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    Keturah
    Keturah
    Keturah
    Audiobook12 hours

    Keturah

    Written by Lisa T Bergren

    Narrated by Amy Landon

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    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 for women of the time, they’re determined to make their own way in the world. But once they arrive in the Caribbean, proper gender roles 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 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.

    Set on keeping her family together and saving her father’s plantation, can Keturah ever surrender her stubbornness and guarded heart to God and find the healing and love awaiting her?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateFeb 6, 2018
    ISBN9781543664539
    Keturah
    Author

    Lisa T Bergren

    Lisa T. Bergren is the author of over forty books, with a combined count of nearly three million copies sold.  She has written bestselling children’s books, award-wining YA (River of Time Series: Waterfall), popular historical fiction, contemporary fiction, women’s nonfiction, and gift books.  She is a writer residing in Colorado Springs, CO, with her husband and three children.  You can find out more about Lisa at LisaBergren.com.  

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    Reviews for Keturah

    4.5/5

    52 ratings21 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Wonderful book! Its always hard to find a Christian adventure book that is suitable for an adult and isnt too much on the young adult side. This is great for either.
    • 4/5
      Title: Keturah (The Sugar Baron’s Daughter #1)Author: Lisa T. BergrenPages: 352Year: 2018Publisher: Bethany House PublishersMy rating is 4 stars out of 5.Keturah Banning Tomlinson has received the last letter of their late father from their sugar plantation in the West Indies. The news is not good. While still grieving the death of their father, Keturah and her two sisters now face financial ruin. There has been a drought, the crop has failed and the overseer has died just to name some of the things that have gone wrong in the West Indies. The sisters decide to pack up, leave London and travel to the sugar plantation to set things back on course. The idea of three women being heiresses to a fortune and managing it themselves is ludicrous to most men of this time, so most of the men want to marry Keturah to gain control of the plantation, property, etc. However, Keturah has told herself she will never be under a man’s thumb again.The problems facing three aristocratic women when they arrive are daunting. Is there any way they can turn things around for a brighter future? Gray Covington may be the answer, but can Keturah set aside her stubbornness and her fear of a repetition of the past to trust again? Gray is a childhood friend who has also arrived on Nevis to manage his brother’s sugar plantation. He wants to renew his friendship with Keturah as he has kept his distance since her marriage. However, his reputation as something of a lady’s man might harm this. He wants to protect Keturah and her sisters, so he won’t give up his pursuit of friendship or maybe something more?With rich and vivid descriptions of the time and place, I felt like I was in the West Indies with Keturah. The author does an excellent job of putting readers in the story. The slavery scenes in the story, while horrible, I thought were realistic and authentic to the time and place. Her care of her sisters’ future was admirable, thinking of their needs first. My only negative is that the first third to half of the book was a bit slow; it took a while for me to get to know Keturah’s character and get involved in the story. However, with the themes of redemption, forgiveness and God’s ability to love us no matter what made the story worth reading for sure. I also appreciated in the Author’s Note references for victims of abuse. I am curious to read what happens to Keturah’s sisters in the upcoming novels, so stay tuned for further reviews!Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.”
    • 3/5
      Lady Keturah Banning Tomlinson is the oldest of the Banning sisters and determined to provide for them after the death of her father, a sugar baron in the West Indies. Her childhood friend, Gray Covington, also intends to cross the Atlantic and rebuild his father's plantation on Nevis, conveniently located near Keturah's inheritance. However, in the years since their childhood friendship, Keturah has suffered greatly at the hands of a man and has no intention of being beholden to one. Ever. Still, Keturah and her sisters are unaware of all that awaits them on Nevis and Gray seems to be her only option for an ally. Will Keturah and Gray ever share more than adjacent land and crops? Can Keturah accept healing from the one who knows her in the depth of her soul? Read more in Keturah by Lisa T. Bergren.Keturah is the first novel in The Sugar Baron's Daughters series by Lisa T. Bergren. The story line caught my attention nearly as quickly as the novel's stunning cover did. The gentle love story between Keturah and Gray ebbed and flowed as circumstances, perhaps Providence, led them toward a joint future. However, between all the topics addressed in the novel (status of women, infidelity, slavery, domestic abuse, etc.) and the overarching question of how Keturah's endeavor will turn out, the love story felt less prevalent than I would have liked. But that's just my personal taste.Overall, Keturah by Lisa T. Bergren is a good read, but I'm not sure if I will read this again. Readers looking for a tale with a strong female protagonist pitted against unexpected odds will enjoy this book.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. 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."
    • 4/5
