A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander Review

 Good Morning Sweet Friends :)

I pray today finds you all doing well, and I'm so thankful you've taken the time to join me (Kirby) here on The Preppy Book Princess this morning. 

Can I be honest that life has been a little rough as of late? There seems to be so much craziness in our world, more so everyday, and somedays it's hard to even want to be part of our crazy society.

However, those days are the days we need Jesus more than ever, and I love getting to spend time with Him rather that be through prayer, worship or studying His Word.

And one other thing that I've found that helps me tremendously is to stick with reading books that honor Him, and provide some extra light in this dark and evil world.

One author that I know I can always count on for these type of reads is Tamera Alexander. I recently had a chance to read one of her earlier titles that had been on my tbr shelf for quite some time, and today I'm here to tell you guys all about it.

I hope you'll all keep reading down below for today's full review.

A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander:

Source: Gift From My Husband

Publisher: Bethany House

Publication Date: October 15th, 2011

Genre: Christian Fiction/Historical Fiction

Series: Belmont Mansion

Synopsis:

To create something that will last is Claire Laurent's most fervent desire as an artist. It's also her greatest weakness. When her fraud of a father deals her an unexpected hand, Claire is forced to flee from New Orleans to Nashville, only a year after the War Between the States has ended. Claire's path collides with that of Sutton Monroe, and she considers him a godsend for not turning her in to the authorities. But when they meet again and he refuses to come to her aid, she realizes she's sorely misjudged the man. Trading an unwanted destiny for an unknown future, Claire finds herself in the middle of Nashville's elite society and believes her dream of creating a lasting impression in the world of art may finally be within reach.

All that Sutton Monroe holds dear lies in ruin. He's determined to reclaim his heritage and to make the men who murdered his father pay. But what he discovers on his quest for vengeance reveals a truth that may cost him more than he ever imagined.

Set at Nashville's historic 1850s Belmont Mansion, a stunning antebellum manor built by Mrs. Adelicia Acklen, the richest woman in America in the 1860s, A Lasting Impression showcases the deep, poignant, unforgettable characters that set Tamera's stories apart and provides an inspiring love story that will capture readers' hearts and leave them eager for more.

(synopsis from goodreads)

My Review:

I know to expect great things whenever I pick up a novel by Tamera Alexander, and I was very much looking forward to reading this one, and finally picked it up after it had been sitting on my tbr shelf for much too long.

Set in Nashville, Tennessee after the conclusion of the Civil War, readers follow a young woman named Claire Laurent who has recently relocated to the city after a terrible injustice forces her to flee from New Orleans. Claire finds herself in a strange city with limited means until a chance encounter changes her life in ways she could never have expected. She lands a much set after position as the liaison to Mrs. Adelicia Acklen, one of the most prominent women in Nashville high society. Soon she's living a life she never could have dreamed of, but Mrs. Acklen's property manager, Sutton Monroe, isn't quite sure what to make of her. As the two start to spend more time together, a beautiful friendship emerges set against the backdrop of the beautiful Belmont Mansion, and Nashville's up and coming art scene. However, both Sutton and Claire have skeletons in their closet, and they'll need to learn to trust God and trust each other before they can move into their own happily ever after.

A wonderful, swoon worthy romance that features Belmont Mansion, the art world, and the devastating effects of the Civil War, A Lasting Impression was a beautiful story with three dimensional characters, a well rounded plot, and many interesting actual historical tidbits scattered throughout. I especially enjoyed learning more about Adelicia Acklen, and the impact she had on Nashville high society. It was also quite interesting to learn more about art during this period in history, and the way it continued to thrive despite so many tragic circumstances.

All in all, I enjoyed this one and thought it was a beautiful story with a heavy emphasis on faith that I loved. However, I found the plot dragged a bit towards the middle of the story, and that the ending felt quite rushed which left me a little disappointed. A good book all in all, but those two elements kept it from being a five star read for me personally.

Final Rating: 4/5.

I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys Christian historical fiction, particularly titles set in the south.

Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your day :)

This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The photo does not belong to me, and all rights to the respective owners.