This is a lovely story based on the true story of a slave who refused the possibility of freedom on the name of service. Kudos to this brave, selfless man!
In the authoress’s notes Ms Gabhart explains her interest in the story and how she was interested to frame it in the wider context. And in my opinion she has managed to do that.
The selfless act of enslaved Louis in the novel has started many changes in the lives of others - the orphaned Adria and the young widow Ruth who has taken the little girl in. And later in the strong mind of young Adria to support abolitionism.
But there is more to the story, because one of the hardest questions ever are explored - is God listening to our prayers? Why our prayers go unanswered or the situation even gets worse?
No one knows the answer and to believe without any proof (or even living with pain of unanswered prayers) is hard. So often we just live further with our broken hearts and only on the hindsight we see the bigger picture.
Ms Gabhart cover these questions with deeper understanding and big heart.

And how I love the Logan subplot and mostly the ending of this subplot? So fresh and innovative - and yet, so realistic. And so hopeful, too - because who lnows the future?
A star is added to my rating soleky because of the courage to write the arc this way.

River to Redemption by Ann H. Gabhart is one of the best books I have read in a long time. . My all time favorite genre would be Christian Historical Fiction and this novel was written set in one of my favorite time periods.

Adria Starr lost her entire family to the cholera epidemic of 1833. As most of the towns people fled to escape the "bad air" two slaves stayed behind. Louis could have fled to freedom, but instead stayed behind and cared for the sick and buried the dead. Louis came to Adria's rescue and when the towns people returned he made sure she had a good home. Ruth Harmon was widowed by the same cholera epidemic and agrees to take the young Adria in.

Twelve years have passed and Louis is about to be sold, but Adria is determined to buy his freedom. The whole town remembers Louis' selfless act and come together to help Adria in her efforts. Ruth has been alone for all these years and has all but given up on her dreams of having children of her own, but when a new preacher comes to town it seems she may have a second chance at love and a real family.

Adria is ready to risk everything for a cause she feels passionately about, but will it come at a cost to Ruth, Louis and all the people she has come to love?

I cannot say enough good things about this book. It is going on my shelf of favorites. Such a great message of love and waiting on God's timing and answered prayers. I could not put it down and loved everything about it!

***Thanks to Revell Reads for providing me a copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

River to Redemption is a Christian historical fiction novel set in the antebellum South.

When Adria was a little girl, cholera came to her hometown and killed nearly everyone, including her parents. But, although he could have run to freedom or caught the disease, a slave man named Louis stayed and helped the sick, including Adria, and buried the dead when no one else could. Now, when Adria is a young adult, the owners are planning to sell Louis in spite of the heroic work he did for the whole town.

This story was an interesting historical fiction. Set in the pre-Civil War South, slavery was very present in the story. The characters try to free Louis because of his heroism, which is fantastic. But because the Civil War was still decades in the future, the book realistically showed that he would be the only one of the many slaves in the area to be freed, and only because of his deeds. That was sad, but history is history. However, some of characters began to see slavery for the evil it really was, and if they were real, they would probably begin to work for an end to it in the following decades. And the base plot (not the personalities of the characters or the subplots) is based off of a real story of a man who did exactly as Louis did.

I enjoyed reading this book. The plot wasn’t fast and exciting, like a mystery or thriller might be. Rather, it was the story of a town living though horrific deaths and learning to survive, going about life with normal highs and lows, love and struggle, and choosing which side of the slavery issue they were going to stand on.

It was an interesting book, and while I didn’t absolutely LOVE it, it was good and I would recommend it to others who like historical fiction novels. And now is a good time to read a book like this that talks about slavery in America in historical context.

I received a complementary copy of this book. I was not compensated for writing a review, and all opinions are expressly my own.

Thank you to netgalley I received this as an ARC. I enjoyed it very much was a quick read and it was very heart provoking. I recommend this book! Solid 4 Stars for me!

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were interesting, the story strong. I really loved the character Louis, he was so inspirational to me and really made the story stand out. I would definitely recommend it

A story not only redemption but also of the courage and spirit it takes to do what you know is right even when you are alone in your thinking.

Adria Starr is on her own after her family dies in the cholera epidemic of 1833. She is found by a slave named Louis who is more faithful than anyone else in his position would ever be. He has had plenty of opportunities to leave and find his freedom while his masters fled the epidemic and left him in charge of things. Instead of running, Louis decided to stay around and help tend to the sick and bury the dead. Twelve years go by and he is about to be sold and all his loyalty seems to matter to no one, except Adria who has never forgotten what he did for her and so many others. Adria has always abhorred slavery and wants to try and buy Louis his freedom. Being in Kentucky, she doesn’t have many that think like her but doesn’t let that stop her from following her heart and doing what she knows is right, no matter the cost.

