"A Rebel Heart" by Beth White

Five years after the end of the Civil War, Selah Daughtry is running out of options for saving her family plantation. Pinkerton Agent Levi Riggins is investigating a series of robberies and sabotage that seem to be leading back to the Daughtry plantation. Posing as hotel management for the railroad, he convinces Selah to turn her home into a fancy hotel for the railroad. Selah will do almost anything to save her home, but can she trust the slick-talking Yankee?

I really enjoyed the complexity of the characters in this story. Selah is a very strong and intelligent woman, but still very feminine. Maybe the best way to describe her is that rather than denying some aspect of her personality or looks, she's always pushing to become more of herself. The secondary characters are very well drawn too--whether it's the former slaves that Selah is hoping to employ in her hotel, or the boy she brings home from the train wreck, they all have distinct personalities, and none are perfect, not even the wise old mammy who half-raised Selah. Along with their good qualities, they have prejudices and fears, making them feel very real. I hope we get to see more of them in the future books! And I really like how the author portrays Selah's father; he's very broken, but he's not a monster; he's still her father.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that liars in fiction will be found out, generally at the worst possible moment--even (or especially) if the liar is a good man who has to withhold certain facts due to his job a Pinkerton agent. Selah's inevitable misunderstanding during that revelation aside, I thought the story has a unique plot as Levi helps the Daughtry girls set up business for themselves, while at the same time untangling the case he's investigating. The story shows the good that comes of a community working together, and how it can revitalize a place.

I thought it was really interesting with the varying racial tensions the author brings to the story--not just between black and white, but even within the black community. She brings up points that I never would have thought of but that make sense for the Reconstruction time period.

Thank you Revell for the free book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

Daughtry House
1. A Rebel Heart

"To Wager Her Heart" by Tamera Alexander

One year ago, two trains crashed outside of Nashville, killing over a hundred people. Silas Rutledge, new owner of the Northeast Line Railroad, comes to Nashville to put in a bid to develop a new rail line into Belle Meade Plantation, but the competition is stiff, especially for an outsider from Colorado. He needs help breaking into the Southern Gentlemen's circle, and Alexandra Jamison, daughter of one of Nashville's oldest families, is the key. Alexandra, in pursuing her dream to teach at the freedmen's school, is cast out from her own family and must provide for herself, so she agrees to help, in spite of her reservations--chief of which was having lost her fiance in the trash crash his father was blamed for. However, she finds herself learning to respect him. But in Nashville's post-war society, can they find the justice they seek?

One thing you can count on in Tamera Alexander's stories is a deep appreciation for--and attention to--historical detail. From the Fisk University (a freedmen's school) and its internationally renowned Jubilee Singers to hymn-writer Philip Bliss to the prevailing prejudices of the time, the story is rich with historical detail. While each book in the series is perfectly stand-alone, they also fit well together, dealing more pointedly with the prejudice in Reconstruction-era Nashville, while tying them in with the historic Belle Meade Plantation.

Alexandra grows a lot during the story, both learning to find her own way and overcoming deep-seated fears and grief. Like Alexandra, I found my initial opinions of Si changing. Not that I ever disliked him, but I was impressed by how willing he was to ask for help when he was clearly a strong, self-made man. The romance is sweet, gentle, and believable as they grow into friendship and slowly evolve into romance, each helping the other pursue their dreams.

Overall, it was an enthralling and inspiring story, in classic Tamera Alexander-fashion.

Thank you Zondervan and NetGalley for providing a free e-book; I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.

Belle Meade Plantation (contains some cross-over characters/connections to Belmont)
1. To Whisper Her Name2. To Win Her Favor 
2.5 "To Mend a Dream" (part of the novella collection Among the Fair Magnolias)
3. To Wager Her Heart

Belmont Mansion (contains some cross-over characters/connections to Belle Meade)
1. A Lasting Impression
2. A Beauty So Rare
3. A Note Yet Unsung

Carnton Mansion  (contains some cross-over characters/connections to Belle Meade and Belmont)

0.5: "Christmas at Carnton" (novella, October 2017)

Mary Connealy's "Fire and Ice"

In the final Wild at Heart novel, about three sisters who dressed as men and fought in the Civil War, Bailey Wilde finally meets her match. Granted, she has Gage Coulter over a barrel: he bought the lush grazing land in a box canyon, but he didn't think to buy the land in front of the only opening, where Bailey strategically built her cabin. Gage won't stoop to break the law, but he'll do just about anything else to wrestle a way in, even if it means blowing up a mountain. But when someone sets a trap for Gage, he and Bailey have to work together to figure out who's after him, and maybe find a solution to their land war--and their stubborn hearts--in the process.

