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    River to Redemption
    River to Redemption
    River to Redemption
    Audiobook11 hours

    River to Redemption

    Written by Ann H. Gabhart

    Narrated by Kate Forbes

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    Orphaned in the cholera epidemic of 1833, Adria Starr was cared for by a slave named Louis, a man who stayed in Springfield, Kentucky, when anyone with means had fled. A man who passed up the opportunity to escape his bondage and instead tended to the sick and buried the dead. A man who, twelve years later, is being sold by his owners despite his heroic actions. Now nineteen, Adria has never forgotten what Louis did for her. She's determined to find a way to buy Louis's freedom. But in 1840s Kentucky, she'll face an uphill battle. Based partly on a true story, Ann H. Gabhart's latest historical novel is a tour de force. The vividly rendered town of Springfield and its citizens immerse readers in a story of courage, betrayal, and honor that will stick with them long after they turn the last page.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateJul 6, 2018
    ISBN9781501999963
    Author

    Ann H. Gabhart

    Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of many novels, including In the Shadow of the River, When the Meadow Blooms, Along a Storied Trail, An Appalachian Summer, River to Redemption, These Healing Hills, and Angel Sister. She and her husband live on a farm a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Ann enjoys discovering the everyday wonders of nature while hiking in her farm's fields and woods with her grandchildren and her dogs, Frankie and Marley. Learn more at AnnHGabhart.com.

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    Reviews for River to Redemption

    4.5/5

    58 ratings24 reviews

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    • 5/5
      A beautiful story of being real and true to ones self, convictions and one’s faith through life’s struggles and realities. This is a story that transcends time and is birthed and lived out in a specific time and place. It is based in fact and truth and the characters are very believable and inspiring. I have found a new author I value and admire. I shall be reading all she has to offer!
    • 5/5
      This was an excellent story! I enjoyed it very much!
    • 5/5
      This was a fantastic book. I fell in love with each character in their own right but especially Louis and Adria.
    • 3/5
      The story of Louis is a remarkable one the other characters are peachy and simplistic the story would move much faster if the writer didn't let the characters muse around with repetitive thinking for Louis 5 stars Adri 2 stars maybe she grew up to be a old maiden
    • 5/5
      When she needed help the most, a slave, Louis, cared for orphaned Adria Starr. Now, years later, despite the good he has done, Louis is being sold—and Adria is desperate to help him in return.Ann H. Gabhart’s River to Redemption is heartwrenching, yet heartwarming historical read. Character-driven and faith-filled, the story unfolds at a steady pace, keeping me easily captivated, and I loved it. I highly recommend it to fans of historical, inspirational fiction.Thanks to Revell Reads, I received a complimentary copy of River to Redemption and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
    • 5/5
      Have you ever thought about if an epidemic spread through your town and most of the residents died or were left to die because there was no one well enough to care for them? That is what happened in 1833 in Springfield, Kentucky. Cholera swept across like a ranging forest fire leaving most of the men, women and children dead in a short time. There was no hospital or special medications to heal or relieve suffering.Adria Starr was only 7 years old when her entire family died right before her eyes. She was so sick; she can do nothing but remain in the house with her deceased loved ones. Louis, a slave left alone to care for his master’s home and business is somehow immune to the disease. He tirelessly cares for the sick and buries the dead. His faith in God is strong and deep. He finds Adria and takes her back to the hotel where he and Tilda an elderly slave were nursing the sick alone. Ruth Harmon and Pastor Will Robertson have had their faith shaken after both lost their spouses in spite of their belief and endless prayers. Where was God? Tragedy will bring all their lives together in an unexpected way. This book was an eye-opening historically. We take so much for granted in our time and our how fortunate we are with modern medicine. The character that had the biggest impact on me was Louis. Oh to have faith in God as he did! Christ was his only focus otherwise he would not have blessed and saved 100’s of lives. I want to be like him! Not matter what the situation he found himself in, his only thought was what the Lord wanted. He could have fled and gained his freedom but he chose to remain. His and Tilda’s sayings and attitude toward hardship were incredible! I wanted to write them all down and remember them. (I may still do it!) Will and Ruth were faced with continuing on while struggling to understand why God had allowed this. Ms. Gabhart beautifully creates a beautiful story of true faith and how God can bring beauty from ashes.
    • 5/5
      A dark story about the survivors moving on after the cholera epidemic in Springfield, Kentucky in the 1833. A child who loses her entire family, a newlywed who loses her husband and a slave who saves the town are the characters the reader will cone to love. This was very well written.
    • 5/5
      Wonderful storyteller Ann H. Gabhart merges facts with fiction to create a vividly poignant tale of life in early 19th-century Kentucky. "River to Redemption", set in Springfield, Kentucky, is a richly-told story of faith and courage in a time when disease and slavery reshaped and often controlled communities' way of life. Adria Starr, along with many others, loses her family in a devastating Cholera epidemic. Her care then comes from Louis. a slave who forsakes his own chance at personal freedom to aid the survivors and bury the dead. More than a decade later, it is now nineteen-year-old Adria's turn to help Louis as he is to be sold by his owners. Adria is determined to save Louis and ensure that he will have his own life--just as he helped her so many years ago. In the 1840's South, she will face an overwhelming battle--will she find the courage and the faith to stand by her friend and overcome the odds against them? "River to Redemption" is a thoughtfully-written, inspiring reminder of abiding faith and respect for all people.Book Copy Gratis Revell Books via Library Thing
    • 4/5
      Excellent read! The historical aspect and actual events in the novel make it very hard to put down. I had to, since it was a book club read and we read it in sections, but it was agonizing for all of us. Wonderful character development. You are right there with Adria, Ruth, Louis, and Will. You know how crafty and deceiving Logan is and how conceited Carlton is.

