Ann Gabhart has again woven a tantalizing tale of the sometimes mind-boggling Shakers and their lives in the secluded village of Harmony Hill. Using heart-warming characters, she depicts the hardships and sometimes tough decisions that some were forced to endure in the 1850’s era. “Hands to work and hearts to God” is the motto the Shakers lived by, where all are sisters and brothers, and all are expected to work. The story is about a young woman, Darcie, who feels like the Shakers are her last resort after sudden widowhood and finding herself pregnant. The Shakers openly and lovingly cared for her, even though she didn’t fully embrace the belief system. We follow her journey from loneliness to love.

This is a book you won’t want to put down, and one I highly recommend. It’s in the running for one of my favorites!

I received a copy from Revell Publishing and through NetGalley and was under no obligation to give a positive review. All views are my own.

I found this look at the Shaker religion very interesting. I didn't know much about them going in, but this novel caused me to do further research. I liked both of the main characters and sympathized with their situations. If your looking for romance, though, there isn't much to be found here. There are some great female friendships, though. I did feel like the author focused on the positive aspects of the Shaker faith and glossed over some of the more heretical beliefs. Still, I enjoyed its unique setting and want to try more books by this author.



I received this book for free from Netgalley and the publisher fro the purpose of review.

Darcie and Walter move to a Shaker community when a cholera epidemic spreads across there community. The Shakers are strict and husband and wives do not live together. When a accident happens Darcie is left pregnant and unsure what to do. She does not believe in the Shakers way of children being taken from there Mothers. She knows she has to do something so that this does not happen. A widower Flynn Keller brings his daughter there to get schooling. Darcie meets him and they become close? Will Darcie leave the Shakers? Will Flynn find love again? This book gives great details about the Shaker life's and their beliefs. It really gives you great details of how the Shakers live. It was a very enjoyable book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel mainly set in a Shaker enclave. I like my history spoon-fed via a good story and this book fits the bill. This is the first book I have read by this author, but will not be the last. The Refuge describes societal and historical details from both the view of the Shaker believers, those who have looked to the Shakers for help in troubled times, and those in the locale who are trying to make a living in a difficult era. I found the descriptions of the roles of the women and children both inside the Shaker village and in the local area quite interesting; glad I'm not living in that era!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a time-constrained advance reading copy; the opinions listed are freely given and my own.View of Shaker Society

Reviewed on Amazon.com.

Set in a Kentucky Shaker community in 1849, I found this story fascinating and couldn’t stop reading. I’ve never read any fiction or nonfiction about the Shakers until this novel. Their motto was “hands to work, hearts to God” – as long as you work hard, obey the numerous strict rules which unite you with your Shaker Brothers and Sisters in love and peace, and do not commit the “sin of matrimony”, then God will be pleased with you for creating a heaven on earth – that was their belief.

Darcie’s part of the story is a first-person narrative and she expresses the whirl of thoughts and feelings that she experiences while living in the kind and caring Shaker community while not sharing their beliefs. After the death of her husband and the birth of her baby, she has no other place to go. Yet she knows that, as soon as her baby is weaned, the baby will be taken to live in a separate house with the other children and that she will no longer be able to be a mother but will instead be a Sister to her own child, no different from any the other Shaker Sisters. She’s determined that she will never let her baby girl be taken away from her but can’t find any alternative. This makes for some compelling reading. I loved it.

The rest of the book is an omniscient third-person narrative. I think that switching back and forth between Darcie's story and the story of everyone else makes the book really interesting, and it’s beautifully written.

I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys clean historical fiction that transports you to another culture, another world, another time and place.

Thanks to NetGalley and Revell for a digital advance review copy. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

The Refuge is a great read. I loved this historical involving The Shaker Village of Harmony Hill. I was heartbroken for Darcie when she lost her husband. Especially, when she was learning of her expecting a little one. When I was introduced to Flynn and his daughter, Leatrice, I instantly loved them both. Leatrice is such a cute and smart little girl. So sad she lost her mother at such an early age. When Flynn fears for her life, he turns to the Shakers for help.
I give The Refuge a very well deserved five plus stars. This is overall a beautiful story of forgiveness, second chances, faith and hope.
Highly recommended!
I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

Seeking refuge from the cholera epidemic, Darcie and Walter find themselves in a Shaker village. This is an interesting group which feels marriage and marital relations is a sin. Walter dies and leaves Darcie only as she finds herself expecting her late husband's child. Something frowned upon by this culture.

A very well studied and researched book, Ann Gabhart is a very enthralling author. It is so interesting to read about groups that you otherwise would never know about. I really enjoyed this book and hope to read many more from this author. Excellent read!

