Customer Reviews

The Sister Wife: Brides of Gabriel Book One

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4 star:		(9)
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1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is a very touching story of a young lady, Mary Rose Ashley, who is travelling by ship from Liverpool to America and in her journey she meets ship builder Gabriel MacKay. They fall in love and get married while still in the ship. When reaching America, they headed to Nauvoo, where Mormon prophet Joseph Smith preaches revelations he received directly from God. Among those revelations, the prophet says that polygamy not only is acceptable but also is encouraged. He orders Gabriel to marry Mary Rose's best friend, Browyn and that sets a spiritual conflict on Mary when facing this very difficult and unusual situation, that would shake her life and faith. Then there is Enid, who plans to become Gabriel's first wife regardless prior spouses...
The author was very successful and she had the sensibility to describe all the deep emotions of the characters involved in the story in a richness manner. We suffer with them, we joy with them, we learn with them. The historical aspect of this book shows a lot of research by the author on the early years of the Mormon church and how and why the concept of polygamy was introduced in the Mormonism. Without taking sides on what is right or wrong, Diane lets the reader thinks and reaches his/her own conclusions.
It is truly a magnificent romance and it deserves to be in the permanent library of any serious reader. And I am eager to read how this story will develop through the series "Brides of Gabriel".

This book was written by Diane Noble and was published by Harper Collins that were kind enough to send me a copy for reviewing.

Lady Mary Rose Ashley agrees to follow her grandfather, the Earl of Salisbury, to America. Little does she know her grandfather has signed away all of their properties to the Prophet Joseph Smith, leaving her no choice but to continue forward with her grandfather's plans whether she likes it or not. Once aboard the Sea Hawk, Mary Rose continuously questions the rightness of the Saints' doctrines and enlists the help of Gabriel McKay, the only man on the ship, who seems to lack faith in God.

After witnessing a miracle, they both believe Joseph Smith's church is God's `one' true church on Earth. Before the ship docks at the Boston harbor, Mary Rose and Gabriel exchange vows. Soon after arriving at the decreed Holy City, tragedy shakes their new found love, forcing another bride for Gabriel on their marriage, Mary Rose's closest friend.

Excerpt:

"Love has nothing to do with it. I've already explained--and really, Mary Rose, I shouldn't have to keep going over it." He let out an exasperated sigh. "I've not fallen in love with Bronwyn. I don't deny I care about her. Her husband was my friend. But every ounce of love in my heart is yours alone."

He touched her face, letting the backs of his fingers trace her jawline. The gesture was so familiar, so intimate, she could easily have wept. Except for the image that came to her: her husband touching Bronwyn's face with the same intimacy, perhaps as soon as this night.

She drew in a deep breath and then stepped back, crossing her arms. "Perhaps the Prophet has interpreted God's edict correctly--and I'm not the only first wife in Nauvoo to wonder--but tell me, Gabe, why did it have to be Bronwyn? And why does it have to be marriage? . . ."


End of excerpt.

Packed with allegories, The Sister Wife, the first book in the Brides of Gabriel series, goes beyond the telling of a simple story. It reaches into the depths of your soul and makes you question what you would do in Mary Rose's shoes.

Multi Silver Angel Award recipient, Diane Noble creates a wonderful cast of characters in a world many of us could never possibly understand. Noble uses Mary Rose to draw the reader little by little into the story until we are left more heartbroken with each decision made beyond Mary Rose's control.

The setting, whether at sea, in Nova Scotia, or on the banks of the Mississippi is superbly crafted. Noble has a true gift in weaving her words together to create an unforgettable tale. However, emotionally, this is one of the most difficult pieces of fiction I have ever read. In a culture where monogamous marriages far outweigh those of polygamy, I found it difficult to accept the decisions of Noble's characters even though she gives them rock solid motivations. But I have to say, it was that difficulty, the warring of said decisions as well as the heartache of the consequences, which drew me and kept me riveted to the story.

As a romance reader I have certain expectations from my books, such as the promised happily ever after. I did not feel as though Mary Rose came to any resolution about her situation other than to carry forward with her husband and his thirst for godlike status with each wife he obtains. And spiritually, Mary Rose continues to waver clear up to the last pages between the new faith of the Mormon Church and that of the one taught her by her mother when she was but a small child.

Speaking of the last pages, at first I was confused, and then upset when I came to the end. The story ends with a cliffhanger, or so I assume. The last chapter stops on a hook before picking up at a later date in the epilogue.

Even though I felt robbed of a satisfying ending, I guess the real question is will I read the second book in the Brides of Gabriel Series? The answer to that question is, yes. Without a doubt.

I loved The Sister Wife and I look forward to reading her second book in the Brides of Gabriel series. I found myself experiencing such mixed feelings as Mary Rose's life was thrown into the pain of sharing her husband with another woman. Diane Noble was able to express on paper the heart of a woman torn between the love of a man, her husband, and the friend she had grown to love and cherish. She was also being torn between the God she met at her mother's knee and the God that was leading her down this painful road.

I can't wait to see where the next book takes her!!

