In the fine tradition established by her Southern grandmama, Aurora Daughtry has recently orchestrated the marriage of her eldest sister and facilitated her middle sister’s engagement. She also rejoices in her part in transforming the family’s dilapidated plantation manor into a luxurious and lucrative resort hotel. Just when it seems there is nothing left to absorb her considerable talent for … managing people, in walks federal deputy marshal Zane Sager.
But Zane is not at Daughtry House for a vacation. He’s tracking a killer and collecting two key witnesses to a federal judge’s murder.
Aurora takes it upon herself to disabuse the cynical lawman of his conviction that the world–and God in particular–is out to get him. But just as she’s on the verge of cracking Zane’s defenses, the man he is after reminds him that no one he loves is safe. Ever.
Award-wining author Beth White closes out her Daughtry House series with this exciting and emotional tale of two strong-willed people who may have met their match.
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This is the third in the Daughtry House Series and this is youngest sister Aurora’s story.
Happily, her two older sisters, one married and the other engaged, are moving beyond the horrors of the war and the prejudices that seem to still plague their home/business. Aurora could not be more happy for them, especially when they find out that their late father has kept more secrets from them. Determined to do her part now in the world, Aurora who may be small in stature but she is fiery in nature, determines to take things into her own hands.
Federal Deputy Marshal Zane Sager has a few qualms about some of the plans Aurora has in mind. He is on the hunt for a murderer and he also has in his custody two witnesses he is trying to keep safe. Sparks fly between these two as each sees things their own way, and maybe sparks are flying for another reason. I was delighted that there was some sweet romance in this series for little sister Aurora.
I liked Zane as a hero as well. At first glance he looked like a pirate with the loss of one of his eyes and his eye patch, but that doesn’t put off tough little cookie Aurora. I was glad these sisters rose above their circumstances and fought for what they believed in and though maybe a little afraid, did not back down. I was delighted by the ending of this series especially after the harrowing beginning.
I was provided a copy of this novel courtesy of Revell Publishing through Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
What an event filled ending to the Daughtry House series. If you have read the previous 2 books you will not want to miss this book. Even if you haven’t read the others, you can still read this and not be in the dark. This book can stand alone but it is nicer if you have read the others. In fact, I read the first book but somehow missed the second book and I was not lost. The story flowed well and the editing was well done.
The characters were as full of life as ever. This book revolves around the youngest daughter, Aurora, and her sparkling character shown through. The supporting characters were well done also. Even the minor characters of the two women found in the newly inherited bar had their own, distinct personalities.
This is a Christian book and it wasn’t disappointing with this label. It showed Aurora’s faith and how she used it. It showed how faith grows in others in the way Zane was portrayed. It was not preachy in any manner. It was well woven into the story.
Beth White did a wonderful job telling this story in the post Civil War era. She showed how life was then, the good and the bad.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to my friends. I give it a 4 out of 5-star rating.
Beth White has written the perfect ending to her Daughtry House series in A Reckless Love. The final book in this trilogy, our story is centered on the third Daughtry daughter, Aurora, and federal marshal Zane Sager, who is work-ing to wrap up the mystery surrounding the murders and unrest we encountered in the previous 2 books. Our tale comes full circle in this final installment, where we finally have resolution accompanied by a satisfying romance.
From the first book in this series, I completely fell in love with White’s characters. She has created such lovable, refreshing heroines to lead her novels during a period full of unrest –that of the post Civil War south. Her novels are immersed in history, molded by lively characters that build a plot of rich dynamics. We have intrigue, danger, rac-ism, the fight for justice, and romance. What more can I ask for in a fabulous read!
I guarantee you will want to delve into this entire series. Prepare to run the gamut of emotions and sit spellbound as this story unfolds before you!
I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
We are back with the Daughtry sisters, and their struggles, and are reunited with those we have come to care about. Now, this is the third book in this series, and I have read the other two, just as great as this read, you will not be lost if you pick this one up first. Evil is still walking around this Mississippi area, still rebuilding after the Civil War, and some holding their personal hates, and greed.
