The Seeker

Let’s start with the characters. A couple of people in The Seeker will bring out so much irritation in you that you will want to reach into the pages and slap them silly. Or at least I did. One of them redeemed herself; one of them did not. Some of the characters just made me smile any time they shared page-time with my eyes. Sister Martha, Landon, and Aunt Tish were some of those characters.

Now for the romance (because that can honestly make or break a book for me). Here on Goodreads, the author Ann Gabhart said that this book is her “most romantic Shaker book to date“, not an easy thing to do when the Shakers are celibate. Fortunately, the hero of our story – a sketch artist who is covering the Civil War for Harpers’ Weekly show more – isn’t a Shaker and neither is Charlotte really. She is living among them, though, and since the elders monitor all incoming and outgoing mail (don’t get me started!!) for anything they consider inappropriate it is a bit tricky for Adam to let her know how he feels and vice versa. I thought Ms. Gabhart came up with a very creative way to accomplish this though!! I’m not going to spoil it for you – you’re just going to have to find out on your own.

There were only a couple facets of The Seeker that I felt were less than stellar. First, the letters between Adam and Charlotte while he was embedded in the battles became a bit tedious at times – too much historical detail. I see what the author was trying to do but it just (in my opinion) took away from the story and dragged it on too long. The other thing that bothered me – and it’s a problem I have with the first two books in this series as well – is that, while a reader can clearly see how warped some of the Shakers’ views were, the truth of Jesus’ grace is either glossed over or given just a brief mention. I am not one for a lot of preaching in fiction books – even Christian ones. I figure that if I want some preaching I will listen to some – or read a nonfiction Christian book meant to help me grow in my walk with Jesus. BUT if such a messed-up view of the Bible and God is going to dominate a book as the WRONG way to believe, then I think readers need to see a strong emphasis on the TRUTH to counteract the hopelessness that such falsity leaves in your spirit.

Overall I give The Seeker 4 out of 5 stars! This is the 3rd book in the Shaker series but the books don’t really need to be read in order. Read more of my review here - https://readingismysuperpower.wordpress.com/2015/04/11/review-the-seeker-shaker-... show less

A story that shows you some of what went on in a peaceful Shaker village in Kentucky, during the Civil War. This series gives reader a glimpse of what it would have been like for those who chose to become a Shaker. It was hard for me to wrap my mind around the lifestyle and acceptance of their beliefs.

Charlotte Vance is a young woman who likes to be in control of what is happening around her, and who has a great love for her family home, Grayson. But in one night her future husband tells her he is joining the "Shaker" movement, her father comes home from a trip with a new, young and deceitful wife, and she kisses a stranger out in the garden.

With war beginning and her father away, Charlotte takes her slave friend and they flee to the show more Shaker community. But she can't get rid of thoughts of the man in the garden, Adam Wade (who follows the Civil War by drawing sketches for the newspaper). Adam finds out where Charlotte has gone and they start to write letters back and forth as the war rages on. Both Adam and Charlotte will grow in their understanding of what each of them want and will change for the better. A love story that shows both the value of freedom and forgiveness. show less

Charlotte is a Southern belle living on a plantation in Kentucky just before the outbreak of the Civil war. Her world is turned upside down when her father remarries and her new Stepmother arrives--with an agenda that seeks to exclude Charlotte from her beloved home. Charlotte had hoped to marry a neighboring plantation heir and so secure her future, but he decides to join the Shaker community which forbids marriage. Frustrated Charlotte is forced to take drastic actions to protect her interests--and those she cares for--all the while wondering about the sudden attraction a visiting artist has shown in her.
While enjoyable enough, I found parts of this historical tale to be implausible, which annoyed me as I was reading it. I'm sure the show more description of the Shaker community was accurate enough, but the behavior of it's members, and even Charlotte and her father seemed unlikely. Read this one for a sweet romance that will take you away from reality for a while--just don't expect to feel like it's entirely authentic. show less

