Well researched and well written, Author Tamera Alexander gives us a taste of Christmas during the Civil War. A tender love story between two people who are hurt but heal and grow together.

Strong characters struggle with real issues. Life was not easy, and the author does not “fluff” anything but does show hope and love during this special time of year. Written with deep feeling, I had trouble putting this book down. I wanted to see what happened next and how the story line was resolved.

A great book for people who enjoy both Christian fiction and Historical fiction, I highly recommend A Christmas at Carnton.

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

Christmas at Carnton was like a mug of my favorite apple cinnamon tea on a blistery, winter evening. This beautiful novella reached deep inside and resonated something within me in a way that a book hasn't in a very long time. This poignant novella tells the story of young, widowed Aletta Prescott, who's dealt some harsh life circumstances when she loses her job at a factory, and soon thereafter discovers the bank is beginning foreclosure procedures on her home. Left with a rambunctious six year old to feed, and another baby on the way, Aletta's not sure what her options are to try and provide for her family. An opportunity arises in the form of a job position at the Carnton Plantation house. Mrs, MCGavock is planning a ladies aid society fundraiser auction with all proceeds going to wounded soldiers, and Aletta finds an answer to prayer in her new position that includes room and board.

One such wounded soldier has been asked to be on hand for the auction, and Captain Jake Winston believes the whole affair is a waste of his talent, and a frivolous excuse for women to simply host a get together. Wounded on the battlefield in ways Jake doesn't want to reveal to anyone, he soon finds more than he bargained for in Aletta and her son Andrew; both of who are quickly stealing his heart, and reminding him there's more to life than serving his country on the battlefield.

Christmas at Carnton demonstrates how talented of an author Tamera Alexander is as she's able to bring attention to a horrific part of American history, while still demonstrating the bounty of God's love and affection for his people. This novella was wonderfully researched, and I really enjoyed the way Tamera was able to include actual historical figures blended in beautifully with the fictional characters she so wonderfully brought to life. As well, I really enjoyed the refreshing way that this novella brought attention to a part of war that's often not well represented-the way the women are left fighting battles of their own, far away from the actual battlefield, as they struggle to make ends meet and hold their families together amidst devastation and destruction.

Christmas at Carnton is definitely a new favorite, full of poignant storytelling, rich character development, a beautiful, perfectly paced romance, and a reminder of simpler times when the emphasis was truly on family, love, the important of friendship, and relying on God's will even when the times get tough. I didn't think there could possibly be anything that could make me enjoy this wonderful story more, but then I got to the end and discovered that Tamera Alexander had included recipes of many of the beloved dishes served throughout the story; like Andrew's favorite pumpkin bread.

This new Christmas novella was definitely a five star read for me! And it's a great start to this new series. I look forward to continuing on with the characters I've come to love in the introduction to the Carnton novels, and although this was my first experience with a Tamera Alexander novel, I feel like I've just discovered a new favorite author.

I can't recommend this novella enough, and anyone who enjoys inspirational historical fiction definitely needs to add this one to their reading list!

Thanks so much to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for a free review copy!

Recently widowed, pregnant, out of work, and facing the foreclosure of her home, Aletta Prescott is desperate to find a new job that will allow her to support herself and her six-year-old son. She eventually finds a short-term position working with the Women's Relief Society auction, but has to work alongside and depend on a wounded soldier also assigned to the auction. Will Aletta learn to trust God to supply her needs when her temporary position at Carnton ends? Will she have the courage to give her heart away after it has so recently been broken?

Wounded confederate sharpshooter Jake Winston begrudgingly takes an assignment working with the Women's Relief Society while he waits for his vision to recover from a serious head injury. Wishing he was back on the battlefield with his unit, Jake must learn to define himself outside his rank and occupation. Will his friendship with Aletta show Jake that he still has value? Is he willing to risk forming attachments when the war still seems far from over?

In her typical fashion, Tamera Alexander tells a lovely story full of fascinating historical detail in Christmas as Carnton. While the plot was a bit predictable-- even with the supposed twists toward the end-- Jake and Aletta's characters were beautifully written and compelling to explore. I loved Aletta's gumption and Alexander's feminist undertones woven throughout the story. Why can't a woman build a nativity set? Jake's struggle to accept the end of his sharpshooting career and the guilt he feels being away from the battlefield was equally interesting. As a matter of personal taste, I would have preferred that Aletta hadn't been quite so recently widowed. One month seems like an awfully short amount of time to have recovered from the death of her spouse to the point that she feels as drawn to Jake as she was. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this introduction to Alexander's upcoming series set at Carnton, and cannot wait for more!

I received a free copy from the publisher. No review, positive or otherwise, was required—all opinions are my own.

I love Tamera Alexander's novels and own them all. This novella is so precious and delightful. I fell in love with it. She is once again taking us on a wonderful historic journey with her books.

What an absolutely wonderful story.

