April 9, 2018
White (The Pelican Bride) bridges Union and Confederate in this charming post-Civil War inspirational romance. In 1870, Selah Daughtry is single and struggling to support herself and her two younger sisters on their family plantation outside of Oxford, Miss. Everything changes when Selah is rescued during a train accident by Yankee Levi Riggins, who claims to be traveling to Mississippi as a hotel management agent for the railroad. In fact, Levi is a Pinkerton detective investigating several train robberies whose perpetrators have slipped away near her plantation. Despite instructions to investigate the plantation and his initial suspicions of Selah, Levi is attracted to her. Desperate to keep the family plantation, she agrees to his plan to develop the run-down estate into a glamorous hotel, completely unaware that Levi only proposed the idea as a way to keep his cover as he continues to search for the robbers. In an effort to mend the prejudice that haunts the town, Levi hires ex-slaves to revamp the plantation and run the hotel. When Levi realizes that he has a true connection to Selah and the town, he cannot bring himself to reveal his secret. But when Selah finds out on her own, her powers of forgiveness are put to the test and she must turn to her faith for answers. White weaves together romance, mystery, and a large amount of reconstruction-era detail in this valuable tale of love and forgiveness.
June 1, 2018
In post-Civil War Mississippi, Selah Daughtry and her family struggle to make ends meet as their plantation home falls into disrepair. With no other option, Selah accepts the offer of Yankee soldier Levi Riggins, who promises to fix the house if she turns it into a hotel. While Selah is consumed with the renovation, Levi is investigating a series of crimes as an undercover Pinkerton agent. As the two spend time together, sparks ignite between them. White ("Gulf Coast Chronicles") launches a new historical series with strong characters and a vivid sense of place. The narrative flows easily, and the Reconstruction-era setting offers a fresh change from the usual period fare. VERDICT Fascinating Southern historical fiction with a touch of romance.
Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
May 15, 2018
Selah Daughtry is trying to save her home after her father's mysterious disappearance during the Civil War. When private detective Levi Riggins, a former Union soldier, arrives in Mississippi, on a case, he doesn't anticipate the distraction of a Southern belle whose beauty is matched only by her antagonism toward his Northern roots. Seeing the opportunity in Selah's predicament, Levi embeds himself in her undertakings for access to evidence in an increasingly alarming web of corruption. When Levi's identity is revealed, Selah must risk it all for the love of her rebel heart. From the vengeful mess of complex tensions following the Civil War in 1870, White (The Magnolia Duchess, 2016) extracts a story of forgiveness and new beginnings. Pulsating with the wounds of a divided country still healing, A Rebel Heart features characters with depth, a gripping plot with thoughtfully researched authenticity, and unexpected twists. It sets up White's promising new Daughtry House series, centered on three courageous sisters defying social constructs and doing what they believe is right.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)