This is the youngest daughter’s story, Aurora, and meeting Federal Deputy Zane Sager, and his quest to bring justice. I loved how the facts unfold and surprise meetings in the past, along with other surprises.
Can you imagine these sweet southern women inheriting a saloon, yup, and watch [or read] what happens to the ladies who are still in the building!
There are a few scary times here, and you wonder if all will survive, and there is also the compassion these sisters show to their fellow man, and I loved being with them again.
I wish there were more sister’s here for another book, and be sure to read the author’s notes at the end, great insight!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.
I really enjoyed this historical romance. I received this book for free and I voluntarily chose to review it. I’ve given it a 4.5* rating. This is set after the civil war and when the KKK were still very active. A lot of research evidently to set the backdrop for this Series,Daughtry House. There is a lot of action, danger, and of course, romance in this story, Since I’ve read at least 1 other in this series, it was nice to see characters again. It made me aware of some of the big changes in the last 100 years, and many more needed to still work on. Lots to enjoy in this story.
Author Beth White brings her inspirational historical romance “Daughtry House Series” to a close with Book Three, “A Reckless Love”. In Post-Civil War Era Mississippi, sparks and banter fly between a spirited southern belle and a determined lawman. Aurora Daughtry, youngest of three sisters, has seen one older sibling married and the other one become engaged. She has also helped to convert the Daughtry family plantation into a resort hotel, ensuring that the family will retain its legacy. Federal Deputy Marshal Zane Sager is on the trail of the man who killed Zane’s mentor, a federal judge. As he searches for his quarry, Zane must also collect two primary trial witnesses. Aurora begins plans for a new renovation project–she and her sisters have just discovered that they inherited a saloon secretly owned by their late father. When Zane and his prisoners “hide” in the saloon as the work is being done to transform it into a respectable boarding house, respect and awareness–and perhaps something more–begins to grow between Aurora and Zane. As danger swirls around them in the post-war Reconstruction Era, can the two of them take a leap of faith and hope for a bright future filled with a deep and lasting love? This series takes place in a turbulent time in American history, and the story line is complex. I recommend reading the series in order: Book One–“A Rebel Heart”; Book Two–“A Reluctant Belle”; and finally Book Three–“A Reckless Love”.
Book Copy Gratis Revell Books via Library Thing
Thank you in advance to the publisher, Revell Books, for sending me a complimentary advanced reader edition through Interviews and Reviews. A positive review was not required and all words are my own.
As a member of street/review teams such; I usually look for books that I might want based on previous author experience, they’re highly rated, or as part of a set I already have. If I can’t find one I want, I look for a book that I wouldn’t ordinarily buy, but still holds some level curiosity for me.
I’ve found that this is a good way to sample genres or authors I wouldn’t know about, and see if I would be interested in their other work(s).
As, I couldn’t find anything I didn’t have or that interested me on I & R, apologies in advance to Ms. Davis, I decided to request “A Reckless Love” (Historical Romance). It had a blurb that immediately caught my eye and White was a new-to-me author.
Seeing that this was book three of this series, I bought the previous two books.
What I thoroughly enjoyed about the series was that it wasn’t just a Historical Romance series about a trio of sisters – there was an element of suspense to them. Usually the suspense revolved around the sister’s intended love interest, and it was more focused on the suspense and not the romance which I didn’t mind.
It is this suspense that the sisters find themselves in the middle of. What makes the series even better – it is connected. Not by a town, a character, but a sequence of violent events that begins with the first book and that plot is carried over into books #2 and #3.
I definitely don’t recommend this as a standalone read. While it could work, it would greatly benefit the reader to read the previous two. Since I did, that’s probably what enhanced my enjoyment of the series, and this book in particular.
The first one, A Rebel Heart, literally started off as a train wreck. The second one, A Reluctant Belle, was explosive and fiery. This third one is quite the bullet. Readers of the books will notice the slight “puns” I added.
The books pick up one right after the other – five (5) years after the Civil War. The first book begins in February 1870, and this picks up in June. The series/story line doesn’t stretch out over years or an undetermined amount of time. The timeline is coherent, believable, and practical.
