Genre: Publication.Date February 26th 2014 Pages: 310 Published By: Amazon Digital Services, Inc Website V. J Chambers Out of Heaven's Grasp Goodreads My review copy: I received a copy of this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review.
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Abigail London has always trusted the elders in her strict polygamous community to decide who she would marry. After all, they’ve got a direct line to God, or so she’s always been taught.
But when she is caught holding hands with Jesse Wallace, the elders bring down punishment swiftly and severely. They banish Jesse from the community, telling him never to return. They assign Abby to an older man, who already has three wives. They tell her that submitting to her new spiritual head will curb her willful nature.
Abby wants to please God by forgetting Jesse and doing as she’s told. But she can’t shake the feeling that this is somehow… wrong. And she’s beginning to doubt the wisdom of the elders.
Separated, Jesse and Abby struggle alone—him to find his way in a secular world he doesn’t understand, and her to accept her place and submit obediently. But eventually, they both realize they must embrace a more difficult struggle: to find each other again.
"Mother, nothing's really happened. We held hands. We talked. Nothing else. I think...I think I love him."
So, they don't let you cut your hair? No. You allowed to comb it through? Of course. Not like Rastafarians or something? Rasta--what? You know, like Bob Marley. Who's that? Laughter. Man, you don't know anything, do you? That was how I felt. My ignorance of the world was staggering.
I couldn't stop starting at her. Every time she smiled, it seemed like a victory. She was skittish, like the horses on the ranch during a thunder storm. I could see the fear all over her. When I'd left her, she hadn't been this way. Or had she? Maybe we were all this way in the community. Maybe back then, I hand't noticed because I thought it was normal.
Did you get a good look at that beautiful cover? I just adore it.
This was the beautifully told story of Jesse and Abby. They were young people who are members of a cult. The other members tell you who you can marry, who you can love, how you can dress etc. Neither thought this was a problem till they fell in love. Their love was strictly forbidden and to express this extreme point, the elders of the community marry Abby off to an old man with three other wives when Jesse and Abby are caught alone together. Jesse is then forced out of the community and forced to live in the real world. They feel this will be a good punishment but will Jesse actually like it outside the strict walls or will he miss his old life and leaving Abby behind?
I went into this book totally blind and honestly I am glad I did. I didn't even read the synopsis before agreeing to review it. The cover was so beautiful, I felt sure I would love it. After reading a chapter or two, I wasn't so sure anymore. A cult? Arranged marriage? Not my type of read at all. However, this book surprised me, IN A BIG WAY. I ended up adoring it and not being able to break myself away from the forbidden tale of Jesse and Abby.
When Jesse is forced out of the cult, he finally finds out how backward the community and its customs really are and he vows that regardless of anything else he does, he will save Abby. So ensues his quest to get to Abby and warn her.
These two young people face so many obstacles on their path to finding each other. It is hard not to feel emotional and drawn into this beautiful story. I just loved Jesse and how he was so willing to fight for Abby. He could have easily walked away but he didn't. He stayed to fight. He stayed to save the woman he loved. He was a true hero.
I found this book so surprising and such a twist on young love. What a winner!
She lives in Shepherdstown, WV, with her boyfriend Aaron and their cat Isis.
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