Catriona has arrived in the United States with her sister Nora. Nora is the last family member other than her brother Ryan she has left. She is worried he may have been killed because she hasn't heard from him in a while. Wade has also came to Franklin but is there for other reasons. He is searching for a the people responsible for passing fake money. He obtains a job at a farm as an overseer. He and Catriona have developed an odd relationship. She is a strong willed woman who doesn't want to depend on anyone. He is a man willing to help her if she will allow. They both have suffered loss and need close loose ends. With a lot of prayer and understand they will find their way.

Colors of Truth by Tamera Alexander is the second book in the Carnton series. The novel picks up historically where the first book ended—post-Civil War South. The novel is rich with historical detail and delves into some areas that many readers may not be aware of like the major problem of counterfeiting that occurred after the war and the beginnings and responsibilities of the Secret Service. Tamera’s characters are well-drawn and some are based on historical characters. She makes history come alive. Ms. Alexander touches on such social topics as discrimination, the treatment of immigrants, effects of lying and war. Filtered throughout the story are many Biblical truths. This novel is the perfect book group selection and Tamera has even included discussion questions and recipes to go along with the time period for book groups to enjoy.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas Nelson-FICTION for the chance to read and review this wonderful book.
I really liked this book! Tamera Alexander is one of my favorite authors for two reasons-she writes about real places and she writes about the Civil War. The setting for this book is Carnton, an antebellum home that served as a Confederate Hospital. The author also posts pictures of the home on her blog, which I find very interesting. I enjoyed this book so much that I purchased the other book in this series, With This Pledge. Highly recommend!

This was another heartrending look at history, but also beautifully told with hope and promise. The romance is sweet and gentle while illuminating things I didn't know about post-Civil war America. Tragedy and loss is not glossed over, and yet, the author brings closure and healing to the story as a whole. Well written and well-paced - I recommend for fans of inspirational historical fiction.

I was intrigued by the description for this book and curious to learn about the beginnings of the Secret Service. However, I found that the writing was not flowing and it was taking too long to pull in to the story. Sorry, but I would not recommend this book.

I absolutely loved this captivating historical novel. The story, the characters, and the settings were brilliantly captured. Bravo, Tamera Alexander!

This is the second book in Alexander’s Carnton series. The story could be read as a stand alone novel though I highly recommend With this Pledge, the first book in the series as well. While reading this book I was drawn into the story as if I was really there. Alexander did an excellent job of making her story come to life.

Catriona and her younger sister captured the life of Irish immigrants that traveled to the United States right after the Civil War to track down their brother who fought on the side of the south. The two sisters make it to the last place their brother talks about in his letters and that is where they meet Wade. With secrets of his own Wade soon enlists the help the girls to track down their brother. I enjoyed the main characters very much and by the end of the book it was like saying good bye to dear friends.

The historical aspect was exceptional. Alexander did an amazing job of taking a historical battle and town and entwining it with her story. While reading this, I could tell that a lot of work was put into this story. Well, honestly, I spent quite a bit of time looking up Civil War facts and pictures of the Carnton plantation. But I barely need the visuals since Alexander describe it to a tee.

I am very pleased with this story and highly recommend it! I am very much looking forward to the next book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I love these books based on real people in real places. This book is the second in the series about the Carnton plantation of Franklin, Tennessee, where one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War took place. After the war came a time of upheaval as the South tried to survive a crippled economy. During this time, counterfeiting was rampant, and the federal government implemented the Secret Service to stem that tide. Wade Cunningham came to Carnton as the operative seeking to stop the flow of fake bills. There he meets Catriona O'Toole and her little sister, who have just arrived from Ireland looking for their brother who had sent them money to come to America. From the beginning, the relationship between the two main characters was off to a bad start, and as they learn more about each other, the more unlikely it seems that they will get together. The last major scene was a total nail biter! I look forward to the day when I am able to visit this location.

Colors of Truth tells the story of recent immigrant sisters who arrive in Tennessee from Ireland, hoping to reunite with their brother. As Catriona and younger sister Nora search for their brother, they unknowingly become suspects of counterfeiting. The story is full of intrigue, romance, history, and action. Great historical fiction story by favorite author Tamera Alexander!

Review of The Colors of Truth
Tamera Alexander has once again woven a heartfelt story using the backdrop of Carnton Plantation in the aftermath of the brutal Civil War. The characters, feisty Catriona O’Toole and her even more spirited much younger sister, Nora, are desperately searching for the only family they have left, Catriona’s twin brother Ryan. Wade Cunningham, undercover Secret Service agent, is tasked with finding the source of counterfeit money and bringing the responsible persons to justice. Surprisingly, the trail seems to lead to stately Carnton Plantation and the well respected McGavock family.
While I usually do not opt to read war related fiction, I make an exception for Tamera’s books. The war is not the main focus of this story, but the lives of real people who lived, loved and even died take front and center. There is no one better to describe the people, places, events so that the reader feels he is there not as a spectator, but as a participant!
I love Tamera’s awareness that being an author is a sacred trust. “Thank you for entrusting your time to me. It’s a gift I treasure and never take for granted.” The time spent reading this book (as well as her other historical series) is definitely time well invested. I received a copy of this book to review from NetGalley and was not required to give a positive review.

#ColorsOfTruth #NetGalley

If you like historical fiction, this book is well written. I loved it. Colors of Truth is the second book in the series, but I feel it could also be read as a stand alone novel, I loved the first book and would recommend reading it too.
Catriona O'Toole and her sister Nora, fresh from Ireland, head to Franklin, Tennessee to look for their brother Ryan. The last letter they received from Ryan, was posted from Franklin. I love Nora's sassy personality and how strong Catriona has to be and is. Franklin, Tennessee is recovering from the Civil war and there is some unlawful activity around the country. The descriptive writing painted the picture of what was happening, in my mind. The story feels so real and some of the characters feel like friends. A story rich in history with secrets and lies within its pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Colors of Truth is book 2 in the Carnton series. The first book, With This Pledge, was so absolutely wonderfully written, that when this book became available I knew I had to jump right at the opportunity.

