Above Rubies (Uncharted Beginnings, Book 2)
by Keely Brooke Keith
ebook, 244 pages
Published February 27th 2017 by Edenbrooke Press
It’s 1863, and schoolteacher Olivia Owens believes education should be a top priority in the newly established settlement of Good Springs. Between planning lessons and helping out on her family’s homestead, Olivia doesn’t have time for Gabriel McIntosh’s charming advances. When the council denies her request to build a schoolhouse, Olivia must challenge their ruling and teach private lessons—all while hiding frequent bouts of word blindness (dyslexia). If the council knew the new teacher couldn’t always read, they wouldn’t allow Olivia to teach anymore.
As a carpenter, Gabe McIntosh is working hard to help build the settlement of Good Springs, and once his land is granted, he begins constructing his own house. When Olivia discovers he plans to share it with her, she guards her heart from him. But Gabe is determined to win her affection and figure out what she’s hiding.
As a carpenter, Gabe McIntosh is working hard to help build the settlement of Good Springs, and once his land is granted, he begins constructing his own house. When Olivia discovers he plans to share it with her, she guards her heart from him. But Gabe is determined to win her affection and figure out what she’s hiding.
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My Review: 5 Stars
*This series should be read in order*
I adore this series. There's something about the writing that completely grabs me, immerses me into a fantastic setting, and won't let me go. This series is about a group of people who left America in the 1800s in search of settling a new land. I can't even imagine what it would take to build a community from scratch, without another settlement in sight. There's almost an unearthly feel to it at times, yet the people are mostly decent, hardworking, and sincere.
If I had to choose a theme for this book, it would be to never give up on your dreams, no matter what hardships you encounter and that's basically the motto for Olivia's life. She feels her calling is to teach the children and as she fights to establish a traditional type of school, her views change slightly and she is able to adapt to something better. But she carries a big secret and her new suitor, Gabe, is bound to discover it.
There are times when the "elders" of the group almost stifle the women, which is aggravating, but when I remember the time period in which this book is set, I understand. I'm still trying to figure out what motives certain characters, especially the ones who seemed to have changed. There is an aura of mystery surrounding this book and I can't decide if it's going to surprise me, in a way like the movie THE VILLAGE did, turning into a thriller, or if it's going to take some twists that I'm not expecting, leading to something I can't even fathom right now.
I hope there's more to this series, as I've really come to love and admire most of the characters. It's so much fun to see how things were set up, as the first series this author wrote is about their descendants in the not-so-distant future from modern days. And I really want to uncover every single secret in this place!
I adore this series. There's something about the writing that completely grabs me, immerses me into a fantastic setting, and won't let me go. This series is about a group of people who left America in the 1800s in search of settling a new land. I can't even imagine what it would take to build a community from scratch, without another settlement in sight. There's almost an unearthly feel to it at times, yet the people are mostly decent, hardworking, and sincere.
If I had to choose a theme for this book, it would be to never give up on your dreams, no matter what hardships you encounter and that's basically the motto for Olivia's life. She feels her calling is to teach the children and as she fights to establish a traditional type of school, her views change slightly and she is able to adapt to something better. But she carries a big secret and her new suitor, Gabe, is bound to discover it.
There are times when the "elders" of the group almost stifle the women, which is aggravating, but when I remember the time period in which this book is set, I understand. I'm still trying to figure out what motives certain characters, especially the ones who seemed to have changed. There is an aura of mystery surrounding this book and I can't decide if it's going to surprise me, in a way like the movie THE VILLAGE did, turning into a thriller, or if it's going to take some twists that I'm not expecting, leading to something I can't even fathom right now.
I hope there's more to this series, as I've really come to love and admire most of the characters. It's so much fun to see how things were set up, as the first series this author wrote is about their descendants in the not-so-distant future from modern days. And I really want to uncover every single secret in this place!
Content: mild romance; mild Christian themes.
*I received a complimentary copy from the author, which didn't affect my thoughts. All opinions are my own.*
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Thank you for featuring Above Rubies!
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