      I will be honest here and tell you that it took me a while to get into. I think, though, it had more to do with the fact I was super sick during the time I tried to read it. But, in the end, I followed through and stuck with it to the last page. I was pleased with what Lisa Bergren brought to the table with this start to a new, captivating, richly detailed series.This book, despite the difficult start I had, is a 4 star book. Ms. Bergren's characters are life-like and rich. Her detail to history is amazing and her messages......oh those messages that come straight from the Lord above. I definitely give this book a hats off and recommend it to all readers.I will be looking forward to the next book in this series and seeing where the Sugar Baron's next daughter ends up in her life.*Cafinated Reads received a complimentary copy of this book from LitFuse Blog Tours/publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
    • 4/5
      First of all, as a cover art lover, I have to comment on this lovely book cover. Stunning. Unique. And it makes me yearn to overlook the Caribbean from that Nevis beach. Keturah, by Lisa T. Bergren, is an engaging story, taking me places I’ve never been—the island of Nevis, as well as evoking emotions rarely tapped into. I haven’t read many books with Colonial settings and this story leaves me wondering why. I definitely plan to read the rest in this series. I love the premise of this book. After their father’s death, three sisters leave their home in England to save their father’s sugar plantation on Nevis Island. The author showcases their struggles and the injustices of this time period in a raw and exposing way. (The slavery parts were difficult.) She also deals with loss of faith—or as I like to call it, misplaced faith, never fully erased—and redemption.I love the characters’ family bond, and how they had each other’s backs. I grew attached to all three sisters, and truly admired Keturah’s strength. I’m looking forward to the other books in the series (The Sugar Baron’s Daughters) focusing on the other two sisters.Overall, this is a powerful and moving read. Race, slavery, abuse, loss of faith—are some of the themes addressed in this story. The beginning was a little slow for me, but the pacing picked up and fully immersed me.First Line: In the hopes that at least one would get through, their father sent three copies of his last letter from the West Indies; as it happened, his daughters received them all.I was blessed to receive a complimentary copy from Bethany House.
    • 4/5
      Keturah is the first book in Bergren’s new The Sugar Baron’s Daughters series, and I am already anticipating the second. The recently widowed Keturah is the oldest of the three Banning daughters. With the death of their parents, she assumed the responsibility of her sisters, the family estate, and their sugar plantation in the West Indies. A responsibility she carried on her own as her disastrous marriage had left her determined never to be at someone else’s mercy or under their control again. Unheard of in the latter half of the eighteenth century, Keturah and her sisters decide the only way to save their family estate is to embark on a journey to the island of Nevis, and to personally see to improving the harvest of sugar on their plantation. While things might be done differently on Nevis, the European residents there, might not be accepting of the role these young ladies were stepping into. Gray Covington, a childhood friend of Keturah’s, was also traveling to Nevis to run the sugar plantation that he’d purchased from his brother, heir to their family’s English estate. He had invested everything he had in the venture. Gray had absented himself from Keturah following her marriage, and had high hopes of renewing their friendship as they traveled on the same ship. Tales that had formed a less than reputable reputation for Gray among the young ladies of their set, and the lasting effects of the abuse she had suffered at her late husband’s hands, caused Keturah to be warry of his sudden interest in her affairs. Gray suffered to think that she might never trust and lean upon him, that he might not ever be able to keep her and her sisters safe. The central themes of this book are perseverance and forgiveness, both of which were necessary for the peace that Katurah sought. Reading about how these developed through hardships in her life would be very encouraging to readers going through hardships of their own. The author was sensitive to readers who might have been or might be involved in an abusive relationship, offering resources in her author’s notes to assist them. Whether one is drawn to these themes, or is just a fan of historical fiction, Keturah promises to provide hours of quality reading. I thank NetGalley and the Baker Publishing Group for providing me with a copy of Keturah in exchange for my review. I received no monetary compensation.
    • 5/5
      I received this book for free from LibraryThing’s Member Giveaways.I really liked this book. Despite some of the less than savory subject matter and situations that the characters were in, I found this book to be incredibly hopeful and uplifting. The Christian aspect of this wasn’t overbearing at all.I thought that the story was very unique, you never really see books that deal with plantations in the Caribbean. It was incredibly interesting and insightful to explore this little spot in history.I loved the three sisters and their strong familial bonds. I also loved how they stood up for what they believed in.Overall, I wasn’t expecting much from this book, but ended up being really impressed by it. I’m curious to see how the rest of the series unfolds.
    • 5/5
      Great book, enjoyed the storyline. I would recommend this book.
    • 5/5
      England, the year 1773. Keturah and her sisters find themselves heiresses to their father's properties and assets. A letter soon comes telling them of the drought, machinery failure and an overseer lost to the "fever", all with profits far lower than the last.

