Harriet Klausner's Review Archive

Recent Reviews
All Reviews By Author: 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
All Reviews By Title: 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Search Reviews
THE SCENT OF LILACS
Ann H. Gabhart
Revell(Bethany House), May 2005, $12.99, 320 pp.
ISBN: 0800730801
In 1964 Hollyhill, Kentucky, the owner of the Hollyhill Barrier David Brooke knows why he can only be an interim pastor at the Mt. Pleasant Church because the congregation expects its leader married. Thus David works the newspaper to feed his extended family and the church out of love. Seven years ago, David’s wife Adrienne left without a look back taking their older daughter then thirteen years old Tabitha with her. She left behind their other child then six years old Jocie. David’s septuagenarian Aunt Love lives with them, but he feels more like a referee between his two female relatives than their kin.

Jocie wants to know about her family to what made Aunt Love into a preaching stoic spinster who is turning senile except for her biblical citations and why her mother left especially without her. She would also like to see her older sister who turn twenty shortly. As Jocie investigates her recent roots, secrets some would prefer left hidden begin to surface; she learns more about her aunt, her parents, and even the newspaper pressman.

THE SCENT OF LILACS is a well written Christian historical family drama that sub-genre will deeply cherish. Jocie is a great inquisitive young teen struggling to understand the dynamics that engulf her in a shroud. The totally in black Aunt love will surprise readers when they learn alongside Jocie about her past. Finally, David is split apart as suffers guilt over his broken marriage and loss of a child and finding solace tending to his flock so that secularly he feels broken while spiritually connected. Ann. H. Gabhart provides an inspirational family drama.

Harriet Klausner

Search the archive.
Return to the main page.