“Christmas at Carnton” is a delightful introduction to Tamera Alexander’s new Carnton series. It is a story of faith and fortitude, and the pain and joy of loss and love.
Aletta Prescott recently lost her husband in the Civil War. With a young son to raise and a baby on the way, she suddenly finds her self facing foreclosure and a feeling of hopelessness. Unsure where to turn she answers an advertisement to help at a Women’s Relief Society auction that will benefit the Confederate soldiers.
Captain Jake Winston was a sharpshooter in the army until an injury affected his sight. While recuperating, Jake is sent to help with the relief auction at Carnton in Franklin, Tennessee. Facing disappointment over not being able to perform his well-loved job, he at first is a bit disgruntled that he has to help with an event he feels is misguided.
As Aletta and Jake are thrown together in a circumstance full of questions, fears and disappointments, they slowly grow closer, while also learning to draw closer to God for his peace, comfort and provision.
“Christmas at Carnton” is a lovely story to get you in the mood for the holiday season. Besides being a romance, it’s a story full of hope and faith, and it teaches us to step up and help others even when we are undergoing our own struggles. It also reminds us that when our faith seems too fragile for the burdens of life, God is there to pick us up and offer us his hand of provision — and that we are always able to approach him with our needs and concerns.
Alexander provides some delightful characters in her newest novel — Aletta and Jake are both wonderful characters who are totally relatable; you’ll fall in love with her adorable son Andrew and his new buddy Winder; and Carnton cook Tempy, the only slave remaining on the estate, is one strong, amazing and inspirational woman — who just happens to be based on the real cook of Carnton. There is also a brief appearance by characters from Alexander’s previous “Belle Meade” series, and of course the estate of Carnton itself is an actual place you visit in Tennessee.
If “Christmas at Carnton” is any indication of how the rest of the series will be, it’s going to be a great one!
Five stars out of five.
Thomas Nelson provided this complimentary copy for my honest, unbiased review.
“Christmas at Carnton” (The Carnton Novels, #1) by Tamera Alexande