Of the three sisters, Bailey intrigued me most, mostly since she is the least transparent of the three. I know she was changed by the Civil War (as they all were), but she was always so tight-lipped about her experiences. And now I know why. Given that this is a romantic comedy, the story can't get too heavy and bogged down by war reminiscences, but there is enough about Bailey's place in the fighting--the terror, the bloodlust, the blind obedience--that even in those brief passages, it's easy to see how war changes a person. To the point where, by the time it was over, it was hard to say who was in the right and who was in the wrong.

I enjoyed the way Bailey and Gage play off each other - between their stubbornness, hot temper, and abilities at evasion, they are similar enough to know just how and where to push to get a reaction, yet their ability to read each other and recognize their wounds forges a bond that had been impossible with anyone else, even Bailey's sisters. When they actually work together, they make an intimidating pair.

The story definitely went in a direction I was not expecting, or at least for reasons I would never have anticipated (hah. Who'd've thought that's what could scare Gage into action?), which in itself was amusing. As usual, I thoroughly enjoyed Connealy's romantic comedy with cowboys, and look forward to whatever she has coming next!

Thank you Bethany House for providing a free book to review; I was not required to make the review positive, and all opinions are my own.

Wild at Heart
1. Tried & True
2. Now & Forever
3. Fire & Ice

Among the Fair Magnolias: four southern love stories

From the months leading up to the Civil War to the years rebuilding afterward, Among the Fair Magnolias depicts the South--both its beauty and ugliness--in this collection of four love stories. I couldn't resist picking up this collection for the sake of Tamera Alexander's novella, and in turn it introduced me to three other writers of historical fiction.

"A Heart So True" by Dorothy Love: I always enjoy a fresh setting, and a marshy island off South Carolina, with a focus on rice plantations instead of the characteristic cotton and tobacco of the South, was a pleasant surprise. While I am generally not into politics, the discussions and worries over secession was new perspective for me, and I liked that that oft-neglected aspect of the antebellum South formed the backdrop of the story. After reading this story, I am definitely interested in reading more of the author's works.

"To Mend a Dream" by Tamera Alexander: In the author's novel To Win Her Favor, she introduced Savannah, a friend of the heroine in severely reduced circumstances, and it was a pleasure to discover that that same woman is the heroine of this story. Even though it is significantly shorter than the author's novels, it it still holds true to her characteristic richness and developed characters. It's not often that a novel, let alone a novella, brings tears to my eyes, but this one did. It speaks such a promise of hope and restoration.

"Love Beyond Limits" by Elizabeth Musser: This story surprised me. At the beginning I thought I knew exactly where it was going, and I was hesitant to believe such a short page limit could do the story justice. But then somewhere past the middle I had a sudden suspicion that I had pegged this story all wrong . . .

"An Outlaw's Heart" by Shelley Gray: Not only is it the story with the most humor, it also has the strongest masculine presence of the collection. Taking place near San Antonio, it isn't what I generally consider the South--not in the same way as South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia--but it was a sweet tale of restoration.

Though the stories in this collection cover nearly a twenty-year time frame, it is clear that from before Lincoln was elected to even a dozen years after the Civil War, the war was affecting people's lives. Bound together by Southern heritage and an underlying thread of faith, these four stories make a lovely collection of historical fiction.

Thank you Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing an e-book for review; I was not required to make the review positive, and all opinions are my own.

Related books:

Belle Meade Plantation novels by Tamera Alexander
1. To Whisper Her Name
2. To Win Her Favor
2.5 "To Mend a Dream"
3. To Wager Her Heart

Belmont Mansion novels by Tamera Alexander (related to the Belle Meade novels)
1. A Lasting Impression
2. A Beauty So Rare
3. A Note Yet Unsung

Carnton Mansion
0.5: "Christmas at Carnton" (novella)

"Hearts Made Whole" by Jody Hedlund - high stakes and high tension

In the second Beacons of Hope novel, a series focusing on female lightkeepers on the Michigan coast, Caroline, who has been running the lighthouse singlehandedly since her father's death, is suddenly evicted from her post, along with all four of her siblings, in favor of a war veteran with no experience. Ryan Chambers is not capable of running the light, and he knows it--the pain from his war wounds keeps him addicted to opium and alcohol, and he doesn't have the strength to fight it. Recognizing his inability, he allows Caroline and her siblings to stay on indefinitely, if she would teach him how to properly run the light. However, someone is intent on scaring Caroline away. When the saboteur threatens her family, who will she turn to for help?

