Keturah

Author: Lisa T. Bergren
Genre: Historical Romance

​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?

---

Reviewer: Eva-Joy Schonhaar

I was sucked into reading this book because of the gorgeous colour and the fact that it seemed to be kind of controversial among my Goodreads friends - I wanted to see what all the buzz/hype was about. Well, I saw. And I didn't much like it.

I'll start with the good. I appreciated the setting and details of daily life in the West Indies in 1772. That was cool. One of my favorite books is The Witch of Blackbird Pond which has the main character speaking/thinking often about her life in the West Indies, so I was intrigued to finally 'travel there', so to speak. I applaud Lisa T. Bergren's research in that regard. And I liked Captain Duncan, for the most part. I might even pick up the second book in this series just to see if he lives up to his promised awesomeness.

However, there were several things I didn't like about Keturah. For one, I couldn't connect to any of the characters - they all seemed somewhat shallow (and that's a shame, because if I can't relate to/like characters in a book, I'll usually dislike the book). Keturah was an acceptable protagonist, but she seemed taken from the same mold as most other Christian historical romance heroines. Not much originality. And I didn't care for Gray at all, either as a character or the love interest (which was basically his character). There were several 'romantic' passages that just came across as ridiculous, mostly involving the physical attraction between Keturah and Gray.

The plot seemed to move quite slowly as well, though it did pick up once Keturah and her sisters were actually in the West Indies.

Overall, I tried to like this book but I never fully connected to it or enjoyed it all that much.

---

---

Reviewer: Hanna Olsson

Three sisters who defy all that is considered proper for a woman of the 18th century and venture into the unknown without a man to look after them. Frowned upon and gossiped about, the three women work together in rebuilding their inherited plantation, which was left in a bad state by the time of their father’s death.
 
Keturah went a bit slow for me to read at first, but once I’d gotten into it, that changed. Towards the end, it was hard to let it go! 

I quickly became quite fond of Gray Covington’s character, especially as he was so patient and respectful towards Keturah! 

Female strength and independence is one of the main themes in this novel and is portrayed very well with Keturah and her way of dealing with both her past and present struggles. Although, it was the romance part that hooked me the most! It was skillfully written and developed at a good pace. Enjoyable read! 

​Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

---

---

Reviewer: Rebecca Maney

"Crop blight . . . Terrible drought . . . Machinery failure . . . Another overseer lost to the ague . . . Returns far less than the last . . . "

Dire last words from a father to his three daughters; making Lady Keturah Banning Tomlinson all the more determined to take the future of her two younger sisters along with her to the West Indies, where they must turn their fledgling island fortunes aright. It was practically scandalous among polite society for three gentlewomen to board a ship unaccompanied, so when Keturah's childhood friend, Gray Covington, providentially plans to travel on the same ship, Keturah can't decide whether to be happy or childishly provoked. After all, Gray deserted their long standing friendship many years prior, when she needed him the most.

Gray Covington can't help but notice that Keturah has grown up into a beauty all her own. After enduring what he assumed to be a terrible marriage, before being widowed, Keturah has made it crystal clear that she never wants to be beholden to a man again. If only she would make an exception, for what she is about to face on the island of Nevis is guaranteed to test her independence to unfathomable limits.

"Keturah" is quite the wonder; spilling over with lush descriptive scenery, only to be interrupted with the harsh realities of island proprietorship that a single woman would surely encounter. The fragrance of romance from author to reader is a gift to be treasured, especially when sprinkled with nuggets of truth such as, "All God expects of us is to do our best, from morning to night. He doesn't expect us to do things that only He can accomplish."

Well said, Gray Covington!

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

---