Reading about this topic can be difficult, especially knowing that it is based on a true story. The story itself had several characters that stood out for me. First was Adria showing what she stood for and refused to back down. Then Louis, he is just a character that you can’t help but like. And of course Matilda, even though she wasn’t in the story as much as some of the other characters she still made a big impact. With these characters being able to touch the heart and the story being based on true events, readers will have a hard time not connecting and being fully immersed in every page. I loved the way Gabhart made these connections and let the story flow. This was different from her past novels I have read, but still a very enjoyable read. I recommend this to fans of Gabhart and readers that enjoy historical fiction with a little romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

This book will be at the top of my all time favorite books. I did not want to put this down. This was fantastic historical fiction based on some truth. Louis was a wonderful person. I loved Adria also. This story helps you to learn some lessons. Wonderful. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I have not read such an interesting, thought provoking piece of fiction in quite some time, this book truly was excellent and I loved the fact that it was loosely based on a true store. I loved how a town came together to buy the freedom of one man who risked his life and did not think of himself and took care of others. I love how this book weaves together several stories of memorable characters and is realistic in their flaws and struggles and yet it is encouraging to watch them grow and be given second chances.
I love how the author found this obscure story of human kindness and brought it to life.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Adria survives a Kentucky cholera epidemic in the 1830s, though loses her mother, father and baby brother. Her survival, along with many in the town, is due to the loving care of slaves Louis and Aunt Tilda. Ruth loses her young husband, the town's schoolmaster, and feels like she's lost her chance on love and life. Out of necessity, God puts orphan Adria and new teacher Ruth together to make a family. Louis is a key character due to his selfless role in the community. On the death of Louis's master, he is to be sold and the town bands together to save this man of God. Ruth, too, learns to love again as Adria grows to adulthood and looks for her own path.

I loved this book so much that it’s almost hard to write a review. But here goes:

As I read the first few pages of this book, I was absorbed into this story. This is a very character-driven story, and Adria Starr, Louis, and Aunt Tilda completely owned my heart. Their story is compelling. It’s heart-rending and heart-warming. I love that the character of Louis is based on a true account of a slave that was well-loved and respected by a whole community for his faith, love, and wisdom.

But it’s Adria’s personality that brings this story to life. Even when we first meet her as an orphaned seven year old girl, she’s brave and compassionate. She carries those same qualities into young adulthood. She’s willing to risk much to take care of those she loves, and is willing to take action because of her faithfulness to her friends and family. She shows herself faithful to those she loves even as we watch her grow into a woman with strong convictions.

I would love to read a follow-up story to as to what happened next in Adria’s life, but this book is complete on its own. Always looking forward to the next book from Ann Gabhart.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Excellent book. I haven’t read many of Ann Gabhart’s books but I would recommend this one if you like historical Christian fiction. It was interesting to read about the slaves and their faith, eseciay Louis. I enjoyed the storylines involving Ruth and Adria.

I have made it about half way through this book and I am little disappointed. The story line is so sad and it's almost like there is no hope to finish it off. I might try and finish it to get the whole picture.

Ann Gabhart pens a painful look back at our past when not all were considered equal. To entertain the opposite thought, as a person of color could bring punishment or death; as a white, it could mean ostracization or physical danger as well.

Gabhart’s narrative begins in the summer of 1833 when a cholera epidemic ran rampant around much of the US. Seven-year-old Adria Starr watches as her father, mother, and brother all die from the disease. Louis, a slave whom she has never before seen, rescues her and helps Matilda nurse Adria back to health.

Louis is an amazing character. I love the way he trusts God, cares for others at risk to his own safety and does not seek the best in life for himself.

Matilda longs for freedom but also possesses a very strong faith. Over and over, her response to obstacles is the faith-filled refrain, “The Lord will provide.”

I love the way Adria, Ruth, Will, Carlton, and even Logan all show character development and great wrestling with life decisions. All have to decide what they will do with the question of slavery and how deeply will they get involved. What cost is each willing to pay to address the flowing tide that refuses to be ignored or dammed up? Who will find physical redemption and who will find redemption for his soul?

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to better understand some of the soul-searching times leading up to the Civil War. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. No positive review was required. All opinions are strictly my own.

Another fabulous novel so well written that you get close to the characters right away. A cholera outbreak severely affects a town and the residents in it. The story is written around a true story of what took place at the time. There are places in the story that you wish would last longer and places where you can't read fast enough. You don't want to miss a word, but you just have to know how it turns out. It does turn out in some ways unexpected, but refreshing, and with wonderful illustrations of God's work in our lives.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Author and Revell/Baker Publishing Group - 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.”

Orphaned in the cholera epidemic of 1833, Adria Starr was cared for by a slave named Louis, a man who stayed in Springfield, Kentucky, when anyone with means had fled. A man who passed up the opportunity to escape his bondage and instead tended to the sick and buried the dead. A man who, twelve years later, is being sold by his owners despite his heroic actions. Now nineteen, Adria has never forgotten what Louis did for her. She's determined to find a way to buy Louis's freedom. But in 1840s Kentucky, she'll face an uphill battle.