I really like Ryan as the hero. He has a number of things to overcome, but he is both fun and gentle. He knows when to be humble, and yet he is not afraid to step into authority. I cannot help but compare him to Arnie, who, under his father's thumb, is more boy than man, for all that he is no child. Ryan is all man. A wounded man, but a mature man who has survived the world, who, when in his clear mind, will not let himself be dominated.

However, it's clear that Ryan's addictions to both opium and alcohol cripple him more than his missing fingers and wounded arm. Not having experience with addictions such as these, I can only guess at the best route to success, but I think the author portrays a reasonable path to healing. There is balance: Ryan needs help to overcome temptation; on his own, he cannot find the motivation or encouragement to break free, and that is where Caroline is so good for him. However, there is also a time when he has to leave the nest and no longer rely on other people to keep him on the right path. God has given us friends, partners, and fellowship so we don't have to go it alone, but ultimately, at the heart, we have to rely on Him, not just human support.

The sibling rivalry between Caroline and Tessa is well written, and the invalid sister Sarah upped the stakes in the tale. However, I would have liked more attention and personality bestowed on the twins, who felt more like a plot device than real boys. After how realistically the child in Love Unexpected was portrayed, I was a little disappointed in this one. It will definitely be interesting to see how Tessa manages in the next book, given her choices and dislike of lighthouses.

I have to say, the author is talented at taking a bad situation and making it even worse (but in a good way). Certain moments made me cringe and groan and want to bury my head beneath a pillow to block out the horror, but they also kept the story moving at a fair clip, once I gathered the nerve face them. As usual, Hedlund maintains tension masterfully, whether it be through conflict, inner turmoil, or romantic tension, before finally arriving at a satisfying conclusion.

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for providing an e-copy for review. I was not required to make it positive, and all opinions are my own.

Beacons of Hope
0.5. "Out of the Storm"
1. Love Unexpected
2. Hearts Made Whole 
3. Undaunted Hope

Mary Connealy's "Now and Forever" - another rollicking romantic comedy

In the second book of her series about three sisters who fought as men in the Civil War, Mary Connealy focuses on Shannon Wilde, the sheep-loving middle sister. When Shannon and mountain man Matt Tucker avoid a bear by going off a cliff into a wild, raging river, Tucker thinks they're done for. But somehow they claw their way out, and when a search party--including a preacher--finds them several days AND NIGHTS later, there's nothing to be done but say their vows. Suddenly the mountain man is stuck trying to save his new wife's stupid sheep as someone is trying to run them off of their land. And no matter his personal feelings on sheep, someone attacking his wife and property doesn't settle too well with him.

As always with a Connealy book, I love her turn of phrase. While romantic comedies are not my husband's thing, I could still read lines out of this book to him and he'd snicker along with me. Classic Mary Connealy.

While everyone who survived the War Between States came home with scars, I love that the author takes a look at what one of the hundreds of women who fought in battle dressed as a man might have taken home from the war--how it affected her and what may have haunted her dreams after the experience. Had I been in Shannon's shoes, I could see suffering the same nightmares. Until it was pointed out, I had not connected how the peaceful life she has built for herself is a direct attempt to counter her war experiences, but after what she went through, it is little surprise that she would desire to create a life as different from battle as she could get.

Sometimes the bad guys are unrepentantly evil, while others are just lost souls in need of Jesus. I like that Connealy can take the villain/s from one book and turn them around into people one can potentially like in the next book, such as with the bad guys from the previous novel, Tried & True. However, such is not the case with all villains . . . She can craft a good sneaky villain too--one that you can gleefully despise.

While the book is written with a heavy dose of humor, it is has some good things to say too: if you have doubts, God is big enough to handle them, and He already knows about them, so it's not like you have to worry about breaking the news--just talk it out with Him. I have been thoroughly enjoying this series, and I am especially looking forward to Bailey's story in the next novel--she continues to become more intriguing with each book!

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for providing an e-copy for review. I was not required to make the review positive, and all opinions are my own.