      Highly recommend.
    • 4/5
      River to Redemption by Ann H. Gabhart. Book Review by Grant Alford (misterehmuseseh)This book is classified as an “Historical Romance”. So that tells the reader that there is a “romantic element” in it. But it also suggests that there is some historical event upon which the story is built. The author in her notes says: “When I came across the story of Louis and the town that bought his freedom, I decided to write a story about how that might have happened. I took the nugget of truth of the historical facts of what Louis did and invented characters and events to surround it.”Telling this much will not give away more than the title already does. Redemption is the theme and applies in more ways than one, i.e. both physical and spiritual. The tale is well told and the “romance” would seem to be predictable. But here I will stop short of giving any conclusions. The historical facts concern the cholera pandemic of 1827-1835, but specifically as it affected the town of Springfield Kentucky in 1833, (and again in 1849) and the sacrificial service of Louis Sanderson, the slave to the hotel owner George Sanderson. The story is a good depiction of slavery and its implications for blacks in the South. The crowning point of the story will not come as a surprise when we learn that the Springfield cemetery has a memorial plaque marking Louis’ grave. “Pray believing’”. “The only way to pray, missy. The onliest way.” A very good story and very well told.
    • 5/5
      This book will be at the top of my all time favorite books. I did not want to put this down. This was fantastic historical fiction based on some truth. Louis was a wonderful person. I loved Adria also. This story helps you to learn some lessons. Wonderful. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
    • 5/5
      Ann Gabhart pens a painful look back at our past when not all were considered equal. To entertain the opposite thought, as a person of color could bring punishment or death; as a white, it could mean ostracization or physical danger as well. Gabhart’s narrative begins in the summer of 1833 when a cholera epidemic ran rampant around much of the US. Seven-year-old Adria Starr watches as her father, mother, and brother all die from the disease. Louis, a slave whom she has never before seen, rescues her and helps Matilda nurse Adria back to health. Louis is an amazing character. I love the way he trusts God, cares for others at risk to his own safety and does not seek the best in life for himself. Matilda longs for freedom but also possesses a very strong faith. Over and over, her response to obstacles is the faith-filled refrain, “The Lord will provide.”I love the way Adria, Ruth, Will, Carlton, and even Logan all show character development and great wrestling with life decisions. All have to decide what they will do with the question of slavery and how deeply will they get involved. What cost is each willing to pay to address the flowing tide that refuses to be ignored or dammed up? Who will find physical redemption and who will find redemption for his soul?I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to better understand some of the soul-searching times leading up to the Civil War. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. No positive review was required. All opinions are strictly my own.
    • 3/5
      I found the premise of this book fascinating: a town comes together and buys the freedom of a slave as a thank you for his service during a major epidemic. I loved the author's descriptions of life in an antebellum town. I really liked that it was not the rich plantation life, but regular folks. I liked that Adria followed her heart and not convention.My biggest problems were with whoever wrote the description of the book, not the story itself. Part of what drew me in was the description said a white child was raised by a slave in the South. Fascinating, but not what actually happened in the book. Also the description writer left out that this book was Christian Fiction. I am not a fan of Christian Fiction and would have passed over this book for that reason. Our heroes did spend a lot of time going, "Should we pray about this?" "I think we should pray." "Let's pray about this." "Let's pray about this again." Pray, then get on with it.
    • 3/5
