” I’m already missing you again, she whispered.”- pg 321

To begin to describe what reading this book was like would be like describing the sky to a blind man. I think one thing would be a constant across the reviews, this book is amazing. To travel to Nashville, post Civil War, to engage in the lives of Alexandra and Sylas is what readers of christian and historical fiction seek.

” No matter where you are going, God’s already there… There is nowhere we can go- by carriage, wagon, ship, or train- where he is not already there, holding us in the palm of his hand.”-pg 288.

Alexandra is the kind of female that you wish there were more of in history. Now she is fictional, but her personality resounds with famous strong females. She is a woman of change, and movement, the type that is going to move mountains. Leaving her family was certainly a shock to this reader, it was emotional points in the book, when her family came into the lines, she breaks a reader’s heart when she talks about the tragic accident that changed her future, she feels lost in some points but she certainly is a strong female that can get things done. Leaving her family and stepping towards her future she had planned once was only the beginning for Alexandra. But she did this because she wanted to teach. As a woman working on her education degree, this spoke to me. I know the feeling of seeing the bright faces in front of you and the first day jitters. I was in love with Alexandra the moment she went to the freeman’s school to teach, but was honored to call her a fictional friend after her own educational growth. This was momentous because to teach as a female in higher education is tough now, but was close to impossible then.

“Education is the key to unlocking not only a person’s future, Alexandra, but to helping to create a new world. For everyone.”-pg 181.

Sylas is our heart melting man. A man of faith who wanted answers. He gets more when he meets Alexandra, both seeking the answers from a fateful day, He in fact is the character that many of our historically real characters interact with. It was cool see the name Bliss come up, and Pullman as well. Knowing what both men did in this country and for it. The love that Sylas offers to Alexandra is one that this single gal can only dream of receiving. He was a worthy partner to her and showed her that God is there through the darkness and in the most terrifying times. That humans can have darkness behind them and light in the front.

I was honored to have the chance to review this book,and to share my simple thoughts. Tamera Alexander is the perfect example of an author that not only researches and writes beautifully, but she shares the faith in a way that can call readers from the dark. In her work, may you find peace and love.

Tell me about your favorite Tamera Alexander book!