Customer Reviews

Angels Watching over Me (Shenandoah Sisters #1)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Mayme Jukes and Katie Clairborne both grew up on plantations near the same town in Shenandoah County, North Carolina, but their lives were vastly different. Mayme was born into slavery, while Katie enjoyed a privileged life as the daughter of a wealthy plantation owner. But in the final days of the Civil War, the two teenagers are thrown together when both of their families are murdered by marauding outlaw soldiers. Fleeing from the massacre of her family, Mayme stumbles across Katie's plantation, where she is the only one left alive. Mayme stays to help Katie, and eventually the girls become close friends in spite of their differences. But can these two teenage girls survive on their own, and hide the truth that they are all alone on the plantation?

I highly recommend this heartwarming historical novel about two girls from very different backgrounds who, after suffering a common tragedy, come together to help each other out, eventually becoming the best of friends. Although labeled as an adult book, I think this novel would have the most appeal to teenagers, because of the young characters. I look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series and finding out what happens to Mayme and Katie next.

ANGELS WATCHING OVER ME is the first book in the Shenandoah Sisters series written by the acclaimed Christian author Michael Phillips. This book introduces us to Mary Ann Jukes (Mayme) and Kathleen Clairborne (Katie); two young girls close in age but with very different lives. Mayme is a young slave girl living on a plantation in North Carolina. Through her experiences readers are exposed to the everyday life of a young slave and her family. Katie lives on another large plantation in the area and lives a comfortable life as the youngest and only daughter of slave owners.

The book opens during the turbulent times preceding the civil war. As the story continues, Katie's life is shaken up when her father and three older brothers go off to fight with the Confederate Army. Things seem to be going from bad to worse, but as the war comes to a close things start looking up for the Clairborne family. That is until a violent and tragic series of events take place and life on both plantations is forever changed. As a result of these events, the paths of these two very different young girls cross and the story of their relationship unfolds. Katie is a dreamer, but the realities of life are forcing her to grow up fast. Mayme has always had a hard life and as a result she seems to be afraid to dream at all. Although the two girls have seemingly opposite worldviews, they are the perfect compliment for one another as they face the difficult challenges that lie ahead. Along the way the two girls begin to develop a personal relationship with God.

Some readers will be turned off by Mayme's acceptance of her role as slave. In spite of her youth, she has had enough experiences to break her spirit to the point where she is afraid to hope for more. Katie's hopefulness can in part be attributed to the fact that she is naïve and comes from a privileged background. Through the story readers are taken on a journey during which the two learn about the harsh realities of life, slavery, God, and one another's culture.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

I loved this book. It proves to everyone who reads it that even the most different of people can come together to overcome tragedy such as death. This book is for anyone looking for inspiration,a reason to care, or just looking for a good read on a Sunday morning.Michael Phillips is an amazing premier Christian novelist who writes from the heart, and it's hard to find authors these days that do that. This story of friendship is amazing and will inspire anyone to befriend someone who needs a hand, or just to simply look at life a little differently. I couldn't put this book down and you wont want to either!

Angels Watching Over Me, is a story of two young friends Katie, a white girl and Mayme, a colored slave girl. Set in Shenandoah, sometime after the Civil War the two teens living just miles of each other meet after a tragic event. When the Civil War comes to an end Gangs of outlaw Confederate deserters sweep across the land in a murderous path through the South leaving both the girls orphaned. I found this to be a very heartwarming, God-touching story of love and friendship amidst all the pain and sorrow. These two girls from two different worlds miraclously survive their ordeal in a world turned upside down.

Together both of the girls do whatever they can to stay safe as they hide out in the plantation once owned by Katie's family. In this story of survival, both of them grow in a new truth and faith in God. It is God who speaks to Mayme and she talks to him and listen to what He tells her to do. The two vow to keep things that have happened secret and manage things with God's help. When the girls come of age, they live together with Katie taking over the plantation. Through all the strengths and skills they reconstruct their lives by the mercy and grace of God. It was an amazing story of triumphant over bad circumstances. It encouraged me that no matter if you left alone in a dark world you can make it with the help of an Almighty and loving God. So you can grow and make a life for yourself. No matter the odds, you can stand against anything when you got God on your side.

I can see the possibility of a great series coming, but this first book seems to dwell mainly on the devastation of the Civil War. A Black young woman and a White young woman end up as close friends through similar tragedies. There are hundreds of unanswered questions in this book. I will definitely read the sequels and hope to be upgrading my star system as the series moves along.

This presents a much different perspective on the Civil War. The author weaves suspense and intrigue in this tale of 2 war orphans and their resolved defiance against prying adults. They work to save the plantation from the bank and are successful in their deceit. Although one is a freed slave & the other is the plantation's new mistress, they share their fears & determination that binds them as close as sisters. Excellent reading!

If you are interested in the Civil War and enjoy Christian Fiction, you will most likely appreciate the story this book tells. This book's story is centered around a small NC town during the Civil War, and paralells the lives of two young girls, whose circumstances bring them together. The book deals with several different issues and the author tells the story in the most interesting and creative way. Angels Watching Over Me is a very appropriate title because the two girls definitely need a whole legion of angels to watch over them. One minute you will laugh and the next you will want to cry at what they have to go through. It is a difficult book to put down and I cannot wait to read "A Day To Pick Your Own Cotton" which is the sequel.

I thought this book was really good because it has a lot of good messages. I love to read books about different times in history and this has been my favorite one so far. The other thing I like about this book is that it says some really cool stuff about God. I thought it was really nice to read about the attitude that Katie (Miss Katie) had with Mayme. Because back in those days white people weren't very nice to people with dark skin. I'm very surprised how strong Mayme was about the whole situation. Both of them had to grow up really fast and I can't wait to read the second book! So in conclusion I loved this book!

This is an awesome series. After reading all the Shenandoah Sisters books, I was desiring to read more about these characters, that's when I found Carolina Cousins. I haven't started to read them yet, but have however looked into the series and noticed they are a branch off the Shenandoah Series, and I will be purchasing them soon. Before reading the SS series, I was not a reader at all!! My husband on the other hand, can read a huge novel in one night. Well at about 8 months pregnant I got put on strict bed rest and figured I'd pick up a book to read, and the SS books was the series I started with....LOVE THEM. Could not put them down. I look forward to being a better reader in the future, but only if I can find books just as interesting. Regards....Wife

Angels Watching Over Me is a riveting novel set in the post Civil War period near Charolotte, North Carolina. I have never been disappointed by Michael Phillips novels and once again I am thrilled to read another of his novels. The book keeps my attention, sparks my interest and I am eager to continue reading about the two teen-aged heroines, Kathleen Clairborne and MaryAnn Jukes (the narrator).
I am impressed that a man has taken on such a challenge as this and handles it brilliantly. Well done;I highly recommend this book - and the rest of series which I am eager to read.