This book has it all, mystery and romance in the historical setting of the Reconstruction period. It also deals with the social issues of the time on a personal level. I had very much enjoyed White's Gulf Coast Chronicles series and was not disappointed by this first book in the Daughtry House series. I must admit my interest was piqued by the setting, Tupelo, Mississippi, as I visited family there throughout my childhood. White truly captures the time and place, and fills it with intriguing characters.
Selah Daughtry, the oldest of three sisters, is aided in retaining her family home by an undercover Pinkerton agent, Levi Riggins. Her mother had been brutally murdered by a band of renegade soldiers during the war and her father's whereabouts were unknown. Once Riggins' plan was in place, Selah was aided by her sisters and cousin, a foster son of sorts, a childhood friend and many who were once slaves on her family's plantation in her efforts to convert the plantation into an exclusive hotel as the railroad moved into the area.
Levi Riggins used his talent in gathering intelligence, developed while serving in the Union Army, to move into a career as a Pinkerton detective following the war. Following leads as he worked to uncover the person or persons behind a series of train robberies, Levi ended up not only saving Selah's life, but providing her with a livelihood. Now he seeks to find a way to solve his case and bring their lives together as one.
I highly recommend this, and all of Beth White's books. Her stories have depth, are well developed and paced, and her vocabulary in this book may increase your own. I thank NetGalley and Revell Books for providing me with a copy of A Rebel Heart in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.
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