Ann Shorey's Blog, page 8
July 20, 2012
THE GIFTED, by Ann H Gabhart
"Torn between duty and desire" is a hackneyed phrase, but there's nothing hackneyed about Ann Gabhart's newest Shaker novel, The Gifted. The compelling plot had me reading until I could no longer hold my eyes open.
Jessamine Brady has lived in a Shaker village since she was ten years old. She embraces their beliefs and ways of love, but as she approaches twenty-one, the age of decision, she
Jessamine Brady has lived in a Shaker village since she was ten years old. She embraces their beliefs and ways of love, but as she approaches twenty-one, the age of decision, she
July 9, 2012
JOY TAKES FLIGHT, by Bonnie Leon
Kate believes she's living her dream when she and Dr. Paul Anderson marry. After all of the hurdles their relationship faced, now life promises smooth sailing.
But some promises can be misleading. Kate visualizes her life as an Alaskan bush pilot continuing without a hitch. Unfortunately, Paul has other ideas, especially after they learn they are expecting a child. Demons from his past haunt
But some promises can be misleading. Kate visualizes her life as an Alaskan bush pilot continuing without a hitch. Unfortunately, Paul has other ideas, especially after they learn they are expecting a child. Demons from his past haunt
June 25, 2012
SUBMERGED, by Dani Pettrey
Bailey Craig is a reluctant visitor to Yancey, Alaska, the town she fled as a young adult. The mistakes she made as a teenager haunt her, and she's sure the memories live on in Yancey as well.
However, a funeral and business affairs force her return. Once there, she can’t avoid crossing paths with Cole McKenna, the man she,s never been able to forget. Seeing him brings back the shame of her
However, a funeral and business affairs force her return. Once there, she can’t avoid crossing paths with Cole McKenna, the man she,s never been able to forget. Seeing him brings back the shame of her
June 18, 2012
SHORT-STRAW BRIDE, by Karen Witemeyer
The four Archer brothers protect their land at all costs. Visitors are discouraged with the business end of a rifle. Yet when Meredith Hayes overhears a plot to burn the brothers' property, an old obligation compels her to brave their locked gate and deliver a warning.
During the events that follow, Meredith is injured and unable to leave Archer land. Travis Archer, the eldest of the brothers,
During the events that follow, Meredith is injured and unable to leave Archer land. Travis Archer, the eldest of the brothers,
June 6, 2012
STATE OF WONDER, by Ann Patchett
State of Wonder is a stunningly absorbing novel. Dr. Marina Singh, a research scientist with a pharmaceutical company in Minnesota, is pressed into traveling to Brazil to confirm the success of a project her company is funding.
Numerous factors complicate her mission. For one, the doctor she is to locate is stationed far in the jungle. The few people who know where she is guard that
Numerous factors complicate her mission. For one, the doctor she is to locate is stationed far in the jungle. The few people who know where she is guard that
May 21, 2012
CANDLE IN THE DARKNESS, by Lynn Austin
Although she's a child of privilege in the antebellum South, Caroline Fletcher is unable to accept the concept of one race enslaving another. The Negroes in her parents' home are her friends, not her slaves.
A visit to Philadelphia exposes her to anti-slavery societies, and she eagerly embraces their philosophy. When the time comes for her to return to her home in Richmond, Virginia, she brings
A visit to Philadelphia exposes her to anti-slavery societies, and she eagerly embraces their philosophy. When the time comes for her to return to her home in Richmond, Virginia, she brings
May 1, 2012
THE MAID OF FAIRBOURNE HALL, by Julie Klassen
When Margaret Macy’s mother remarried, she unwittingly married a man who has designs on the fortune Margaret is due to inherit on her next birthday. Margaret's stepfather brings his unscrupulous nephew into the family home, and urges the nephew to press Margaret to marry him--by whatever means necessary.
When Margaret learns of the plan, she disguises herself as a housemaid and flees. However,
When Margaret learns of the plan, she disguises herself as a housemaid and flees. However,
April 16, 2012
AT HOME WITH THE TEMPLETONS, by Monica McInerney
I'm a great fan of Australian author Monica McInerney’s novels--At Home With the Templetons is no exception. This family saga opens with the widow Nina Donovan and her son, Tom, invited to a fete at neighboring Templeton Hall in the historic goldfields area of Australia.
Secretive Nina is overwhelmed by the Templeton clan’s lavish family estate, which they open to the public for weekend tours
Secretive Nina is overwhelmed by the Templeton clan’s lavish family estate, which they open to the public for weekend tours
April 2, 2012
THE DISCOVERY, by Dan Walsh
When best-selling author Gerard Warner dies, his grandson, Michael Warner, inherits the man's stately home in Charleston. On a desk in the home, the grandfather has left a wooden box containing an unfinished manuscript, which he intended for Michael to find.
What follows is a story-within-a-story, as Michael reads the manuscript. The Discovery is structured in such a way that the reader is
What follows is a story-within-a-story, as Michael reads the manuscript. The Discovery is structured in such a way that the reader is
March 26, 2012
BEYOND ALL MEASURE, by Dorothy Love
Penniless and alone, Ada Wentworth travels from her home in Boston to accept a job as a companion to an elderly woman in Hickory Ridge, Tennessee. The War Between the States has only been over for a short time, and once Ada arrives in Hickory Ridge, she finds that many townsfolk are not willing to accept a Yankee in their midst.
To add to her difficulties, the woman she's hired to attend,
To add to her difficulties, the woman she's hired to attend,