As soon as the world begins to whisper of autumn, my winter-loving heart starts needing a good, cozy Christmas story. Admittedly, the cover of "Christmas at Carnton" is what caught my attention first. After reading about the book, I was pleasantly surprised to discover the time period setting of the book, and couldn't wait to dig in.

And I absolutely fell in love.

The author created such wonderfully raw characters. I loved Aletta, Jake and especially Tempy. Thanks to the author's gifted writing, I was able to hear the characters as I read, all with their own distinct voices, personalities, quirks and character traits. I loved the attention given to historical accuracy, and found myself both cheering and choking up as I soaked up chapter after chapter. A beautiful story and a must-read for the Christmas season.

A lovely start to a new series!
Set on the Carnton estate in 1863 just outside of Nashville, Tennessee, in the middle of the Civil War. I love how this author ties together real people and places with her own set of fictional characters, making it feel so authentic. Her characters struggle with real-life problems--foreclosure, widowhood, single parenting, loss of income, poverty, pregnancy, loss of health--something many can relate to today even. They question their faith, but come out stronger for it, learning to trust that God has a plan for them despite difficult circumstances, especially in Aletta's case. "...even though she didn't know what the future held, she knew who held it."

The group of women who gather to bring support to the troups are inspiring too, as they rally around each other and unite in their purpose; they were fighting on a battlefield of their own, as Jake realizes. The romance is sweet and tender, and though it develops quickly, not unrealistic due to the circumstances. Some interesting history, plus delicious recipes are included at the end too.

I look forward to this new series with a little tie in to the Belle Meade stories. Readers who enjoy historical Christian fiction with a romance will want to add it to their reading list.

(An e-book was provided by NetGalley and Thomas Nelson publishing. All opinions are my own.)

Bundle up and get ready for a Christmas story you won’t soon forget! With the perfect setting and dynamic, resourceful characters Tamera has set the perfect backdrop for a perfect cozy Christmas story and the introduction to her newest series.

The next book releases in 2018 and I am excited to read more about Carnton Plantation and discover more about the people who called the beautiful plantation home.

Aletta’s husband has died, leaving her and their 6-year-old son, Andrew to survive the civil war on their own. With the mortgage due, groceries to buy, and winter clothes needed for Andrew how will she manage to make it? With prayer and hard work, will Aletta find employment at Carnton Plantation? Will it be enough to save her home and see her and Andrew through Christmas?

Captain Jake Winston is a well-known and decorated sharpshooter, but an accident causes him to be sent to Carnton Plantation to assist in the Ladies Aid Society. He is less than thrilled about the assignment, but determined to make the best of it and sets out to help with the work at Carnton.

With 256 pages and 23 chapters, Christmas at Carnton is a nice beefy novella. The end wrapped up nicely, while still giving you glimpses of what is to come in the future for Carnton Plantation.

As a special bonus, the end of the book includes favorite holiday recipes to bake and enjoy with family and friends.

(I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)

This is a feel-good story set in a troubled period, the American Civil War. This Christmas novella launches a three-book series (Carnton) and I’m curious to read the next story, featuring also a wounded soldier and a secondary character from this book.
The characters in “Christmas at Carnton” are enjoyable and well-drawn. Jake’s feelings of inadequacy, of being less a man, are realistic and balanced with his slow adaptation to civilian life. The heroine, Aletta, is a soldier’s widow, with a young boy and expecting a child; and her tribulations are those of many other women in war periods.
Men and women’s traditional roles are slightly mixed up – in a positive way – when we have a soldier artist and a woman carpenter (in the 1800s). I really enjoyed that.

"There but for the grace of God..." This is not just another story to read & enjoy, rather it
challenges us to put ourselves in the place of a young war widow of 150 years ago, when
all human means of support fail. Losing one's job, & thus one's home, would be enough to
contend with, but when she has a young son - & a baby almost due - what would you do?
What would I do? What could we do....?
I like the way this writer involves the reader : we cannot read just 'on the surface'. I also like
her writing a letter directly to the reader, at the end of the story. And the bonus recipes are
appreciated!
Having previously read & enjoyed the Belmont Mansion series, I am now looking forward
very much to the rest of the Carnton series : thanks, Tamera!

We love getting our appetite ready for a new series with a novella to kick things off! Tamera has a new series coming out based around the Carnton Plantation in Franklin, Tennessee. We have loved her previous series based around other historical plantations and this one has hopes of being just as wonderful!.

This story is set in the time period of the Civil War. Aletta - a widow, a mother to a six year old boy and eight months pregnant, is desperate for hope. She has lost her job and is being evicted out of her home. This war has taken everything from her. Can she find the strength to keep fighting while also encouraging those around her? When she lands a job at the Carnton Plantation for the Christmas season, she falls in love with the people and surroundings but has only been promised the position for a short amount of time. One person in particular has caught her eye - and a part of her heart.

Captain Jake Winston, a Confederate sharpshooter, is now on the injured list. Sent to Carnton on a special task to assist the Women's Relief Society Auction is not what he desires for his foreseeable future. However, soon he realizes these women are fighting their own battles and he starts to have a change of heart. But can his heart handle the emotions a young widow and her son provoke?

