Christmas at Harmony Hill: Christian fiction book review

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About this new book:

    It is 1864, and the nation is still torn apart by civil war when Heather Worth discovers she is with child. She has been working as a laundress with her husband's army unit, but when the army gets orders to march south to Tennessee, Gideon insists Heather go home to have their child under safer conditions. Heather agrees, but returns home to another kind of devastation--deaths in the family and a father who refuses to forgive her for marrying a Yankee. With nowhere else to turn, Heather seeks refuge at the Shaker village of Harmony Hill, where her great aunt Sophrena lives. There, after many peaceful years at Harmony Hill, Sophrena is having doubts about her Shaker path. Both women are in need of love and forgiveness--whether given or received. With Christmas coming, can the miracle of new life fill their hearts with unexpected joy?

Joy In Our Journey's review ~ by Julie:

   
    Christmas at Harmony Hill, by Ann Gabhart, takes place during the Civil War - when families and neighbors are fighting each other and dying for a cause they dearly believe in, each in their own way. 

    When Heather falls in love with Gideon Worth and marries him just as he is taking off to become a Yankee fighter, her Confederate family is torn; her father angry, her brother taking up the cause of the Confederates.  It is difficult but Heather chooses her path to follow Gideon off to war; she is able to stay with him and become a washer woman for the company with which he is stationed.  Then she becomes pregnant, and Gideon decides she can no longer stay with him, especially after she is seven months along and can no longer keep up with the troops.

    Heather returns to her home, after a long and difficult journey.  With great sorrow at having to leave her husband, she knows she is doing the right thing to bring her baby into a safer situation.  But her father turns her away, saying she is no longer his daughter and she is not welcome in his home.  She encounters much sadness at that.  Because she also learns that her mother and two brothers have died in her two-year absence, she is beside herself with grief.  Her sister, Beth, advises her to try to find their Aunt Sophrena, who lives not too far away at the Harmony Hill Shaker community. 

    Heather’s arrival at the Shaker community, and her first meeting with her Aunt Sophrena, brings her many surprises.  First, her aunt (whom she has never met) is so like her own mother that she is nearly overcome with memories.  Second, she is welcomed into the Shaker community in a way she never thought would be possible; she is not made to feel a part of the community, but they provide for her physical needs very well and assign her aunt to become her caretaker during her confinement with her pregnancy.  It is an eye-opening experience for all of them.

     Heather learns much about the Shakers and tries hard to understand some of their very strange beliefs and traditions.  Sophrena comes to face her own doubts and longings after having spent over 25 years with the Shakers.  This story is an education into a totally different kind of life than most Christians would know; it is hard to understand some of the beliefs that come to light, and it can be difficult to accept the sense in the type of community life they had built for themselves.

     There is much to ponder in the way of forgiveness and love for one another as these characters intermingle and communicate.  Much, much prayer goes up for protection of those involved in the war battles, the families left behind, and a greatly anticipated birth right at Christmas time.  Conflict turns to victory as the story unfolds - but there are surprises to the very end.

About the author, Ann Gabhart:

  I started writing when I was ten and have been writing ever since. I've now published twenty novels for adults and young adults.

     I married Darrell Gabhart, young and in love, but we defied the odds and are still married all these years later. Maybe because we went to church together and were committed to the Christian life. We have three children and nine wonderful grandchildren.

     I like walking in the fields and woods, finding wildflowers and spotting birds and wildlife while trying to keep in shape. I'm crazy about dogs, with three of my own and several neighbor dogs who like to hang out in my yard or take walks with me.

    In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support.

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