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This story was a real eye-opener on the whole "Shaker" religious group, which takes place around 1812. It made me so mad at times as I read this story, that people can be so wrong in their following after people who are so warped in their thinking. Well written, but hard to comprehend.

Gabrielle Hope and her mother joined the Pleasant Hill Shaker community. When tragedy strikes and the community barn burns down, a local doctor steps up to help a badly burned young man, Nathan, who Gabrielle has always enjoyed talking to. This doctor, Brice, will set into motion Gabrielle's loyalty to the Shakers. As she falls deeper into a forbidden love for this man of the world, Gabrielle must make a choice. Can she still find true happiness in her Shaker community? Can she abandon her "brothers and sisters" and will she ever get a chance to make that decision when the good doctor goes off to war.

As one review put it: "The Outsider lets readers live within a bygone time among a unique and peculiar people. This tender and thought-provoking story will leave readers wanting more from this writer." I look forward to seeing how this series progresses. ( )

Good book,gave to lilly ( )

Review: The Outsider[b/] by Ann H. Gabhart.

This is an inspiring story about a group of people who call themselves, “The Shakers”. I have never heard of The Shakers but I did think the book was about a Christian community so that was not a surprise to me. This story is fascinating and gives the reader a glimpse into the historical Shaker subculture.

I feel the author reveals the Shaker’s belief with an honest perception, fulfilled with admirably. Gabhart creates an amazing story about the life of the Shakers community and involving them with the outside world. The author compares the strengths of the faith these people have with how someone outside their community could misjudge or weaken their habitant. It’s a good Christian story with both insights of The Shaker’s lifestyle and the lives of the outside world situations.
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I have visited many times the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, the real life location on which the fictional Harmony Hill village is based. It is located very near my house here in Kentucky, and I've always seen it as such a peaceful place and viewed the Shakers as something rather like a group of quirky Quakers. After reading The Outsider and seeing how damaging (and cultish) their teachings were, I did some more research. "Peaceful" probably won't be a term I associate with the Shakers anymore. I enjoy books like this one that send me digging for more historical information, that bring out the student in me & leave me smarter (not just smiling) when I'm finished reading! ( )