      Lady Keturah is determined to make sure her sisters are well provided for and the three sisters head off to the West Indies, which was totally unheard of for ladies of England's society at that time.

      Lady Keturah Banning Tomlinson, a widow, from an abusive marriage has sworn that she will never marry again, but her childhood friend Gray Covington is traveling to the West Indies to develop his sugar plantation that happens to border Keturah's. Will Keturah's heart ever soften again?
      This was a fantastic story of a woman bound and determined to make a way for herself, as well as her sisters in a society that demanded women to be dependant on men. Keturah's strong character is what makes this story flow. The reader is drawn to her supporting her and cheering her on throughout the story. A fast-paced read, and a truly enjoyable one. Set in the West Indies. The author has done a vast amount of research to make this novel so real to life, which makes it all the more enjoyable and true to the reader.

      I was thrilled that the characters all leaned heavily on God in this novel. I think the lesson of this novel, or the point that is brought out, is that we too must rely on God, put our stubbornness behind us. A wonderful story of adventure, romance, and forgiveness.


      . I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and 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.”
    • 5/5
      “Keturah” what an unusual name! This is the first thing that drew my attention to the book. The story is as unique as its name. Being the oldest of three girls, responsibility falls heavily on Keturah’s shoulders when they receive word their Father has died. Their mother has already passed on and their Dad was absent much of their lives making his fortune with a plantation on the island in the West Indies. Unfortunately the estate is not doing well and the girls could lose everything. Unable to provide for them Keturah makes the decision to leave their beloved home in England and try to restore the plantation. Also traveling there is her childhood friend Gary Covington with whom her friendship was severed due to his unscrupulous youth. He too hopes to salvage his family plantation and protect the girls. At a young age she is already a widow and carries the emotional scars of an abusive husband. Not only has this led her vow to never marry but has also made her stubborn, headstrong woman, determined to do everything on her own. Even for the wealthy sea travel was no piece of cake. I was fascinated by the author’s vivid description of a long sea voyage during that period. It was dangerous, miserable, boring and exhausting. Single women were certainly not safe traveling alone with the sailors and other men on the ship. I have no clue how they survived in the tight space they were given!Getting there was only a small part of the battle. That era was a “man’s world” and the cruelty, rejection and prejudice against the women was more than I could have imagined. The abusiveness, with which the slaves were treated, broke my heart! Seemingly insurmountable obstacles, loneliness, exhausting work and painful secrets didn’t stop her. Her headstrongness served her well. I admired her strong faith in God and choosing to look at her blessings when all seemed to be falling apart. I learned a many new details about that era. A beautiful story!I received this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I stated are my own.
    • 4/5
      First things first, I am not a huge historical fiction fan, so I put this book at the bottom of my pile. I have not read any of the author's previous works, but I will pick up the next books in this series. I enjoyed the book to some degree although as you will see below there were some parts that left me disappointed. The setting begins in England and then travels to the West Indies in 1772. Due to some unfortunate financial woes of their father, three sisters inherit his estates and have to make some tough decisions. They choose to go the unconventional route and travel to the West Indies via ship. Here lies my first disappointment - this is an almost unbelievable journey in the story. During that time period, what occurs on their travels to the West Indies is not historically accurate. So if you are one who likes historical fiction, I would say this book will be an annoying if not frustrating read. I already stated that historical fiction is not my type of book, so I kept reading it for the story and not the history or accuracy of the time period.While I enjoyed the sisterly bond between the three sisters, some of their interactions left me rolling my eyes. I do believe the author was going for strong female characters, but in my opinion two of the sisters missed that mark. Maybe their strength will come out in future books in this series. The main characters, Keturah and Gray, are both unlikable. I struggled to connect with them. Her interest in him was awkward and his interaction with her was the same. Their romantic connection fell flat. The book mentions some very heavy topics (rape, slavery, violence, etc.) although doesn't go into great detail. There is a enough that I do think it is worth mentioning and being aware of while reading. I was most looking forward to the setting in the West Indies as I have not read many books that have used that location. This did not disappoint! I enjoyed the journey via ship and the West Indies. All in all, this was not an easy read. I will read the other books in the series out of curiosity. **I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher (Bethany House). All opinions expressed are my own and I was not required to give a favorable one.
