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Amid war and the fading dream of the Confederacy, a wounded soldier and a destitute widow discover the true meaning of Christmas-and sacrificial love. Recently widowed, Aletta Prescott struggles to hold life together for herself and her six-year-old son. With the bank threatening to evict them, she discovers an advertisement for the Women's Relief Society auction and applies for a position-only to discover it's been filled. Then a chance meeting with a wounded soldier offers another opportunity-and friendship. But can Aletta trust this man? Captain Jake Winston, a revered Confederate sharpshooter, suffered a head wound at the Battle of Chickamauga. When doctors deliver their diagnosis, Jake fears losing not only his greatest skill but his very identity. As he heals, Jake is ordered to assist with a local Women's Relief Society auction. He respectfully objects. Kowtowing to a bunch of "crinolines" isn't his idea of soldiering. But orders are orders, and he soon discovers this group of ladies-one, in particular-is far more than he bargained for. Set against the backdrop and history of the Carnton Plantation in Franklin, Tennessee, Christmas at Carnton is a story of hope renewed and faith restored at Christmas.… (more)
User reviews
Christmas at Carnton is a lovely, heartening Christian novel. It has great characters and a beautiful setting. Christmas at Carnton is well-written and engaging. Ms. Alexander knows how to draw her readers into her stories. It was obvious that the author did her research for this series (on the battles, the conditions, what widows suffered and experienced, and on Carnton—a real place). The novel contains prayer, hope, struggle, faith, grief, heartache, love, and so much more. We are shown the true meaning of Christmas and that we should be thankful for each blessing in our lives. Andrew, Aletta’s son, was a delightful addition to the story. My rating for Christmas at Carnton is 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). I appreciated that the author gave Aletta unique skills that were uncommon for a woman at that time (woodworking). I look forward to reading each book in The Carnton Novels when they come out.
Alettta is a young widow with a six year old son and a baby on the way. She is desperate to find work and a place to stay. I loved her sweet disposition and willingness to work hard. It wasn’t easy during this time period for women who were widows. The place she finds shelter at also hires her to work which I loved reading about. I could picture Aletta baking with contentment. One of the things I liked most about her character was her ability as a carpenter. She awed me with her vision of a project she became in charge of. Her devotion to her child was heartwarming.
Captain Jake Winston is recovering from wounds suffered in the war. His encounter with Aletta was very intriguing. Aletta soon grows to depend on Jake to help her chores she can’t do , such as lifting lumber for her project. I laughed at Jake’s reaction when he finds out Aletta is skilled in carpentry. It was not common for women to do during this era.
The story is very well written with characters that you can’t help but like. I have to say I really liked Tempy. She was a wonderful cook and I liked how she became aa person Aletta could talk to. I enjoyed reading about the Women's Relief Society . I didn’t know anything about them, but with the author’s detail of historical facts I realized how important they were. Will Aletta find happiness again? Can Jake recover from his injuries and return to battle ? This story is a beautiful introduction to the next book in this series. I have put on my bucket list to visit Carnton Plantation soon. I can’t wait to walk around the grounds and remember those who lived there. Don’t miss the wonderful recipes at the end of the book. This is a must read for historical fans and anyone who loves a great Christmas story filled with hope, family and love.
I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild. The review is my own opinion.
"Christmas at Carnton" reminds me of a great Hallmark movie. Its characters are real, flawed people who you grow to care about. I especially like our heroine, Aletta, who is recently widowed with a young son and another child on the way. On top of that she loses her job and home. She has a strong faith that shines despite her hardships. She prays for others, helps people even when she is barely making it herself, and shows a great deal of courage. She is a wonderful picture of strength amidst great hardship.
"Christmas at Carnton" is an excellent story. I appreciate how Ms. Alexander puts a lot of history in, so you really feel like you've learned something while reading a great book. This tale shows the hardships women faced during the Civil War as well as Southerners. Being from the North, I don't know as much about the South and their side of the story. They are real people with hopes and dreams, some good and some bad. Most of the people Aletta knows don't even own slaves and they see the War as being more than just about the issue of slavery. Bravo, Ms. Alexander, for shining light on the lesser known stories of the War and making history come alive!
Content: I would give this book a PG rating. There is talk of a man banishing his wife's doubts that he desires her and then lying in bed and talking with her after the fact. There are hints that a woman who is behind on her mortgages is giving a man at the bank favors of a sordid nature. The word Negro is used, but not in a derogatory way.
Rating: I give this book 4 stars.
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction; Romance
I want to thank Tamera Alexander, Thomas Nelson and the Fiction Guild for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.
I recommend Christmas at Carnton by Tamera Alexander to readers looking for an inspirational Christmas read. It has a permanent place on my bookshelf and made me want to read more of Tamera Alexander’s books. 5 stars!
I received a copy of this book for free. I was not required to post a positive review and the views and opinions expressed are my own.