Make sure to read book one in the series before you read this one so that you understand who all the characters are in this story. I loved the characters throughout this series. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. I keep needing to know more and more about each of these sisters and cousins. This story helps you learn a bit about the reconstruction that occurred after the end of the Civil War. I received a copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

"Every bookworm princess needs a hero to keep her from walking into walls."

This is the first book that I have read by Beth White and is the second in the series "Daughtry House." However, it is easy to follow the story without having read the first book. The author gives enough background throughout the book that you can pick up on what you might have missed.

After the Civil War, Joelle Daughtry and her sisters are getting ready to open their Antebellum home, Daughtry House, as a Hotel. Joelle is a free thinking woman, determined to educate black freedmen against all opposition. "God's Word tells us to treat others the way we want to be treated." Joelle is full of what the author calls Righteous Anger at the way that the former slaves are treated. As well as educating the former slaves, she also writes pointedly directed articles for the local newspaper using a male pseudonym.

Her childhood friend, Schuyler Beaumont, is an infuriating distraction to her goals. When Schuyler's father is assassinated while giving a speech in his run for political office, he has to find out who is behind it. He enlists the help of Joelle's brother-in-law, Levi Riggins, who is a Pinkerton agent. In order to solve the mystery, Schuyler joins up with the local Ku Klux Klan. "People are good at holding grudges in the South." Although it sickens him to hide his true thoughts while around these men, he doesn't see any other way to come to the heart of the matter. "I'm tired of wasting time on things that don't matter."

As the book progresses, Joelle and Schuyler's friendship starts to grow into something more. There are some references to sexual attraction between them, but nothing explicit happens. Some readers might think that this does not belong in a Christian book, but it doesn't overstep, in my opinion. I did find Joelle's wavering between two men to be a little tedious, but I can also understand that this was typical of the times. Do you marry the "right" person or the one you love?

Ms. White does a great job in describing the atmosphere of this era. It was interesting to read more about the feelings of Southerners from both sides of the issue of the freed black men. There were some scenes and situations that were truly heartbreaking, but necessary to the story. Her writing is wonderful and easy to read for the most part.

There were a lot of references to God and faith throughout the book, but not to the point of being preachy. And, just because the reader might think that someone was a good guy, they just might turn out to be not so good.

I have to say that I did find that parts of the book got bogged down in details and sometimes I found it hard to follow exactly what was happening. Some of this was due to Schuyler's attempts to infiltrate the KKK and I had to reread some parts of this in order to know what was happening.
The book does have a happily ever after ending, but it is still open ended for further books in the series. Not everything is tied up in a neat package.

One of my favorite quotes from the book: "I've played the fool for years, so this is just one more monkey in the circus."
This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group through Interviews & Reviews. The opinions expressed are my own.

I was so excited to start this book after I read the first book in the series!
The second book picks up right where A Rebel Heart leaves off .
The author does a wonderful job on bringing us up to speed with what happened in the last book that even if we haven't read it we are aware of the going ons.
It's a very turbulent time in the South, tensions are high and the KKK is gaining strength.
It's after the Civil War and Southern belle Joelle Daughtry is helping her sisters turn the old run down family plantation into a resort hotel. But what she's not telling anyone is she has a male pseudonym she is using writing articles in support of a negro school.
She realizes she and her and childhood enemy Schuyler Beaumont will have to put aside childhood skirmishes and team up for the protection of her family and home.
The rebuilding after the Civil War is slow and not all want it to progress.
When Joelle finds herself the love interest of two men will she make the choice she feels pressured into making or the right choice?
What a wonderful historical novel and yippie, there is another book coming in the series.
Published June 4th 2019 by Fleming H. Revell Company

I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

The Civil War is over, and two more amendments have been added to the Constitution. Joelle writes anonymous articles for the newspaper about educating the freedmen. An old beau has come to town to take over his father's run for Senate and finds that he's feeling more for Joelle than he originally thought.