The books are in the order of the sisters’ age – Selah, Joelle, Aurora. This is the Aurora’s story.
Some trigger warnings might include: murder, racism, slavery, the KKK, questionable language.
This book is far less controversial than the middle one, but still as exciting. There is less emphasis on the racial tension/tones while relying heavily on the “action” of the investigation.
On the back of the ARC, along with the description on Goodreads – Zane’s last name is Sabiere. In the ARC I have, it is Sager from beginning to end. As I don’t have a finished copy – I can’t exactly state what his last name is. From the description on the author’s website; Amazon; as well here on Bookbub – it stated SAGER.
The prologue is set in April 1865 with an explosion aboard a boat, the Sultana, which is being used to ferry former Union troops home. This is where we learn about the strong friendship between Deputy U.S Marshal Zane Sager and Judge Teague. Readers familiar to the series will remember that Teague was murdered in book two. That murder is currently unsolved. Sorry for the spoiler if you haven’t read book two, but that is what brings Zane to us in this installment. This also brings in Aurora and her grandparents connection to one of the men in the “plot” and Zane.
What I enjoyed about the books and series was the aspect where the case was still being solved despite the arrest of two men. This is due to the fact that the main villain(s) have yet to surface and/or be captured. This also touches on why Zane is as standoffish as he is.
However, he can’t seem to resist Aurora’s charm. Nor will she let him.
They were so mismatched that it was a sheer delight to watch them interact.
Staking her claim on lawman Zane isn’t the only thing on Aurora’s mind – she and her sisters have been left a shuttered saloon. I found this endearing and even humorous. For me, it was a spark of some normality in a rough period, a ray of sunshine through dark clouds.
The sisters now had another project. Immediately the thought is to turn it into a boarding house. But, it comes with two occupants – Bedelia and Rosie, two former saloon girls.
As usual – the Daughtry sisters (namely Joelle and Aurora) are going to attempt to fine tune the two saloon girls and fix up what would become Dogwood Manor to be a respectable rooming house, though even at the end it (like the Daughtry House) had a ways to go to before being ready to take in guests.
The two men from the previous novel are heading to trial and need protection. This is where it gets tense and that tension gets broken appropriately with Zane and Aurora’s unconventional courting. Some of the previous characters will be “exposed” for who they are. I pretty much saw these digs, and barbs leading up to a final confrontation. A slight spoiler – I am still waiting for Gil to get his comeuppance.
Like the others – this is well written, engaging, riveting, and attention grabbing. There were times it was even thrilling and an edge-of-seat read. I found I held my breath in a few places. Despite my copy being an ARC, the typos are minimal. Even in the finished version of A Rebel Heart, there was the huge double sentence error. This book escapes major errors.
In the author’s notes, she is careful to admit that there may be small plot threads she wasn’t able to wrap or tie up due to a lack of space. I did have some questions, but since the author acknowledges them and explains them – mentioning them isn’t necessary as I know why they weren’t tied up. She is right in that the main story is concluded to some degree of satisfaction. To me it was a little quick with the ending, but still somewhat satisfactory. I was slightly disappointed with a few things in it, but naming them would result in major spoilers.
I assume this to be the last book of the series – as the bookend; it keeps the momentum that started in the previous books and carries it through all the way up until the startling end.
This was very difficult to put down and stands out as one of the best of the series. I was far too busy reading it to keep notes for the review.
I admire how much Aurora grew and matured from the first novel. There was so much more to her than the dainty little girl some were intent to present her as. Her tenacity and spunk were admirable. More growth here, even during a few surprising confrontations.
There wasn’t much of Selah in it this time around. Levi and Schuyler remained the same and drifted to the background more than I expected. Joelle was less focused on her writing and her school efforts (though I do hope they rebuild the school). ThomasAnne and Doc’s relationship makes progression towards the end of the novel but it is mostly left out. However, she does reveal something to Aurora that I wouldn’t have expected at all. And, given the time it is set in – it was scandalous. I praise the author for tackling it as tactfully as she did. It was stunning but provided insight into the character.