I received an ebook copy from NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

I didn’t realize how strict the Shakers were until I read this book. It was forbidden to be married which seems like it goes against what the Bible says. Darcie lost her husband in an accident and is taken in by the Shakers, I know she was unsure if she belonged there. What would they say when it was discovered she was with child? The sins kept building up for Darcie but she prayed they would allow her to stay. She had no one and was desperate for a place to lay her head at night. How hard would it be for you to stay somewhere you felt uncomfortable so you would have shelter and food? I’m not sure everyone was happy with her being there. Some seemed unwelcoming and was very strict about rules.

Flynn and his daughter are in a bad position when they run out of food. Flynn knows the Shakers are near by and strikes up a deal with them for food. Maybe Flynn and Darcie can make some kind of agreement to help each other out. Is it possible for them to trust each other? The author gives us details about Shaker life that I enjoyed reading about. I didn’t know some of the rules they followed and how the women and children stayed to themselves a lot. The women did all the household chores including watching any children. I hurt for the women who couldn’t tell their own children that they were their mother.

The work to keep their community going was hard, but I did find good in many of the characters. They were always willing to help strangers and never turned anyone away. I wonder if they hoped the people would stay and be part of them? I loved reading how the characters were faithful and how they knew they would need to leave at some point. It was refreshing to see how much Darcie knew about the Bible and how much God loved her. It’s a great story of trust, protecting your children and standing up for what you believe in.

I received a copy of this book from Revell Blogger Program. The review is my own opinion.

This is one of those books where I wish I could give more than five stars. I learned a lot about the Shakers in this story. It was one of those religions where you wonder how it expected to survive with the types of rules it had. Darcie , Flynn, Leatrice and Mona were great characters. I also loved the “sisters” in the Shaker village. I did not want to put this book down but I also did not want it to end. I wanted to keep being a part of all these people’s lives. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Ann H. Gabhart is a fairly new writer to me. I have read her last three books and loved them. I enjoyed The Refuge as well. What an ability for making a setting come to life. The time is early1850's. The place is a Shaker village in Harmony Hill, Kentucky. I learned so much about the Shakers. Before reading Ann's book I knew next to nothing. I had a very hard time relating to many of their beliefs. Total separation of male and female as well as children. Every one is our sister or brother, no moms, dads, sons or daughters. They practiced the belief of celibacy. You did not commit the sin “the act of matrimony.” I am surprised they existed as long as they did.
I loved the way this author was able to draw hope out of the darkness. There are three sisters we learn a lot about. Their stories are all rather tragic and sad. As in any good novel, in the end they find love and God watches over them. There is a thread of faith woven throughout this story. We fall in love with a precocious little six year old girl. And we meet two beautiful babies, which you can imagine threw a monkey wrench into this celibate society. I received a copy of this book from Revell publishers through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Ann H. Gabhart's books never fail to provide a pleasurable reading experience. The Refuge revolves around a Shaker village in the mid-1800s. There were those living among the earnest Shakers who were there simply because they had no place else to go. Among those was a young widow, Sister Darcie, who had come with her husband to escape a cholera epidemic. After her husband was killed in an accident, Sister Darcie learned that she was with child. A deep longing to be mother rather than sister to her child weighed heavily on Darcie's heart and mind.

Leatrice, daughter of widower Flynn Keller, came to temporarily live among the Shakers in order to provide for her safety and education. Her father visited her often, and he couldn't help but ponder the situation Sister Darcie appeared to be in, that and her beautiful smile. Might there be a way to solve both of their problems?

I learned a great many things about the Shaker lifestyle and beliefs while reading this book. This added to the enjoyment of the story itself. It makes me want to plan a day trip to the Shaker village at Pleasant Hill near Lexington, Kentucky. I am sure Gabhart's characters will fill the walkways and staircases there, at least in my mind's eye.

I highly recommend The Refuge to fans of historical fiction. I appreciate having received a copy from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to write a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

The setting of this book is the 1850’s and at the Shakers Village of Harmony Hill. I like reading about this group of believers, although they were destined to fail, they had to depend on new joiners.
While some of this book does focus on the loss of a spouse, we have hope with the arrival of new babies, but the setting for nurturing is less than ideal. A rather sterile way, where the adults live in separate buildings from the children, and of course, men and woman are living apart.
Through the words of the author we put faces to these people, and while I felt I knew how things would turn out, there are a few surprises that we find here.
I for one would be happy to journey for a longer time here, and this one kept my attention and the pages flew.

I received this book through the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

I enjoyed reading all about Shaker life! However, I thought there would be more romance in this. It wasn't until the end that something finally happened! A lovely book but just not what I expected!

The research done on the Shakers was fascinating and very well done. The story line between Darcie and Flynn was just not interesting. They didn't really have any kind of romance until the end of the book.

