I wasn't aware this was the 2nd in a series, and will definitely be picking up Book 1!

The complex relationship between Catriona and her bold baby sister, Nora was my favorite part of the book. It was genuine. I see Nora will soon have a story of her own. It should be interesting! She's a spitfire in this one. Then, of course, there's Tempy. I was so happy for her and hope to read more about her in Book 3.

The historical research of Post-Civil War must have been grueling! I definitely learned a lot. Thank you, @tamaraalexander, for your hard work!

The fact that I won this outstanding work in a Halloween Scavenger Hunt in no way affected my rating of 4 Stars. I'm pretty no nonsense, and don't give a good rating, to perhaps get more free books! Important for me to point this our, as we've all seen rave reviews of an ARC that were undeserved. ( )

What a beautiful story. From the beginning page, I could hear the "voice" of the story I always listen for to know it will be a story I can lose myself in. Tamera very deftly returns you to the past. She does not sugarcoat the awful things done in the past. Nor does she overemphasize the good things done. The love story between Catriona and Wade is threaded throughout the whole book like a stream you are floating on. God is always so much a part of all of Tamera's writing. You can see God's hand in the good and the bad. Sometimes life overwhelms us but we must choose how to react. I can't wait for the third one in the series. ( )

I have been to the Carnton Plantation and I have walked among the graves of the Confederate soldiers in the cemetery just taking shape in Colors of Truth. Tamera Alexander brings that history (and more) to life.

Catriona is determined and headstrong, Wade is intelligent and capable but also undercover. From their first meeting, these two are drawn to the other but both have their missions before them. The romance between them is a slow burning build to the satisfying conclusion.

There’s a touch of mystery with the counterfeiting as well as what happened to Catriona’s brother. And of course, there’s so much history infused in this book, the reader is transported to Franklin, TN in 1866 (a year after the Battle of Franklin highlighted in the first book of the Carnton series). But deep down, at its core, Colors of Truth is a story of acceptance and healing. ( )

Colors of Truth tells the story of Catriona O’Toole, an Irish young lady who has just immigrated to the United States from Ireland shortly after the end of the Civil War. She has traveled with her sister, Nora, to Franklin, Tennessee in search of her brother, Ryan, who came to America years before and was conscripted to fight for the Confederacy. Wade Cunningham has also come to Franklin under the pretense of seeking employment as the overseer of Carnton. He works for the Secret Service investigating and tracking down counterfeiters, and there has been recent activity in the area that he has been sent to investigate. His identity as a government operative must remain hidden, and if anyone finds out he fought for the Union army, his investigation will go nowhere. When his path crosses that of Catriona O’Toole, sparks fly as the two must decide if they can actually trust each other as Wade tries to help Catriona uncover the truth about her brother and his whereabouts.

As with all of Tamara Alexander’s books, I love this story; the sweetness of the romance, the depth of the emotions; the conflicts the characters face in dealing with honesty, trust, and overcoming wounds from the past. I appreciate that the topic of slavery is discussed throughout the book; the injustices suffered by the African American population; the wrongness of owning, buying, and selling other people; and the deep emotional scars that could never be erased even after the slaves were freed. And I appreciate the role that faith plays in the story. I thought the characters had depth and were likable, and I always like the inclusion of actual historical people, such as the McGavocks. I truly enjoyed reading this book, and I look forward to the next book in the Carnton series.

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

What a treasure we are gifted with by this author, a compelling page turner and the best of historical fiction.
You will be transported to the time in our nation of reconstruction, and of course, there is greed, but this time the perpetrators are professionals in their trade. and thus we meet the newly formed Secret Service, in the form of a kind hearted man.
We also meet a young woman and her seven-year-old precocious sister, who really keeps her on her toes. They are newly arrived from Ireland, having recently buried the rest of their family. We walk in the shoes of these people through the words of this author, and cringe at the smell of death, and hope it is not family for them.
You don't want to miss this one, but warning you won't want to leave!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review. ( )