Heartwarming Christmas story

Just south of Nashville, in Franklin, TN, just after the Battle of Chickamauga, two people have lost so much that hope may be the next thing they lose.  Aletta Prescott is recently widowed, has a young son and is pregnant.  The bank is threatening foreclosure and finding a job to support her small family proves difficult in these times.  Jake Winston was wounded at the Battle of Chickamauga and the wound has affected his eyesight so returning to battle isn't really an option.  When the two of them cross paths at Carnton Plantation, life takes a bit of a turn for them both.

While considered a Novella even at 240+ pages, Christmas at Carnton is the first installment of a three part series of books set in Franklin with the Carnton Plantation playing a backdrop.  Looking at the list of books written by Tamera Alexander, it would appear she focuses much of her writing in that area having a series set at Belmont and another at Belle Meade.  However, I was unfamiliar with any of them.

I originally chose this book because I love Christmas and historical fiction and I live less than three hours from the setting of the story.  I am not sorry that I did.  Alexander is easy to read yet grabs the reader in the first chapter.  Your heart can't help but go out to Aletta Prescott. I loved Alexander's wording, her characters have depth, and while somewhat predictable, there was enough twist in the story that I didn't want to put it down. I am also thinking Canton will be on my list to visit next time I am in the Nashville area.

Christmas at Carnton  is a beautiful story of faith, perseverance, and love.  Highly recommended for anyone who loves historical fiction set in the 19th c.  I did receive this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and am in no way obligated to write a positive one.  Two thumbs up for Tamera Alexander's latest and I am making a request at the library to locate her other series.