While this book is very well-written and researched, I found it so hard to read. Lady Keturah was just so hard to like. She had hardened herself due to previous abuse, and, true to the times, even though she is a kind and good person, she is so very racist and classist that I found her really unlikeable. Of course, she was better than the mean racists, but she still felt she was above everyone else and was so very uppity and rude. And even though she softens a bit as the book progresses, she never apologizes to the people she has been rude to - she just begins to be kind to them (despite her ongoing rude thoughts about them) and expects them to read between the lines though she never expresses any sorrow.

I did really like Gray, Lady Keturah's sisters, Philip, Mitilda, and the servants. They were great characters and much more likeable! And I was happy that Gray got the desire of his heart at the end though I didn't really care much about Lady Keturah. This is a very gifted author who took on the challenge of writing about a disturbing time in history and did a stellar job of it. I just found it hard to read.

Sweet romance which spotlights an interesting time in history. I would rate this sweet and clean, PG for kissing.

I feel like everything Ms. Bergren touches is just gold. Honest-to-goodness gold. I haven't read a series of hers yet that I didn't love from page one.


"Keturah", the first in the series "The Sugar Baron's Daughters", showcases three sisters who embark on a journey and have to show a strength that surpasses anything they've ever had to go through. I enjoyed all three of the sisters and can't wait to read more about them!


The story does start out a little slowly--getting into the meat of the plot and setting the reader up for quite the story.


I loved the hero, I loved the story development and setting; and more than anything I just love Ms. Bergren's writing.

I loved Keturah (The Sugar Baron’s Daughters) it had adventure, conflict, and love. Set in a era where society would frown upon women traveling across the sea unescorted and running a plantation, I found myself cheering on the three sisters who were sure to accomplish what they set their mind to, although not an easy task.

It brought back memories of when my two sisters and I traveled to Mexico as missionaries and faced culture shocked but then made it our home. Although our parents were leading us there, my sisters and I formed a tight bond and learned a lot of lives’ lessons there about humility, living without water at times and other necessities.

Keturah, in the story struggles to trust anyone outside her sisters, especially men since she was the survival of a deceased husband who verbally and physically abused her. There were many triggers throughout the book that brought back memories and emotions she struggled to leave it in God’s hands. This made me understand a lot of the decisions and actions she took, since I too know the familiarity of an abusive relationship and the damage that continues long after you’ve walked away.

Aside from connecting with her, it was absolutely interesting to learn about early agriculture in the West Indies, Island life, and the author is great story teller.

I love to read historical and authors notes at the end of the books, although I usually don’t comment on them in my reviews. However I was moved by author Lisa T. Bergren’s words, and felt it just to reveal the kindness in her heart. After she wrote about the historical facts and her feelings on the treatment of slaves at the time, she apologized if she triggered unwanted emotions to anyone who’s been abused. She thought it important to offer hope through this story and added that God is our refuge and wants to see us loved well and unhurt. That he longs to gives renewed vision and direction. She offered links and a book titled to anyone who may be needing the support. I will kindly post them in the comments if anyone is interested.

Keturah is the first novel in Lisa T. Bergren's new series the Sugar Baron's Daughters. It follows Keturah and her younger sisters as they leave everything they have known in England and travel to their belated father's struggling sugar plantation in the Caribbean. The plot was filled with moments of suspense, danger, tragedy, and romance and it kept me glued to the pages. The characters were interesting and fairly well developed, with each sister having a distinct personality. The other minor characters also added to the depth of the story. I thought the themes in the novel were well described and demonstrated the importance of forgiveness, trusting others and God, and moving beyond one's past mistakes. Overall, I enjoyed this novel, and I look forward to reading the sequels.

I received this novel from Bethany House through Netgalley and Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book well enough and read it in 3 sittings. I haven't been able to read a lot since starting my MBA program so it has been fun to get back to something that offered the familiarity found in the plot lines of Christian Historical Romance yet the difference of the time and place of 1700 Caribbean.

