I enjoyed the setting of this novel and found the history of the showboats and the entertainment provided along the Ohio River to be very fascinating. I thought the author did a great job researching the history of the book. I also enjoyed the mysterious twists in the novel and was as curious as Jacci to find answers, even if parts of the novel were predictable. The entertaining and quirky characters on the showboat were the perfect antithesis to the more serious mystery. I also liked the romance as one of my favorite tropes is friends to lovers. I really liked the story and found the novel easy to read. A recommended book to those who enjoy historical fiction!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. ( )

In the Shadow of the River is a stand alone story written by Ann H. Gabhart. The dual timeline story takes place on a showboat in 1881 and the 1890’s. Jacci’s mother was fatally injured when Jacci was just five years old. They fled the steamboat her mother worked on to go to her grandfather on the showboat parked next to them. Her mother and grandfather have not been close but when tragedy strikes he is the one her mother seeks help from. And he steps up to do as she asked.

This was an enjoyable story in the sense the reader sees how the family connects and supports each other when they are called to do so. It also has several parts that show God’s hand in their lives. Jacci’s grandfather’s boat just happened to be next to them when danger appeared. The wife of the showboat owner was so generous and helpful supporting Jacci and her grandfather. The story also shows what could happen when secrets are kept. I especially enjoyed the suspense and mystery and was surprised by the romance. I have read many of the author’s books, this one felt a little different and was slower paced than others.

I voluntarily received a copy of this book, this is my honest opinion ( )

This was an entertaining read, I really enjoyed the setting of this novel being on a Showboat on the Ohio river. Life was quite different when you lived by the rules of the river and not the rules of land. Jacci was raised on the river and that is all she has really known. She still has horrid memories of the night her mother passed and since, her grandfather has raised her on the stage under the name Princess. When threats and guests from a past start staring up trouble, Jacci is bound to uncover the truth of what happened with her mother and who she really is. But the truth may be more dangerous than the life she has led to believe. This was a really well written novel, I loved all the different quirky characters and all of the detail that went into showing life on a Showboat, moving from place to place every few days. Each character was quite unique and the mystery really played out until the end. Thank you to the Revell Blogger Program and the author for the free novel. This review is of my own opinion and accord. ( )

My second book by this author and again another very emotional and heartbreaking story.

Only five years old Jacci Reed shot a man who stabbed her mother. He claimed that she didn’t belong to her mother. Jacci was raised on the showboat where her mother brought them shortly before she died asking her grandfather to care for her. Jacci performed on the showboat together with her grandfather. Years after, Jacci is learning about a plan that was arranged to protect her. Mother who raised her was not her birth mother and all arrangements and secrets were done to protect illegitimate child. Why was she in hiding? Who was against her and why? Was it time to know the truth now?

An incredibly bumpy and heart wrenching story that takes place on a beautiful scenery of the river with great developed characters from the showboat. When I finished the book, I realized that I had read a really good book full of mystery, suspense and romance. ( )

I can honestly say I’ve never read a novel that is set on a riverboat, and now I wish there were more out there to devour! One of my favorite Elvis movies is Frankie and Johnny, where Elvis is a gambler on a riverboat, and is also a performer who is in love with his co-star. In the Shadow of the River gave me all kinds of Frankie and Johnny vibes and I was loving every moment! The setting alone is quite refreshing in and of itself, but then you add the charm of the main characters, and the overall aesthetic, and you’ve got one novel that captures your imagination and your heart.

Jacci is a little girl who is on the run with her mother, playing pretend, and keeping secrets that she often wonders about. When there is a sudden attack Jacci looses the only life she’s ever known, and is thrust into the riverboat show world with her grandfather, Duke. Fast forward fifteen years and Jacci’s origin is still a mystery to her, but when a threatening stranger enters the picture the mystery will be revealed, and Jacci’s truths will finally come to light.

I loved Jacci and her family so much. Her heart is apparent in the scenes when she’s a five-year-old but they shine when she’s a woman. I love how we know bits and pieces of the mystery but we don’t find out the whole story until Jacci herself does, which added that perfect amount of tension. There were a few twists but sadly I had caught on early on, so it wasn’t as much of a surprise as I had hoped, but that still didn’t take away from how much I adored this story.

The character development is perfection, the scenery unmatched, and the writing style flowed as smoothly as the showboat on the Mississippi! This is the first novel I’ve read by Ann H. Gabhart, but this will not be my last. She does a masterful job of painting a vivid literary picture that you can’t help but admire.

*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher through JustRead Tours. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own. ( )