Ann Gabhart has written a very detailed description of Shaker life in the mid-1800s. I learned so much history from reading The Refuge.
The plot centers around Darcie Goodwin. She and her husband entered the Shaker community for refuge to escape the cholera that is sweeping through the country. But when Darcie's husband dies, she is left with no money, property, or connections. She is forced to adhere to the Shaker ways while she lives among them. Darcie further disrupts the community when she discovers she is pregnant. The Shakers do not marry or bear children, and the head Eldress isn't sure how to handle her.
The side plot sees widower Flynn Keller in a bind with a wild child to raise and sick father in law to care for. He needs a wife, but hasn't found anyone he could love or simply like. But when his path crosses with Darcie's, he feels drawn to her inner strength and beauty.
The Refuge was a slow read, but interesting enough that I wanted to finish it. Would be a good read for a rainy day.

What an intriguing read! I was fascinated to learn about the kind-but-cultish Shakers, and author Gabhart did a masterful job placing her main character Darcie among them, taking refuge with her husband after a cholera outbreak. Unexpected tragedy strikes and Darcie finds herself alone and pregnant among people who believe that sex is sinful even within the constraints of marriage. It would have been easy to make the Shaker community a dark place, but Gabhart reveals her consummate writing and plotting skill as she paints a captivating picture of the Shaker world, revealing both their strengths and their faults. I especially admired the way Gabhart created individual and genuine Shaker characters, some of whom did not totally embrace the Shaker way of life and others who did. Giving Darcie a way out of her situation was something I certainly saw coming, but was delighted to wait for it to unfold. Gabhart also chose to make Christian faith an important part of the novel, and I was thrilled to read about elders in the lives of both Darcie and her love-interest who planted and watered the seeds of growing Christian faith. Adversity drew these characters into active faith and the lessons they learned were not forgotten. Another theme in the book is taking in those in need, something that Darcie experienced herself and later came to emulate. Five solid stars on this fine novel from me!

The Shakers had lots of rules and requirements that most people found peculiar. This well researched novel brought to life the Shaker life. Darcy's story is an example of one that may have found herself taken in by the Shakers. For those readers interested in learning more about the Shakers and seeing first hand a community built by the Shakers, Shaker Village in Kentucky is an excellent place to visit. Highly recommended book!

THE REFUGE. Ann Gabhart.
They were in the Shaker community because of the cholera. My husband was a strong swimmer, died saving others. The coffin, no I will remember that I was loved by my husband. We were to leave this place, and find our own, to work with our hands. A baby he didn’t know about
The eyes were always watching in the village, an assigned position, the rules to abided by. The same rules her husband chaffed against. Marriage was a sin, and coming in, they were separated. So it will be when a child is born, Darcie will be giving it up.
Flynn a widower unable to care for his daughter sends her here, on a temporary basis .Meeting Darcie could that be an answer, and a better life for her and child. How can a courtship be, no communication or is one taken in trust. I have the other books in this series and enjoyed them.
This was hard one to read, I am sure the author did her research and that was the way it was done, As far as the story, it was well portrayed with the deep sorrow, of losing both a husband and the coming child.
Given ARC by Net .Galley and Revell for my honest opinion and voluntary review.

I am never disappointed with an Ann Gabhart book and The Refuge once again confirmed my beliefs.

It is obvious from the outset the author has done a great deal of research into the Shaker movement. In fact, it got me wondering so much about them that I had to Google them to find out more, because as you go through the book, the Shakers sound more like a cult than believers in Christ. Yet, the movement is never treated as a cult, because of their love and devotion to each other and to God. And particularly because anyone was free to leave should they desire to go back into the world.

Our main character, Darcie Goodwin, has fled to the community with her husband Walter to avoid a cholera epidemic. The Shakers are at heart, good people, and welcome those in need into their world, if they adhere to their rules. Marriage is considered sinful and so Darcie and Walter are separated. Believing their separation is temporary, they agree to follow the Shaker ways. But, death finds them anyway when Walter is killed in a riverboat accident. Alone and pregnant Darcie is now faced with the possibility that once her child is born it will be taken from her and sent to live apart from her because another Shaker rule is that everyone is a Sister or a Brother. So, she would no longer be allowed to be the mother of her child. She prays desperately for the Lord to show her what she can do.

Enter Flynn Keller, a widower with a daughter (Leatrice) who is always getting into trouble. When circumstances change and he feels he can no longer keep her safe, he sends her to the Shaker village on a temporary basis, while he makes plans for their future. When he meets Darcie, he is intrigued and you know as you are reading the story that he will be the answer to Darcie's prayers, but you just can't figure out how! They are not allowed to talk to each other (for it is against Shaker rules) and so this book is hard to put down. How will the author bring these two together? You'll have to read the book to find out.

I loved the ending and you will love this story of how God can take the most impossible situations and work them together for His good.

This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing.