Review: Another Fun Read by Bella Street
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 6, 2014
Though this is the second book in the Tennessee Waltz series, I felt it could be read as a stand-alone novel. It is another lovely, clean romance novel by Bella Street.The book starts with Sophie in a totally distraught state, out with her friends Karen and Vicki, trying to drink away the memory of her boyfriend Kevin cheating on her. After they drop her off at her apartment she decides to pay him a visit at his apartment, but when she gets to his house, she remembers that he isn’t alone. Instead of going inside, she throws a rock at a window. Rather than hearing the smashing of glass, she sees a blinding flash of light.Suddenly she hears the voices of two men above her and realizes she must have passed out. When she opens her eyes, she sees that the men are wearing the uniforms of Yankee soldiers – they must be part of a Civil War re-enactment group. But they are planning on raping her!To her rescue comes a man with rope burns around his neck and a young girl who doesn’t say a word. Sophie discovers she is in the year 1865. The man’s name is Gabriel and he is not the father of the young girl. Gabriel meanwhile discovers that it is the girl who cut him down when he tried to kill himself. He thought the girl arrived with the strangely-dressed woman he rescued. He takes both women in and sleeps in the barn.This is a clean romance novel. There are no sexual scenes in the book and nothing beyond kissing. There is some swearing in the book however, which I mention for those who are sensitive to that.All Sophie wants to do is go home. She finds however, that she has to conform to at least some of the rules of the society of that era. Going about in public in her yoga outfit is a definite no-no. Instead, Gabriel provides some clothing from his dead sister-in-law that she has to alter because it is too short – it comes to her mid-shin. She has to go to church, as does the rest of the small community. And she has to make a choice – marry Gabriel, or find someplace else to live. No unmarried woman in 1865 would live with a bachelor unless she was a “loose” woman. The problem is, most of the people in this town are hostile and the times are dangerous. She knows she is safe with Gabriel.And what about the silent child? Sophie has named her Angela. Although she understands what Sophie is saying, she won’t speak, nor will go anywhere else. She’s made it clear that she wants to stay with Sophie.I really liked Gabriel. He is kind, gentle, and lives what he believes. That’s what got him into the trouble he was in when Sophie first met him. He asks Sophie to marry him so that she can continue to live at his home and not damage her reputation. He is willing to wait until she is ready for any intimacies since this is a marriage of convenience.This novel was a very engaging book. It has a different ending than I thought it might, but it was a very satisfying one. The end of this book also leads to a logical beginning for the third book of the series.Bella Street’s writing is simple and easy to read. Her descriptions are clear and vivid. I gave this book a rating of four stars out of five. Clean romance fans should love it!Thank you to the author, Bella Street for providing a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.