I would definitely be interested in reading ThomasAnne’s story as part of a standalone novel (hint to the writer).
What shocked me the most was what Grandmama Winnie did at the end when Aurora was in danger. From the first book, I wasn’t sure what to make of this grand ole gal. She seemed pretentious and uptight. But, by the end of this book – I was almost laughing at her tenacity, despite a tragic and gruesome incident. This was a good thing as I came to respect the crusty lady and her gumption. It was a character trait, that in retrospect I should’ve expected, but I sure didn’t see it coming.
There was a balance of character development, suspense, and a family theme that truly rounds out this novel. While I knew that the era was a painful time for the country (and even now it is a sore spot) – this novel truly highlighted it in a respectful and tactful manner.
Distributed by Revell, a Christian/faith themed publisher, there are references to God and faith. They are not a central part of the plot or focus of the story. It is a clean read with no sex scenes or foul language. The only questionable language is when a business owner refers to the Daughty siblings using not only a somewhat racial slur, but a gender slur as well. To some it could be vulgar or alarming.
PLEASE note that this does take place about five (5) AFTER the Civil War in 1870. There will be references to slavery, prejudice, racism, as well as other language that are authentic to the era. The author herself acknowledges that some of the language back in that time was offensive. She noted the terminology was toned down due to the fact she and her editor felt there was no reason to be deliberately inflammatory.
I respect her for remaining as historically accurate as possible and believe she has done a wonderful job balancing accuracy while maintaining a respectful/sensitive tone towards slavery, the injustices as a result, and the feelings of those involved.
I would suggest this to anyone who is a fan of her previous works, anyone interested in the re-constructionist era that also loves a great suspense with a touch of romance. (This is an edited review, full review on Goodreads and blog – Reading Excursions (https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/)).
3.5 stars
” . . . . .your jabbering is like a cool glass of lemonade after walking around in the desert.”
Seasoned lawman Zane Sabiere has just been outmatched by a confection in a yellow dress; a little dynamo with a head full of gorgeous red hair, Aurora Daughtry is a force to be reckoned with on any given day. A man of few words, or at least he used to be, Zane’s task of guarding key witnesses for a federal murder trial somehow got him tangled up with a southern belle whose sharp wit and spirited demeanor . . . . . . well, “no wonder he didn’t stand a chance. She was fearless”.
Tired of being viewed as the “baby of the family” Aurora Daughtry is certain about what she feels for the handsome Deputy U. S. Marshall, whose eye patch makes him all that more distinctive. Determined to help Zane solve his case, Aurora places herself in the position to endanger those that she loves the most, including Zane. A “reckless love”, indeed.
Soak in the flirtatious banter between Zane and Aurora, while becoming reacquainted with favorite characters from the first two books in the series (they haven’t changed a bit!!); all humor aside . . . there is deep inspiration lurking between the pages of this book with its sobering glimpse of the turbulent years following the close of the Civil War. The author has done a really good job of coating reality with an entertaining character like Aurora. (not to mention Grandmama)
I received a copy of this book from Baker Publishing through Interviews and Reviews. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
A Reckless Love by Beth White is the last in a series about the Daughtry Girls set in northeast Mississippi after the Civil War. This one featured the youngest sister, Aurora. She is a feisty little red head who seems to have no trouble speaking her mind. The hero, is a quiet marshal who seeks justice and has no time for any distractions. This is an adorably cute story with action, suspense and of course romance.
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher, and this is my honest opinion.
A strong 4.5 star read! I loved this book! The history was rich and the characters were wonderful. There was a lot to keep up with and I found myself struggling to juggle it all, but I didn’t read the rest of the series and was probably feeling the effects of lacking vital information. The writing was smart enough to handle the justice side of things without sacrificing the emotional tension of the characters.
I loved the dynamic between Aurora and Zane! I smiled or swooned each time they shared the page. They are precious and I was so sad to get to the end of the book. You know a book is good when closing the final page feels like saying goodbye to friends.
I’m definitely going to read the rest of this series, and I’ll be reading more of Beth White as this was my first experience with one of her novels. I definitely recommend this book for fans of historical fiction!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All expressed opinions belong to me.
