Helpful Score: 4
Gervase Howard is a young fifteen year old girl who is thrown into a frightening new world when she loses her Mother, and is sent to live with her aunt and uncle at their home of Kimberly, where they work as the head cook and gardener. She takes along her trusted friend and furry kitty companion Mr.Bob, and is befriended by the master and mistress's oldest son Davis who she develops feelings for as the years pass.
Through encounters with bullies, and in one instance almost losing her furry friend, Gervase's feelings for Davis grow deeper as time passes, so when he becomes engaged to be married she leaves the Kimberly home to be a companion and ladies maid to Florence Nightingale; and will eventually work with her to take care of soldiers during the Crimean War. During this time Gervase again meets up with Davis who has left home and joined the war effort because of problems in his marriage, and unhappiness at work. After returning home from the war Gervase works with Florence and a friend for awhile then finds herself back at Kimberly, as for what happens next you should read to find out ;)
The characters in the book were warm and easy to relate to, it was an easy book to read and I did not want to put it down. The only thing that I would change is that the ending was very predictable, and during the last few chapters I figured out exactly what was going to happen so it got a little taxing I think it could've been shortened quite a bit, other than that I loved the plot, and the idea of the book and its characters in general.
For other reviews check out my blog http://www.booksalicious.blogspot.com/
Through encounters with bullies, and in one instance almost losing her furry friend, Gervase's feelings for Davis grow deeper as time passes, so when he becomes engaged to be married she leaves the Kimberly home to be a companion and ladies maid to Florence Nightingale; and will eventually work with her to take care of soldiers during the Crimean War. During this time Gervase again meets up with Davis who has left home and joined the war effort because of problems in his marriage, and unhappiness at work. After returning home from the war Gervase works with Florence and a friend for awhile then finds herself back at Kimberly, as for what happens next you should read to find out ;)
The characters in the book were warm and easy to relate to, it was an easy book to read and I did not want to put it down. The only thing that I would change is that the ending was very predictable, and during the last few chapters I figured out exactly what was going to happen so it got a little taxing I think it could've been shortened quite a bit, other than that I loved the plot, and the idea of the book and its characters in general.
For other reviews check out my blog http://www.booksalicious.blogspot.com/
I used to adore Gilbert Morris. Lately, however, his books have become formulaic and... well, boring. God's Handmaiden, unfortunately, is little different. It has a lot of potential, but something just never connects. I never quite felt any emotional pull towards any of the characters even though Morris tries particularly hard to have this occur. I found it a bit insipid as well. Do I recommend it? Only if you have a great love of Christian fiction - but the softened Christian fiction with flawless and selfless (in other words, quite unrealistic) heroines.
I really loved this book. A great story line, tracing the steps of a young girl through hardships, disappointment in love and then serving others amid the filth, bloody violence of war. At a time when nurses were looked down on she handled self with a quiet dignity even as a young girl. Her Christian faith helped her to face hatred and not give up her godly principles. It is a great love story. I am encouraging my teen granddaughters to read it.
