Angel Sister by Ann H. Gabhart is what I might classify as inspirational historical fiction. I always feel a little sheepish when I find out a book I chose runs along the inspirational line because I don't think I'd choose them if I had known that beforehand. Angel Sister had an excellent storyline to make up for the pounding of inspirational guidance which may be ok for doubters and non-believers, but since I already hold similar beliefs, I just don't care to be preached at while pleasure reading.Victor is married to Nadine, the woman of his dreams, whom he'd been in love with since he was a boy. They have three daughters. One day Kate, his middle daughter finds a little girl at the church when she goes to deliver a pie to her grandfather. Lorena Birdsong is just five but in 1935, times are so tough that her parents dropped her off and drove away without her. Lorena thinks Kate is the angel her mother told her would find her and take care of her, and that's exactly what Kate wants to do.Two stubborn grandfathers, have different ideas for Lorena Birdsong. Victor's father doesn't want the family to make a gypsy child into a Merritt. Nadine's father, the preacher, has a childless family in mind for Lorena despite the fact that Victor and Nadine want to keep her until her parents return for her. Kate is heartbroken that she can't be Lorena's angel.Lots of historical undercurrents keep this story moving along and share some of the problems of the times. Victor is starting to have problems with drinking, pain, memories and dreams long after coming back from war. The one thing he knows for sure is that he loves his family. There are other people and things lurking about in the woods from Victors past. All the secrets of the past start coming out when Lorena is missing from the closet she was locked in for punishment with her new family, who want to call her Polly. Yes, it gets pretty inspirational here, their prayers are answered after a firey revelation. Good book. Publishers and booksellers must know that it's hard to get some people to read inspirational books since that fact was conveniently omitted from the description. Victor Merritt, his wife Nadine, and their daughter Kate Merritt along with newly abandoned Lorena Birdsong are the main characters in this book. There are many relatives and townspeople who are also impactful to the story.Kate Merritt, a fun-loving teenager who prefers to gig frogs and roam the woods near Rosey Corner, a sleepy Kentucky town, grapples with the tension in her family. When World War I demons and the threat of poverty send her father reeling toward booze, her mother sinking into fearfulness, Kate vows to protect those she loves. Then a mysterious little girl named Lorena Birdsong tiptoes into Kate's world...and rocks the conservative congregation, led by Kate's grandfather, to which the Merritts belong. Somehow a dirty orphan manages to rip off the scabs of ugly feuds and long-buried secrets and sets off a cauldron of new problems in an already pressured family. Is Kate Merritt the Angel Sister that Lorena says she is or is Lorena the true Angel changing the life of Kate and many others in the town?The story revolves around present lives but also has flash backs to the past especially focusing on Victor and Nadine's dating years. Victor has a drinking problem which started when he was serving in WWI. I strongly suspect that Preston Merritt, Victor's Father, played a big part in it too. Preston was a man that his son could never please. Victor could do nothing right in his Father's eyes; the reason goes back to when Victor was growing up. Nadine Merritt is the Daughter of Preacher Reece. She too could never live up to her Father's expectations. Her Father was always praying over her and quoting scriptures at her. She could do nothing right in his eyes. Victor and Nadine married against both their Father's wishes. They were so happy early on in their marriage. Soon after marriage, Victor went off to fight in the war. Their lives would never be the same. Kate Merritt is fourteen years old and the middle daughter in the family of three girls. Her mother depends on Kate to take over and help her father when he comes home drunk and to help her mother with household chores and other problems that might crop up. Kate never quibbles about it. She just does it. This story goes back and forth between the past and present telling both sides of Victor and Nadine's life. This is a necessary part of this book. It has to happen this way in order to get the full picture of what happened and why. A five year old girl named Lorena Birdsong is found by Kate sitting on the steps of Grandfather Reece's church. Her parents couldn't care for her and that is where they left her. Lorena sees Kate as her Angel. Has Lorena been sent from God to rescue the Merritt family from destruction? This book is about unconditional love, hanging on to faith, and the ability to forgive.
What do You think about Angel Sister (2011)?
A well written book. I enjoyed the journey it took me on. I highly reccomend it
—Thiss
I thought this was a great book very heart warming it makes you believe
—alexia
An okay read but nothing out of the ordinary and rather predictable.
—josh
