Pre-Owned A Rebel Heart

Can you believe this is the first Beth White book I've read? I've heard great things about her books and I love historical romance but didn't get around to reading any of her books until now. And I'm so glad I picked up this first installment in Daughtry House series. All the buzz in the Christian fiction blog world is correct -Beth White is a wonderful writer. A Rebel Heart is a lyrically written historical romance set in the years after the Civil War as the country, particularly the South, attempts to rebuild. The plot is well-constructed with a subtle undercurrent of intrigue; the characters are lovable and delightful even with their secrets, flaws and mistakes; the thread of hope and faith is real and tangible; and the issue of racism that the author tackles is as alive today as it was in the days after the end of the war. Anyone who enjoys historical romance, especially set in the South, will love this book. Levi is a delectable hero in the story who has seen and suffered much during the war. As an undercover Pinkerton agent and a former Union officer, he has secrets and information to unearth, yet cannot help himself from showing his clever, intelligent, resourceful, charming, tender-hearted, and loving self to Selah in hopes of helping her and her family. Selah is the eldest daughter of a plantation owner and Colonel in the Confederate army who is presumed dead. She is on the verge of bankruptcy when plans to turn her historic home into an elegant hotel start to become a reality. She is stubborn, wary, and tends to hold grudges but loves her family and has a soft heart. As Selah and Levi become partners in reviving a decrepit mansion back to its former glory, their friendship blooms and romance beckons. I can't wait for book 2 in this series where Selah's younger sister Joelle will get her own story! I received a copy of this book from Baker Publishing through Interviews and Reviews and was under no obligation to write a review. All comments and opinions are solely my own and subjective.

The Civil War was such an ugly hard thing for our country. Families were divided. The nation was torn in two. A Rebel Heart brings us a tale of one group of people working to repair and rebuild not only structures but relationships. Selah Daughtry and her two sisters and cousin are barely eeking out an existance on their family's plantation. The main house is in a deplorable state of disrepair, the slaves have been set free, and all sorces of income have dwindled to nothing. Despite all of the obsticles Selahh is determined to retain her family's estate but her options are quickly narrowing to one. And that isn't the one she was hoping for. What was intriguing about this book was the reminder that the after effects of war are nothing new. PTSD was a thing even though it wasn't called that. Former enemies had to find a way to make peace to move beyond the conflict. All that we see in our current situations were present then, maybe in a different form due to the time-frame, but present all the same. I thought that it was easy to connect with Selah and her sisters and cousin. They each found themselves struggling to find their place between the past and the future. Relationships can be hard, but they are always worth investing in. If you like historical fiction, especially Civil War era then I think you'll enjoy this book. There's a bit of romance to lighten the dire subject matter but it doesn't fluff the story too much. This first book focuses on Selah, but there are more books planned in the series that will focus on the other women in the story. I'm looking forward to reading them all. I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.