Keturah is a woman who is battered from her abusive marriage with her now deceased husband (a question I have is how did he die? and did she maybe help with that? That would have been cool to explore.) I did appreciate her strength and ability to rise to the occasion when her sisters needed her to. While stilted at times, she felt like an independent woman who was intent on trying to fix her own problems rather than sit back and let others take over. But at the same time she seemed to switch back and forth so quickly between being an independent woman who don't need no man to "oh my goodness he's so handsome!" I felt like that made her more shallow that intended.

I also appreciated the bonds of sisterhood between Ket, Verity and Selah. They were the things that rang the most true to me throughout the novel.

Overall, while this was a fun beach side read, it felt shallow. There were a lot of darker themes here that could have been explored. The ability to overcome abuse, the complexities of slavery in the 1770s and trying to reconcile with Christian beliefs, inherent sexism of the times. So many ways this could have gone deeper with an emotional payoff that almost was there but never seemed to come to fruition.

It was good enough for what it was, and if I see the sequels in the library I will probably snag them, but this wasn't something that was overly memorable for me.

I'm a devourer of books. When one arrives in my mailbox I just want to dive in. When this book arrived I wound up placing it on the table and leaving it for about a week. I think it was the title that put me off. It just didn't appeal to me. Once I started reading my opinion changed completely. This is a very captivating story.

Keturah is the oldest sister's name but she goes by Ket. She is who the story revolves around. If you like to read about women of strength you're going to enjoy this one. The time frame is the late 1700s and Ket goes completely against convention and advise and sets out with her two sisters for the Carribean island of Nevis.

Ket's bravery and determination in the face of danger and hardship is inspiring. The voyage to the island was precarious enough but it winds up being tame compared with what she faces once she arrives at her late father's estate. To say that she and her sisters are unprepared is an understatement.

There are some adult themes in this story particularly that of slavery. It's actually one of the things that I appreciated the most about the book. Ms. Bergren doesn't shy away from the atrocities that happened during that time in history. It's an ugly thing but it happened. It would be easy to leave it out or sugarcoat it but that isn't what the author chose. I applaud her for that.

I enjoyed this book and look forward to the rest of the series. It looks like there will be at least two more that focus on the other sisters. If the following books are anything like this one they are going to be worthy reads. I can't wait.

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

What a wonderful start to this series! I liked Keturah instantly—she posses a quiet determination that pulls you into her circumstances and allows you to easily connect with her. She is not afraid to go against popular beliefs for what she believes in. I appreciate that the author did not create a perfect world for the main characters, instead being willing to tackle difficult subjects such as abuse and slavery with frankness and honesty. The romance was well done and the spiritual truths are interwoven well among a backdrop of interesting history and beautiful scenery. I highly recommend this novel and look forward to the rest of the series!

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Conquered at 30%.
I almost wished I could share my notes and highlights on this file like people do with their kindle copies, because there was just so much snark going on!

Keturah's former plight fails to arouse my sympathy...she has decided to punish the entire race of men for the actions of one. That's not the sign of a strong woman. A lady who flexes her muscles and yells aloud does not a strong woman make. This sugar puff loses her spine the minute she touches the hero's bare chest, though there are some stubborn struggles.

Gray is...NOT a gentleman. He comes in like a dashing, distant fellow straight out of a modern bodice-ripper. I was willing to give him a chance, because I admired his wish to go make a career for himself. He seemed good-humored enough. But then on shipboard he hides from the fair ladies he has just promised to be a friend and protector to, then manipulates Keturah into interest in his farming books by ordering his servant to sit on deck and read one. Then, the night of a bad storm, he hops out of bed (conveniently discards popular practice and sleeps shirtless) and throws a jacket on—SO contrived!—to go check on the ladies. (Historically, he'd be caught in his "shirt sleeves" sooner, since the linen (washable part) would have always been layered under the jacket (woolen or silken jackets aren't washable, but linen is, because, you know, sweat...and stink...) instead of grabbing the jacket first off. You want him showing chest? Have him not lacing up the shirt.) So some interesting pirate fantasy plays out as he has his arms thrown out and his hair hanging over his face in front of Keturah, and when she is in his arms she finds herself suddenly not so independent after all....