Colors of Truth gripped me from the very beginning. It tells the story of Catriona, who along with her youngest sister, moves to Franklin to search for their brother, the only other remaining living relative. We are also introduced to Wade, an undercover agent, who is working on uncovering the counterfeit money business that is prevalent in Franklin. Their paths cross at Carnton and it is beautiful to see how their world entwines and the love that grows between them.

The author, Tamera Alexander, has a lovely way with words, captivating you and pulling you into her world. This is a beautifully written story. My favourite novels are those when you can tell the author has put lots of research into their writing. The history just falls out of each page. Ofcourse, I did some research of my own on Carnton and what I found was amazing. Thanks for staying true to the facts and thank you for taking me on this historical journey.

Colors of Truth was a delight to read as is anything written by Tamera Alexander. I don’t think anything that I have read by Ms. Alexander has been anything less than stellar. Her characters are richly drawn, plotlines solid, and the history of all of her novels never leaves the reader less than wowed by how she draws in the reader, and yes, you are right there with the characters experiencing exactly what they are going through.

I LOVED this book!! It was full of mystery and romance! It reminded me of a couple of the best ones from the Bell Meade series. Tamera Alexander has such a gift, and I really enjoyed this book - my favorite in the season so far, by far!

Great book with some surprises. Enjoyed the storyline and the history that was shared. Would highly recommend this book.

Colors of Truth by Tamera Alexander
Colors of Truth is based on the true story of the Antebellum House, Carnton, outside of Nashville, Tennessee in the aftermath of the Civil War. This story follows the struggles of the Irish immigrant, Catronia O’Toole searching for her twin brother and that of a Secret Service operative, Wade Cunningham.
Tamera Alexander is a new author for this reviewer. Even though the story is based on fact, her dialogue and character development invites the reader to feel part of the story and rooting for the success of each of the characters. Colors of Truth is a good sized novel at four hundred pages but readers will not even notice while they quickly turn page after page to find out if Catrona finds her brother and the budding romance between her and Wade.
As with all of her novels, Ms. Alexander provides links to a web page that further educates the reader on the story and providing all of the facts she has uncovered. The website also includes actual pictures of many of the characters and of the antebellum house during the Civil War. An added bonus for any history buff.
Colors of Truth is the second installment of the Carnton Series. It can be read as a stand alone but after completing Colors of Truth, the reader will desire to go back and read the first in the series, With This Pledge. A fast paced read for those who enjoy historical fiction. Hand this novel to any fan of historical fiction fan of the Civil War.
I received an ARC ebook from NetGalley and the publisher, Thomas Nelson, in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction and Tamara Alexander for an advanced copy of Colors of Truthin exchange for an honest review.
I am from the South so, I have spent my life hearing and reading about Civil War History but, the author showed me a part I knew little about.
Catriona and her sister immigrate from Ireland when their brother Ryan sends money for the family to come to America. Ryan had fought as a Confederate soldier during the Civil War. When the sisters arrive, they go to Franklin Tennessee to look for him. While there, they meet a former Federal soldier investigating the counterfeiting and laundering of money, a part of history I wasn't familiar with.
This book is the second in a series so, I need to go back and find the first one to feel like I have the complete story of theses characters. The descriptions were very vivid and the story was well done. I highly recommend it for a wonderful escape into the past.

I was drawn to this book for multiple reason. I like the previous Tamera Alexander books that I have previously picked up, I love anything Irish, and it is set in the town where my grandpa grew up and my great grandpa owned a store. I struggled rating this book, because there were things that I loved and things that i didn't enjoy. I loved the relationship between Wade and Catriona. The progression of their relationship was beautiful. I also loved learning about the battle that took place in Franklin and the aftermath of that battle. I love that Alexander writes books set on real plantations and goes into the real history of them. It adds so much to the book and makes the plantation feel like a prominent character of it. The biggest problem that I had with the book is, while the writing is beautiful, the pace felt off to me. The pace for the majority of it was very slow and then the end felt very rushed. The big conclusion happened so fast that I was left feeling disappointed. I wanted to spend more time wrapping everything up. I really wanted to love this book and enjoy it more than I did. I still really appreciate these series that Alexander is doing and I will continue to read them!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Colors of Truth
by Tamera Alexander
Thomas Nelson--FICTION
You Like Them You Are Auto-Approved
Thomas Nelson
Christian | Historical Fiction
Pub Date 07 Jul 2020 | Archive Date 26 Aug 2020

This is the second book in the Carnton series. I really enjoy Tamera Alexander's book because a lot of research goes into each book to bring true historical fiction. I loved reading Wade and Catriona's story.
I received a free ARC from Thomas Nelson Fiction and Net Galley!!
I loved this book and will recommend it to our patrons when we open again.

4.5 stars.  Tamera Alexander has crafted a beautiful story set in the rich setting of post Civil War south.  The characters she creates have strong convictions and represent many walks of life and perspectives, yet their interactions reveal how similar we are as members of the human race and as God's children.  The need to connect with God undergirds the character's journey and historical details are neatly woven into a compelling story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved this book. Tamera Alexander did a great job creating characters and a story that drew me in. I truly enjoyed Catriona and Wade's story. We were given enough information at the outset to know parts of the "mystery" being solved, but that was part of the suspense - how the characters would react as they learned more about each other and their history.
The book addressed topics such as racial relations, Irish immigration and prejudice, and counterfeiting.
This is the second book in the series but it is a standalone.