Hester on the Run

Unfortunately, this book has hit up against several of my triggers.  I completed it anyway in hopes that what I was being set up, like in a suspense novel.  But not so!

This book is about a woman Kate who up to finding a Native American baby in a field/pasture was barren.  She had all the motherly instincts, but no children of her own.  She found this newborn baby and took her home to her husband, Hans.  He was instantly attracted to the infant.

Raising, Hester brought on many different opinions, especially those from Hans' mother and others in the community.  Kate didn't care, she was finally a mother.  She noticed a change in her husband, where as when she needed things in the past, he considered it  a sin.  Now, Hester was to be dressed nicely and have all things he wanted for her, things that he wouldn't even allot for his own wife.

Kate became pregnant after 9 years of hoping and praying.  After giving birth to her first born, a son, she noticed an even  greater change in her husband.  He would ignore his own son and continue to dote over Hester.  Kate would tell him about his behaviors, he would change, but he would revert back to giving Hester all of his attention.

Eight kids later and a life changing accident changed their lives forever.  All of Hans children were growing older, and so was Kate's once beautiful lean figure.  After having 8 children in 9 years, her body never recovered or was allowed to gain back her "before pregnancy" body.  It didn't matter to her, she was happily married, a mother and just so happened now full figured.  It disgusted Hans, but he was smart enough to not speak it outlaid to her.  Now he did love his wife and their children, but no one in the home received the attention, love and affection the way that Hester did.

Life flipped for this family.

Hans remarried, his wife, Annie was nothing like Kate.  In fact, she was very sinister.  Hester went from a loving home to pretty much being a servant.  Annie was cruel and Hans was a coward and a creep.  After others called him on his behaviors, he realized that the feelings he had for Hester where not fatherly, but that of lust.

Hester had to make a choice.  Would she stay and accept the abuse, only staying because of what she was taught (Honor thy mother and father) or escape and find her own way through this thing called life?

***
3 - Star

I know I am being very generous with this rating.  This book triggered me in following 3 ways.

-  overly bashing of curvy woman
-  pedophilia
-  child abuse

Unfortunately, these things held the story together.  Tho it  disgusted me, it would not have been a storyline without these things.

Now, could it be that I am just not that learned in the Amish way and that these things are acceptable?  I don't know and if that is true, I don't EVER want to read another Amish book again!  I so badly want to see how she fairs in the rest of the trilogy, but I don't want to take the chance of being triggered again.  Therefore, this book will be removed from my collection.