The country is on the brink of the Civil War and Charlotte Vance is one girl who knows what she wants out of life. One thing is to marry long time, childhood friend, Edwin Hastings, but he as other ideas about life. Edwin is yearning to join the Shakers, as he is searching for meaning of life. Charlotte Vance is close to her father, who is into Kentucky politics, and has an eye for the future, but as he returns from a trip, he is not returning alone. He now has a new wife, Selena, who is young enough to be Charlotte's sister, along with a son. Now, everything at Grayson is changing and Charlotte no longer has a close relationship with her father, as Selena now is head of the home and as ideas of selling the slaves, slaves that Charlotte wants freed and feels as though they are family. Her heart is broken over Edwin and his decision not to marry her, but a young Adam comes into the picture and changes everything in Charlotte's heart. She just doesn't realize it yet. It seems all the characters in this beautiful story are seeking something. We watch God create and change these characters you will fall in love with change before our eyes. There is love, redemption and forgiveness. The information on the shakers is interesting to say the least. They are a strange people seeking God, but are lost in their ways of doing so. Charlotte is not giving up and forms a plan to seek out Edwin and free Mellie, who seems more of a sister than slave. Charlotte rides off with Mellie into the night to the Shaker community to their unsettling ways and is unsure of tomorrow, but finds God has a plan and all opens up as we step into each chapter. The Shakers do not believe in marriage or slavery. So Charlotte knows the only way to save Mellie is go there and join their community. She is set to change Edwins mind, but as she is, she cannot get Adam out of her mind. Adam plays a huge part in this story and I love his character. We are here in the 1860's in Kentucky and Gabhart gives great detail and a pureness to the happenings of this time. I loved the relationship between Charlotte and Mellie. The honor Charlotte had for her father and her determination to never give up. We see life does not always turn out the way we dream, but God always shines light on the blessings before our eyes and when we seek Him, somehow things just seem to work out. This is one you will love.This was a gift from Revell for it's review.
“Available July 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”
Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of several novels, including The Outsider, The Believer, and The Seeker. Her latest novel was inspired in part by the many stories her mother and two aunts told her of growing up in small town Kentucky during the 1930s. She lives with her husband a mile from where she was born in Kentucky.