    • 4/5
      When their father’s death leaves them in financial difficulties, three sisters set out for the sugar plantation he left behind. If they can grow a successful crop, they might be able to save both the plantation and the estate back in England. Keturah, the eldest, is a young widow. Her husband was abusive, and she is determined to never let a man control her again. But her childhood friend Gray Covington is trying to make a go of his own family plantation just next to Keturah’s. Will a time come when she is willing to accept the help he so readily offers?I have mixed feelings about this book. I try to think of this sort of historical fiction as more like fantasy, so as not to find myself stopping in the middle of the story to research, or to be too put off by characters embracing modern attitudes and opinions. So I’m not going to pick at those aspects. I’m intrigued by the author’s choice to set this book on Nevis, birthplace of Alexander Hamilton, though these characters arrive on the island at about the time Hamilton would have been leaving the Caribbean, so I doubt there will be any fun cameo appearances in future books. (To clarify, there were none in this book, either.) The author also walked a delicate line in making the main characters slave owners, albeit benevolent ones. If you’re going to set a book on a Caribbean sugar plantation in 1772, you can hardly get around that issue.I felt that the characters made a lot of surprisingly quick decisions — which kept the plot moving, to be sure, but could be a bit disconcerting. For instance, our heroine would be swearing off men forever on one page, and admitting to herself that she was in love a couple pages later. Well, maybe that’s standard romance novel fare, but what about the sisters’ split-second decision at the beginning of the book to go to Nevis? There was hardly even any discussion: “I must go.” “We’ll go with you.” Okay, then. I could have done with a little more background information at times. However, others might appreciate the quick pacing.The romance aspect was okay — a little overwrought at times, what with rippling muscles and flowing hair and such, but you’ve got to expect that in this genre. Since this is an inspirational, it’s all fairly chaste, though there is some mention of Keturah’s past trauma, and the dangers of being unprotected women among sailors and other rough men.All in all, I’d recommend this if you are a fan of inspirational historical romance, and find the setting intriguing. Will I read the other books in the series when they come out? Maybe, but I won’t be specifically keeping an eye out for them.
    • 3/5
      Lady Keturah Banning Tomlinson is the oldest of the Banning sisters and determined to provide for them after the death of her father, a sugar baron in the West Indies. Her childhood friend, Gray Covington, also intends to cross the Atlantic and rebuild his father's plantation on Nevis, conveniently located near Keturah's inheritance. However, in the years since their childhood friendship, Keturah has suffered greatly at the hands of a man and has no intention of being beholden to one. Ever. Still, Keturah and her sisters are unaware of all that awaits them on Nevis and Gray seems to be her only option for an ally. Will Keturah and Gray ever share more than adjacent land and crops? Can Keturah accept healing from the one who knows her in the depth of her soul? Read more in Keturah by Lisa T. Bergren.Keturah is the first novel in The Sugar Baron's Daughters series by Lisa T. Bergren. The story line caught my attention nearly as quickly as the novel's stunning cover did. The gentle love story between Keturah and Gray ebbed and flowed as circumstances, perhaps Providence, led them toward a joint future. However, between all the topics addressed in the novel (status of women, infidelity, slavery, domestic abuse, etc.) and the overarching question of how Keturah's endeavor will turn out, the love story felt less prevalent than I would have liked. But that's just my personal taste.Overall, Keturah by Lisa T. Bergren is a good read, but I'm not sure if I will read this again. Readers looking for a tale with a strong female protagonist pitted against unexpected odds will enjoy this book.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. 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."
