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    The Blessed: A Novel
    The Blessed: A Novel
    The Blessed: A Novel
    Audiobook13 hours

    The Blessed: A Novel

    Written by Ann H. Gabhart

    Narrated by Renee Ertl

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    Trapped by obligation, one woman longs for the freedom of true love.

    It is 1844 and Lacey Bishop’s life is a tangled mess. When circumstances move Lacey to a nearby Shaker village, she is not prepared for the new life that awaits her. In the midst of her deep loneliness, Lacey works to fit in with this odd group. But everything shifts when she finds herself drawn to a Shaker man in a village where such relationships are forbidden.

    Can Lacey ever find true happiness in this mysterious place?

    “Ann H. Gabhart takes us on a remarkable journey into the lives of the Shakers and their community. With a compelling style, she weaves a story of love, compassion, and a young woman’s determination to find God’s truth. From cover to cover, The Blessed captivates and challenges-an absolutely wonderful read.”
    -Judith Miller, author of A Bond Never Broken

    “When you step into the world of Ann Gabhart’s The Blessed, you’ll find it inhabited by a truly delightful cast of characters. Theirs is a multileveled love story . . . between a man and a woman, yes, but also between a woman and a child not her own. Certainly, a tender and inspiring read.”
    -Ann Tatlock, award-winning novelist

    “Ann Gabhart has written a fine and fair rendering of the Shaker ways and how the beliefs of this communal society touched the lives of those within the community and those without.”
    -Jane Kirkpatrick, award-winning author of The Daughter’s Walk

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOasis Audio
    Release dateJul 1, 2011
    ISBN9781608148738
    Author

    Ann H. Gabhart

    Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of many novels, including In the Shadow of the River, When the Meadow Blooms, Along a Storied Trail, An Appalachian Summer, River to Redemption, These Healing Hills, and Angel Sister. She and her husband live on a farm a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Ann enjoys discovering the everyday wonders of nature while hiking in her farm's fields and woods with her grandchildren and her dogs, Frankie and Marley. Learn more at AnnHGabhart.com.

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    Reviews for The Blessed

    4/5

    24 ratings6 reviews

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    • 5/5
      While yet again, the Shaker ways are a foreign understandable concept to my mind, I did enjoy the writing of this story.
    • 4/5
      Lacey Bishop hasn't had an easy life and things get even more difficult when she marries Pastor Elwood Palmer in order to continue caring for Rachel. Though she did not give birth to Rachel, Lacey considers Rachel to be her daughter and would do anything to stay with her. As tensions in the parsonage mount, a move to the Shaker community, where all marital relationships are dissolved, seems like a relief. Unfortunately, the Shakers also believe in dissolving parent-child relationships. Lacey is compelled to stay within the Shaker community to be near Rachel. The strange rules and practices of the Shakers leave Lacey feeling isolated and desperate. When she finds herself drawn to Isaac Kingston, a widower living among the Shakers, Lacey struggles with to trust in God. Trapped by obligations, Lacey must fight to keep her faith and hope alive. Will she ever fit in with the Shakers? Can God deliver her and Rachel from this tangled mess? Will she find true love in this unlikely place?Reading The Blessed by Ann H. Gabhart was an interesting experience for me. I've never read a book about the Shaker religion. Though I don't know much about the history of the Shakers, the book seemed well-researched and included Shaker songs. As a word of warning, this book is much more fiction than romance. Although romance is included, it reads more on the fiction side. I don't mind fiction, so this was okay with me, but I expected more interaction between Lacey and Isaac. Lacey and Isaac are extremely well-developed characters. The author takes the reader deep into their thoughts and feelings without boring the reader with a lack of action. Fans of historical Christian fiction will probably like this book.Available July 2011 at your favorite bookseeller from Revell, a division of baker Publishing Group.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
    • 5/5
      This book is excellently written. I enjoyed it from the very first page.

      Young Lacy Bishop's life was a web of sticky mess that had her tangled in obligations she wanted nothing to do with. Would the Shaker Village be a way out of this mess?

      As a young girl Lacy Bishop is sent to live with Mona and Preacher Palmer. There words of truth are spoken into her life and the scripture becomes her strong foundation. However, Mona dies just as Lacy is becoming a young woman and she and the orphaned girl (a baby that had been left on the door step of the Preacher's house) find themselves the center of church gossip. Preacher Palmer takes matters into his hands and convinces Lacy to marry him. Devastated and heartbroken but wanting to stay with the young child she has taken as her own she agrees.

      On the other side is Isaac, the young widower of the judge's daughter. His life is turned upside down when his beloved wife dies. As they lay her body in the grave the judge vows to make Isaac's life miserable.