Wild At Heart
1. Tried & True
2. Now & Forever
3. Fire & Ice 

Karen Witemeyer's "Love on the Mend" - a sweet follow-up to Full Steam Ahead

The novella sequel to Karen Witemeyer's novel Full Steam Ahead, "Love on the Mend" follows young Jacob Sadler, now grown up and a doctor, having come through the Civil War to accept a practice in his old hometown. Jacob knows it's God's will he return, and he's ready for it - until he discovers his uncle is still there and alive. Knowing he should forgive and actually forgiving are two different things, but his nurse, Mollie - a woman he finds more attractive by the minute - is determined to help him.

Though it is not a full-length novel, the story is fun epilogue to Full Steam Ahead. I especially liked that it took a mystery from the first novel - Jacob's past - and let us know how he ended up a runaway in the the streets of Galveston - what drove him and instilled such fear and hurt into him. So it isn't just the story of what happens to him when he grows up, but also the story of what happened to him as a young child.

I liked the point the author makes about forgiveness, something Jacob finds harder than he planned: "He'd been prepared to face his past as long as it was easy. . ." but with his uncle alive, "a few mumbled words wouldn't be sufficient - he'd have to live out his forgiveness day after day. Anything but simple." True forgiveness is not just saying it - it's living it, day in and day out. It's not easy, but it must be done, or it will eat away at you, leaving festering bitterness in its wake.

A nice balance of adventure, romance, and spiritual themes in one sweet, short story!

"To Win Her Favor" by Tamera Alexander

Tamera Alexander returns again to Belle Meade Plantation and the powerful racehorses of its stables. Cullen McGrath, an Irish immigrant, is not who Maggie Linden would have picked for a husband - not when everyone knows that the Irish are little better than the Negroes. But to save her family land and her champion Thoroughbred mare, Maggie's father asks her to marry Cullen. Women are not allowed to race, so her hopes are now pinned on a man who has been burned by a racing scandal in England - but how can she convince her new husband to race Bourbon Belle? And to top it off, the escalating violence of one of Nashville's "secret societies" has found its way to their door . . .

It's hard to take a character of decided prejudices and make her an appealing and sympathetic heroine, but the author manages it with Maggie. She is of Nashville's old, landed gentry, and her attitude reflects that status, even if her circumstances are much reduced. But those prejudices are not insurmountable - Maggie's heart does soften, even if it takes time. The author does a good job of gradually shifting her opinions in a believable manner.

I really liked Cullen, the hero. He isn't afraid to stand up for what is right, even if it means embarrassing Maggie in order to defend her. Given the cold shoulder he receives from her, he is remarkably patient and loving, even when she doesn't necessarily deserve it. I like how their relationship progresses - their marriage is definitely one of convenience, not a love match, and they have to work their way to an understanding. And it takes work, as all marriages do. And just because they reach the point of caring for each other doesn't mean they will not continue to have disagreements, as all marriages do.

Like in the author's other southern novels, To Win Her Favor is saturated in historical detail: of post-war Nashville, of horse racing, and of the era-ending changes to the lifestyle of the American South. It was fun to catch cameos of the main characters from her other related novels, brief though they are. I love how the presence of Maggie's father is carried throughout the story, how his love of the Lord is gradually also realized in his daughter and son-in-law. Alexander weaves a beautiful story of despair and the fulfillment of dreams, loss and triumph, and prejudice and brotherly love. 5 out of 5 stars!

Thank you Zondervan and NetGalley for providing an e-copy to review; I was not required to make it positive, and all opinions are my own.

Belle Meade Plantation
1. To Whisper Her Name
2. To Win Her Favor
2.5 "To Mend a Dream" (part of the novella collection Among the Fair Magnolias)
3. To Wager Her Heart

Belmont Mansion (related to Belle Meade Plantation novels)
1. A Lasting Impression
2. A Beauty So Rare
3. A Note Yet Unsung

Carnton Mansion
0.5 "Christmas at Carnton" (novella)

"A Most Inconvenient Marriage" by Regina Jennings - a perfect balance between humor and gravity

As a final act of kindness by - and for - a dying soldier, nurse Abigail Stuart and Jeremiah Calhoun marry, leaving widowed Abigail to care for his sick sister and horse farm in exchange for a permanent home. After a couple months of throwing her all into helping her new family, Abigail is shocked to discover Jeremiah has come home. However, the Jeremiah Calhoun she married was missing an arm, while this one has all his limbs, and to her great surprise, his family claims him. Jeremiah has never seen her before, and he naturally suspects she is a hustler aiming to steal his home and business. Trying to get his life back on track, Jeremiah gets back to pursuing the woman he planned to marry, working the farm, and recovering from his wounds, but to do it, he finds himself relying on Abigail. Can she find a place with this family on which she has foisted herself?