This book contained an interesting story, but I felt the pace in the first half of the book was slow. I loved the characters, particularly, Louis. He was a gentle giant with a warm heart, a tender spirit, and a deep faith. Adria was an independent thinker; and, though surrounded by and courted by slave owners, she knew deep in heart that owning another human being and treating them like a commodity was wrong. She kept her thoughts to herself all while she was penning anonymous articles for northern newspapers in support of abolition. The second half of the plot picked up with more action both in Adria's love life and her more overt action in helping the slaves. Also Ruth, her adoptive mother, begins to realize it's time to stop mourning the loss of her husband and child and move on with life as well. Good secondary characters from Carlton the controlling boyfriend to derring-do Logan the drover who had his eyes on Adria. Pastor Robinson and his daughter Willeena played their part in everyone finding a new direction for their lives as well.

Powerful, well written story.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

Such a heart warming story, The author gripped me and reminded me about people I am called to care for and the fact that people brings the most unlikely people across my path just because he knows I will love them and care for them. I am reminded that I need to be about what God has called me to be doing, not worrying about culture, customs and other people.

River to Redemption
by Ann H. Gabhart

Revell

Christian
Pub Date 03 Jul 2018


I am reviewing a copy of River to Redemption through Revell and Netgalley:


Adria Starr was orphaned by a Cholera epidemic in 1833. First the seven year old looses her Father and then tries to care for her Mother and little brother, Adria gets sick too and her Mother and brother die, but a slave man helps her, tends to the sick and buried the dead, passing up his opportunity to escape


Twelve years later despite his heroic efforts Louis is being sold by his owners despite the man's heroic actions. Adria is now nineteen and has never forgotten how Louis saved her life. Adria is determined to find a way to buy Louis feeling, but is that even possible in 1840's Kentucky?

I give River to Redemption five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

River to Redemption is yet another wonderful read from Ann H Gabhart. I loved the main character, Adria. She is a woman of strength, courage, and determination. She was a woman before her time. I admired her. The historical details are well written and so vivid that it was like I was right there living among those of the story.
I highly recommend River to Redemption. I give this powerful and inspirational story five plus stars.
I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

"River to Redemption" is a Christian historical set in 1845 in Kentucky. It was partly inspired by a true event. During the 1833 cholera epidemic, a slave named Louis was left in charge of several businesses in Springfield, and he also nursed the sick and buried the dead. In gratitude, the town collected money to buy and free him when his owner died years later.

The fiction was worked around this: An orphaned girl is taken in by a young widow. She's partly raised by the slaves that helped her during the cholera epidemic, so she believes in freeing all slaves. She's the one who suggests raising funds to free Louis. Her suitor owns slaves, so she's conflicted about marrying him. A charming drifter also makes her question what she really wants in her future. We also have the love story of the woman who took her in and the new, widowed pastor.

The characters acted realistically and were likable and complex. Interesting historical details were woven into the story. The Christian themes were to "pray believing" and to look for the good things even during times of sorrow. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable historical novel.

River to Redemption
By Ann H. Gabhart

Adria Starr lost everyone she cared about when a cholera epidemic hits Springfield, Kentucky in 1833. And Adria isn't alone in her losses most everyone also suffered a loss. Mrs. Ruth Harmon lost her husband Peter and the child she was hoping for. But through the care of Louis none where left untended as he made sure all the sick were nursed and the dead were buried. Louis's efforts came at a cost - he could have used the sickness as a chance to escape to freedom in the North.

But Louis was not like most as he followed the leading he felt that the Good Lord placed on his heart. And caring for Adria and finding her a place where she wouldn't be in a position of servitude for the rest of her childhood was of utmost importance to him.

As time passes Louis and Adria have a special connection - one that has Adria looking to take up the abolitionist fight. But being a woman her words and feelings carry little weight in the 1840s. When the possibility of Louis being sold arises Adria is determined that he get the freedom he deserves.

River to Redemption is a story that has many layers to it - the first layer is the cholera epidemic which is the catalyst which sets everything in motion. If not for the cholera Louis and Adria might never have met so that they would have a friendship. And then Adria and Ruth shared a bond that was also the result of the losses they both experienced. Adria provided the home and Ruth the care. As Adria deals with the expectations of society (marriage and family) versus the desires her heart (freedom and equality) she will discover who she truly is. I think this quote perfectly sums up Adria's dilemma "Yet, was it too much to hope for a man to accept you as you were instead of as he thought you should be?"

What I like is that this book is based on true historical events - yes this is a fictionalized account but the characters are for the most part likable. They aren't perfect and struggle with disappointments and life in general. This isn't a fast paced book it has moments of meandering making it a perfect afternoon read when all you want to do is relax.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a review - all opinions expressed are my own.