Fascinating doesn't even begin to describe the pages of this book. It was such a remarkable storyline, so different than others I read, and I absolutely loved it! I need to find more books by Beth White!

I received a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Another masterpiece by Beth White. The second book in this series. Well written Believable characters. Historical. Emotional. Highly recommended.

Reluctant Belle, by Beth White is the second book in a series, but I confess that I only discovered this after reading the book and I didn't think I had lost any information.

Joelle Daughtry is one of the Daughtry sisters, a Southern Belle from the southern USA, who is preparing to reopen a hotel after the end of the civil war. She is also a writer / journalist.

Joelle, of course, suffers from the problem of white heroines in novels at this time: she either has no slaves or treats them exceptionally well.

The novel includes an interesting political murder that introduces a mystery note to the story.

However, my favorite part was the unfolding of the plot around the emergence of Klu, Klux, Klan, namely the way the author presents one of the characters, a young man who joins the group simply for the pleasure of participating in it, for the adrenaline. There is no real intention there. It both causes chaos and pledges to protect one of the potential victims, simply because the friend asked him to.

I believe that this is the reality of many of the young people who join terrorist groups: one day they are aspiring rappers, the next they are on a battlefield, trying to belong to something.

Deep down, I feel this reality as much more frightening than someone who has truly been converted to a set of values.


#AreluctantBelle
#NetGalley

I enjoyed reading this book. It was about American history, slavery and their troubles . There was a good storyline and a romance so it was not boring. Ido recommend that you read it.

Beth White produces vivid descriptions of anarchy in post-Civil War times in The Reluctant Belle, Daughtry House #2. Reconstruction was a very slow, painful process. Some championed it, some quietly supported it, and some outright spoke against it. Others secretly opposed it with an infectious hatred that developed into the KKK. This terror might start in an area slowly, like a glowing ember, then quite quickly fan into a ferocious, deadly flame that was meant to undo the liberation of the slaves. Author White brings the era to exciting, fearful life for a heart-stopping, engaging read.
So many themes presented here. We learn that God sees us all as we are. We see, if we choose, comparisons for racial issues in our own times.
I really was impressed by how God used each character, especially the main characters, despite their flaws, using the talents He HAD given them.
I saw more than a historical romance. I saw an example of what I want to be for my husband-what Joelle represents to Schuyler. Am I a refuge for my husband, anchoring him the way Joelle anchors Schuyler?
Great quotes, true for today.
“ If you admitted that you loved, you put yourself in danger of rejection.”
“The only way they got through that year had been laying their bruised souls at the feet of Jesus.”
“People who had a lot to lose, he’d noticed, took more time to pray. They relied on each other, trusted one another, became vulnerable as brothers and sisters.”
The author’s notes at the end are interesting and essential for history buffs. Grab this one for yourself and start following Beth White. This book can stand alone, but I enjoyed it, even more, knowing the background of book one.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinions which I am for which I am solely responsible.

This was an engaging Civil War romance. I thoroughly loved it! Very inspiring and so sweet!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC an exchange for my honest opinion.

I enjoyed this story set in the post Civil war period. If you haven’t read the first book in the series, I’d suggest you do that before you read this one. Although you can read this book on its own and still understand what’s happening, you’ll be more in touch with the characters as you read this one. Because of the subject matter of this book, the author could have made some of this more “sensational” or used crude language, and I appreciated her restraint. She gave us an interesting, even at time romantic, storyline that addressed those problems in a compassionate way. I loved the characters and hope there’s another book to come after this one.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I am loving this series.

I read the first book a while ago so it took me a little bit to remember everyone and what what had happened before. However, if you pick this book up first it won’t matter if you don’t know the other stuff (although the first book is very good as well).

Joelle is a unique character who I enjoyed getting to more in this book. I really like getting to Schuyler more as well. In the first book I wasn’t so sure I could trust him but in this book he proves trustworthy.

What I like about these books is that there is a mystery involved as well as the romance. That always keeps things interesting. I also like hearing about the United States coming out of the civil war and the adjustments that were being made durin

A copy of this book was given to me. All opinions are my own. g that time.

This is the second book to The Daughtry House and comes after The Rebel Bride. The Reluctant Belle is the story of Joelle Daughtry, the middle sister, the creative one, and the one that is not afraid to speak her mind (under her name or another).

Joelle has started a school at the hotel and is teaching those who wish to learn to read, write, etc. But we see more of her writing and "publishing" in the local newspaper, which at this time is pretty unknown for a woman to do, unless you have a pseudonym, and Joelle ruffles those readers feathers. Schuyler Beaumont is head over heels for Joelle, but misses his chance when Joelle finally accepts Gil Reeves's (the minister) proposal, much to everyone's dismay. When Schuyler receives news of his father and goes undercover to find out exactly what happened with the help of Levi, people's true colors start to show, and they are not who they seem.

This was a great book in this series, I think I may have enjoyed it a bit more than the first. We definitely get to learn more about Joelle (more than the little bits in the first book), her passions, and her spunky attitude that is certainly not 1865. I look forward to continuing this series with the story of Aurora (who really has some pretty good lines in this book) and where her story takes her.

