. Redemption and forgiveness are key themes, yet there is nothing preachy about this book. I would emphatically recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction and are not looking for light entertainment.
Available July 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
This book was provided for review by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
a captivating story of love that blooms
despite desperate circumstances
Author Ann H. Gabhart weaves a striking story about life, love and fateful decisions in her new book The Seeker.
Set during the 1860s, The Seeker introduces readers to Charlotte Vance, a pampered Kentucky gentlewoman who knows what she wants. But when the man she planned to marry joins the Shakers—a religious group that does not allow marriage—she is left dumbfounded. And when her father brings home a new wife who is young enough to be Charlotte’s sister, it is more than she can bear.
With the country—and her own household—on the brink of civil war, Charlotte hatches a plan to avoid her new stepmother and win back her man by joining the Shaker community at Harmony Hill. Little does she know that this decision will lead her down a road of unforeseen consequences.
In this moving and well-researched story, Gabhart brings alive the strikingly different worlds of the Southern gentry, the simple Shakers, and the ravages of war during the 1860s to deliver a touching story of love, freedom, and forgiveness.
She joined the Shakers to escape her troubles …
But unforeseen consequences threaten all she holds dear
Endorsements
“In The Seeker, Ann H. Gabhart has penned a captivating story of love that blooms despite the desperate circumstances of the Civil War and a delicious heroine who chooses safety and seclusion among the Shakers. Gabhart’s vivid descriptions and well-drawn characters will leave you wanting more. A wonderful read!”—Judith Miller, author, Daughters of Amana series
“Ann H. Gabhart has a gift for skillfully blending research with fiction to create stories that entertain. The Seeker is a well-woven tale about a strong and determined woman who is willing to risk everything to follow her convictions. A definite can’t-put-it-down book.”—Suzanne Woods Fisher, author, Amish Proverbs, Amish Peace, and The Choice
“To read The Seeker is to step inside a peaceful Shaker village and experience a new world of faith, love, freedom, and forgiveness. Ann H. Gabhart brings to life a spirited southern belle in war-torn Kentucky with authenticity and grace. A page-turner to the very end!”—Laura Frantz, author, The Frontiersman’s Daughter and Courting Morrow Little
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Living just thirty miles from a restored Shaker village in Kentucky, Ann H. Gabhart 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. Gabhart is the author of several novels, including The Outsider and The Believer.
