River to Redemption by Ann H. Gabhart

"River to Redemption" by Ann H. Gabhart is about Adria Starr who as a child lost her whole family to a cholera epidemic of 1833 but thanks to a slave named Louis she survived.  She is adopted by a widow who lost her husband to the epidemic also.  Now grown she has to decided her future to be a wife or to help slaves especially her friend who saved her as a child Louis.  Before I get into my opinions on the book I feel I should explain cholera as it is a disease we read a lot about in the past but don't hear much about it in today's world so many people don't know what it is.  It was a disease that cause severe and deadly vomiting and diarrhea due to contaminated water and in the 1800's it was a common way to die and people still die from it in this day but not as many.  Back to the review.  This was a very powerful novel not only on Adria's feeling for the her friend Louis and the school teacher Ruth who took her in as a child but also her decision on does she want to marry or to do something else. I really liked how the author goes into the attitudes and feelings of the time wether they are right or wrong.  She did not sugar coat how some people felt that they thought slavery was no big deal and how others knew it was wrong.  This a powerful book in my opinion on how are were going to respond when things are not correct and to help others even when it could cost us.  I highly recommend this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.