The Innocent by Ann H. Gabhart

Carlyn Kearney's husband is gone. He went off to the war and she has been alone since then. That was two years ago. Unable to sustain herself, Carlyn loses her home and finds herself in destitution. Harmony Hill, the Shaker community is known to help those in need, and she fits those qualifications. While Shakers do not marry, they aren't trying to force others into their life style if they don't want to do so. That leaves an opening, and a quandary for Mitchell Brodie. He really likes Carlyn, but is her husband alive, or dead? You can't have a romantic relationship with or marry a woman who is married! Mitchell was in the war himself, and is healing. He is also a rather wise sheriff. 

Things get very interesting when a murder occurs. Asher, Carlyn's dog is fantastic. I loved him! This was another really good book that stands alone or can be read in this series. You might think that being with a Shaker theme romance wouldn't be available, but Gabhart finds ways to show us what that life might have been like for others and the Shakers as well. She brings in wonderful characters and this book shows God's grace and how it is grace we should remember to be under, not the law. 

My copy of this book came from Revell in exchange for my honest review and nothing more.

Carol :) 

About

She longs for peace--for her land and her heart--but can it truly be found at Harmony Hill?
Carlyn Kearney has spent two lonely years not knowing whether to mourn or to hope after she receives word from the Union Army that her husband is missing. When the war ends without further word, Carlyn finds herself penniless, in debt, and forced from her home. With nowhere else to go, she seeks refuge at the Shaker village of Harmony Hill.

The Shakers profess peace through simple living, but to Carlyn, the Shaker life seems anything but simple. When mysterious deaths disturb the peace of the village, Carlyn falls under intense scrutiny. Can a kind sheriff help her expose the true culprit?

Bestselling author Ann H. Gabhart invites fans back to Harmony Hill for a story laced with intrigue, romance, and heart.

"The Innocent is another well-crafted tale from the pen of Ann H. Gabhart. With characters that will steal your heart, Gabhart introduces a desperate young heroine who seeks safety among the Shakers during the post-Civil War era and a sheriff determined to come to her aid. A rich and rewarding read you won't want to miss!"--Judith Miller, award-winning author of Refined by Love series.

Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of several Shaker novels--The Outsider, The Believer, The Seeker, The Blessed, and The Gifted--as well as Angel Sister, Small Town Girl, Love Comes Home,Words Spoken True, 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.