Band of Sisters, Ellis Island, and Human Trafficking

I discovered my new favorite author last month and her newest book didn't disappoint. The reader is swept away from the first page.  Cathy weaves a gripping story with very real characters.  You'll smile and you'll definitely cry as you read their touching story. 

The theme of Band of Sisters is living out what Jesus would have us do in every aspect of our lives.  The author refers often to a classic 1890's book called In His Steps which is now next on my to-read list.  Cathy spins a thought-provoking story, and woven through it all is Jesus, the author of our lives who weaves everything perfectly together to create a masterpiece.




Between the pages of Band of Sisters, the lives of women from very different backgrounds entwine...

Maureen O’Reilly and her younger sister flee Ireland in hope of claiming the life promised to their father over twenty years before. After surviving the rigors of Ellis Island, Maureen learns that their benefactor, Colonel Wakefield, has died. His family, refusing to own his Civil War debt, casts her out. Alone, impoverished, and in danger of deportation, Maureen connives to obtain employment in a prominent department store. But she soon discovers that the elegant facade hides a secret that threatens every vulnerable woman in the city.

Despite her family’s disapproval, Olivia Wakefield determines to honor her father’s debt but can’t find Maureen. Unexpected help comes from a local businessman, whom Olivia begins to see as more than an ally, even as she fears the secrets he’s hiding. As women begin disappearing from the store, Olivia rallies influential ladies in her circle to help Maureen take a stand against injustice and fight for the lives of their growing band of sisters. But can either woman open her heart to divine leading or the love it might bring?

You may have guessed that the secret hiding behind the elegant facade of the department store is human trafficking.  Just a few days before I began to read this book, I watched the movie Taken with my husband.  On a side note, if you haven't seen that movie, you should.  That movie also deals with human trafficking, so this is something that's been on my mind the last few weeks.  I can't stress enough how worth reading Cathy's recent article Human Trafficking Then-and-Now is. Please take a moment to read it, and to find out if there's some way that Jesus can use you, even if it's simply to pray.

"The question is not what we can accomplish, 

but what Christ can accomplish through us." 

~Charles Sheldon, In His Steps

If you've been looking for something that will not only entertain you but will also inspire and challenge you, I definitely recommend both Band of Sisters and Promise Me This!   Also check out Cathy Gohlke's page where you can join her mailing list and find out what else may be in store. 

Special thanks to the wonderful people at Tyndale House for providing me with this book to review!