Wow. This story is amazing. Bergren did not hold back on anything - faith, emotion, difficult topics, difficult situations. And they all blend together perfectly. Thought I hadn’t read the others in the series, I didn’t feel lost, I only felt sad because I hadn’t read them! Highly recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Selah was a wonderful read that continues the story of the Sugar Barron's daughter as Lisa Bergren focuses on the next sister in line and draws us into her story. Prepare to step into a wonderful story as Lisa crafts this story around you and fully envelops you until she, at last, brings you to the very last page.

The third book in The Sugar Baron's Daughters, Selah wraps up the story of the three sisters while still leaving a lot of loose ends. While the story of the sisters is somewhat neatly tied up on a bow, there is still the questions of how did they survive the Revolutionary War while living in the West Indies, did they succeed in convincing more plantation owners to free their slaves, did August Shubert meet his match, and more.

I went into this book just wanting to finish the series and know what happened to the sisters--mostly who did Selah marry, but I feel like this book was more than that. Selah is young, but she has matured a lot in the three years of living on the Nevis Island. She has a heart of compassion and is constantly pushing her sister and brother-in-law out of their comfort zones as they try to protect her from one scrape after another.

Jedidiah is the Methodist minister who felt God calling him to the West Indies to work with slaves. He makes his home on the Double T plantation and works alongside the slaves and freed people in the fields and preaches to them at night. Word gets around that life is relatively good on the Double T and that, in turn, makes life challenging as well. I don't want to say more than that because I don't want to give away any spoilers.

In the midst of all this, the Revolutionary War has started and there are Patriots in the family along with British soldiers being quartered there. So yes, the story was very engaging and pulled me in to see how it all ended. It was also good to see Selah develop her own faith in God and recognize Him as an important part of her daily life, not just Someone to meet with on Sunday in their church.

I received this book from Bethany House via Net Galley and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Lisa T Bergen has done it again. Her books always draw me in and this book is no exception. Highly recommend it and the others in this series.

I did enjoy the storyline and characters of this novel, especially with Jedediah being a Methodist minister. There isn't a lot of representations of the early Methodists, but they really were a courageous lot. It was interesting to see the final and youngest of the Banning sisters come into her own.

Yet I'm afraid the lower rating comes from my general dislike of stories set during the American Revolutionary War. I mean Gray and Seleh are converted to the 'Patriot' cause within two minutes ridiculously easily. Then main argument is that Britain is evil for having an Empire, but of course Verity totally ignores the small fact that France and Spain both also had large international Empires. Hypocrisy much.
Especially in light of America's later activities expanding into the West and trying to invade Canada.

The British character's inability to distinguish between England and Britain was also grating.. Scotland was part of Britain in 1775 and still is today. There were Scots in the British government and army, as there were Welsh soldiers. We're more interconnected then certain modern political parties would have you believe.

Thanks to Bethany House an ARC of this title. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Selah was written by Lisa T. Bergren and is book three in The Sugar Baron’s Daughters. I wouldn’t recommend reading this one without reading the previous two books-they are too intertwined.

Summary: Selah is the youngest of the three sisters running the Double T. plantation.

Over the years, she has seen both of her sisters fall in love and get married. She is happy for them and likes her new brother-in-laws, but her burning passion is for the plantation’s slaves-a homegrown family she has come to love.

When Selah witnesses a horrific incident in town involving slaves, she doesn’t hesitate to get involved-at great cost to herself.

Has Selah brought even more danger to the Double T.? Will she be able to help her family even in the face of extreme odds?

My Thoughts: I liked this book. It wasn’t my favorite out of the series. The first was actually one of my favorites of all time (so that’s saying something), but I think I felt like the overall themes were being re-hashed by the middle of the third book. I also felt the hero in this story was a little wishy-washy, and didn’t quite deserve Selah. I might be a bit too attached to these characters. 🙂

In the end though, it is still well-written, interesting, and I love the characters (obviously.) And, I think it is worth reading to see how everything turns out.

I would like to thank Bethany House Publishers for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you!

Selah, by Lisa T. Bergren, is the final tale in the Sugar Baron's Daughters series. Selah is the youngest daughter in the Barring family. Her time on the Caribbean island, that is now her home, has lead her to care for many of the slaves who also call this land home. Selah is surprised when she is drawn toward the Methodist preacher, Jediah Reed, who has been called to share the news of Jesus Christ with the slaves!

Selah and Jedidiah soon find themselves in dangerous situations as they attempt to help runaway slaves. Even to the point of Selah being struck by the whip of an angry slave-owner!

This is an interesting tale as you see where Selah and Jedidiah end up in the midst of these crazy days leading up to the American Revolution!

I have enjoyed this series! I do recommend that you read the stories in order to fully understand the characters. I liked that I was once again transported to the islands with their colorful scenery, easily imagined based on the author’s descriptions. I enjoyed reading about Selah a lot and appreciated her love for the slaves and her compassionate heart. I could tell that Jedediah has a good heart, but I wish he had a bit more gumption. The villain in the story was easy to hate. I appreciated the attention that the author paid to the cruelties of slavery, and I thought that she did a good job communicating the horrors without being too graphic. I felt like the ending of the book did not wrap up the story and it almost seems like there should be another in the series. Overall, however, I enjoyed the book and have liked this series!

