Colors of Truth review

 Title:  Colors of Truth

Author:  Tamera Alexander

 Ch: 43 plus epilogue

Pg:  504

Series: Carnton Book 2

Genre: Christian Historical fiction with a hint of romance

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Fountain Creek Press

     Colors of Truth is the second book in the Carnton series by Tamera Alexander and my favorite of to the series.  The novel is set in Franklin Tennessee at Carnton in 1866 at the end of the Civil War at a messy time in our history. But that the thing about history its messy, but we need to learn from it and in order to do that we have to look at the way that it was. However we don't have to view it in positive light. Tamera did a good job of finding the balance between the facts of history and showing  that it was wrong and evil.  In Colors of Truth she does this with her main characters Catriona O'Toole newly arrived from Ireland with her younger sister Nora. And Wade Cunningham who fought for the Union but is an undercover operative with the Secret Service Agent posing as a confederate soldier  in order to find counterfeiters. 

 

Catriona being Irish understands a little better than most what the freedmen and women are facing being hated for their skin and former status, while Catriona Nora are hated for where they are from that can be hidden to a point though Nora's red hair gives a hint and all doubt is removed   as soon as Catriona opens her and speaks with an Irish accent. Though she knows that even though she and Nora have faced hardship and heartache it's nothing to what Tempy and other former slaves have faced.  

 

Wade though raised in Southern Kentucky chose to fight for the union and is still fighting for that cause and it pains him to hide the truth from Tempy and Catriona, but he does it because he is still fighting for a better life for those like Tempy and Catriona.  

 

My two favorite secondary characters are Tempy and Nora,  I loved Tempy's wisdom and faith in the first book and she doesn't disappoint in this one.  I also loved Nora the little redheaded spitfire reminded me of my own sister at that age. 

 

Catriona is the character that I related to the most, her stubborn nature and her struggle to find the balance of being a sister to Nora and a mother figure.  That’s what I related to the most with her character the most because I to was trying to find the balance between two with my own younger sister after losing our mom though at 19 my sister was slightly older than wee Nora. Wade has become my favorite hero of Tamera’s he truly is a good man.

 

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone. 

First Line Fridays

 Hosted by Hoarding Books Blog

Chapter 1 
March 16, 1866 

Franklin, Tennessee 

21 Miles South of Nashville 

 

"Catriona held tight to her younger sisters arm, knowing better than to loosen her grip when surrounded by such tempting delights." 

With this Pledge Review

Title:  With this Pledge

Author: Tamera Alexander

Series: Carnton Book 1

Chapters: 43 Plus Epilogue

Pages: 448

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction, Christian Historical Romance

Rating: 5 Stars

If anyone can get me to read a book American Civil War novel its Tamera. I’ve haven’t read a book of hers that I didn’t like. Outside of novels about the America Revolution I tend to only read non-fiction book about war. As most authors tend to Sugar coat it. Or show only one side of the war. 

Tamera doesn’t do that with this one. She shows the horrors of war without shocking you as well as showing what the woman and children went through.

What makes this novel so real and heart wrenching is that is novel is based on a real place, a real family the McGavocks and their home Carnton which was turned in to a field hospital after the battle of Franklin. Their governess Elizabeth "Lizzie" Clouston is soon turned into a nurse.  Reading this novel has me wanting to visit Carnton. Much like I did with Belmont and Belle Meade after reading Tamera's previous novels set in Tennessee. 

Captain Roland Ward Jones a confederate sharpshooter is injured in the battle, but Lizzie makes him a promise she somehow manages to keep.  As a sharpshooter and a rebel one at that he's hated by the union. Mainly because sharpshooters hide and killed troops without them knowing.  But both sides used sharpshooters they were the forerunner of our modern day snipers.  So I would say this book is one of Tamera's darker and more graphic books in the terms of war and violence.   

I loved the slow burn romance of the hero and the heroine. This is the first historical fiction that the main couple were both based on historical figures though lesser known that most. I like my historical fiction with a romance. Not a romance with a hint of historical fiction and Tamera does a great job at that.  The romances in her books add to the story they don't take away from that.  

I would recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, Tamera’s other books as well as fans of Lori Benton, Laura Frantz (though it is a different time period than these two.)  Jocelyn Green and Roseanna m white. 

