by Lisa T. Bergren
Publisher: Bethany House
ISBN:
I don't know about you, but I'm one of those people who feels elated to start the first book in a series. So much anticipation before I turn the cover open to begin reading. When I saw Keturah come across my email I was hooked immediately by the cover (isn't it always the cover), the author, and the synopsis of the story! Thanks to Litfuse Publicity for the opportunity to review it and set out on a journey.
Summary:
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 Review:
I'm all about the historical fiction. If it's well written, don't bother trying to talk to me because I'll be entwined in the story! That's exactly how it was from the first page of the first chapter in Keturah! From the start it was quite an adventure.
Keturah is a character I can relate to. Her past has caused her to rely on herself and certainly never ask a man for help. Her and her sisters' present puts them in a situation that almost forces them to rely on the men around them. I enjoyed getting to know Ket, Verity, and Selah because it sets us up to want more when the next books come out! I was ready for book two by the time the sisters set sail on the Redemption.
We also meet Gray Covington. My first thought was, "He must be a rake!" Something seemed shifty about him from the start. Guess that should teach me to judge someone by the first few sentences I read about them. Just like any of us, Gray made some poor choices and is doing what he can to redeem himself.
What Keturah (along with her sisters) and Gray have to go through to try and revive the plantations they own in the West Indies is more than most could bear. It's clear that it's going to be even harder than either one of them expected, and more dangerous.
I loved everything about this story from beginning to end. The characters drew me in, rooting for and against them with a lot of fervor! I guess if there is any "negative" I felt like the story spent quite a bit of time on the ship, which meant it seemed like they were doing or talking about the same thing. Of course, if you're spending 6 weeks on a ship heading to your destination a lot can happen during that time. I'm already looking forward to book two!
Enter to win a copy of Keturah. Five winners will be chosen! Click the image below to enter to win. The winners will be announced March 13 on the Litfuse blog!
About the Author:
Lisa T. Bergren has published more than 40 books with more than 3 million books sold combined. She's the author of the Christy Award-winning "Waterfall," RITA®-finalist "Firestorm," bestselling "God Gave Us You," and popular historical series like Homeward, Grand Tour, and more. She's also a recipient of the RT Lifetime Achievement Award. She lives in Colorado Springs with her husband and three teen-and-older children.
Find out more about Lisa at http://lisatawnbergren.com.
