Tamer Alexander's "Colors of Truth" - Carnton, book 2

In 1866 Catriona O'Toole arrives in the town of Franklin, Tennessee, searching for her younger brother, Ryan, who, according to his last letter, was headed for Franklin only days before the catastrophic Battle of Franklin. Wade Cunningham, one of ten operatives in the newly formed United States Secret Service Agency, is on the hunt for counterfeiters. A tip leads him to Franklin and to Carnton. As evidence in the case mounts, it eventually points to Catriona, but Wade is reluctant to believe it.

Tamera Alexander always delivers a rich, detailed historical novel, and Colors of Truth is no exception. 

The history of Carnton here on the page brings to life the aftermath of war in ways that I hadn't seen before. It's a year following the battle, and the bodies of the Union soldiers have already been exhumed and sent home to be buried, while the bodies of the Confederate soldiers--many buried too shallowly--are rising to the surface, and the federal government won't lift a finger to deal with them. Thus the McGavocks and local leaders themselves must raise the funds and provide the land for a cemetery. I can't imagine the work to exhume nearly fifteen hundred bodies and rebury them properly, keeping meticulous records on everyone that they could identify. 

Of course, the main plot line follows Catriona and Wade and the counterfeiting, which is well-rooted in history as well. I very much liked Wade (once past his self-righteousness early in the story); he's a good guy, yet I really liked that he crossed Tempy early on and is forever in the doghouse with her--it just struck me as really funny. All the little ways Tempy shows her disapproval of him cracked me up. Catriona and her sister Nora were more challenging to like; both are hot-tempered and lacking in tact, which is fine when dealing with bullies but harder to stomach when being a jerk to someone who is legitimately trying to help and has personally done nothing to earn their disapprobation. When Catriona finally lets down her guard to be vulnerable, then she's a lot more likeable.

Carnton
0.5: Christmas at Carnton
1. With This Pledge
2. Colors of Truth

Related Nashville Novels (contain some cross-over characters/connections to Carnton):

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

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

"Braced for Love" by Mary Connealy - Brothers in Arms, book 1

Left with little back in Missouri, Kevin Hunt takes his younger siblings to Wyoming when he receives news that he's inheriting part of a ranch. The catch is that the ranch is also being given to a half brother he never knew existed. Turns out, Kevin's supposedly dead father led a secret and scandalous life. But danger seems to track Kevin along the way, and he wonders if his half brother, Wyatt, is behind the attacks. Finally arriving at the ranch, everyone is at each other's throats and the only one willing to stand in between is Winona Hawkins, a nearby schoolmarm. Despite being a long-time friend to Wyatt, Winona can't help but be drawn to the earnest, kind Kevin--and that puts her in the cross hairs of somebody's dangerous plot. Will they all be able to put aside their differences long enough to keep anyone from getting truly hurt?

This was a fun first book to the series. The premise is a little crazy, but it's even crazier that part of it is based on the life of the scoundrel who founded the author's town. So this book is a what-might-have-happened if said scoundrel had born children with each of his wives across the country and then brought them all together with his death. 

The book has pretty much everything you can expect from a Connealy romantic comedy--her trademark humorous writing style, gunfights, skulking through rough terrain, and certainly no beating around the bush with the romance. It doesn't wrap up everything by the end--that's what the next two books are for. But it looks to be a fun series!

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

Brothers in Arms
1. Braced for Love
2. A Man with a Past
3. Love on the Range

"A Tapestry of Light" by Kimberly Duffy

Ottilie Russell is adrift between two cultures, British and Indian, belonging to both and neither. When a stranger appears with the news that her brother Thaddeus is now Baron Sunderson and must travel to England to take his place as a nobleman, Ottilie is shattered by the secrets that come to light. Despite her growing friendship with Everett Scott, friend to Ottilie's English grandmother and aunt, she refuses to give up her brother. Then tragedy strikes, and she is forced to make a decision that will take Thaddeus far from death and herself far from home. But betrayal and loss lurk in England, too, and soon Ottilie must fight to ensure Thaddeus doesn't forget who he is, as well as find a way to stitch a place for herself in this foreign land.

