The Shepherd's Voice [Paperback]

Robin Lee Hatcher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 18, 2000

A Man with a Past...
For ten years, Gabe Talmadge languished in prison, convicted of a horrible crime. Now, he is free once again but unable to find work in the midst of the Great Depression. In desperation, Gabe returns to Ransom, Idaho, hoping that his uncaring father will give him food and shelter, if not love. But the prodigal son is not welcomed home. Hudson Talmadge, who virtually owns the town of Ransom, despises his youngest son as much as ever-and Gabe is as powerless to win his father's approval as when he was a child.

A Man with a Future...
Hungry and hopeless, Gabe is rescued by the owner of a sheep ranch south of Ransom. Incredibly, Akira Macauley gives him a place to live and work to do. More than that, she gives him hope that he can receive forgiveness for his past-and perhaps even love.

A Man with a Choice...
But just as Gabe comes to believe that happiness may be within his grasp, tragedy strikes Ransom once more. As his life begins to unravel, Gabe must either sink again into an abyss of hopelessness or cling to a hope, faith, and love stronger than any he has ever known.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Gabe Talmadge is on his way home to Depression-era Ransom, Idaho, after a long spell in jail for a crime he did not commit. Hungry and exhausted, he collapses just 15 miles from his father's mansion. Beautiful, devout Akira Macauley takes him in, giving him a home-cooked meal and a clean bed for the night. The next day she drives him to town, where he asks his wealthy but cruel father, Hudson Talmadge, for a job. After Hudson turns him out, Akira rescues Gabe once again, offering him a job on her sheep farm. Akira's friends worry about her safety, but Akira believes God has sent Gabe to her farm so that he can recuperate, body and soul. Indeed, Gabe gains back his physical strength and rededicates his life to the Lord. Not surprisingly, he and Akira fall in love. Hatcher eschews subtlety here: Akira the Shepherdess recalls Psalm 23, and Gabe is part prodigal son, part heralding angel. And if readers do not figure out that Ransom is more than just the name of a townAit is also Jesus' roleAveteran romance novelist Hatcher liberally sprinkles clues in the form of biblical quotations . Still, the predictable plot is entertaining, and Gabe and Akira are appealing, albeit somewhat one-dimensional, characters. (June)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Inside Flap

A Man with a Past...
For ten years, Gabe Talmadge languished in prison, convicted of a horrible crime. Now, he is free once again but unable to find work in the midst of the Great Depression. In desperation, Gabe returns to Ransom, Idaho, hoping that his uncaring father will give him food and shelter, if not love. But the prodigal son is not welcomed home. Hudson Talmadge, who virtually owns the town of Ransom, despises his youngest son as much as ever-and Gabe is as powerless to win his father's approval as when he was a child.

A Man with a Future...
Hungry and hopeless, Gabe is rescued by the owner of a sheep ranch south of Ransom. Incredibly, Akira Macauley gives him a place to live and work to do. More than that, she gives him hope that he can receive forgiveness for his past-and perhaps even love.

A Man with a Choice...
But just as Gabe comes to believe that happiness may be within his grasp, tragedy strikes Ransom once more. As his life begins to unravel, Gabe must either sink again into an abyss of hopelessness or cling to a hope, faith, and love stronger than any he has ever known.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press; 1st edition (July 18, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578561523
• ISBN-13: 978-1578561520
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,198,810 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm the author of 60+ novels and novellas. My home is in Idaho, where I spend my time writing stories of faith, courage, and love; pondering the things of God; and loving my family and friends. Please note that the list of my books on Amazon includes novels written for the general romance market from 1984 to 1999. My Christian fiction has been published from 1999 to present. I no longer recommend my older fiction. Purchase used books with caution. For more information, please visit my web site at http://robinleehatcher.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Keeps the pages turning until the very end.", August 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Shepherd's Voice (Paperback)

"Capturing the essence of the early 1930s, author Robin Lee Hatcher crafts an endearing story about a young shepherdess who rescues a wayward soul in her latest work, THE SHEPHERD'S VOICE. At first heroine Akira Macauley simply has pity on the penniless vagabond she finds collapsed on the road. Gabriel--a man accused and convicted of murder by his own father many years before--responds like a shriveled plant coming back to life under her care. As Gabriel is returned to his childhood faith and is healed from the scars of the past, Akira begins to realize the "diamond in the rough" she's found. To Hatcher's credit, the reader not only gets a strong sense of the Depression era's severity, but in contrast, an impression of a woman of faith who persists in believing against all odds. This is a romance rooted more in earthly realities than fairy tale fantasies, as trials come to test the faith of both Akira and Gabriel, with injustices of the past beginning to arise and Gabriel facing possible imprisonment once again. Hatcher has a real warmth in her writing style and the relationship between the characters comes across as natural and honest, rather than contrived and superficial. There is an authentic luster to the story, which gives the reader a genuine feeling, together with a plot that is suspenseful enough to keep the pages turning until the very end." --Christian Retailing (8/19/00)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great reading--Wonderful storyline!, August 20, 2001

By 

J Morgan "Writer/Reader" (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Shepherd's Voice (Paperback)

Robin Hatcher's THE SHEPHERD'S VOICE is a sober portrayal of Depression era realities with spiritual truths entwined through her well-developed characters.

Akira Macauley believes God answered her prayer for hired help on the sheep ranch her grandfather has left her in Ransom, Idaho, when she finds a penniless vagabond collapsed on the road. With trust in that belief, she hauls him back to the ranch and helps him to regain not only his health, but also his lost faith. The unfolding story of Gabe's tainted past, his life as a convicted murderer, and his struggle to regain his lost faith holds the reader captive. The plot twists and turns test the faith of both Akira and Gabriel and challenge their growing relationship while presenting, with brutal authenticity, a picture of life during Depression years.

Hatcher builds the romantic relationship between Akira and Gabe Talmadge's through worldly realities to a credible happily-ever-after ending in a way that every romance reader will find endearing. Some readers may be discomforted by Robin's strong presentation of Akira Macauley's faith or Gabe's struggle to regain a relationship with God, but her genuine warmth and distinctive writing style make that faith a believable, integral part of their story. Your heart cannot help but be touched by the romance, the spiritual truths, and historical setting. After reading The Shepherd's Voice, you'll understand why this author has received so many writing awards.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Spectacular Story!, July 29, 2000

By 

CM - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Shepherd's Voice (Paperback)

I've always loved Robin's work but this has got to be her best piece ever. Full of vivid, well defined characters that pop out from each page, The Shepherd's Voice is one of those books that draws the reader into the presence of the storyline and holds them there until the very end. Readers finds themselves experiencing the same emotions as the hero and the heroine all the while contemplating the stark realities of The Great Depression. Robin captures the essence of this era, as well as the harsh atmosphere our hero must endure to find happiness and a love he so desperately needs and desires. I've always thought Robin's storylines were so strong, her characters utterly vivid - but none more so than with this book. The Shepherd's Voice is a book that is worth reading again and again. For any woman who loves a great romance, an intriguing storyline, and well fleshed out characters - this is THE book to read!