I found this story fascinating on a number of levels. For one, I love historical fiction of any kind, and the closer it is to real life events, the more I enjoy reading it. Second, my husband is an ex-Mormon and his ancestors date back to Brigham Young's bodyguards, so we're talking a lot of family history there that parallels the story. The only difference is that in my husband's ancestry there are no plural wives, but then again, they weren't high ranking church members, either. Almost all of his family members are still involved in the church. I've learned that Mormonism is a unique culture that has many issues, all of which are strongly rooted in the teachings of Joseph Smith. The author showed that in a convincing, yet unbiased manner. That was no easy task.

Diane Noble clearly knows how to capture readers heart and make them care about the characters. I loved how real everything felt from the ship voyage to Gabe and Mary Rose falling in love. I also loved how the author portrayed several situations as they really were, including how people were pulled into the teaching of the Saints at that time despite it going against what they were taught to believe as children. It showed how intelligent people could set aside what they were taught in order to have faith in something that didn't have any foundation or that could be verified.

My emotions got really involved in the story when Gabe took his second wife. Mary Rose was so trapped at that point, as was Bronwyn. Their conflict was well portrayed and captured every tedious angle, from the petty jealousies, to the need for affirmation and love from Gabe. Simply put, wives were never intended to share their husbands. This story just brings that fact to life when it's demonstrated through the characters' lives. It was never God's plan (plural marriage) even if it had a verifiable basis in history. I also found the persecution scenes to be believable, and I was afraid for Gabe and Mary Rose. The whole story was so compelling! I can't wait for the sequel, especially since it hits even closer to home because of history and location. My husband's ancestors arrived in Salt Lake about six months before the Mountain Meadows massacre. I'm sure the sequel will bring me back in time as effectively as this book did.

Just finished Diane Noble's latest book and am delighted. I have read every one of her books, including her earlier works under the pen name Amanda MacLean, and in my opinion, this is her finest work yet.

Diane clearly and objectively pictures the early days of Mormon history without becoming an apologist for the church. But even more impressive is her skill in developing a story that keeps one moving from page to page and longing for the next episode. Please don't keep us waiting too long, Diane!

If you enjoy historical fiction, you will love this book.

Diane Noble's latest novel transported me back to an era in American history that has always fascinated me--the mid-1800's and the westward movement. Diane's heart-warming characters, her beautiful words, and her knowledge of American history have created a wonderful story that has me already anticipating Book Two. I was touched by Mary Rose's personal and spiritual dilemmas. Her love for Gabe and the charisma of a spiritual leader led her down a path in life that she did not anticipate when she entered into marriage. I cannot wait to discover how Mary Rose and her fellow sister wives resolve their heart-breaking situations. A wonderful, thought-provoking, and fascinating read! Bring on Book Two!

In the first book in the Brides of Gabriel series, we are introduced to the foundation of polygamy in Mormonism in the 1800's. An extremely well researched and gripping story that tactfully illustrates different belief systems while keeping the reader riveted. What proves to be an accurate account of what life must have been like in the burgeoning Illinois settlement; THE SISTER WIFE explores the practice of plural marriage without sensationalizing it.

Written with depth of emotion and strength of character, Diane Noble holds her readers captive. The biggest disappointment was that it was over too soon.

Love finds Lady Mary Rose Ashley, a new convert to Mormonism and ship architect, Gabriel MacKay aboard a ship traveling from England to America. Marrying during their travels, the new couple find themselves in the settlement of Nauvoo, where Prophet Joseph Smith receives a revelation about plural marriage. Mary Rose is put in a difficult situation when her best friend, Bronwyn is suddenly widowed and Gabriel is told he must marry her. While Bronwyn professes to remain platonic, Mary Rose fears her husband is falling in love.

What makes The Sister Wife different from other books on the subject of polygamy is the author explores, with great sensitivity, the relationship between two women who love each other as sisters but who are forced to share the same husband. How does this affect the relationship with each other and their husband, the man they both love but now view in a different light since taking two wives at the direction of the prophet Joseph Smith. Is Gabriel the same man they knew before this happened? Are Mary Rose and Bronwyn the same women? This wonderful love story is set in a true historical event, the murder of Joseph Smith, the passing of leadership of the Saints to Brigham Young and the Mormon exodus to the Salt Lake Desert.

Loved this book. It truly showed the heartache and challenges of Polygamy from the point of view of the first wife. Going into the early Mormon religion Mary Rose and her husband, Gabe, weren't aware of the practice of plural marriage. After Mary Rose's best friend's husband is killed the prophet orders Gabe to take Mary Rose's friend, Bronwyn as his second wife. This book is filled with romance, heartache, betrayal and the challenges of life in the American frontier.

I've always loved Diane Noble's books, and The Sister Wife is no exception. One thread of the story is about the early history of the Mormon church, but the heart of the book is God's unfailing love for us. He loves us no matter how far we stray and welcomes us with forgiveness, mercy and grace. Diane portrays God's gentle tugging of Mary Rose to what is right and true with the skill of a master writer. That skill holds true for the relationships between her characters -- first between Mary Rose and Gabriel as they fall in love. Then between Mary Rose and Bronwyn as the two dear friends are thrust into a situation neither of them had imagined--married to the same man. Diane's research is impeccable, and her prose is beautiful, allowing the reader to immerse themselves in the setting and lives of Gabriel and his wives. I look forward to book 2, The Betrayal next May.