The Sister Wife by Diane Noble
July 1st 2010 by Avon Inspire
Paperback, 336 pages
Review Copy
Book Synopsis
What if the man you loved told you God wanted him to take another wife? What if that woman was your best friend? Set in the heart of the earliest days of a new nineteenth-century sect known as the Saints, The Sister Wife is a riveting account of two women forced into a practice they don't understand, bound by their devotion to Prophet Joseph Smith. When Mary Rose marries Gabriel, neither of them could foresee how quickly the community would turn to the practice of plural marriage. Devastated when Gabe is faced with an order from the Prophet to marry her best friend, Bronwyn, Mary Rose tries to have the faith to carry through with the marriage. But can she really be married to the same man as her very best friend? Can Mary Rose and Bronwyn face betraying both their husband and their God to do what they feel is right............Taken from the CFBA Tour Site...............
Want to read the Prologue and first chapter of The Sister Wife then please go HERE!
Review
When Gabe and Mary Rose meet- its almost instant chemistry. Journeying to America on board of Gabe’s ship Mary Rose is hesitant about a new life in a new land and also accepting a new religion sweeping across the country. Accustomed to the finer things in life, Mary Rose is unprepared to learn the destiny of her family’s trip and the outlook for her future. These circumstances unite Gabe and Mary together and after witnessing a miracle they think is from God, the two confess their love, marry and dive head first into a religion called Mormonism and follow a small band of new converts to seek and learn from the prophet Joseph Smith……………..and that was just while shipboard…………..
Once there, the newlywed couple builds a home, a garden and lives a peaceful life. The small little group of settlers soak up the prophets revelations like honey on a biscuit, the men eager in their new found power as priests over their wives and home, hang on his every word. So it comes as no shocker a year later when the revelation of plural marriage is handed out and the men fall in step eagerly to take second wives. The women on the other hand aren’t so eager; in fact some are downright defiant including Mary Rose who openly protests the revelation. Poor Mary Rose wouldn’t you know it, Gabe gets assigned almost immediately to a second wife…….and even better….its Mary Rose’s best friend Bronwyn. OHHH I’m shuddering just thinking about the injustice. I truly felt livid for Mary Rose and wanted to jump in the book and smack Gabe around, tell him to stop being an idiot…stop trying to cash in his ticket to shag another woman, take your family and run. But just like Abraham heeded to Sarah’s permission to bed Hagar, Gabe within ten minutes of Mary Roses submission beds Bronwyn….all the while Mary sits in the garden listening to their lovemaking….ARGHHHHH I’m getting mad all over again.
I find it funny that the whole concept of plural marriage in Mormonism (which has been rejected by the current LDS Church) was based upon figures from the Old Testament, but yet if you read those particular stories of men with multiple wives or mistresses none of them are happy situations. With Sarah, she thought Abraham bagging Hagar was great UNTIL she had a son of her own and kicked Hagar and Ishmael to the curb…so much for a happy family. Jacob was tricked into marrying Leah…but still slept with her and had kids before he married her sister Rachel and because of the deep love he had for his second and favorite wife it caused bitterness, jealousy and deep betrayals…….David out of pure lust slept with Bathsheba…killed her husband, lost his baby and for the rest of his life had to deal with murder and hatred reigning in his household. And let’s not even talk about Solomon, the playboy of the universe concerning monogamous relationships!!!
Needless to say, I loved the emotion The Sister Wife provoked out of me and I loved traveling this road with Mary Rose through the good and the bad. I can’t wait for the sequel, I’m waiting for some cat fights, seeing the dynamics of the women, daring escapes along with daring rescues (Go Hosea and get your woman before it’s too late) Overall though I’m hoping to see some major courage and growth come from Mary Rose, although she may travel the road as first wife to the extreme in a polygamist marriage I’m hoping she can pull Gabe with her or in my modern woman thinking -kick his sorry rear-end out for good!!!
Rating
Although The Sister Wife maintains a wholesome quality many adult issues are touched on including: Religion, marriage, sex, polygamy, death, poverty, grief, anger and mild violence. Recommended to adults and mature teens.
4.5/5-Fiction-Mormon- Polygamy
Review Copy provided by Avon and the CFBA, to see a full tour list or learn more go here.
About the Author
Diane Noble is a former double finalist for the prestigious RITA Award for Best Inspirational Fiction, a finalist for the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and the Reviewers' Choice Award, and a three-time recipient of the Silver Angel Award for Media Excellence.With more than a quarter million books in print, Diane feels incredibly blessed to be doing what she loves best—writing the stories of her heart.
For the last three years Diane has been honored to be lead author for the popular Guideposts series, Mystery and the Minister’s Wife (Through the Fire, Angels Undercover), and has recently returned to writing historical fiction. She is currently writing book two of her new historical series, The Brides of Gabriel. Book one is The Sister Wife.Diane’s hometown is Big Creek, California, a tiny village nestled in the rugged Sierra Nevada back country. As a child, Diane’s older brother Dennis fueled her creative streak by entertaining her with his own gift of storytelling. Growing up without TV and iffy radio reception, Diane became an avid reader, inhaling more than one hundred novels—both YA and adult—in a single year by the time she reached seventh grade. Her passion for reading continues to this day. Now empty nesters, Diane and her husband live in the Southern California low desert, near a place known for the lush and beautiful gated communities of the rich and famous.
Sounds like one that makes you think :) Great review :)
ReplyDeleteTina, so glad you stopped by over at my blog and now I have to say that I love your blog, too! And I really enjoyed your review. I'll be sure to stop by again!
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