GABRIEL'S LADY

Author: Charlotte Hubbard ISBN: 9780843960082 5/2008 HISTORICAL Publisher: DORCHESTER
Time Period: 1880's West

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Those were the words spoken at his beautiful young bride’s graveside, but Gabriel Getty found they held little comfort for him. At twenty-seven, his life was over: his wife and unborn child gone, his career as a lawyer ruined, his hopes dashed. Then, in his darkest hour, he found Solace. I will fear no evil, for You are with me. She was full of life, energy and daring. Solace Monroe was a writer of dime novels, a horse trainer, a rider in a Wild West show, and she didn’t seem to be afraid of anything. Not until a rival was murdered, she was accused and all society shunned her for the very individuality Gabe loved. This time he had the strength and know-how to protect his woman; this time he would have faith that... Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Charlotte Hubbard sets her historical romance, GABRIEL'S LADY, in 1880's Missouri and Kansas, and then promptly addresses a number of social issues all in one story. She covers abortion, eating disorders, drug addiction, sibling rivalry, marriage, widowhood, adoption, step-families, gender bias, race relations between black and white as well as settlers and Native Americans. Oh, and there's the burgeoning romance between the newly widowed lawyer cum judge (Gabriel) and the woman (Solace) who hides behind a male nom de plume in order to write dime novels and ride horses (yes, two at once) in a Wild West show. Phew!

Hubbard really does weave a nice love story between Gabe and Solace, though it is quite chaste. Kissing is as far as these two lovebirds go. They have their reputations to keep intact—he's already accused by his ex-mother-in-law of killing his wife, and Solace gets framed for murdering one of her Wild West show costars. I was surprised at how well Hubbard presented each of the family members, giving enough time to tell their part of the story and how they were tied to Gabe, Solace or both, without taking away too much time from the budding romance.

GABRIEL'S LADY is an quick, easy to read story with a Christian message embedded in it. I was worried that the early preachiness would continue, but it becomes more genuine and spiritual as the story continues. I got so caught up in the last third of the story that I couldn't put it down, and read through the night. I recommend GABRIEL'S LADY to any reader seeking an intelligent read filled with social commentary and Christian morals, but don't expect a passionately, intimate romance by any means.

Susan Barton