Anyway, got past that just barely and then we have a flashback of hers to a time when she attended a ball after a severe beating from her husband. It's previously been said that a) she couldn't admit in public she was beaten, and b) he had not formerly shown any romantic interest in her. But he somehow intuits that she is hurt and then asks her to dance, where his gentle touches in her hair, down her back, and on her waist provide comfort she desperately needs. What?? <I> It's not okay for an unmarried man to comfort a troubled wife by caressing her. </I>

So that was where Gray as a hero and I parted ways.

A slough (spelling intended) of historical inaccuracies made it tough reading as well. Once the characters lost the promise I had seen, there was nothing left to keep me reading.
Words: sissy (1800s), shenanigans (1850), etc
Food: sardines (fished for oil in 1750, eaten in 1900s after rise of canning industry)
Manners: one that stood out was handshake. A ship's mate refusing to shake hands with a lady was first a rank insult and then ahead of its time. He should have bowed.
Shipboard: It's hammered in how dangerous it would be to be around the sailors. Why did the ladies take a ship tour, why were they not accosted, and why did they see no sailors in the hold during the times of loading the ship?
Gossip: They buck custom and then mourn when they are gossiped about?

Anyway, I had enough of it and stopped. I had more than enough material for a review already. :) I won't be trying this author again.

Thanks to the publisher for a free review copy.

When Keturah and her two sisters find their finances depleting because of their father's and estate manager's deaths, they make the crazy decision to travel halfway around the world to save their father's sugar plantation in the Caribbean islands. Coincidentally, Keturah's childhood friend travels on the same boat to save his own plantation. Can Keturah rise above the innumerable challenges she will face as a woman alone in a very dangerous, sexist community as well as heal from the wounds her abusive, late husband left?

I love, love the cover on this book. It makes me want to be her, there in that epic dress in the Caribbean. And the colors are spectacular!

As for the book itself, well, it was good, but not the best Lisa Tawn Bergren book I've read. Keturah is framed as a strong female lead, stepping out against the societal constraints of her time to do what no other woman has dared to - run a plantation in a foreign country. Exactly what today's society tends to love in a fiction book, although I'm not sure how historically accurate Keturah's attitude and actions were.

I'm also not sure about the reactions of the males around her. The majority of the men in this book seemed sexist, rude, controlling, violent human beings. They wanted to marry her for her money and beauty, they abused their slaves and women like Keturah, and they set out to sabotage Keturah's plans to run her plantation. There were a few exceptions, like Keturah's love interest, but even her loving father fell prey to some of the follies by having a slave woman as his mistress and having a child with her. I just don't like that portrayal as so many men being kind of evil and the women so much better. Now, the little I know about history leads me to believe that on those sugar islands, where there was little in the way of Law, this portrayal of the men might very well have been true. But this presentation of the men was set opposing to the strong female lead, and it makes the book seem like it fell to the worst parts of today's feminism, where women are portrayed as good and men as evil.

Another major issue addressed in this book was slavery. Slavery and racism is such a big issue in today's world that many authors of historical books specifically write their characters to have no slaves or to treat them very well, like family. This book did that and didn't. I thought it was kind of daring for the author to make the characters not only own but continually buy slaves fresh off the boats in the auction. They treated their slaves better than every other owner did and condemned the harsh treatment of slaves, but the fact remains that they did, in fact, have slaves. Keturah and her sisters worked alongside the slaves in the fields and even hired a former slave as an overseer. I appreciate that. But the use of the "n-word" and the ownership of slaves will likely make some readers uncomfortable.