    • 4/5
      First of all, as a cover art lover, I have to comment on this lovely book cover. Stunning. Unique. And it makes me yearn to overlook the Caribbean from that Nevis beach. Keturah, by Lisa T. Bergren, is an engaging story, taking me places I’ve never been—the island of Nevis, as well as evoking emotions rarely tapped into. I haven’t read many books with Colonial settings and this story leaves me wondering why. I definitely plan to read the rest in this series. I love the premise of this book. After their father’s death, three sisters leave their home in England to save their father’s sugar plantation on Nevis Island. The author showcases their struggles and the injustices of this time period in a raw and exposing way. (The slavery parts were difficult.) She also deals with loss of faith—or as I like to call it, misplaced faith, never fully erased—and redemption.I love the characters’ family bond, and how they had each other’s backs. I grew attached to all three sisters, and truly admired Keturah’s strength. I’m looking forward to the other books in the series (The Sugar Baron’s Daughters) focusing on the other two sisters.Overall, this is a powerful and moving read. Race, slavery, abuse, loss of faith—are some of the themes addressed in this story. The beginning was a little slow for me, but the pacing picked up and fully immersed me.First Line: In the hopes that at least one would get through, their father sent three copies of his last letter from the West Indies; as it happened, his daughters received them all.I was blessed to receive a complimentary copy from Bethany House.
    • 4/5
      I will be honest here and tell you that it took me a while to get into. I think, though, it had more to do with the fact I was super sick during the time I tried to read it. But, in the end, I followed through and stuck with it to the last page. I was pleased with what Lisa Bergren brought to the table with this start to a new, captivating, richly detailed series.This book, despite the difficult start I had, is a 4 star book. Ms. Bergren's characters are life-like and rich. Her detail to history is amazing and her messages......oh those messages that come straight from the Lord above. I definitely give this book a hats off and recommend it to all readers.I will be looking forward to the next book in this series and seeing where the Sugar Baron's next daughter ends up in her life.*Cafinated Reads received a complimentary copy of this book from LitFuse Blog Tours/publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
    • 4/5
      With its exotic locale, interesting time period, and relatable characters, Keturah by Lisa T. Bergren is a good choice for fans of historical fiction. The first book in The Sugar Baron’s Daughters series set on the Caribbean colonial island of Nevis, this novel doesn’t cover up the hardships or moral dilemmas facing the planters that sought to subdue nature and provide sugar to England. I can recommend this well-researched and richly detailed novel.Lady Keturah Banning Tomlinson is a determined woman who is facing down her fears by journeying to Nevis to reclaim her family’s fortunes. But while determination is a fine attribute, she soon finds that it alone will not make her plantation successful, nor prevent disasters that endanger its prospects. Along with her sisters Verity and Selah, Keturah must learn to trust in others for help and in God to provide.Bergren does a great job of bringing the world of the late 1770s alive in Keturah. I loved the attention to detail — from the ship journeying to Nevis to the sights and smells that awaited the characters on-island. Nothing is prettied-up. It was a tough time that called for men and women to put aside sensibilities and manners to survive. The main characters are well-drawn. I could relate to Keturah as she sought to provide for and protect her sisters. Her childhood friend, Gray Covington was a wonderful character as well. A reformed playboy, Gray’s reliance on God’s providence proved an effective influence on Keturah. There are a few hard issues explored in Keturah — slavery and abuse. While I appreciate the author’s willingness to include subject matter that was commonplace in that time period, I would have liked her to delve a bit deeper. The main characters are much opposed to the ill-treatment of slaves, but justify owning them. Slavery is seen as an economic necessity even as they abhorred the practice. While modern readers can easily see the fallacy of their views, it would be good to remember that in our contemporary lives we too often tolerate sin for the sake of economics. Keturah struggles with her personal abuse at the hands of her deceased husband. I liked that she was able to overcome its hold on her life, but felt that it occurred a bit too quickly.All in all, Keturah proved to be a fascinating look into a mostly unknown (at least to me ) time and place. If you like historical fiction set in the colonial period of the New World, then this one is a definite must-read. There are two more books promised in this series — Verity and Selah; those are definitely on my TBR radar!Recommended.Audience: adults.(Thanks to LitFuse and Bethany House for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
