The Sister Wife

June 1, 2010
On the long journey between England and the U.S. in 1841, Lady Mary Rose Ashley falls in love with Gabriel MacKay. Her grandfather has become a saint, a follower of the new religion founded by Joseph Smith, and hes leaving his wealth and estates for a life in their community. Mary Rose has serious doubts about Mormonism, as does Gabriel, but after witnessing a miracle performed by Brigham Young, they become believers. But even though she has embraced her grandfathers faith in the fledgling church, Mary Rose is overcome with jealousy and a sense of betrayal when the Prophet orders that her beloved husband, Gabriel, take a second wifeher best friend, recently widowed Bronwyn Carey. This evenhanded, carefully researched treatment of the history of the Latter-day Saints includes a nonjudgmental look at the beginnings of polygamy. The Sister Wife is the first in Nobles Brides of Gabriel series, which, given the popularity of Big Lovethe HBO television drama about a Fundamentalist Mormon family in Utahshould be a big hit with readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)