This was a fascinating historical novel. The descriptions, the complex history depicted, the romance--all of it was beautiful, but none of more than Ottilie herself as she struggles with her faith and learns to overcome. She's incredibly relatable as she questions God's goodness, even God Himself, when all she sees is devastation and loss and rejection. Most of her family has died suddenly in outbreaks of disease and tragic accidents. As a Eurasion, she's too British to be Indian, but too Indian to be British, and she is accepted by neither faction. She feels very alone, and that's something I think we can all relate to. 

I loved what Ottilie's aunt--who has struggled with faith as much or even more than Ottilie herself--says that bitterness and unforgiveness are "a greater threat to Christian faith than a million other gods." In a land of many religions and even more gods, even she can recognize that it wasn't the allure of another god that challenged her faith--it was the bitterness of betrayal and her choice not to forgive.

For all that Ottilie feels alone, she draws wonderful friends. I would love to know more about Damaris--she's clever and fun and easily worthy of her own story. Penny and her family come late to the narrative, but they're no less delightful. All in all, it was an excellent read.

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

"My Dear Miss Dupré" by Grace Hitchcock - American Royalty, book 1

Willow Dupré never thought she would have to marry, but with her father's unexpected retirement from running the prosperous Dupré sugar refinery, plans changed. The shareholders are unwilling to allow a female to take over the company without a man at her side, so her parents devise a plan--find Willow a spokesman king in order for her to become queen of the empire. Willow is presented with thirty potential suitors from the families of New York society's elite. She has six months to court the group and is expected to eliminate men each month to narrow her beaus until she chooses one to marry, ending the competition with a wedding. Willow reluctantly agrees, knowing she must do what is best for the business. She doesn't expect to find anything other than a proxy . . . but maybe her heart will be touched after all.

While I've never watched The Bachelorette or The Bachelor, I have a basic idea of the concept, and it . . . translates surprisingly well into the Gilded Age. Better than modern day, actually, since what Willow is looking for is a husband she can like and respect--she's not expecting to find the love of her life under the pressure of a highly publicized contest. She needs a husband in a hurry, and this is the best way they can find someone she might appreciate for the rest of her life. Now if I were Willow, I would probably strangle Mother Dearest for coming up with the scheme, even if it is done as respectably as possible, but Willow's a lot less stubborn and more open to crazy ideas than I am. 

Based on the viewpoints in the book, it's pretty clear there are only two true contenders for Willow's hand (and even then, it was easy enough to peg the winner). If it were just the romance alone (no underhanded schemes in the background), I'd rather have had only Willow's point of view to keep the mystery of her final choice a lot longer. But it would have made our hero's journey much less impactful, so I can see why the men's points of view were included. It's an entertaining story--not exactly what I was expecting, but enjoyable.

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

American Royalty
1. My Dear Miss Dupré
2. Her Darling Mr. Day
3. His Delightful Lady Delia 

"When Twilight Breaks" by Sarah Sundin - wonderful pre-WWII romance

Evelyn Brand is an American foreign correspondent as determined to prove her worth in a male-dominated profession as she is to expose the growing tyranny in Nazi Germany. But she walks a thin line--if she offends the government, she could be expelled from the country, but if she fails to truthfully report on major stories, she'll never be able to give a voice to the oppressed. As part of an assignment, she meets American graduate student Peter Lang, who is working on his PhD in German. Disillusioned with the chaos in the world due to the Great Depression, he is impressed with the prosperity and order of German society. But when the brutality of the regime hits close, he discovers a far better way to use his contacts within the Nazi party--to feed information to the shrewd reporter he can't get off his mind. But their efforts to expose oppression attract unwanted attention, pulling them deeper into danger as the world marches toward war.

This was a thoroughly engaging story. It technically takes place before World War Two (pre-invasion of Poland), so we see each step Germany takes in downward spiral into fascism, but from the perspective of two Americans living in the country--with, at least initially, differing viewpoints on Germany's choices.