    • 5/5
      This was a very hard book to get through as I cried through most of it. The heart wrenching treatment of slaves during this time period was nothing short of inhumane. The author gets to the nitty gritty and leaves nothing to the imagination. As Ket and her sisters set sail for the West Indies, they are exposed to treacherous seas, tight quarters and see first hand how slaves are treated. There is danger on the ship and the women are asked to be accompanied by a man when walking on deck. I would be shaking in my boots about that time.What an undertaking her and her sister’s take on trying to rebuild their plantation. They have so many obstacles to overcome with one being the prejudice of women being there running a plantation. Ket is such a strong character I wanted to join her and fight for her land. It is hard to imagine that women who tried to run a plantation were looked down upon. No one wants them to succeed. I loved how the author emphasized how important it was for the sisters to do this on their own and to not depend on men to run the plantation. It is a very different place there in the West Indies and the shock of how prejudice runs rampant is hard for the sisters to accept. One of Ket’s biggest problems is having to stand up to a man. Her marriage was horrible and her husband treated her with little respect. That has impacted her need to succeed without the help of a man dictating what she should do. The hard work out in the fields was back breaking and at times I think I may have given up.I think one of the smartest decisions Ket made was to team up with Gray so they both to achieve getting their crops planted by sharing their men. There are so many obstacles they endure and it seems at every turn , sabotage is happening. The mud slide was devastating and I gasped when they couldn’t find Ket. Gray is such a fair man and I admire his willingness to protect both his plantation , while trying to do the same for Ket and her sisters. The story is very intense and the horrors of living there were at times hard to read. I appreciate how the author clearly show readers what it was like in 1772 in the West Indies for women and slaves. It is important to have historical facts to remind us of the suffering and how difficult it was for people of color. There are some evil men out to destroy Ket and the plantation. Will she be able to fight them off? Can she protect her slaves from harm? The book is mesmerizing and hard to take in at times, I appreciate the authors portrayal of a time when all people were not treated as equals. The story blends history and survival into an epic adventure. This is one story that I will remember for a long time.I received a copy by of this book from LitFuse. The review is my own opinion.
    • 5/5
      Lisa Bergren has long been one of my favorite authors, starting with her famous “River of Time” series. I was so excited for the chance to read and review her newest book, “Keturah,” the first book in the “Sugar Baron’s Daughters” series. I can say that I truly loved “Keturah!”“Keturah” is a beautifully written story. I love Ms. Bergren’s engaging writing style that kept me turning pages and made me so invested in her characters. Even though this isn’t as fast-paced as her young adult novels, it’s still written in such a way that I was able to be fully engaged and read it quickly. This story also deals with some heavier issues, like slavery and abuse. The main character has experienced physical and emotional abuse in the past, but nothing is described in detail. These topics didn’t bog the story down or make it depressing. I love the way Ms. Bergren writes her characters. This book tells the story of three sisters embarking on a life changing journey. Obviously this is mainly Keturah’s story and it sounds like the other sisters will each get their own stories in subsequent books. Keturah has to learn to make her own way and take things one step at a time. She is a strong female character. The sisters have such a great bond and I fell in love with each sister. Our hero, Gray, is very swoon-worthy! The way he cares for Keturah and looks after her is so sweet; even though his love is unrequited for a large part of the novel. He reminds me of my husband, which is high praise! I also love the strong faith many of the characters have. God is a large part in many of the main characters’ lives. There is such a great faith thread interwoven throughout this story. I definitely recommend this book!Content: Ms. Bergren is one of the more “edgy” Christian fiction writers. I would probably rate this book PG-13. As I mentioned above, this book does deal with