I received a complimentary ecopy of this book from Netgalley and Bethany House Publishers. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

A wonderful conclusion to the otherwise fantastic series following the Banning sisters. The intrigue of the history blended with the dynamic characters and setting melds seamlessly with the story of courage and discovering the path God is calling you to. A charming story and perfect ending to this must series.

I have enjoyed the first two books from Lisa Tawn Bergren's The Sugar Baron's Daughters series and Selah is by far my favorite. I highly recommend it and am giving it five plus stars.

I’ve enjoyed reading this series and I was looking forward to reading Selah’s story. I admired her courage and compassion in standing strong for right in a corrupt situation over which she had very little control. It was good to see a little further into her sisters’ stories, and see that the strong bond among them could not be broken. Jedidiah has my full admiration, too, and his faith was an example to those around him.

This has been an excellent series, and I’ve learned quite a bit about life on the islands during this time in history. The author’s research has been excellent, and the historical details added much to this series.

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

Selah
by Lisa T. Bergren


Bethany House

Bethany House
Bethany House Publishers
Christian
Pub Date 03 Mar 2020



I am reviewing a copy of Selah through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:






Selfhood Banning is a young British lady coming of age on the West Indies Island of Nevis in 1776. She could have never imagined the most tumultuous time of her life would occur in the next year.






The young Methodist preacher Jedediah Reed has been called to serve the slaves of Nevis. He has settled on Selah’s families plantation called the Double T. Selah’s heart is drawn to the same people, the slaves of Nevis. The purpose they share bring Selah and Jedediah closer together despite her guardians objections and concerns about the romance not promising security for the future.



Jedediah’s faith and Selah’s abolitionist beliefs lead to changes on the plantation. Just as the Revolutionary War continues to build in the States. But the threat of Starvation and the conflict with island mogul Angus Shubert growing ever stronger, the future of the Triple T and it’s people hang in the balance.



I give Selah five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

This is a good one. I have enjoyed this series, getting to know each sister and this third book allows you to see all three sisters and where that are at. No worries, though, you can read this as a stand alone.

Selah is a wonderful character. Her desire to follow God's calling will inspire the reader to listen and be obedient. Jedediah frustrated me at times with his insecurities. I just wanted to shake him and tell him to follow his heart.

Lisa T. Bergren fans will be pleased with this latest installment.


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

This book was amazing! While I am sad to see this series end, I LOVED how Bergren wrapped everything up in this final book. The writing is superb, the story comes to life and is written in such a way that the reader can easily visual the location and characters. A must read for every CF fan!

In this instalment of The Sugar Baron's Daughters Series, we follow Selah Banning who has come of age at a tumultuous time on the island of St. Nevis. Jedidiah Reed is an itinerant Methodist preacher called to minister to the slaved and freed people on the islands and finds a home on the Double T ranch working in the plantations for his upkeep. Their faith and abolitionist leanings bring them together. However, the threat of starvation and the Revolutionary war, as well as constant conflict with their neighbour Angus Schubert, endangered the lives for the people on the Double T.

Just like the previous book, Verity, Selah 's story was a delight to read and I was able to whizz through it in a day (during Covid-19 lockdown). I was also delighted to meet Captain Ian McKittrick once again and established that he was definitely one of my favourite characters outside of the Banning sisters. It would be great if he had a stand-alone novel because he seemed to live an illustrious life as a privateer.

My only concern was the mention of the use of Swahili by one of the slaves in the Cold Springs ranch. I would like to think that Swahili would be spoken by slaves in the Indian Ocean trade rather than those in Transatlantic trade as. Swahili is spoken in East and some parts of Central Africa,

Nonetheless, if you are looking for an escapist during and after this Corona Pandemic, then this would be a worthwhile read.

The three book Sugar Barons series by Lisa T. Bergren, ending with this book, have been so intriguing to me. I had little to no previous knowledge of these islands and the role they played in the sugar trade or history, particularly as it related to the Revolutionary War. I know the author, based on notes at the end of the books, has fictionalized some of the characters and events, but Nevis and the surrounding islands are real places that were active in sugar production and trade. I also loved this trio of sisters, each having their own book in the series. They are each unique in their convictions, but all three are strong and courageous. Selah is the "baby" of the three, yet in this book she is a grown woman trying to make a stand for what God has given her a conviction for, which is the mistreatment of slaves. All of the Banning sisters are trying to make a better life for their slaves, whom they free and help to find jobs as freed men and women, unlike most of their fellow plantation owners on the islands.
This book has a great pace, moving from one interesting event in Selah's life to the next. These events vary from helping runaway slaves, encounters with the evil Angus Shubert, and the building of romantic tension between herself and Jedediah Reed. I would definitely recommend this entire series. The portrayal of women in a male-dominated society was well done, showing the challenges, but also the way that honorable men and women can work together in faith to overcome the prejudices of that time period.