As for Keturah herself, I appreciated her strong spirit and determination. She loved her sisters deeply and she took care of what was hers. Some of her failings were that she was proud and rarely accepted help and she distrusted nearly all the men around her. Her distrust and bias against men was not the sign of a strong woman, no, but I understand why she did it. Keturah was abused by her husband, and she had not yet recovered from that pain when the book began. Having known women in similar situations, I understand that it can be incredibly hard to trust any of the opposite sex when someone of that gender has hurt you deeply. It is unfair to the better men in Keturah's life, but it is something she has to overcome before she can act different.

So, yes, this book has some flaws and some things that might give readers pause. But I still enjoyed reading it. I loved the setting, the sweet romance, and the evidence of real relationships with Christ in the main characters. I recommend it to historical fiction readers.

I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own, and I did not receive compensation for this review.

I thought that Keturah by Lisa T. Bergren was a great historical read! I enjoyed that it started in England and journeys across the sea to the islands in the Caribbean. It opens the eyes to slaves and society back in the day and some of that is hard to read but I appreciate that she keeps it realistic and true to history. The way women were treated back in the day is crazy in so many ways, but the women in this book are adventurous and willing to put themselves out there, not that they really had much choice. Check it out for yourself and enjoy this great read!
I received a copy of this in exchange for my honest review.

Keturah by Lisa T Bergren is a marvellous Christian historical romantic saga. It is the first book in the Sugar Baron's Daughters series which promises to be fantastic.
Set in the late eighteenth century the novel moves swiftly from England across the stormy seas to the West Indies as the reader follows the fortunes of three sisters. They are strong women who are determined to survive, thrive and make a difference in a man's world.
Slave plantations were owned and overseen by brutal men. The sisters long to be the change they want to see. "We believe that human beings respond to kindness and respect." The sisters see the Negroes as people to be loved and cared for. They face much opposition as their thinking is counter cultural. There are some hard to read scenes of inflicted cruelty on the Negroes.
Who is my brother? My brother is any one of God's children regardless of colour or race. It is God's heart to see us all united and working together. Trust needs to be earnt. Hope follows on the heels of trust.
There is the theme of healing - both physical and mental. The past can scar us all. We need to learn to live again without fear.
This links to the themes of abuse, rape and general male brutality. Not pleasant reading but it can happen in a male dominated closed minded society.
When all we see is darkness, we need to focus on any light to be had. "One can face much darkness with the aid of light." At times it may feel like God is absent or doesn't care. "Was this the latest reminder that God had utterly abandoned her?" God is only ever a prayer away. He is closer than we think.
With prayer comes the epiphany of God's goodness. Relationship follows. "Oh, Lord, how far I am from you... Forgive me for blaming you... for not turning to you." With God on our side, we can face the world. "With God beside her, there wasn't anyone or anything who could defeat her again."
Sometimes we doubt ourselves. We don't believe in our worth. God says we are loved. "I was enough. Just as I am. Because God has made me so."
There is the theme of family. Parents may let us down but God never will. Family are those we let into our hearts and home, as well as blood ties. The bond between the three sisters is beautiful.
Lisa T Bergren has wonderful descriptive passages which really bring the landscape to life for the reader. She has combined historical facts with her imagination to produce a first rate novel. I cannot wait for subsequent books.
Keturah is not always an easy read but it is a fabulous epic tale that tackles cruelty and injustice whilst putting God on the throne of our lives.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Keturah's father has passed away and in order to provide for herself and her sisters they have decided to travel to the island of Nevis to try and save their father's struggling sugar plantation. The man Keturah loved as a child is also going to make his mark as a plantation owner but because of Keturah's previous abusive relationship with her deceased husband she declares she'll never rely on a man again. The sisters experience many trials as female plantation owners, and they have to really find their own strength in order to succeed against all odds.

The good: The description of life at the time seemed pretty accurate and I liked the evolution of the characters from stuck up society people to real-life humans trying to survive and figure out who they are. The writing was well done and I often felt like I was really there at times.