physical and emotional abuse, which could potentially be a trigger. Some other examples of content are: mention of rape and violence; reference to women of ill repute; talk of a man’s conquests; the word Negro is used in a historical context; a man eyes a woman’s bodice; allusions to abuse in a past marriage; mentions of a man getting drunk; people drink wine as part of a meal; sailors sing bawdy songs, references to tavern wenches and giving favors; a man swears, but the word is not actually written; slaves are nude when being auctioned and there is violence; talk of a woman being a man’s mistress.Rating: I give this book 5 stars!Genre: Christian fiction; Romance; HistoricalI want to thank Litfuse Publicity, Lisa Bergren and Bethany House Publishers for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.
    • 5/5
      What a captivating read, a story that brings us across oceans and continents, and a blend of cultures.You can see how society would be aghast when Keturah, Lady Tomlinson, and her sister’s Selah and Verity, go unescorted across the Atlantic from England to the West Indies, and are intent to running a sugar plantation alone.Throughout the ordeals that they encounter, you see a great strength in God, and a constant watchful eye of Ket’s childhood friend Grey, another man on his way to plow his own path and make his own riches in the sugar industry.This book does touch on some very hard subjects, and to name a few, slavery and abuse, we see it up close and personal.I will warn you that once you turn the first few pages you will soon be lost and the hours are going to fly by as you page turn.I received the book through the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.
    • 4/5
      Title: Keturah (The Sugar Baron’s Daughter #1)Author: Lisa T. BergrenPages: 352Year: 2018Publisher: Bethany House PublishersMy rating is 4 stars out of 5.Keturah Banning Tomlinson has received the last letter of their late father from their sugar plantation in the West Indies. The news is not good. While still grieving the death of their father, Keturah and her two sisters now face financial ruin. There has been a drought, the crop has failed and the overseer has died just to name some of the things that have gone wrong in the West Indies. The sisters decide to pack up, leave London and travel to the sugar plantation to set things back on course. The idea of three women being heiresses to a fortune and managing it themselves is ludicrous to most men of this time, so most of the men want to marry Keturah to gain control of the plantation, property, etc. However, Keturah has told herself she will never be under a man’s thumb again.The problems facing three aristocratic women when they arrive are daunting. Is there any way they can turn things around for a brighter future? Gray Covington may be the answer, but can Keturah set aside her stubbornness and her fear of a repetition of the past to trust again? Gray is a childhood friend who has also arrived on Nevis to manage his brother’s sugar plantation. He wants to renew his friendship with Keturah as he has kept his distance since her marriage. However, his reputation as something of a lady’s man might harm this. He wants to protect Keturah and her sisters, so he won’t give up his pursuit of friendship or maybe something more?With rich and vivid descriptions of the time and place, I felt like I was in the West Indies with Keturah. The author does an excellent job of putting readers in the story. The slavery scenes in the story, while horrible, I thought were realistic and authentic to the time and place. Her care of her sisters’ future was admirable, thinking of their needs first. My only negative is that the first third to half of the book was a bit slow; it took a while for me to get to know Keturah’s character and get involved in the story. However, with the themes of redemption, forgiveness and God’s ability to love us no matter what made the story worth reading for sure. I also appreciated in the Author’s Note references for victims of abuse. I am curious to read what happens to Keturah’s sisters in the upcoming novels, so stay tuned for further reviews!Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.”
    • 5/5
      I received this book for free from LibraryThing’s Member Giveaways.I really liked this book. Despite some of the less than savory subject matter and situations that the characters were in, I found this book to be incredibly hopeful and uplifting. The Christian aspect of this wasn’t overbearing at all.I thought that the story was very unique, you never really see books that deal with plantations in the Caribbean. It was incredibly interesting and insightful to explore this little spot in history.I loved the three sisters and their strong familial bonds. I also loved how they stood up for what they believed in.Overall, I wasn’t expecting much from this book, but ended up being really impressed by it. I’m curious to see how the rest of the series unfolds.