Thank you to Netgalley and Revell for this ARC of A Reluctant Belle. All opinions are my own. I rate this book 4.5 stars.

I know you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, but in this case I absolutely did. The cover grabbed my attention and without reading the back cover I was already sold on the book.

Joelle and her sisters are taking on a big endeavor by opening their home as a hotel. Just after the war has ended may not be the best time, but Joelle is a determined woman. She is one fierce woman who doesn’t back down from anything. There are no quitters in the family so it has to be prosperous.

What I found intriguing was her articles that she was writing about the KKK. Does she know how dangerous this is? What if someone finds out? I love how Joelle wants the sane treatment for everyone and will step on toes as she moves forward with her articles that can cause hatred and danger. I admire her for sticking up for what she believe in.

The post Civil War era was at times confusing to me but the author has done her homework. She helps readers understand what is going on and brings her characters to life. I’m on the fence with Schuyler as he has seen both sides of freeing slaves. Has his heart changed? The author does a great job of showing how each character is struggling with their faith and learning to trust each other and Him.

I learned a lot of historical facts while reading this book. There were a few things I didn’t know about which helped me understand the struggle of slaves being truly free. There is a very shocking murder that takes place in story that will affect several characters. Will hearts be soften to the plight of the people who want to be treated as equals? Can Joelle and Schuyler begin to trust each other? Be sure to catch their banter and have a few laughs as they try to keep their pride in check. The story is a wonderful display of treating others as you would like to be treated. There is danger along the way, but their faith will help them make the right choices,

I received a copy of this book from Librarything’s Early Readers Review group. The review is my own opinion.

This story is about a very uncharacteristic southern ‘Belle’ Joelle who is independent and works for the improvement of the recently freed slaves. So there is a lot of social and political issues right after the American Civil War. At the same the book attempts to be a romance between Joelle and Schuyler This makes it difficult to judge , as it is not a real romance nor does it deal deeper with the postwar issues. Therefore,it was for my taste only an ok read.

'm always unsure if a second book in a series will live up to the first one but this one absolutely did! It you haven't read the first book,A Rebel Heart there is enough of the back story that you'll have no problem with what's been happening.

Joelle is determined to do what she thinks it right and fair even though others may not agree with her and it is dangerous. You have to love a lady who is no shrinking violet and one who will go the extra mile to treat all human beings with respect and dignity. As a fan of historical fiction, I think Ms. White has captured the aftermath of the Civil War in this realistic and well written story. She blends adventure and danger with a touch of faith and a bit of romance.

I am eager to read the third book in the series to find out what adventure the author has in store for her readers.
I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley but was under no obligation to write a review. All opinions are my own.

A well-written, engaging Civil War romance. I loved it! Very sweet and inspirational.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

A Reluctant Belle is a very well written inspirational romance. I enjoyed the plot, characters and the Civil War setting. The author is new to me and I will be reading more of her books. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my digital arc. This is my unbiased review.

"Well, sooner or later a man has to grow and adjust his priorities"

Ain't that the truth... the question is, will Joelle see the change before it's too late or is Schuyler destined to be her nemesis from childhood? And how will Schuyler cope with the death of his father, the secrets being revealed and the possibility of losing Joelle forever?

But this is not just a romance book... there's much history being brought alive with tensions rising in the South, KKK threats, and one shy and spirited girl determined to make a difference. What a paradox of a character, but this is exactly what makes Joelle endearing, her gumption despite being ignored by those who should have encouraged her.

No need to say, I LOVED Joelle! I especially LOVED Joelle and Schuyler together!! I loved the humor and tease throughout the story, but also the friendship which had already blossomed into something more, only these two had to wake up to it - better yet, be brave to admit it. In a sense, this is a coming of age story, ass they both mature into who they want to be and discovering a life of sacrifice.

Though this can be read alone, I'd recommend starting from the first book to understand better the dynamics and character development.

Intricate plots run the risk of plunging into two major pitfalls: either the story gets lost in the myriad of details that have been packed into the novel, or the sheer overload of facts make it a difficult book to read. Reluctant Belle triumphantly scales these hurdles and delivers both an intricate plot and a very sweet love story. It provides just the right amount of context and the right amount of new learning to make it much more than a formulaic story and a very enjoyable read. The synopsis, attractive as it is (and the reason I selected the book), doesn’t even do the plot justice.

The one main issue I had with the book was that there were times that it was clear I would have benefitted a bit more if I had read the preceding book in the series. So, while it is fine as a standalone story, it is clearly part of a series that will be understood better by reading in order. Besides this, I think it has one of the best character pairings I’ve ever read. Joelle and Schuyler were great to read. The circumstances around them – fighting for education for African Americans, investigating a murder and thwarting the KKK while facing existential questions about purpose and hard choices – further enrich their story.

My rating for Reluctant Belle is 4.5 stars. It’s my first book by this author, and I will definitely be reading more of her books.

Thanks to Revell and Beth White for this complimentary copy through NetGalley. All opinions are mine.