The Civil War tore through the country, ripping apart families and communities. While no place was left untouched, some states felt the sting more harshly than others. In setting her story in Missouri, the author has chosen one of the most controversial areas in the country, there on the border between North and South, East and West. Her depiction of the war-torn community is heartbreaking, as neighbors refuse to help neighbors that sympathized with the other side, while raiders in the hills terrorize indiscriminately. 

Jennings finds that perfect balance between humor and gravity to form a rich, meaty story that manages to both entertain and make one think. While horses, skunks, and local urchins provide a release of tension, the reality is that no one - not a single character - is without wounds. Abigail tries hard to hide hers, while Jeremiah and his sister's are more obvious; even the community in which they live has wounds that run deep. And some wounds take much longer to heal than others.

Though Jeremiah is gruff and occasionally slow to catch on, he is a loveable hero, just as Abigail makes for a relational heroine: she is practical without having lost her sense of wonder and fun. The secondary characters add both humor and depth to the story, helping form that excellent balance to the tale. A fun, engrossing read! 5 stars!

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for providing an e-copy for the purpose of review; I was not required to make it positive, and all my opinions are my own.

For a fun interview with the author and a peek at what is next to come, see Bethany House's Q&A with Regina Jennings

Ozark Mountain Romance
1. A Most Inconvenient Marriage
2. At Love's Bidding
2.5 "Her Dearly Unintended" from the novella collection With This Ring?
3. For the Record

"The Brickmaker's Bride" by Judith Miller

Since her father's death in the Civil War, Laura Woodfield's mother has been trying to sell her father's brickworks, and finally they have a buyer: an Irish immigrant, Hugh Crothers. Laura's desire to see the brickworks succeed leads her to spend significant time with the purchaser's kind and honest nephew, Ewen, much to the consternation of the wealthy lawyer courting her. Unfortunately, Uncle Hugh has little financial sense, and poor business decisions put the immigrants' livelihood in jeopardy. Can they save the brickworks, or will Ewan lose his chance to send for his sisters in Ireland, as well as his chance at love?

When reading historical fiction, I like to learn something new, and given that I knew little about West Virginia, this book proved an insightful glimpse into that under-appreciated part of our great and diverse country. I had no knowledge of brick making prior to reading this novel, but now I have a much greater appreciation for the makers of the bricks that form some of our country's oldest buildings - it's quite a process to make a product that stands beautiful and strong well over a hundred years later.

Laura and her mother truly model Christ's love - as frustrating as Margaret and Hugh Crothers are, they treat them charitably, above and beyond what they deserve. Even in the initial sale of the brickworks, they go far beyond their duty in ensuring that the new business prospers, and then they keep offering their support. Given how annoyed I was with the Crothers (and I am only a detached reader, not a neighbor who must deal with them on a regular basis), their kindness is astounding, and a great model.

The foolish financial decisions were quite a frustration to me; I realize people make poor decisions like that all the time (or there would be a lot less debt and foreclosure), but I cringed over and over at the Crothers' choices and how they treat their own kin. I read in horror of what they would do next . . . While this book will not make my top ten, I like the peek at history it provides. 4 stars

Thank you Bethany House for providing a free book for the purpose of review; I was not required to make it positive, and all opinions are my own. 

Mary Connealy's "Tried and True" - Connealy's characteristic humor combines with a promising premise

Hundreds of women disguised themselves as men and fought in the Civil War, some alongside husbands or brothers, others on their own.  Connealy's new series takes a look at these women, reminding us of what they went through, and more importantly, how they picked up the pieces of their lives afterward.  Soldiers were offered an exemption for homesteading - each year served in the war was one year off the 5-year period to prove up land.  Since it was illegal for women to enlist, women were naturally not eligible for the exemption - even if they did fight in the war.  But suppose a woman - or three - continued their charades as men and filed for a homestead?  Connealy's exploration of this idea makes for a fun premise for the series.

