Book Review: Keturah by Lisa T Bergren

Independent women in 1773? Setting sail for the West Indies to run a sugar plantation? Romance and adventure? Yes please! Keturah promises a lot and delivers on it and more! Unexpectedly, it also offers insight on the topic of privilege and the effects of racism and sexism. Slavery is alive and well on the plantations and Lisa doesn’t shy away from the horrors of the trade whilst ensuring her characters are the embodiment of compassion. She also tackles the place of women and our universal desire to find our place in the world. God’s place in the trials suffered by His children is beautifully handled and encouraging.

The pace is swift, the characters rich and the story fascinating, at 96% I wished the book would go on longer. Now, I eagerly anticipate the next one in the series. Highly recommended, five out of five on the en-JOY-ment scale!

From the back cover:

In 1773 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 for women of the time, they’re determined to make their own way in the world. But once they arrive in the Caribbean, proper gender roles 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 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.

Set on keeping her family together and saving her father’s plantation, can Keturah ever surrender her stubbornness and guarded heart to God and find the healing and love awaiting her?

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.