Isaac Kingston’s guilt over his wife Ella’s death laid heavy on his heart, and finding himself in need of food and shelter, accepts a Shaker man’s offer to accompany him to his commune, Harmony Hill. Isaac has no interest in joining the Shaker faith, however, so trades his labor for what he needs to survive for the present time.
As Isaac first catches sight of the young, pretty Lacey when she arrives at Harmony Hill, he feels the sunshine return for the first time since his wife passed away. Marriage is not allowed at the commune, however, and besides, Lacey is already technically married to Pastor Palmer. Will these two lonely people be able to ignore their attraction to each other, or does God have plans in store for the two of them to be together?
Set in 1844, THE BLESSED by Ann Gabhart is a well-researched, insightful look into the Shaker community, from their strong faith and work ethic to their legalistic approach to dating and marriage, among other things. While THE BLESSED is the fourth book in the Shaker series, it stands alone quite well and is an enjoyable, engaging read. Lacey is an interesting character who suffered much hardship in her young life, but never allowed it to destroy her faith in God. If you’re looking for a novel about the Shakers that is rich in history and contains a splash of romance, then perhaps THE BLESSED is just the one you’re looking for.