      *I won this book through a Goodreads Giveaway and was asked to write an honest review*This was an enjoyable book for me. I love historical fiction and this is a story I had no prior knowledge of, and found it fascinating. The author writes beautifully and gave each character depth and meaning. It was a quick read, with a few twists and turns to keep it interesting. Adria's story was particularly fascinating to me, her passion for right and wrong and her internal battle with what was expected of her (marriage and children on a plantation) and what she wanted (going to the East coast and joining the abolitionist movement) made for a great story of strong, independent women despite their time period. My only problem with this book is definitely a personal problem, but I am not really a fan of Christian Fiction and did not realize that this book fell into that category. I found myself skimming the sections the referenced the bible and faith that got a little long. I understand that it is fitting for the time period but it's just not something I am interested in reading. Again, my fault for not realizing the book included this genre.
    • 5/5
      From the moment I began, to the very last page the author drew me in with this story. I was fully immersed and living in the period, and life was not easy, and then I read that although fiction, this story is based on fact and Louis was a real person.The author gives a great look at life in the South during the period slavery in this country. Also, how a slave saves lives and selflessly takes care of the dead, doing what he feels God wants him to do.Loved how the story circles around and with great loss comes gain, and more that could be imagined.The only problem I had was that the book ended and I really wanted to continue. A really awesome read!I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.
    • 5/5
      This is a wonderful story. Once I started it, I did not want to put it down. I thought I knew, at least in a general sense, how it would end, but it took some unexpected paths in getting there and even then, there were some surprises in the ending that I hadn't expected. It was one of the most enjoyable reads I've had in awhile.
    • 3/5
      This story takes place in pre-Civil War Kentucky and tells the story of Adria, orphaned during a cholera epidemic, Louis, the big-hearted slave who saves her and others, and a few other characters. I didn't know until the end that this story is based on Louis' real story. I thought it made the story more poignant.I thought it was a good book and I did enjoy it, but I thought that Adria's words and thoughts sounded more adult-like than that of a typical 7-year-old. I really enjoyed the ending, though, and look forward to what comes next.Disclosure: I received this book through the Early Reviewers program in exchange for an unbiased review.
    • 5/5
      River to Redemption by Ann H. Gabhart is a poignant and riveting story set in 1834 Kentucky during a time of the devastating cholera epidemic. Courage, betrayal, and honor with have readers turning pages as they follow Adria Starr and Louis, a slave who chose to save lives instead of gaining his freedom. Ms. Gabhart intertwines a true life story with fiction. What a powerful and compelling story of faith, hope and determination. "I voluntarily received a complimentary copy, however,  these are my honest opinions. I was in no way required nor compensated to write a review."
    • 4/5
      Received this book from LibraryThings give away.I looked forward to reading this book Love books that are Historical novels. This not justhistorical but shows us some romance, friendship and faith. Thestory will grip your heart right from the start and not let go.The story is set in 1830 before the Civil War. We meet Ardria Starr whois just seven years old and has lost both parents and her young brotherwhen the Cholera epidemic hits their town. Most people have either leftor have died. We meet Louise a black slave who have been left behind byhis master to take care and watch over his master's property. Louise has the chance to run to freedom but he has stayed to do what hethinks is right. He has helped the ones left that are sick and buried the onesthat have died. He goes to rescue Ardria since the doctor has died but is tolate to help her parents and brother but he takes her to MissTilda who helpsget her well. Also someone to care for her since black slaves can not raise a white childLouis and Adria has formed a strong bond over the years. We learn how strongthis bond becomes. Wonderful story.