Not Yet Unsung

Title: A Not Yet Unsung

Author: Tamera Alexander

Series: Belmont Mansion book 3

 

Chapters: 40

Pages: 430

Genre: Christian Historical fiction/ Christian Historical romance

Rating: 5 stars

     What's a young woman who just happens to be a master violinist to do when she denied entry to the Nashville Philharmonic, just because she's a woman? If you're Rebekah Carrington and Nathaniel Whitcomb the young conductor who turned you down you do what you can to prove him wrong.  You end up working as a music teacher for the children of Miss Adelicia Acklen Cheatham mistress of Belmont Mansion.

     What neither Rebekah nor Nathaniel realize is that they both need each other in order to make their dreams come true along with God.   

     A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander is the third and final book in the Belmont Mansion series. It's my favorite of this series and not just for the musical aspect I love good violin music. I am a violinist myself though not good enough to play in an orchestra. I also loved the love story.  I hate to say it but I love hate to love, love stories.  I am looking forward to reading the final book in the Belle Meade series next and whatever books Tamera Alexander has in the future. 

Review of To Win her Favor

Title:  To Win Her Favor

Author: Tamera Alexander

Series: Belle Meade Plantation Book 2

 

Chapters: 50 Plus epilogue

Pages: 368

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction, Christian Historical Romance

Rating: 5 stars

To Win her Favor is the second Book in the Belle Meade series. Margaret Maggie Linden and her father own Linden Downs. Their farm that is almost on auction block. When Cullen McGrath asks to buy the farm. Maggie's father agrees to deed to the farm to him if he does two things, pays the back taxes and marries Maggie.  I normally don't like marriage of Connivance   stories, but I loved this one.  I don't know if it is because of I love historical fiction with horses. Or if it is because the hero is an Irish hero.  It does have me wanting to read more marriage of Connivance   stories.

To Win her Favor is a book about two strong people, Maggie wants to continue to train and race Bourbon Belle, but Cullen wants to avoid the world of thoroughbred racing. It was nice to read and see how they both changed through the novel.  A character learned to trust, and another character finds their way back to their faith in God.  I also loved watching two characters slowly fall in love with each other.  To Win her Favor is my favorite of the Belle Meade novels so far.

With each novel I read of Tamera's I find myself loving them more and her writing style.  I have to say that Cullen McGrath is my favorite character of hers, because he's Irish and slightly rough around the edges but with a heart of gold. I can't wait till the next book in the Belle Meade series.

Review of To Whisper Her Name

Title: To Whisper Her Name

Author: Tamera Alexander

Series:  A Belle Meade Plantation Novel

 

Pages: 475

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction, Christian Historical Romance

Rating: 5 stars

     Another great read from Tamera Alexander. To whisper Her Name combined two of my favorite things into one awesome novel horses and history. Most of the books that I read come alive to me in many ways. This book was no different. However To Whisper her Name came alive to me in ways that books have never come alive before. I think that it was because I have actually been to Belle Meade and know what the house and grounds look like.

     I feel in love with the characters of Olivia Aberdeen and Ridley Adam Cooper. I cannot wait till the next book in the series. 

Review of The Inheritance

Title: The Inheritance

Author: Tamera Alexander

Series:   woman of faith fiction

Chapters: 45 plus epilogue

Pages: 375

Genre: Christian Historical fiction

Rating: 5 stars

     McKenna Ashford heads west to join her cousin’s family in order to give her younger brother Robert a chance at a better life. A chance to turn his life around.  Arriving in Copper Creek McKenna finds out that her cousin’s husband is dead and her cousin on her death bed. Her cousin makes McKenna to raise her daughter like her own.

     McKenna already has her hands full with her brother and trying to do a man’s job. She has a gift of designing and making saddlers, she makes a deal with one of the Town’s livery owners to make the saddles in secret; so no one knows that she is the one making the saddles.


   U.S. Marshal Wyatt Caradon means bad news to McKenna; she tries to keep her distance to protect her brother. She’s trying to fight her feelings for him. On the other hand Wyatt is trying to fight his feelings for McKenna. It’s only after he learns the saddle that he brought was designed by McKenna that he sees her in a new light. McKenna and Wyatt must work together to protect an innocence child and save a ranch. Will they both finally realize their feelings? Will they have a chance at love? 

Just like with other books my Tamera Alexander I was drawn in to the story from the beginning. Like her other westerns McKenna is a strong heroine who even though she's had to be tough knows when it's time to lean on others and God.