Review: Truth Unfolds!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 31, 2013
It was 1862 and the country was in the throes of the Civil War. Matthew Scott managed a theater troupe in Ohio; however, due to his father's political stance he was abducted and thrust into the Confederate Army. Matthew suffered injuries on the battlefield rendering him unconscious. Upon awakening briefly, a Confederate lieutenant asked him to deliver a letter to Mrs. Mary Braxton Carter at Shirley Plantation in Virginia. Upon discovering the wounded soldier and cognizant of Matthew's true identity, Union troops brought him to Shirley Plantation and the letter was safely delivered. Due to the numerous injured soldiers needing medical attention the plantation grounds subsequently transitioned into a field hospital.A household servant to the Carter family, Angelina Rose had been born into slavery, one-eighth African, with fair skin, blue-gray eyes and wavy golden hair. She was freed from slavery the previous year, but felt God's calling to remain at Shirley Plantation to care for her deceased sister's children. Angelina also worked as a seamstress, saving her money to buy freedom for her niece and nephew. An almost immediate attraction formed between Matthew and Angelina, and time spent together only increased those feelings. With differing backgrounds and secrets untold their future together was questionable at best.A new name to Christian historical fiction, Carrie Fancett Pagels has produced an impressive tale of the ravages of the Civil War with a blossoming romance in this poignant novella! Her knowledge of the historic details of Shirley Plantation and Civil War events are well documented and commendable. Characters are very well defined and realistic. I found this story not only enjoyable, but educational. "Return to Shirley Plantation" is a remarkable introduction to "Murray Pura's American Civil War Series - Cry of Freedom." Kudos to this talented author!Disclaimer: For the purposes of FTC compliance, I hereby state that I have no vested financial interest in this book, and I have received no monetary compensation from the author or publisher. I received a beta copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.