The bad: I felt like I was there at times. While slavery is not something that can be avoided in this story (the author discusses this in the historical notes at the end), I would almost rather not read the story than read about characters that participate in the moral atrocity that is slavery. The Banning sisters were kind to their slaves, but that doesn't detract from the fact that they in fact thought it was okay to own people. Keturah survived a horribly abusive marriage but in the end, her own comfort and the success of her plantation was more important to her than the lives of people she saw as beneath her. I don't need or want my characters to be perfect. And maybe the future books will see the hearts of these characters changed, but I couldn't get past this detail in order to connect with the main characters. The other issue I had was that the representation of Christianity was weak. It was so unimportant and uninspiring that I would have rather it had been left out completely. I don't need preaching in my fiction but I want there to be genuineness to their faith.

All in all I was disappointed with this book. Which makes me sad because I LOVE some of Bergren's other books. I might read the next book just to see what she does with the slavery issue, but we'll see.

Independent women in 1773? Setting sail for the West Indies to run a sugar plantation? Romance and adventure? Yes please! Keturah promises a lot and delivers on it and more! Unexpectedly, it also offers insight on the topic of privilege and the effects of racism and sexism. Slavery is alive and well on the plantations and Lisa doesn’t shy away from the horrors of the trade whilst ensuring her characters are the embodiment of compassion. She also tackles the place of women and our universal desire to find our place in the world. God’s place in the trials suffered by His children is beautifully handled and encouraging.

The pace is swift, the characters rich and the story fascinating, at 96% I wished the book would go on longer. Now, I eagerly anticipate the next one in the series. Highly recommended, five out of five on the en-JOY-ment scale!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is book one in the Sugar Baron's Daughters series. I look forward to reading more from this family. The author does a great job at developing her characters and keeping you interested in what is going on. I can see where this is a series, each book probably being somewhat of a stand alone, however you will miss out on lots of history if you do not start at the beginning.

This book is full of history, family, learning, going against the grain, forgiveness and of course some romance.

I loved how through every location the Banning sisters find themselves in there is excitement, determination and so much more.

This book focus' primarily on the eldest Banning sister, Lady Keturah Banning Tomlinson, She is a wounded, determined lady. She must make a go of a failing Sugar can plantation to survive and be of any help to her sisters. She does not feel she needs to be under the authority of any man, regardless of what the customs dictate.

First of all, as a cover art lover, I have to comment on this lovely book cover. Stunning. Unique. And it makes me yearn to overlook the Caribbean from that Nevis beach.

Keturah, by Lisa T. Bergren, is an engaging story, taking me places I’ve never been—the island of Nevis, as well as evoking emotions rarely tapped into. I haven’t read many books with Colonial settings and this story leaves me wondering why. I definitely plan to read the rest in this series.

I love the premise of this book. After their father’s death, three sisters leave their home in England to save their father’s sugar plantation on Nevis Island. The author showcases their struggles and the injustices of this time period in a raw and exposing way. (The slavery parts were difficult.) She also deals with loss of faith—or as I like to call it, misplaced faith, never fully erased—and redemption.

I love the characters’ family bond, and how they had each other’s backs. I grew attached to all three sisters, and truly admired Keturah’s strength. I’m looking forward to the other books in the series (The Sugar Baron’s Daughters) focusing on the other two sisters.

Overall, this is a powerful and moving read. Race, slavery, abuse, loss of faith—are some of the themes addressed in this story. The beginning was a little slow for me, but the pacing picked up and fully immersed me.

I was blessed to receive a complimentary copy from Bethany House and NetGalley.

Oh, I LIKE this book!