    • 5/5
      Ann Gabhart's "River to Redemption" is based on the true story of a compassionate slave, Louis, who was owned by the local hotel owner in the small town of Springfield, Kentucky in the 1830s. During a cholera epidemic that devastated the town in 1833, the hotel owner, along with many of the towns affluent residents, fled the disease and the responsibility for maintaining the hotel fell to Louis, who remained unaffected by the disease. Rather than seeing this as his opportunity for freedom by fleeing north across the Ohio River, Louis stayed and, along with another slave who cooked for the hotel named Matilda Sims, he took care of the cholera victims and buried the dead. Twelve years later, upon the hotel owner's death, the grateful townspeople purchased Louis' freedom. A monument to this man is in the Springfield cemetery. Gabhart used this true story to build a fascinating fictional novel that tells the story of fictional character Adria Starr who, as an orphan, crosses paths with Louis and Matilda. The carefully and creatively interwoven fiction and true tales make for a character study of America's south during the early 1800s, and should Gabhart desire, an opportunity for a further book telling Adria's story as she goes north to Boston to join the abolitionist movement.
    • 5/5
      This is a unique, charming, and heart-hugging love story. No - not a romance, per-se, but a loving bond between two unlikely souls. I was so touched by this read, and won't soon forget the characters. Ms. Gabhart is a gifted storyteller, and plants a tenderness in each of her books. I would love to read more about Adria! I received this book through the EarlyReviwers program and was not required to write a review--favorable or otherwise.
    • 4/5
      Historical fiction takes place prior to the Civil War.Not your typical romance where you meet the couple in the first chapter. The variety was refreshing, interesting, and heightened suspense.I wish Christian fiction portrayed more than just “try harder,” and “do better” and “believe” in an ambiguous way, but that is what it seems to be. Two of the characters battled the same “problem” which became redundant. The resolution of their conflict seemed not to be in "belief" at all, but love, expected by the genre.I enjoyed the theme of the book, as it portrayed the struggles of slavery through retelling a true story. No "fair" argument was presented for slavery, though during that time many could justify it. Presenting that side may have heightened the struggle and conflict. It seemed more internal and hidden on the part of those wishing to abolish it.It sounds like I struggled to read the book--I didn’t. I enjoyed it and would give it 4 stars.
    • 4/5
      Adria's family died in 1833 during a cholera epidemic. She is discovered, suffering from cholera herself, by Louis, a slave. He takes her home but realizes he cannot care for a white child. Louis convinces Ruth, the wife of the local teacher, who had also died of colored, to care for Adria. Louis cannot turn his back on the child and continues to check up on his little friend and she repays him by fighting for his freedom.An excellent book. A different kind of love story, one between a small girl and the man that saved her life.
    • 5/5
      When she was seven, Adria Starr's whole world fell apart. Her mama, daddy, and little brother all fell victim to a cholera epidemic that struck their small Kentucky town. A local man (who fled the town at the first whisper of disease), owned a slave named Louis who stayed & did what he could for the survivors and buried all 53 of the dead.Louis knew that he could not be responsible for Missy Adria, so he takes her to the school teacher's residence, the teacher died, but his wife Ruth Harmon was alive, though grieving the loss of her beloved husband.Ruth agreed to care for Adria, with Louis checking in regularly and doing odd jobs for the two ladies. When Louis' owner abruptly dies, his sons decide to sell all of their fathers' belongings, including his slaves. Adria does not believe in slavery and makes it her mission to convince the town to purchase Louis and give him the freedom that he deserves, that all mankind deserves.A thought provoking book, well worth many readings.I received a copy of this book from LibraryThing, with no obligation for a review.