Christmas at Carnton – Faith, Fortitude, and Merriment!
Having been around the Christian Fiction genre (especially Amish) for a while, there are some wonderful authors out there that I’ve not had the opportunity to read. Tamera Alexander is one of those authors, and I really wondered if her writings were all that they were hyped up to be. Well, if her latest novella, Christmas at Carnton, is any indication, I need to get crack-a-lackin’ on the rest of her work! It is heart-warming and poignant.
Aletta Prescott is a young, newly widowed woman living in Franklin, TN. She has a precocious six-year-old, a child on the way, and a home in possible foreclosure. Aletta is thrilled and hopeful when she learns of a position available at the famous Carnton estate, to help assist the Women’s Relief Fund. Her hopes are dashed when she finds the position filled. Now what will she do?
Confederate sharp-shooter Jake Winston is known for his skills on the battlefield, but when a head wound prevents his return, he’s sent to Carnton – to help with the Women’s Relief Fund. He’s less than thrilled – he should be with his fellow men, not a bunch of women.
When Jake and Aletta meet, Jake finds himself drawn to this woman, and her child, but what about the battlefield? Besides, Aletta has suffered enough for two lifetimes. What will happen to them? How will each find peace and hope in the midst of such tragedy and sorrow? Read and find out!
I was given Christmas at Carnton in exchange for my honest review. It’s such a wonderful read. Alexander does an amazing job of drawing her readers in. Do not be fooled by the word “novella”; it’s a hefty 256 pages – and worth every sentence. The characters are charming, likeable, and believable. Needless to say, I’m now a Tamera Alexander fan, and I can’t wait for her new series, The Carnton Novels (this novella is a prequel to the series!) to begin! Definitely a wonderful, sweeping tale of faith, fortitude, and merriment.
Susan Ferrell and her husband make their home in the Atlanta Metro area. Although Susan struggles with chronic migraine headaches, she stays very busy as a stay-at-home mom to one very precocious little girl. While catching her breath, she feeds her Amishaholic tendencies by reading vast amounts of Amish literature!