Having fought as a young man in the Civil War along with her two older sisters, it didn't seem such a stretch for Kylie Wilde to fall in with her father's plans and take a homestead out west, posing once again as a man.  The problem is, unlike her sisters, Kylie has always wanted to live as a woman back east, enjoying frilly dresses and tea parties.  When Aaron Masterson, the land agent, checks up on the homesteads to make sure they are proving up, he isn't fooled by Kylie's britches or covered hair.  As the land agent, he cannot allow Kylie to defraud the government, but when someone starts trying to run her off her land, Aaron's protective instincts flare up.  Can he protect this soldier from the threat against her, or will she stand up and fight for herself?


While Kylie and Aaron both fought in the same war, even in some of the same battles, Kylie leaves the war behind her while Aaron comes out struggling with hate for what happened to his family.  Though he runs from it, the bitterness follows.  As Kylie points out, hate is something the bible unequivocally condemns - "Love your enemies, bless those that persecute you, do good to those who hate you" (Matt 5:44).  I liked where the author went with it in the story - maybe I don't read analytically enough, but I was surprised by how Aaron must confront it in the end. 

Full of Connealy's characteristic humor, this story reminded me of her Sophie's Daughters trilogy in the bond between these three tough but vulnerable sisters.  They have the same tendency as siblings everywhere to rile and annoy each other, but they do not hesitate to love, defend, and be brutally honest with each other.  I loved meeting Bailey and Shannon Wilde, and I can't wait to read their stories - even as I enjoyed reading about the girly Kylie, my mind was busy contemplating where the other two are going, and where they are coming from to make them the way they are.  A fun read, and I look forward to the next!

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free e-copy for the purpose of review; I was not required to make it positive, and all opinions are my own.

Wild at Heart
1. Tried & True
2. Now & Forever
3. Fire & Ice

"A Beauty So Rare" by Tamera Alexander - a rich and rewarding read

In the second installment of her Belmont Mansion trilogy, Tamera Alexander returns to the historic Nashville home of Adelicia Acklen Cheatham.  Eleanor Braddock, Adelicia's spinster niece, is near destitute when Adelicia takes her in.  To support herself and pay for her father's care in the local insane asylum, Eleanor would love to open a restaurant where she can follow her passion - cooking.  However, such a job is considered too menial for the likes of the niece of "America's royalty."  Unbeknownst to them, working nearly daily the the Belmont conservatory, is real royalty - Marcus Geoffrey, who is close in line for the throne of Austria.  Though earning a wage as an architect, Marcus' other passion is in botany, particularly plant genetics and grafting, and Belmont has been offered as a haven for his experiments.  Eleanor, plain and tall, does not trust particularly handsome men, and Marcus knows his own good looks all too well, yet somehow they strike up a real friendship.  However, as a potential heir, Marcus has obligations in Austria, limiting his time and freedom.  Will the two find courage to follow their dreams?  And will they find the courage to love?

I am so thankful that the author is not afraid to write a long book.  It is not long for the sake of being long, but long to do justice to the plot, and she certainly does that.  Besides working several plot threads that require time, Alexander develops the characters, the setting, and the historic detail that bring the novel to life, turning the length purely to her advantage.  There is no pointless puttering around, but every passage is working towards the conclusion. 

The author does a marvelous job setting the story in history.  It is not just a romance that takes place after the Civil War - it is a meticulously researched tale firmly anchored in the Reconstruction era with real people and events.  The rise of women's shelters, safe asylums for the insane, troubled relations between Austria and Russia, research with plant genetics and grafting, the search for a potato not prone to rot - all were issues being dealt with at the time.  Not only were Adelicia Acklen, her immediate family, and her servants all real, set in the picturesque Belmont estate, but so also were numerous places described in Nashville, such as the insane asylum.  Additionally, historic figures such as Dorothea Dix (activist for the insane), Gregor Mendel (geneticist), and Luther Burbank (developer of the Russet potato) cameo in the story. 

One of the strongest themes of the story (hinted at by the title) is that of beauty.  Eleanor knows that true beauty is dependent on what is inside a person, not in their outward appearance; however, as a plain woman, she struggles with the fact that, by worldly standards, she isn't beautiful.  There are few women I've known who cannot relate with that feeling of deficiency, no matter their outward appearance.  And the author makes a really good point - something I have noticed myself - that the better you know someone and the more you love them, the more beautiful they become.  And conversely, the uglier a person acts, the less and less attractive they appear, no matter how physically flawless.  In this world where so much weight is placed on physical appearance, it is good to be reminded of what beauty truly is. 

