A poignant historical novel: "Love Comes Home" by Ann H. Gabhart

about the book....

When the flush of victory fades, there remains a winding road to an uncertain future.

World War II is finally over and the people of Rosey Corner are joyfully welcoming the boys home. The Merritt sisters in particular are looking toward the future. Kate is eager to start a family and live out her dream of happily ever after with Jay. Evangeline craves a beautiful house and encourages Mike to pastor a big-town church. Victoria wants what can never be. And Lorena is growing up and wondering more and more about her birth family.

Each sister must learn to hold her plans with a loose hand, trusting that God will guide and strengthen them as they share the joys and sorrows of life in their little corner of the world.

Award-winning and bestselling author Ann Gabhart invites you back to Rosey Corner for a heartfelt story that closes the distance between the things that were and things that can yet be

my review....

Gabhart's third book set in the small town of Rosey Corner is a poignant novel that explores loss, love, hardship, and new beginnings. It was a pleasure to become reacquainted with the characters from the first two books in the series (Angel Sister and Small Town Girl Corner), and there were many moments to celebrate with the characters (such as when husbands returned from war) but also many moments to experience their heart-ache. As is her strength, Gabhart does a wonderful job at fleshing out her characters and weaving their different stories into an ultimately satisfying whole. Her characters come alive with an aching beauty, and I found myself standing in their shoes feeling the pain they feel. Something I love about this book and indeed the whole series is the way Gabhart shows what a gift family is, even when they are also a pain! One of the characters finds themselves envying the Merritt family and it is easy to see why, for despite times they disagree or drive each other crazy, they are there for each other through thick and thin. I especially liked Aunt Hattie's role in this book as the elderly spiritual giant, and someone who often pointed the characters to the Lord in their times of pain. The words she speaks are filled with wisdom, such as when she says "Every soul is burdened down with troubles from time to time....But the Good Lord is right there helping you carry that load...A body has to keep on smilin’ for yo’self same as others, else the dark can overtake you”. What a great reminder that when we experience the troubles this life brings, we aren't alone, but have God, and his family, to walk alongside us.

Those readers who first grew to love these characters in "Angel Sister" will appreciate how this novel brings things full circle. I greatly enjoyed this solid read and award it 4 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Learn more about the book here: http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/authors/ann-h-gabhart/1118

 about the author....

 

Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of Angel Sister, Small Town Girl, and Words Spoken True, as well as several Shaker novels--The Outsider, The Believer, The Seeker, The Blessed, and The Gifted--and The Heart of Hollyhill series. She lives with her husband a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Learn more at www.annhgabhart.com.