Only Charlotte
A novel of entanglements in New Orleans, 1880
by Rosemary Poole-Carter
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Pub Date Apr 30 2019 | Archive Date Jan 31 2020
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Description
Lenore James, a woman of independent means who has outlived three husbands, is determined to disentangle her brother Gilbert from the beguiling Charlotte Eden. Chafing against misogyny and racism in the post-Civil War South, Lenore learns that Charlotte’s husband is enmeshed in the re-enslavement schemes of a powerful judge, and she worries that Gilbert’s adoration of Charlotte will lead him into disaster. Inspired by a production of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, Lenore adopts the role of Paulina for herself to discover how far Charlotte’s husband bears the blame for his wife’s fate and whether or not he is capable of atonement. In her process of unraveling the intricacies of the lives of others, Lenore finds that Gilbert’s love for Charlotte is, indeed, his saving grace while Lenore’s passion for creative expression is her own.
Advance Praise
"Yes, Gilbert is a charmer, and Charlotte is quite intriguing, but the voice of Lenore called out to me from the first page, and I became ever more deeply entranced by her character as the story demonstrates how an intelligent and insightful woman of 19th century New Orleans might deal with the constraints of the culture of that era. Her resourcefulness, her compassion (so like her brother Gilbert’s), and her courage are inspirational even in our time." . . . Katherine Parr, actress, singer, and author of No Coin for the Ferryman
“A compelling and beautifully written story to keep you reading half the night . . . Set in 19 th century corrupt, poverty-ridden, yet genteel New Orleans after the Civil War, Only Charlotte has a cadence all its own. Rosemary Poole-Carter is a greatly gifted author who has created an unforgettable mystery where kindness and evil are inexorably entwined." . . . Stephanie Cowell, author of Marrying Mozart and Claude & Camille: a novel of Monet
Marketing Plan
Only Charlotte author Rosemary Poole-Carter is working with BreakThrough Promotions on an extensive schedule of signings and events, beginning with bookstores and libraries in North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, and Louisiana. The promotional schedule will also include radio and online interviews and guest blog spots. The author plans to participate in programs at the June 2019 Historical Novel Society Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, and the November 2019 Bouchercon Convention in Dallas, Texas. Plans for other programs and events will be ongoing.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9781935722991 |
| PRICE | $25.00 (USD) |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Jackie M, Reviewer
Only Charlotte by Rosemary Poole-Carter. Top Publications, 2019.
This intriguing and unusual story is one of good and evil set in 1880s New Orleans. When a young, recently widowed doctor moves to live with his sister, he – Gilbert - becomes smitten by Charlotte, married to an architect and the mother of two of his patients. After he is called out to the plantation of an eminent judge to deal with her body, he digs into possible motives that the judge and his equally corrupt and unappealing guests might have had to murder her.
I like to read historical crime and romance fiction. Though this book is both, it is like nothing I’ve read before.
The plot is a series of unexpected events, not a familiar formula. The settings are easy to visualize, the characters are developed to the point that readers will like, love or hate them as the author intended, but not quite well enough so we can predict what they will do. I was surprised by the crimes of some and didn’t identify the villain until the end.
This book is written mostly from the perspective of Gilbert’s sister Lenore, and - I understand - in the vernacular of the period. This contributed to the overall mood and was not awkward or distracting.
I read this book from beginning to end almost without stopping, and warmly recommend it.
Disclosure: I received a review copy of Only Charlotte free via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Educator 263557
Great story! Gets better each time I read it. Wonderful characters. Looking forward to the next book.
Mystica V, Reviewer
Lenore James is a good natured woman. She has outlived three husbands, is financially independent, fair and non judgemental and worried over her brother Gilbert. He has tragically lost his wife and child and now seems enamoured by the young woman Charlotte Eden. Herself married with two children and whose husband is very much part of New Orleans society.
the story revolves around Charlotte and her supposed death under mysterious circumstances whilst at a weekend with mutual friends (of her husband). Gilbert as the doctor was brought in to take the body away and prepare it for burial. That the husband did not accompany the doctor gave us the first inclination that things were not quite what they seemed and when Charlotte is found to be alive and has to be given some kind of place to recover apart from her husband and children, this is where the actual story unravels.
New Orleans society was lax and amongst this circle of society rather immoral. The Judge who overlooked all legal matters of the area was corrupt so that there was no way that Gilbert could bring about a case against Charlotte's husband. It was a very cliquey society a sort of old boys network which worked well for them against all outsiders.
The story was slow paced but descriptive of the society in which Lenore and Gilbert lived and was interesting for its depiction of New Orleans society from their viewpoint.
Jeanette S, Reviewer
It was the front cover that initially drew my attention to this book. Historical fiction and historical romance is one of my all time favourite genres and so glad that i had the chance to read this book. It did take me a little while to get into the book, turning the pages. I think it is worth a read and i would certainly read more by Rosemary Poole-Carter.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy. This is my honest review.but was soon
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