We eagerly await this new series and were thankful to have this sweet introduction!

After a recent visit to Franklin, Tennessee, I was quite interested in reading this new novella by Tamera Alexander. While we had visited the Lotz House rather than Carnton on that visit, thanks to our tour guide, I had vivid mental images of what had occurred around this area during the latter days of the Civil War. As our nation appears to become more divided about the worthiness of remembering this period of American History, Alexander’s writing shows us that there are still things to learn from those who lived through the experience on both sides of the conflict, without condoning the attitudes and events at its origins.
Aletta Prescott, a young widow raising a young son, and with child, is an inspiration to all who face events that threaten not only one’s way of life, but life itself. While facing job loss, foreclosure, and an almost empty pantry, Aletta is alert to opportunities to provide for her family, now that her soldier husband will not be returning home to do so. If the story occurred in real life, many would say Aletta’s circumstances changed due to a happy coincidence. Others, like Aletta, would give credit where it belongs, with the God in whom she placed her trust. Captain Jake Winston’s injuries might not be as apparent as those of the Civil War’s many amputees, but they left him unable to perform his military duties. To say he was less than ecstatic about his assignment to represent the army and assist with an auction sponsored by the Women’s Relief Society in support of Confederate soldiers would be an understatement. Might his presence be a part of God’s plan? Might this be the best place for his recuperation from his injuries? Only time will tell.
Perseverance, faith, and forgiveness are major themes in this book. Alexander handles her subject matter with grace and style. I highly recommend this novella and look forward to the series of which it serves as a prequel. I thank NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for a free copy of Christmas in Carnton in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for this review.

Another enjoyable read from Tamera Alexander. A great combination of historical/inspirational/holiday fiction that sets off a new series from Alexander. Even though a novella, the story felt very complete and well rounded.

Tamera Alexander is one of my favorites. She was able to pack a full story into 100 pages that left me satisfied, but also excited for the new series that this novella introduced. I enjoyed getting to know the characters at Carnton Plantation and watching the sweet romance between Aletta and Jake. And Tamera's author notes are really fascinating. As usual, her research is on point.

*Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are mine.

Once in a while, I read a book, novella, or story of some kind where all the pieces fit together in such a way that there is no disconnect, no disjointed pieces, nothing but an enjoyable story with a completeness that brings satisfaction to the reader. Tamera Alexander's Christmas at Carnton is that kind of story.

Aletta is a war widow with a young son about to lose her house to foreclosure. She looks all over town for a job, any job, just to keep the bills paid, and a roof over her and her son's heads.

Jake Winston is a sharp shooter who has been injured and may never see well enough to do his job again.

Both of them end up at Carnton, a Franklin, Tennessee, planttion--Aletta to work, and Jake to recuperate from his injuries. They end up working together on a couple of projects and a friendship forms.

All of the characters are believable--and I found it quite easy to put myself in their circumstances. Aletta is not only skilled in the kitchen, she is also skilled in the woodshop--a deviation from the norm of the day. Jake helps her build a nativity for the front lawn of Carnton to house a live nativity during the auction to raise money for the soldiers. It's fun to watch Jake's opinions change as he sees that the ladies contributing to the auction really feel they have played a part in helping their loved ones.

I give this short novel five stars, two thumbs up, and a hot, flaky biscuit first thing in the morning.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read and review this book.

This is a Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, and Agatha Christie's Then There Were None! A story of despair, mystery, suspenseful, quirky characters, and at last, a Happily Ever After! I highly recommend! Thanks! Enjoy!
carolintallahassee 👒

This was a quick, heart warming, sweet, historical romance. The story was both heart wrenching and hopeful. There was some decent character growth for a novella. I thought the romance was a little fast, but that's to be expected in a novella. This is a nice introduction to Tamera Alexander's next series

Tamera Alexander's books have a way of pulling you in. This is no different in this novella. I was excited to learn more about another plantation that was in Nashville. I am sad to admit that while this was my hometown, I had never heard of this place! Carnton Plantation is definitely on my to visit list next time I am in town. I loved hearing about Jake and Aletta's story even though it was short. There was a turn in the story that had me What?! How is this going to turn out now? Tamera did a fantastic job of casting out all fears. I am super excited to read the next 3 novels in the series! Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book takes place in Franklin, Tennessee, in the year 1863. Alexander brings us back to a time where women are struggling to hold their own while their husbands are off fighting the war, never knowing if their loved ones will return to them.

What a sweet romance this was! Tamera Alexander is obviously a gifted author. Her characters were great. Aletta was a strong woman and Jake was a wonderful man. I loved that there some character development as well. Looking forward to the entire series next year!

A lovely novella to introduce a new series by Tamera Alexander. War and suffering – even at Christmas time – is the theme. We are rooting for Jake and Aletta as we get to know them. Aletta wants to guard her heart against any romantic involvement when she goes to Carnton to work for the McGavocks. Jake must deal with a life-changing injury. Looking forward to the new series!