Book Review: Words Spoken True

     Adriane Darcy was practically raised in her father's newspaper offices. She can't imagine life without the clatter of the press and the push to be first to write the news that matters. Their Tribune is the leading paper in Louisville in 1855. Then Blake Garrett, a brash young editor from the North with a controversial new style of reporting, takes over a failing competing paper, and the battle for readers gets fierce.

      When Adriane and Blake meet at a benefit tea, their surprising mutual attraction is hard to ignore. Still, Blake is the enemy, and Adriane is engaged to the son of a powerful businessman who holds the keys to the Tribune's future. Blake will stop at almost nothing to get the story – and the girl. Can he do both before it's too late?

~ Words Spoken True ~
a book review by Joy In Our Journey.com:

THE SETTING:
    This story is set in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1855, during a very chaotic, highly-charged political scene. The differing views of prominent people attempted to sway the population each their own way and, as a result, much dissatisfaction was evident.

WHO IS INVOLVED:
    The story revolves around one of the popular newspapers of the day, the Tribune, and its rival paper, the Herald. Long before television and radio, newspapers were the source of information and eagerly read by most people.

    The central figure is the daughter (Adriane) of the Tribune’s editor, Wade Darcy; she is a beautiful young woman who, with a very troubled childhood, had come to learn the skills of running the newspaper with her father and was extremely competent, in spite of her personal fears and insecurities. She is faced with a huge dilemma of “honoring” her father in his demand for her to marry a young man in a high-ranking political family, or following her heart. An extremely difficult decision which becomes even more difficult when she meets the new editor of the rival newspaper, the Herald.

THE PROBLEM:
    At a time when Louisville was faced with a growing population of Irish and German immigrants, who are looked down upon by the general populace, wicked men do evil things to innocent people. It is a heart-rending story that causes much speculation as to the general rights of fellow humans, no matter where they may have been born. There are also rising issues about women’s liberties brought up during this same time period, when many are beginning to realize that women need to be allowed the freedom to be educated and use their own minds.

    Adriane has many fearful moments throughout this story, some violence, some “back flashes” of memories of her childhood, but through it she is able to hold onto her faith that “the light shineth in the darkness” as she has been taught by the old man, “Beck,” who has worked with Adriane’s father in his newspaper business for so many years, and who has watched out for this young woman all the time she was growing up with little other guidance. He has encouraged her to use her Bible and memorize verses, which will come to her when she needs them.

    This story will make one’s heart beat fast, but will also point out the wonderful fact that, even though we may not understand the ways of the Lord, He is still there and is guiding us through each situation, if we will but look to Him and call out to Him. We can know for sure that God is Love.

A little bit about the author, Ann Gabhart:

        I've been writing most of my life. When I was a kid I read Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries, and of course, when you're a child your imagination gets a little carried away. I would think “Boy, that would be fun to be like them and be able to solve a mystery.” So I made up my own mystery about my cousin, my sister and me as the detectives. I just sort of played around with it when I was 10 or 11 years old and wrote a chapter here and there. I never did actually finish that story, but that’s how I got started on the writing path. Then when I was a teenager, I wrote short stories with lots of typical teen drama. I’ve been writing ever since.

        While I was writing for the general market, I had two historical romances for adults published - both with a Kentucky history background. Then I published eleven books for young readers. Most of those were for young teens with a couple of what the kids call chapter books for ages 8 to 12. My first inspirational fiction books were my three Hollyhill books about Jocie and her friends. I've published three Shaker books, The Outsider, The Believer, and The Seeker with another, The Blessed scheduled for release in the summer of 2011. Then there's my book set during the Great Depression, Angel Sister. I've also published the one non-fiction inspirational book, Angels at the Crossroads. So how many does that make? Twenty-one and counting.

Julieanne
Joy In Our Journey.com

Disclosure:  I was provided with one free copy of Words Spoken True from Baker/Revell Publishing in exchange for an honest review of this book.  No other compensation has been provided.

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