A fantastic conclusion to a historical romance series!
I absolutely love both Aurora and Zane! They are incredibly well developed and easy to relate to. It was wonderful seeing how their personalities were presented slowly and their backgrounds came out throughout the book. This is especially true of Zane. It was fun to catch up with Selah, Levi, Joelle, and Schuyler too. I enjoyed seeing how their relationships had progressed since their respective books.
The plot of the story is great. It captured my interest and kept me focused and reading. I was fascinated to read the information given in the note at the end of the book as to how much of this book was based on historical fact.
I was so caught up in the lives of these people that when I turned the page and saw the words, “A Note to the Reader” my first thought was that it couldn’t be over yet. I would love to see the author write another series continuing the lives of all of these wonderful characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.
Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention or review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I have done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
The Daughtry House trilogy by Beth White ends with Aurora’s story in A Reckless Love. Aurora, nicknamed Pete by her family, is the baby but don’t be fooled by her age or diminutive size–she’s a firecracker!
Aurora is used to managing her family but not in a mean way. She has very decided opinions and is forceful in getting what she wants. But she loves fiercely and will put herself at risk when the people she loves are in danger. She meets her match in Deputy Marshall Zane Sager.
Zane at first wants nothing to do with her even as he is drawn to her. But, circumstances being as they are, the two are thrown together as they try to protect two witnesses who were to testify against men who had done heinous crimes.
I enjoyed the romance between Aurora and Zane. He tempered her exuberance while she drew him into a world of light and laughter–something he needed after the life he had had.
I enjoyed the storyline but some storylines were a little hard to follow and I feel like I need to read all the books in this series to understand some of what happened. I had read A Reluctant Belle without reading the first book in the series and had been able to follow the storyline but it was a bit more difficult with A Reckless Love.
This was probably because she was wrapping up a series and had a lot of pieces to juggle. Still, as with A Reluctant Belle, I was drawn in by the history. Beth White has a skill for recreating the tension that may have existed in the South post-war. She treated this serious subject with compassion and heart.
There is a strong theme that God will give you wisdom if you ask Him and it was gratifying to see the characters praying before making big decisions or when they are in a difficult situation. There was also the reminder that none of are beyond redemption–love covers a multitude of sins.
I received an advanced reader’s copy of A Reckless Love by Beth White from the publishers through the Revell Reads Bloggers program; a positive review was not required.
Read the full review: https://hebrews12endurance.com/seek-wisdom-from-god/
This is the final installment of the Daughtry House Series and it was the perfect ending to an amazing series!
After partaking in Selah and Joelle’s journey of finding their purpose in life as well as love, my expectations for the third story about Aurora, the Daughtry’s youngest sister, were very high, and I was not disappointed! I totally fell in love with Aurora’s spunky and cheerful character, opposed to Zane’s brooding and cynical one. Plus, his eye-patch, which Aurora doesn’t seem to mind, makes him more mysterious. They were the perfect match, both with strong personalities, and I loved the way Aurora melted Zane’s defenses, who wasn’t supposed to be interested in a love match, quite the contrary, his solely focus as a Federal Deputy Marshall on duty was finding Judge Teague’s murderer (to whom he feels indebted) and protect the two witnesses who could be the key to uncovering the killer. I also loved the witty banter and dialogues between them!
I won’t dwell much on the plot, so I won’t spoil it. You can get the basics on the blurb of the book.
But I will say that I love Beth’s writing! She portrays her characters so well that you feel as if you know them deeply and she makes you care for them as if they were your own family! The characters are deep and relatable. The story is settled in the Post Civil War Era, a very difficult period, and these characters know how to bring out good things out of tragedy and hardship. The descriptions of this particular period of the US history is very well and accurately portrait. It seems Beth has done a lot of research. It felt quite realistic and vivid. And there are sensible themes like racism and the KKK that made it yer more realistic.