Reminiscent of my favorite series, River of Time Series, The Sugar Baron’s Daughter Series centers around three sisters, Keturah (book 1), Verity (book 2), and Selah (book 3).

In the first book, after the death of her father, Selah, and her sisters flee to the West Indies in the hopes of making their family’s plantation prosperous. They endure many trials throughout the first two books as the eldest sisters find love amidst the danger and wild of the West Indies island of Nevis. In the third book, Selah has now become of age in the midst of the American Revolution. As food becomes more scarce on the island and as tension builds with their neighbor, the family seeks drastic measures as their home and livelihood are threatened. Selah embodies everything I hope I would be in her shoes. She is bold, brave, kind, and selfless. Her feelings for her family and the slaves on the plantation run deep.

Lisa T. Bergren truly brought the island to life in this third installment to the series. As the characters labored in the heat, I similarly felt the sweat and the satisfaction as the ocean breeze blew, as they hungered due to the lack of food supplies so did my stomach protest, as evil ran rampant, so did my anger and frustration rise.

As always with a Lisa T. Bergren novel, faith, and romance reign supreme. Jedidiah, a young Methodist preacher who serves those on the plantation, is so full of wisdom and compassion. I loved hearing his perspective on hearing the voice of God as well as understanding God's calling for our lives. I recently experienced a hardship that I originally felt called to, but over time I began to doubt my ability to hear God’s voice. However, in reading this book, it reminded me that God’s plans aren’t without strife and difficulty, but are always right and good, as well as the various ways that God can speak to us. Reading Selah has encouraged me and my walk with the Lord!

The Red Review: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
***5 Stars: Compelling Characters, Well-Written, Interesting Storyline, Unable to Stop, Desire to Re-read

Selah Banning has come of age on the West Indies island of Nevis, shaped by experiences far beyond the typical upbringing of a young British lady in 1776. She never anticipated that the most tumultuous time of her life might await her in the year ahead.

Jedediah Reed, a young Methodist preacher with a call to serve the slaves of Nevis, has settled at Selah's family's plantation, the Double T. As Selah's heart is drawn to the same people, their shared purpose brings them together--despite her guardians' concern with a romance that promises little security for the future.

As Jedediah's faith and Selah's abolitionist leanings lead to changes on the plantation, the Revolutionary War continues to build in the States. With the threat of starvation and the conflict with island mogul Angus Shubert growing ever stronger, the future of the Double T and its people hangs in the balance.

This is the third story in the series The Sugar Baron's Daughters. To fully understand where this story begins you should probably read the first two books in the series. I enjoyed reading about the youngest daughter, Selah, in this book. There were places that I thought dragged a little bit and I found myself skipping some of that. Other parts held my interest and I wanted to see what happened next. Overall all it was a good book and nice ending to this series.

I was given this book by Bethany House publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

I'll just be honest. I don't enjoy reading about slavery. It's heartbreaking. And there are just some periods that I don't enjoy reading about. On the one hand, I have felt these stories bring history to life. Yet on the other hand, I like to read to escape the troubles of life and these periods are simply too full of pain.

While I enjoyed Verity more than I expected to, I had a little hesitation going into Selah. I knew I wanted to finish the series, but I wasn't excited about digging in deeper in this particular area. Plus I wasn't sure how the romance would be between Selah and Jedediah. All in all, I have to say that I really enjoyed it.

Selah truly has a heart of gold. She sees people and hearts where others see a means to an end or property. She connects with those who are oppressed. And her heart sees a kindred spirit in Jedediah. He opens her eyes to see God better, and they find a common bond between them. I ended up liking their story a good bit more than I expected.

I do think Jedediah's reasons for needing some space from Selah were a bit bogus. Selah calls him out for his lack of faith quickly but it takes him much too long to come to his senses if we're looking at realism. But of course that wouldn't make for a good story. Or would it?

I enjoyed seeing more of Ian and Verity. I find their story so intriguing. I do feel like I'm missing out since I never read Keturah and I do hope to go back and read it some day if time and opportunity allow.

Selah ended up being more enjoyable than I briefly worried it would be. Even though I don't love reading about the painful period and events involving slavery, I found this book full of hope (is that the right word?) for what could have been. I liked Selah and Jedediah. They had a mission and a bond that inspired, but I could have enjoyed a little more romance. Selah gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Selah? What did you think? Let me know!

Selah is book 3 in Bergren's "Sugar Baron's Daughters" series. As the title suggests, Selah tells the story of youngest sister, Selah Banning, as she develops her own convictions in a family of strong women. The Banning women struggle to keep their plantation afloat, as well as to feed the many employees and freed slaves who work for them. Methodist preacher Jedediah has settled on the Banning plantation, working alongside the slaves and freedmen and women. As Selah and Jedediah develop a friendship and the beginnings of romance, each have to look past both their personal thoughts and societal expectations on a future mate. The story is well-developed, very detailed, clean-cut, historically accurate, and very interesting!