This book is the second in the series, and having not read the first I was a little confused. Though I was able to keep up with the story, and the author did a commendable job filling a new reader in, I had some difficulty with confusing secondary characters and information that I'm sure would have been more clear had I read the first book. I would recommend reading the first before this one. That being said, this book was very enjoyable!

The characters were great, Joelle was delightfully awkward and relatable. Her conversations standing up for her actions and the rights of her African-American neighbors really struck me and will stay with me for a long time. Schuyler was a bit "lost" at the beginning of the book and I really appreciated his desire to improve as a person and enjoyed watching him dedicate himself to that. Both character arcs were fantastic with a lot of growth. They were overall hilarious, sweet, and confusing in their relationship--which is, I'm sure, how they viewed the affair themselves which is always an impressive deed on the part of the author.

The plot line was very interesting. Much of the background history (locations, people, politics) bogged me down in the beginning but I dedicated a small amount of time to researching, and refreshing my knowledge on, the Civil War via my phone partway into the book and that helped tremendously. It didn't take much but I would suggest a basic knowledge of the timeline of events surrounding this time period in order to get the most out of the book. I especially appreciated that the book was incredibly well-researched but written in a way to not be inflammatory or unkind. Additionally, many of the conversations about God and Christianity were thought-provoking and very touching.

Now, my one complaint (with the exception of my self-incurred confusion from from not reading book one) was the whole scenario with Gil, Joelle's betrothed. While it could be said that Joelle was rather impulsive, leading to the engagement, it still didn't feel plausible that she would connect herself to a guy that she knew she didn't love and frankly didn't even seem to like. I was frustrated by the whole thing and it brought be down a bit, but everything turned out right in the end, making up for previous annoyance.

The romanced culminated in a sweet way, I especially loved the "party, fireworks, and ring" that Schuyler manufactured. And though it was clear that the trouble they faced against bigotry and racism were not magically fixed, there was still a satisfying end to their current problems. Definitely a book I'd recommend!

*Thank you to Beth White and Revell publishing for a complimentary copy of this book!

This is the first book that I have read by Beth White and is the second in the series Daughtry House. I did not read the first book but through out the story there is parts that gives insight to the other characters who were main characters of the first book. The setting of the story is right after the civil war and it seems the writer did her research for that era. I will admit that it was rather hard for me to be interested in some parts of the book. Other parts were interesting and faith filled. White brought in the civil rights of that age and the KKK clan and their distorted views. The romance was sweet as the two main characters that had known each other from childhood and seemly could not get along, actually loved one another. Sometimes it takes adversity and hardships for one to realize it. The plot was filled with twists and turns along with adventure, danger, intrigue, and a happy ending…….
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not required to give a review but am happy to do so.

The Civil War has ended and Reconstruction has taken over the south along with the burgeoning Ku Klux Klan. The Daughtry sisters are in the midst of preparations for the opening of their antebellum home as a resort hotel. Selah, the oldest sister, is on her honeymoon while Joelle the middle sister is busy by day with preparations for the hotel and teaching her black freedmen while by night she is filled with writing for the local newspaper under her pseudonym. Her childhood friend, Schuyler, is supporting the school and hotel financially. But they both soon find themselves caught in the middle of rabid anti-slavery goings-on when Schuyler's moderate, politically active father is assassinated.

Joelle's fiery spirit kept this book moving from start to finish. She spoke her mind and wrote her thoughts with her main focus on the Blacks being treated as human beings equal under the eyes of God to anyone else. Although often her nemesis, Schuyler soon realized that the friendship he felt went deeper than he ever believed; and no matter what, he would always be there for Joelle. Watching their slow growing romance develop was a treat. I enjoyed seeing the way Schuyler, grew and matured as he invested himself in what really mattered. Both Joelle and Schuyler stood for what mattered and didn't think about the cost. I loved their back-and-forth banter. The secondary characters also added depth to the entire story from the sweetness and strength of Nathan to the lily-livered preacher, Liam.

The plot was filled with twists and turns along with adventure, danger, intrigue, and sweet romance. The faith element was well threaded through the story without ever sounding preachy and yet showing the role it played in both Joelle and Schuyler's lives as well as the Black freed men and women.

I look forward to reading the final story of the Daughtry sisters which will focus on the youngest sister, Aurora.

The year 1870 in Mississippi was hard: north and south economy problems, slaves and freedmen, violent atrocities committed by Ku Klux Klan, the battles for instruction and other rights for black people.
The three Daughtry white sisters run a hotel in Tupelo,Mississippi: pratical and math-minded Selah, gregarious and outdoorsy Aurora, wild and writer Joelle.
Schuyler helps them with money. he is a charming, lovely, wild, macho man. all women love him, with his jokes and kind words.
Joelle cannot admit she loves Schuyler, and addresses him as 'pompous donkey' and 'ridicolous idiot', but she thinks also
'Dinner would be boring wihtout him. Oh, how she missed him when he wasn't around.'
The book is nice, sometimes hilarious, sometimes misterious and with suspance, great important topics.