      In the end all end up at the Shaker Village, searching for the truth and peace that will set them free. In that village truths are uncovered that rock Lacy's world. In the midst of the strange religion Lacy is pulled ever closer to God as the truth instilled in her by Mona echos in her heart. It is here that all those involved find a new life - and freedom from old things.

      Truly an insightful story. I found it to be very eye-opening in regards to the Shaker religion and system of beliefs.

      Thank you Revell for this review copy.
    • 4/5
      In The Blessed, Gabhart continues her delightful Christian romances set in the Shaker community of Harmony Hill in the mid-nineteenth century. Isaac Kingston returns to Louisville to bury his dead wife in her hometown, where her family will not forgive him for taking her away where she caught a fever and died. Isaac cannot forgive himself either. While contemplating suicide, Isaac meets a Shaker man who invites him to Harmony Hill for food and redemption. Isaac follows.Lacey Bishop did not want to marry the elderly Preacher Palmer but could see no other option for her and her adopted daughter Rachel. Lacey refuses her husband the marriage bed, and in his frustration and grief (having not properly grieved his first wife's death), the preacher turns to the Shaker community.The Shakers offer much to those in need, but they don't always offer what is needed. The difficulties for Lacey multiple at Harmony Hill, but Lacey finds consolation in Brother Isaac's smiles. Gabhart's characters are rich and diverse, and her story is well paced and entertaining. The Shakers, who in this story have an odd mix of holiness and craziness, are created with care, love and respect by Gabhart.
    • 5/5
      I loved this book. There isn't one simple thing that is my favorite. I just loved the book in all it's entirety. Ann H. Gabhart has outdone herself with this Shaker novel. I enjoyed her other novels centering around Shakers, but, like I said, this is one that I loved the most. Her writing style is still the wonderful same, her characters still created with a powerful passion, but this novel about being truly blessed with what you have or don't have, was truly moving. Lacey Bishop was a cast away and moved to the home of Miss Mona and her preacher husband. Along side Lacey comes another cast away...sweet little Rachel. Upon the death of Miss Mona, Lacey is given the care of Rachel, but to fulfill this and still have a home, Lacey is also forced to marry the Preacher. Something Lacey refuses to fulfill in every sense. Soon Lacey finds herself among the Shakers in a village where they live as brother and sister. But, will God ever bless her with TRUE love??? Isaac Kensington lost his true love, and he blames himself. Cast out by his in-laws, he sets in search of "true happiness" and his baby sister, among the Shaker village. When he meets Lacey, things start to stir in his heart. He feels unworthy of her love when he can't quit blaming himself for the death of Ella, his first wife. Can God forgive him, and bless him with a new love? Reading Lacey and Isaac's story was beautiful. It was emotional and moving. I fell in love with Rueben, Rachel, Isaac and Lacey instantly, and didn't want this tender story to end! I highly recommend this with high 5 star praise to everyone looking for a wonderfully written, passionate story of God's love, grace and blessings to those seeking Him!
    • 4/5
      Lacey Bishop hasn't had an easy life and things get even more difficult when she marries Pastor Elwood Palmer in order to continue caring for Rachel. Though she did not give birth to Rachel, Lacey considers Rachel to be her daughter and would do anything to stay with her. As tensions in the parsonage mount, a move to the Shaker community, where all marital relationships are dissolved, seems like a relief. Unfortunately, the Shakers also believe in dissolving parent-child relationships. Lacey is compelled to stay within the Shaker community to be near Rachel. The strange rules and practices of the Shakers leave Lacey feeling isolated and desperate. When she finds herself drawn to Isaac Kingston, a widower living among the Shakers, Lacey struggles with to trust in God. Trapped by obligations, Lacey must fight to keep her faith and hope alive. Will she ever fit in with the Shakers? Can God deliver her and Rachel from this tangled mess? Will she find true love in this unlikely place?Reading The Blessed by Ann H. Gabhart was an interesting experience for me. I've never read a book about the Shaker religion. Though I don't know much about the history of the Shakers, the book seemed well-researched and included Shaker songs. As a word of warning, this book is much more fiction than romance. Although romance is included, it reads more on the fiction side. I don't mind fiction, so this was okay with me, but I expected more interaction between Lacey and Isaac. Lacey and Isaac are extremely well-developed characters. The author takes the reader deep into their thoughts and feelings without boring the reader with a lack of action. Fans of historical Christian fiction will probably like this book.Available July 2011 at your favorite bookseeller from Revell, a division of baker Publishing Group.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."