The author touches on some of the seductiveness of the Nazi regime, like things as basic as giving up a few freedoms to see one's family fed; accepting a few harsh penalties to see crime reduced and the streets cleaned up; ignoring unjust ideologies to see prosperity and dignity restored after years of destitution and degradation---all tantalizing rewards for a few small compromises here and there. It's little wonder that Peter is initially impressed with the way Germany has grown over such a short time.

However, Peter is both convicted and disillusioned as the senseless violence increases, making him a worthy hero for our spunky heroine. I loved their romance, especially their close friendship before Evelyn will allow him into her heart. And that climax! Super thrilling. I enjoyed it immensely. 

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

"The Prince of Spies" by Elizabeth Camden - Hope and Glory, book 3

Luke Delacroix has the reputation of a charming man-about-town in Gilded Age Washington, DC. In reality, he is secretly carrying out an ambitious agenda in Congress. His current mission is to thwart the reelection of Congressman Clyde Magruder, his only real enemy in the world. But trouble begins when Luke meets Marianne Magruder, the congressman's only daughter, whose job as a government photographer gives her unprecedented access to sites throughout the city. Luke is captivated by Marianne's quick wit and alluring charm, leading them both into a dangerous gamble to reconcile their feelings for each other with Luke's driving passion for vital reforms in Congress. Can their newfound love survive a political firestorm, or will three generations of family rivalry drive them apart forever?

I am amazed at what Elizabeth Camden can turn into a fascinating book premise. Preservatives are not high on my list of thrilling subjects, but there is no question that this book--really, this whole trilogy--is fascinating and full of thrills. It's especially fun to find out just how much is taken directly from history, like the Poison Squad. 

I loved the romance. The two families are in a generations-long feud, which would make it seem like a Romeo and Juliet romance, but it's so much more mature. Luke and Marianne don't just ignore the issues that divide their families; they discuss them, standing on opposite sides, and yet they're still friends when they're done. But more importantly, each is willing to do what is right, even when it flies in the face of a long-held belief--whether that's owning up to dishonesty or making peace with one's worst enemy. 

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

Hope and Glory
1. The Spice King
2. A Gilded Lady
3. The Prince of Spies

"The Paris Dressmaker" by Kristy Cambron

In WWII Paris, dressmaker Lila de Laurent is drawn to La Resistance and is soon using her skills as a dressmaker to infiltrate the Nazi elite. Sandrine Paquet catalogs the priceless works of art bound for the Führer’s Berlin, but she also secretly forages for information from the underground resistance. Beneath her compliant façade lies a woman bent on uncovering the fate of her missing husband. Told across the span of the Nazi occupation, The Paris Dressmaker highlights the brave women who used everything in their power to resist darkness and restore light to their world.

Once I got into the rhythm of the story, I really liked it (and found it easier to keep track of what was going on). The point of view alternates between Lila and Sandrine, with two chapters from Lila's perspective--first her experiences earlier in the war and then her experiences near the end of the war---and then the same for Sandrine (beginning then end), until their histories have caught up with the turmoil of the liberation. So there is a lot of seesawing back and forth, both between characters and in time.

This was a different view of WWII than I've typically run across, as the story specifically concentrates on Paris and life under Nazi occupation, with a strong focus on art and couture. Both Lila's and Sandrine's stories depict the lives of the women of Paris and the compromises they made to survive. It gives a balanced picture of resistors and collaborators. I think I would have preferred it as two full-length novels--Lila and Sandrine don't connect until near the very end, and then not so intimately that it felt particularly impactful. But I definitely enjoyed both stories; each has a hefty dose of suspense, and both are romantic, though in different ways. It's hard to say which I liked better-- Lila's deliberate and active journey deeper into the resistance and back into the arms of the love who once spurned her, or Sandrine's careful dance with the Nazi captain as she feigns compliance while remaining true to her husband and country.

Thank you Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.