Keturah is the eldest daughter. She’s been widowed by a man who had seemed like a wonderful match, but like many abusive men, he turned on her after they were married. This left her with a promise to herself that she would never let another man control her or her sisters. Their father dies and leaves his estates in poor financial condition. The main income comes from their estate in the West Indies, so she decides to go there and bring the sugar plantation back to good condition. Her sisters are as plucky as she is and decide to go with her. Even though they’ve been warned, they go against society’s rules and find some shocking realities. A place of tropical beauty, it is male dominated and cruelty to slaves – and anyone who doesn’t act as they wish – is common. But Keturah and her sisters intend to do things their own way and bring their plantation back to life. Gray is an old family friend and flirted with everyone except Keturah when they were coming of age. His rejection then and way of life afterwards repels her, so she finds it difficult to believe that he’s changed. He is depending on turning his family’s plantation around as well, and finds that trying new things might bring him success.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher from the Baker Publishing Group, Bethany - Netgalley book review bloggers program. 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.”

A story about three sisters, genteel English ladies, heading to the Caribbean islands in the 1770s, back in the day when young ladies just didn’t do that! This premise intrigued me right away! Keturah, as the oldest sister, had to make decisions for the family, and the only way she could see to keep any of their family’s possessions was to go to their land in the West Indies and oversee the crops herself. What was unheard of was the fact that this was something that only men did, ladies didn’t even consider going there.

Keturah had already experienced one marriage, in which she was treated badly by her husband, and now she has determined to never let herself love another man. So she doesn’t even think about letting a man take over for her.

I love historical fiction, especially when it’s about unusual settings for that time period. I enjoy learning about those times by reading fiction. This book is a fun way to take in some of that time period. It’s light, easy reading, and I am enjoying it!

The cover is simply beautiful! The light, the colors, everything about it almost seems to glow. This is a book that I would have chosen to read just by looking at the cover, because it is so attractive.

One thing I’ve been trying to picture as I was reading, here are these three sisters, headed for the West Indies on a ship of those days. And they took along enough “stuff” to take up about half of the ship. Yes, they paid for it, but the ship’s crew didn’t appreciate them. First, ladies didn’t belong on ships, and then second, all that expensive (probably lots of impractical) stuff, along for the ride.

One thing I enjoyed was seeing how they set up their home on this primitive island, going from the very specific rules that England had in those days, that had to be upheld in order for young ladies to be proper, to doing what needed to be done to survive in that uncivilized island paradise.

Yes, it’s very intriguing.

Oh, and I forgot to mention Gray. I’m sure he will turn out to be the hero, at this point in the story, that part does feel a bit predictable. I just don’t know how it all will play out, especially given the fact that Keturah has made up her mind about him already. They were childhood friends, but then he turned out to be a ladies man. Now, he says he’s changed, will she be willing to give him a chance? She’s going to have to a complete change of heart….

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, all opinions expressed in this review are my own entirely.

Keturah by Lisa T. Bergren

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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Story Notes

Lisa T. Bergren delivers a new series to her readers that will show them the hard life that was to be found on the isles of the West Indies. The first book brings an adventure that begins a little slow but ramps up to a very good story indeed.

