I have been deep into writing and research the past few months, so this recommendation comes from my mother who read the book first, but I wanted to add a few thoughts. I read the first two books in the Carnton series, and they are wonderful! I appreciate how the author does not shy away from history—the good and bad—and remains loyal to the truth, all while treating difficult subject matters with care and respect. If you visit the author's website, you can learn about this book's interesting path to publication.
I look forward to reading the book, but in the meantime, scroll down for a few thoughts from my mother.
Civil War-era books are some of my favorite, and this a beautiful and heartwarming story that is almost difficult to describe. There is a lot happening, and I liked the incorporation of Irish immigrants, their fates and hardships, and how they overcame. The storytelling is wonderful and there is a lot of interesting historical detail, which I think is important to know and remember. The author makes you feel like you are there and going through everything with the characters. It shows how deplorable people can be, and how kind and generous others are. Colors of Truth is a well-written book that can't be summed up in a few sentences. It is worth the read and highly recommended.
About the Book
In a town battered and bruised by war, one woman embarks upon an impossible search--and one man must face the past in the very place that almost destroyed him.
Tennessee, 1866. According to the last letter Irish immigrant Catriona O'Toole received from her twin brother, Ryan, he was being dispatched to Franklin, Tennessee, where--as a conscripted Confederate soldier--he likely endured the bloody Battle of Franklin that claimed the lives of thousands. Catriona leaves behind the lush green of their Irish homeland in search of him, with nothing to her name except the sum of cash Ryan sent to their family. Now the sole provider for her seven-year-old spitfire sister, Nora, Catriona hopes to reunite the siblings--the only surviving members of their devastated family.
Wade Cunningham is a former Federal soldier who now works for the newly formed United States Secret Service and is trying to uncover counterfeiting rings in the postwar South. In order to infiltrate their sophisticated enterprise, he must pose as a former Confederate in Franklin--a town where counterfeit greenbacks run rampant. When Wade meets Catriona, he is immediately intrigued by her and the little redheaded scamp in her care--but what he doesn't anticipate is that the cash in Catriona's possession is some of the most convincing counterfeit money he's ever seen. Soon the object of Wade's affection is also the suspect in a major crime--one he's expected to prosecute.
With rich historical detail and multifaceted prose, USA TODAY bestselling author Tamera Alexander tells a riveting tale of truth, betrayal, and unlikely romance that unveils the many shades of God's perfect redemption.
The Carnton novels are standalone novels, meaning they are part of a series but can be enjoyed individually.
Christmas at Carnton, a novella
With This Pledge, book 1
Colors of Truth, book 2
Book 3 releasing summer 2021
The Reading Room is where I share books, because authors are readers, too. I don't rate books on my blog, but I do like to share books I've read and enjoyed (My mom recommends a few, too.). My tastes are eclectic, so expect to see everything from sweet, wholesome romance to edge-of-your-seat, sexy thrillers, and more in between.