I suspect historical novels such as this - by captivating my interest and prompting me to research further - have led to as much if not more of my knowledge of history than I learned in school.  Like all of Alexander's books, this novel is rich with historic detail, a well-thought-out plot, faith, and encouragement.  5 out of 5 stars!

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for a free e-copy for the purpose of review; I was not required to make it positive, and all opinions are my own. 

Belmont Mansion
1. A Lasting Impression
2. A Beauty So Rare
3. A Note Yet Unsung

Belle Meade Plantation (contains some cross-over characters/connections to Belmont)
1. To Whisper Her Name
2. To Win Her Favor 
2.5 "To Mend a Dream" (part of the novella collection Among the Fair Magnolias)
3. To Wager Her Heart

Carnton Mansion
0.5: "Christmas at Carnton" (novella)

Tamera Alexander's "A Lasting Impression" - a passionate novel that definitely makes an impression!

In this post-Civil War novel, Tamera Alexander invites the reader into Belmont Mansion, the home of the famous, wealthy Adelicia Acklen.  Claire Laurante, a gifted artist who has helped her family by painting forgeries, finds herself on the run from mysterious thieves who attacked her father.  Determined to begin an honest life away from the family trade, Claire applies for the position of Adelicia Acklen's liason - an event coordinator, secretary, and confidante.  Sutton Monroe, Mrs. Acklen's personal attorney, is battling to reclaim his family's land and clear his father's name, both results of belonging to the losing side of the war, while attempting to make a name for himself in a forgery case.  The two of them have to work together to see that Mrs. Acklen's reentry into society is a success - a task that pushes the two of them much closer together than they ever would have dreamed.  However, can an upstanding attorney (and his influential employer) handle the secrets Claire is loath to share?

Alexander's attention to detail is stunning.  Based on her writing, it is clear that she has walked the grounds of Belmont, that she has studied its inhabitants, and that she has a passion for this place.  In addition to a glorious location, her depiction of the time period - the reconstruction following the Civil War - is a moving blend of hardened, embittered attitudes by those who lost and prayerful hope by those rebuilding their lives.  Understandably, as a person - a woman - who profited during the war and then gallivanted off to Europe while everyone else was picking up the pieces of their lives, Adelicia Acklen is in a tenuous position.  It is fascinating to hear about the struggles this strong woman faced. 

In this novel and her others set in the post-war South (especially To Whisper Her Name), the author has masterfully portrayed the spirit of the Reconstruction, if not the reality.  It is not about mending the heart of a nation, but about mending the hearts of people - the people who make up the nation.  Until the hearts of the people are healed, the nation cannot be whole.  Two or three people finding healing - it isn't much, yet every one of those hearts is crucial to eliminating the bitterness and moving on to a future of prosperity.

Alexander's passion for the setting, the characters, and the theme is palpable, even without her heart-felt author's note in the end.  Her poignant statement, "Would you paint if you knew you were painting only for Me?" struck a chord within me, and it made me question my motivation.  Do I make things jut to sell, or to glorify God?  And do I put off things I love because they are not marketable, because they will probably never make it past my eyes only, when maybe God would like me to pursue it just for Him? 

I love the curl-up-in-front-of-the-fireplace feel to this novel; at 426 pages, it is a thick, rich, decadent read  - the kind of novel I love to savor.  And when an author has as much passion about their story as Alexander demonstrates, it must be worthwhile.  5 out of 5 stars!


Belmont Mansion trilogy
1. A Lasting Impression
2. A Beauty So Rare
3. A Note Yet Unsung

(which contains minor connections to the Belmont Mansion trilogy . . . )
Belle Meade Plantation trilogy
1. To Whisper Her Name
2. To Win Her Favor 
2.5 "To Mend a Dream" (part of the novella collection Among the Fair Magnolias)
3. To Wager Her Heart

Carton Mansion
0.5: "Christmas at Carnton" (novella)

"To Whisper Her Name" by Tamera Alexander - a beautiful, indulgent read

In To Whisper Her Name, the first of her Belle Meade Plantation series, Tamera Alexander writes a beautiful novel on overcoming fears and growing strong in the Lord.  Widow to an abusive husband and traitor to the South, Olivia Aberdeen has no option but to trespass on the hospitality of the Hardings of Belle Meade until she is married off again to secure financial gain for her guardians.  Ridley Cooper, a South Carolina man, fought for the Union and is on his way out to homestead in Colorado, but before he goes he wants to learn how to handle horses like the horse whisperer Robert Green - head hostler of Belle Meade plantation - does.  The two end up working together, he as foreman and she in charge of ordering goods for the entire farming operation, but no one but Bob Green knows of Ridley's allegiances, least of all Olivia, who hopes to remarry a well-respected Southern man when the time comes.