The part of the inherited saloon turned into a boarding house gave the story a humorous side, which delighted me. And some quirky characters came about too…
Zane and Aurora’s romance was sweet, tender and clean. I loved Zane’s protectiveness of her. And Aurora’s “reckless love” will put, not only her life on the line, but also that of others she loves as well. Zane was truly an awesome hero in this story. The fact that they were so opposed in character made the relationship more enjoyable. There is also an inspiring message behind the story, about faith and trusting God, forgiveness, and selfless love. And it was not preachy at all.
Even if this book can be read as a standalone, I definitely recommend to read the whole series in order. Is so much richer, as you get to know the characters from the start. I also liked some of the secondary characters as well, like part of their family, or the people who work for them at Daughtry House (Grandmama, Horatia, for example). So charming!
This is definitely a must read I recommend for all Historical Romance lovers! A beautiful and heart touching series! And a perfect conclusion with a sweet and Happily Ever After!
This is the third book in the Daughtry House series, and like many series, you do need to read the first two to understand the underlying plot.
In this story, it focuses on the youngest sister, Aurora, also known as “Pete”. Which honestly, somehow or another, that nickname could have been used advantagely in the story. But nonetheless, the story is on Aurora. But of course, her two sisters are included quite a bit in this story. Now you understand why the first two books need to be read first.
Aurora ends up inheriting a saloon, which she plans on turning into a boarding house, while a deputy is in town to find out where a certain killer is. And in the meantime, the two of them tangle and get to know each other rather well.
The story was active and was an obvious attempt to tie the first two stories together. So while I enjoyed it, I really wished that I had read the first two stories more recently. Then the plot that was carrying on from the previous two stories, would have made more sense.
It was a very action packed book, and there wasn’t very many slow stops within the book. Aurora is definitely a handful and the writing portrayed her as such.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, Revell Publishing, in exchange for my honest review.
Reckless Love
By
Betty White
Reckless Love by Betty White was a wonderfully written book. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and will not be the last.
This is also the last book in a series of three books. The series is called “Daughtry House”. I didn’t realize this book was a part of a series till I already started reading. I would recommend reading the books in order, since some story lines are continued in this book.
The character’s are likable and relatable making the book hard to put down. Aurora is a strong woman and knows exactly what she wants. Zane is a deputy sheriff whom is there to get to witnesses and searching for a killer of his long time mentor. The book is written in a accurate vision of the time period which was right after the Civil War.
Rating – I give this book a 5 out of 5
I received this complimentary copy from Revell publisher company in return for a honest review all thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone.
This is definitely not a book to start at bedtime because you just cannot put it down! Although I did not read the first two books in the series I was able to follow the action of the story. Being said, I will definitely go back and reread all of the books in the series to see what I missed. This book covers the youngest sister, Aurora Daughtry, she is the youngest of three sisters. The story takes place five years after the final shot of the Civil War during a period of slavery, racial tension, and political controversy. The author handles these topics very respectfully while being historically accurate. In the prologue there is an explosion on a boat which is being used to ferry former Union troops home. This is where we learn about the friendship between Deputy U.S. Marshall Zane Sager and Judge Teague, who was murdered. In this book the murder is still trying to be solved even though two suspects have been arrested and Zane is charged with protecting them. He places them at the Dogwood Manor while the Daughtry sisters fix it up. He and Aurora have an interesting relationship and courtship. The dialogue between the two of them lightens up the serious theme of the book. I enjoyed this book immensely even though I haven’t read the other books in the series. I really loved the little quotes throughout the book: “Find a man who serves Christ first. Then his love for you will fall rightly.” “Honey, we all get left behind at some time or another. Only one person is always there.” This is definitely a must-read book. I know I will read it again along with the other books in the series. I would like to thank Revell for the complimentary copy. This in no way affected my view of the book.
The perfect conclusion to The Daughtry House series! Aurora is a spunky heroine whose banter and “get ‘er done” attitude had me laughing out loud. Pairing her with Deputy Marshall Zane Sanger sparked entertaining and endearing scenes. I love all the history that shone through in this novel, just as it did in the previous two. Powerful themes of justice, courage, and redemption are as relevant today as they were in Reconstruction Era Mississippi. Kudos to author Beth White for weaving all the mystery elements together in a satisfying way, too. A pleasure to read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own.
