In 1772 England, Lady Keturah Banning Tomlinson and her sisters find themselves the heiresses of their father's estates and know they have one option: Go to the West Indies to save what is left of their heritage.
Although it flies against all the conventions, they're determined to make their own way in the world. But once they arrive in the Caribbean, conventions are the least of their concerns. On the infamous island of Nevis, the sisters discover the legacy of the legendary sugar barons has vastly declined-and that's just the start of what their eyes are opened to in this harsh and unfamiliar world.
Keturah never intends to put herself at the mercy of a man again, but every man on the island seems to be trying to win her hand and, with it, the ownership of her plantation. She could desperately use an ally, but even an unexpected reunion with a childhood friend leaves her questioning his motives.
To keep her family together and save the plantation that is her last chance at providing for them, can Keturah ever surrender her stubbornness and guarded heart to God and find the healing and love awaiting her?
Keturah is unlike any novel I've read before. This is mainly due to the setting—a Caribbean island just prior to the American Revolution, when the slave trade was at its height. I found much of the novel to be unsettling, as it should have been. Reading about slavery is never easy; if anything, Bergren toned down the reality a bit.
This novel is a compelling look at three strong women—Keturah, Verity, and Selah—who move from England to their family's plantation on the island of Nevis after their father's death. As the oldest, Keturah sees it as her duty to make the plantation profitable. Still reeling from her abusive first marriage, she vows to never rely on a man again, but in the wilds of Nevis, she realizes she needs an ally and forms a tenuous partnership with her childhood friend (and neighboring plantation owner) Gray.
While the plot is interesting, I did feel like the book moved very slowly for the first 2/3 of the novel. I just wasn't completely engaged until I neared the end—but the last 1/3 was so compelling that I finished the book definitely wanting to continue the series. 3-1/2 stars.
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Find out more about Lisa at http://lisatawnbergren.com.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
I saw someone else saw this one was slow-moving too. Those aren't usually my favorites, but as I've liked other of Lisa's historicals before, I will probably give this one a chance. Soonish. ;)
ReplyDeleteYou'll be going in with tempered expectations, which I think is good. Here's hoping you'll be pleasantly surprised if/when you finally get to it. Thanks for stopping by, Rissi!
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