I have been reading books by Ms. Bergren for many years and have loved her versatility. This new series she is embarking on covers a time and place that many have never experienced or considered. The Sugar Barons of England gained their wealth on the islands of St Christopher (St. Kitts), Nevis and Jamaica with sugar cane plantations that covered the island’s every square inch. Most preferred to be absentee owners but some lived full time on the islands to ensure theirs was the best crop. So begins the story of the Banning sisters, Keturah, Verity and Selah, who have just been informed of their father’s demise on Nevis from fever. Reeling with grief, the sisters have just been handed management of their father’s holdings in England and the island of Nevis. Shocked at the lack of produce and profits shown in the account books, the sisters must find a way to make their plantation turn a profit if they are to have money to live. Keturah, a recent widow, carries the scars of her disastrous marriage and has determined never to let a man be in charge of her again. She sees a chance for a new start for herself and her sisters and sets about to prepare for the journey to Nevis – however ill-advised it seems to others. Before leaving, Keturah comes face to face with her old friend and secret crush, Gray Covington, whose fumbled attempts to offer help on the journey cause Keturah to sharply refuse and determine to make it alone. Gray is also going to work his recently acquired plantation and in spite of his bungled offer of help, he really does want to ensure Keturah is safe and successful. He has also carried a secret crush for Keturah since they were children but has never spoken of it as her father arranged a marriage before Gray could speak his mind. The ensuing ship-board journey will bring new experiences and new awareness between Keturah and Gray, who both refuse to act on their attraction as they both believe they will not suit anymore. But upon landing at Nevis, Keturah and Gray will have to decide if they will let the past rest and move to a new type of friendship – with the chance at something more if they have the courage to reach for it. And it will take all the courage, determination and faith they have to make a good life on Nevis as they face the harsh climate and even harsher neighbors. This story really turned out to be very good after I got past the first half. It seemed Ms. Bergren strung out the beginning of the plot beyond necessity and I was somewhat afraid the story would never gain momentum. After the characters made it aboard the ship however, the storyline moved much faster and flowed much smoother. It was interesting to see the way marital abuse was viewed and overlooked in the 1700s. Ms. Bergren did not have it be considered okay but did show that there was little that could be done as women were not viewed as much more than a man’s property during that time. So to have her main character move beyond that tragedy, flout convention and seek to make a life for herself and her sisters was a wonderful idea, in my opinion. Keturah did have to learn that there are some things you cannot do alone and you must ask for help when necessary. It does not make one weak to ask for help, it makes one wise to be able to know one’s limits. And when she finally opened her heart back up to God and His provision, Keturah was able to find peace, strength and endurance she never had before. She was also able to forgive those who had hurt her deeply and move on to a better life and true love. Gray, also carried much from his past that he was not proud of and wished to redeem that time by making a successful life in Nevis. Having found the forgiveness he sought in God, Gray is now hoping to prove his worth and, perhaps, give assistance and friendship to the Banning sisters, even if Keturah will not give him anything beyond polite disinterest. He will finally gain a chance to show his devotion to Keturah when her home and family are threatened by those who wish her to fail. The love he offers will be the final element Keturah needs to completely heal her broken heart and seek love again. The sacrificial love that Ms. Bergren had her characters offer was an excellent example of the love that Christ demonstrated on the cross. Both of her main characters demostrate that real love is shown by how much one is willing to do for others ahead of oneself. And it will be this love that will carry them through the toughest times they face on their journey to a new life. I will recommend this book to others as a good start to a series that I believe will be very good as it goes on. I was not overly impressed with the beginning but enjoyed the last half of the book immensely. I will be very curious to see where Ms. Bergren takes the series as there are many directions in which this could go. My hope is that since she has the proverbial ball rolling the next books will flow much better and faster.

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation from Bethany House Publishers for this review.

Keturah by Lisa T. Bergren
by Melissa Finnegan
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About:

In 1772 England, Lady Keturah Banning Tomlinson and her sisters find themselves the heiresses of their father's estates and know they have one option: Go to the West Indies to save what is left of their heritage.

Although it flies against all the conventions, they're determined to make their own way in the world. But once they arrive in the Caribbean, conventions are the least of their concerns. On the infamous island of Nevis, the sisters discover the legacy of the legendary sugar barons has vastly declined--and that's just the start of what their eyes are opened to in this harsh and unfamiliar world.

Keturah never intends to put herself at the mercy of a man again, but every man on the island seems to be trying to win her hand and, with it, the ownership of her plantation. She could desperately use an ally, but even an unexpected reunion with a childhood friend leaves her questioning his motives.

To keep her family together and save the plantation that is her last chance at providing for them, can Keturah ever surrender her stubbornness and guarded heart to God and find the healing and love awaiting her?

My thoughts:

I have never read anything by Lisa but I have heard good things about her writing. It is all true.

She has written a well-crafted book full of interesting characters and an engaging plot.

Although, not overly fast-paced I found I was taking an easy stroll through this book, but there was still enough going on that I was interested and wanted to keep reading.

Also, I just need to mention what a beautiful cover this book has.

Historical romance lovers won't be disappointed.


A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley.com. All opinions are my own.