While A Reckless Love can be enjoyed as a standalone, I highly recommend you read the other two novels first. I think a lot of the interactions between Aurora and her sisters, as well as Levi and Schuyler will make more sense. There are also some plot threads White finishes in this novel that will make more sense if you read the first two books.
The romance between Aurora and Zane is well-developed, although there were times it seemed Zane suddenly changed his mind without notice and I had a hard time keeping up. But otherwise, I enjoyed their interactions. The way they go back and forth with each other is not only entertaining but also telling. I think it tells the reader a lot about them and how they’re changing throughout the novel.
I also liked how White wove in Aurora’s and Zane’s backstories into the way they respond to one another. The prologue did a great job of showing the reader what drives the characters, and I was able to understand their goals.
I liked the saloon/boardinghouse conflict. It definitely brought some humor to what is otherwise a very serious novel. But the storyline I paid most attention to the conflict between the townsfolk and Zane as he tries to guard two prisoners and find a murderer.
White does a great job of wrapping up the overall plot threads from the first two novels. She made connections I wasn’t expecting. I also loved seeing characters from the past two novels again. I like the Daughtry family, and it was like revisiting old friends.
However, I have to say I did not like this book as much as the first novel in the series. That didn’t take away from my ability to enjoy A Reckless Love, though.
Overall, if you like action and romance, then you’ll enjoy this book.
(Note: I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
Sassy Aurora Daughtry meets US Marshall Zane Sager and sparks fly in this third and final book of the series.
Aurora: Fixing people was not as simple a procedure as one might suppose, Aurora concluded, but at least she and Bedelia had reached what might be called an armistice.
Zane: Now he was… content. God had been good to rescue him from those privations, none of which he deserved exactly, but which constituted the bounds of living as a sinful, prideful human being.
Zane Sager has a dangerous and important job ahead of him. He must hide and protect witnesses in an upcoming trial. Aurora Daughtry, new owner of a boarded up saloon, may just be the answer to a sticky situation.
Aurora is the youngest of three sisters who are refurbishing their plantation during Reconstruction in order to provide employment for liberated slaves.
This story is full of danger and intrigue but has light moments as well. The banter between Aurora and Zane is pretty cute. They were brought up to have faith and manners in a world where turmoil churns. They grow in grace and realize that God sees their worth. They each have a good heart and want to do the correct and honorable thing.
A speech Zane gives in the midst of a scary situation sums up what was needed in the aftermath of the Civil War and should be heeded in our present National unrest:
Quote: Think about what you just said! If the law is not on your side, then whose side are you on? Anarchy? Violence? Screaming and mobbing and tearing each other apart make you less than human. If you don’t like the laws, vote to change them! That is what Americans just fought a war over…the right for every man to have an equal say in his destiny. In the meantime, give one another room to disagree…. Don’t let a handful of men with the personal agenda, like greed or revenge or hunger for power, twist us against one another. Don’t let them destroy our humanity!
Such a timeless book to read in light of today. It is both entertaining and relevant.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell on behalf of the author and the Revell Reads program. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
This is a new author for me. I enjoyed her writing and this book. This apparently is book 3 of a series, which I have to admit, the previous books I have not read. But will certainly consider doing! I thought the book came in a timely period of our current days as it dealt with the post-war days of the Civil War and definitely relates to our current politically stressful times.
Aurora is a vivacious young woman whose path crosses with a Deputy U.S. Marshall who wears an eye patch. Their interactions are fun and enjoyable. I love how her grandmama tells her not to let Zane fall in love with her! Does that ever work?
I love how they inherit the saloon and the “employees” that come along with it. Loved it! Aurora is the youngest of the Daughtry sisters, one married, one engaged and Aurora!
There is suspense, tension, and some sweet romance. Zane definitely is drawn to Aurora! The book is very engaging and I loved reading about the historical events that took place in the deep south during this turbulent time. In was written with careful research to the post war times. It was very good! I loved the part where it was written she prayed for him, and prayed with him.
I received a copy of this book from Revell Publishing. All thoughts are my own.