I love long books - and this one is nearly 500 pages - as there is so much time to develop characters, plot, setting, etcetera.  Perhaps the story moves more slowly, but it feels so much richer. There is time to establish the characters' personalities and struggles, time to grow gradually so that it's realistic, not just BAM they have an epitome and change.  There is time to win the reader over, even if one of the characters is not likeable in the beginning.

Honestly, I am frustrated with Ridley's arrogance and impatience when he first begins training with Uncle Bob.  The chip on his shoulder turns me off, and his impatience hits close to home.  However, while he never loses his boldness, the arrogant edge is smoothed off, and impatience no longer cripples him.  I might still question his tact, but we're none of us perfect, even at the end of a romance novel.  Olivia has nearly the opposite problem - free thinking, hopes, dreams, preferences - it has all been beaten out of her so many times that she struggles to step outside absolute propriety or even voice an opinion slightly contrary to the others.  Like the horses she so fears, she shies away people again and again until they have finally earned her trust.  As she is given more responsibilities and opportunities to fight her fears, she blossoms into a confident young woman who is able to make her own choices. 

Compared to other books, not a lot of excitement happens, but it does not need so much either.  The point of the plot is not a dangerous mission or thrilling adventure; it is journey toward healing and growing into a child of Christ - more into the person they are beneath the hurts and shame.  The descriptions of Belle Meade firmly establish the setting, as it is clear the author has been there and done her research.  This is my favorite of Alexander's books.  5 out of 5 stars.

On her website, Tamera Alexander lots of great information on Belle Meade in the form of a number of video clips - a trailer for the book, a vignette on the head hostler Bob Green, the history of thoroughbreds in the area and Belle Meade's role, footage of the old Harding cabin, views of inside the mansion, and the tracing of the bloodlines of a number of Kentucky Derby winners back to Belle Meade.  See:

http://www.tameraalexander.com/bellemeadeplantationnovels.html

Belle Meade Plantation
1. To Whisper Her Name
2. To Win Her Favor 
2.5 "To Mend a Dream" (part of the novella collection Among the Fair Magnolias)
3. To Wager Her Heart 

Belmont Mansion (Related to the Belle Meade Plantation novels)
1. A Lasting Impression
2. A Beauty So Rare

3. A Note Yet Unsung

Carnton Mansion
0.5: "Christmas at Carnton" (novella)

Serena B. Miller's "The Measure of Katie Calloway" - a story of strength, courage, and honoring God

II Timothy 1:7: "God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." The Measure of Katie Calloway exemplifies this verse as abused and down-trodden Katie Calloway runs off from her cruel husband and joins on as cook in a lumber camp.  There she learns to stand up for herself and those she loves.

As the novel takes place over the course of the lumber season - from fall until spring, when everyone scatters their separate ways - it feels like God has prepared this as a season of strengthening, restoration, and hope for Katie and other members of the camp, as they live in seclusion in the deep timber of Michigan.  It is not easy - one does not learn to be strong or brave without being forced to practice strength and bravery - but it is a period of great growth.

Miller writes a beautiful novel of strength, courage, and choosing to honor God, even when one's heart wants to act differently.  What I appreciate most about Katie is her fidelity - even when she knows how easy it would be to fall in love with a good man like Robert, she holds back, knowing that marriage is for life, and as unpleasant as it has been for her, and even though her husband is far away where hopefully she will never see him again, she remains true.  Robert, too, when he learns the truth of Katie's marriage, holds himself back and lets her go.  It is good to see such unselfish love that respects the boundaries of marriage. 

The characters are well developed and easy to love, even as uncouth and crotchety as some of the lumberjacks are.  The historical aspects - both the lumber camp life and the post-civil war attitudes - make for a well-rounded novel.  It is an uplifting story, but not because life is in any way easy for Katie - because she overcomes so much.  5 out of 5 stars!

Michigan Northwoods
1. The Measure of Katie Calloway
2. Under a Blackberry Moon
3. A Promise to Love

I also highly recommend Jody Hedlund's Unending Devotion, another excellent novel about lumber camp life in Michigan.