THE SEEKER by Ann H. Gabhart is an Inspirational historical fiction set in 1861 Mercer County, Kentucky. It is an inspiring story of love and sacrifice. It is well written with details and depth. It has faith, devotion, courage, sacrifice, betrayal, forgiveness, grace, freedom, slavery, and love that blooms despite the circumstances.The characters are selfish, strong, and will draw you into the story and keep you wanting more. It is a fast paced, page turning story. The heroine, Charlotte, is a true Southern Belle thrust into the world of the Shakers for her safety and seclusion. The hero, Adam, does illustrations for a newspaper, he is brought into Charlotte's life by her new stepmother. He and Charlotte will become close through their show more trials and tribulation. This is a wonderful love story even through the ravages of war in 1860 Kentucky, it weaves forgiveness, freedom,love, the different worlds between the simple Shaker world and the world of the Southern belle. I would highly recommend this story for it is truly in inspiring story, gives some insight into the Shaker world, and shows how love can overcome the atrocities around us. This book was received for review and details can be found at Revell and My Book Addiction and More. show less

The Seeker (The Shaker Book series - Book 3) by Ann H. Gabhart

(For review from Revell)

Synopsis:

When well-laid plans go awry, can she still make her dreams come true?

Charlotte Vance is a young woman 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, this pampered gentlewoman 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 show more road of unforeseen consequences.

Ann H. Gabhart brings alive the strikingly different worlds of the Southern gentry, the simple Shakers, and the ravages of war in 1860s Kentucky to weave a touching story of love, freedom, and forgiveness.

Thoughts:

As many of you know, I live in Kentucky and when I find a book that has Kentucky as it's setting, I'm very interested in it. This is Ann Gabhart's third book about The Shakers of Kentucky. It is set in the 1860's when the war had literally destroyed families as well as homes and businesses. The Shakers during that time were a voice of reason, the believed in simple living and quiet harmony and that appealed to many people during this time in Kentucky's history.

The problem with the Shakers came into existence with their own belief system. Because they did not believe in marriage they had to gather their followers from the general population. Eventually that meant that the Shakers died out, but their legacy lives on. Gabhart certainly did her research. She captures the daily like of the Shakers in great detail and lets the reader see what life in a Shaker community might have been like.

Charlotte Vance's character reminds me somewhat of my aunt. She was tenacious and she didn't give up. When circumstances didn't go her way, she found a new way. Charlotte was forced to change the plan of her life when the man she intended to marry joined the Shaker community at Harmony Hill. Her father married again and what was she to do? She joined the Shakers with the intent to get her man back, but what she found was totally unexpected. I liked her character a lot. She was able to make a way where there didn't seem to be one. She learned so much about what she believed. It was a journey of self discovery.

“Available July 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

I am giving this book 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag! show less

Charlotte is a determined woman and when the man she wants to marry decides to join the Shakers she is in shock. Then his father brings home a new wife that is determined to get rid of Charlotte. She even replaces her mothers portriat with her own drawn by Adam a sketch artist.On the brink of war in her country and home Charlotte decides to escape to the Shaker community. She soon finds herself adapting to the rules of her community even though her heart belongs to Adam. They write letters to each other during the war and each suffer losses. Charlotte is chosen to help with nursing duties for those wounded. Adam turns out to be one of those in the hospital. They renew their love for each other and Charlotte agrees to marry him.

Charlotte Grayson is cheated out of a wedding by her fiance as he has decided to go and live with the shakers, a very devote village of believers who live nearby. Her father is a senator who brings his new wife Selena home who is changing the whole plantation. Throw in the beginning of the civil war, an illustration artist for Harper's Weekly, slaves running north to freedom and you have a very well-done book! It tells the civil war, and what the Shakers did living so close to the fighting as a peace-keeping people. Interesting history about tihngs the Shakers invented, beliefs they have, what there role was during this period of time, and why they were called the Shakers. Lots of historical facts woven into ficiton.