The era that the Reluctant Belle takes place is the era of the birth of the KKK and the animosities between whites and blacks. Although the animosities are not across the board, some of the blacks were treated well, and some were treated harshly. Some whites believed the blacks could not be educated, while others believed they could and took steps to prove the point. Joelle was one of these whites who believed the blacks should be educated so that they would know how to run their own businesses and keep track of their own finances.

Schuyler, Joelle's old beau, wants to find out who killed his father for his progressive ideas, and he needs the help of Joelle and her family. Her brother-in-law is a Pinkerton agent and helps Schuyler.

Beth White always writes a book with twists and turns to keep her readers involved and to compel new readers to her work. I will admit I had to flip to read the ending before I finished the book, then I had to go back to read it all the way through to see how Schulyer and Joelle solve the many puzzles put forth in the book.

This is a five star book, with two thumbs, and a night at the Daughtry House.

My thanks go to Revell Publishing and NetGalley.com for allowing me to read and review this book.

mpoverished Southern belle Joelle Daughtry has a secret. By day she has been helping her sisters in their quest to turn the run-down family plantation into a resort hotel after the close of the Civil War. But by night and under a male pseudonym, she has been penning articles for the local paper in support of the construction of a Negro school. With the Mississippi arm of the Ku Klux Klan gaining power and prestige, Joelle knows she is playing a dangerous game.

When childhood enemy and current investor in the Daughtry house renovation Schuyler Beaumont takes over his assassinated father's candidacy for state office, Joelle finds that in order to protect her family and her home, she and Schuyler will have to put aside their longstanding personal conflict and develop a united public front. The trouble is, what do you do when animosity becomes respect--and even love--if you're already engaged to someone else?

This is the second book in the Daughtry House series. It is not necessary to read the first book to read this one. Although, Levi would be explained a lot better. Joelle and Schuyler have been friends/ enemies since childhood. One minute they are getting along and the next they are fighting. Things haven't changed since they are adults. Schuyler has been a playboy all his adult life. Now that his father has been assassinated he has to grow up fast and find out who is responsible. Joelle got so mad at Schuyler that she agreed to marry the preacher when he ask. The only problem is she doesn't love him.

This book helps show the aftermath of the southern slaves after the Civil War. Nobody owned them but they were still looked upon and worthless. I have only one negative thing about the book. I didn't feel closure at the end of the book. Schuyler and Joelle got together. But there were still a lot of unanswered questions. Maybe they will be answered in book 3. That said I would recommend the book.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

The author did a brilliant job of capturing the time period in this novel. The characters and plot were also well written. This was a great piece of historical fiction!

Reluctant Belle is the second installment from Beth White’s fabulous series, Daughtry House. I loved the first book, A Rebel Heart, and this one does not disappoint. I enjoyed Joelle’s story, especially when she was with Schuyler. They were fun together with their constant bickering.
I give Reluctant Belle a well deserved five plus stars. I can not wait to read the third book in the Daughtry House series. I highly recommend this one to readers who enjoy clean, inspirational historical fiction.
Great read!
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

Set after the civil war during the reconstruction, A Reluctant Bride made me think more of the devastation of this country and people lives, then I ever had before. Of course, it was during that time that people also had to start to learn to change their mindset. The aftermath was still such a very dangerous,volatile time in our history and this book deals with that.

There were times I felt as though things were just touched upon when there could have been described with so much more depth. In fact, I was about ready to give up when about midway through finally there was some action and things finally got really interesting.


This book was filled with a lot of history, action (in the middle), romance, and learning to leaning on faith. My favorite part was when Schuyler went to church and prayed. The presence of God in that church just jumped off the page.


A good read!




I received a copy of Reluctant Belle from Revell. A positive review was not required.

Did you ever have a friend who was clearly headed into a mismatched marriage, but you (and everyone else) could see that the better match was right in front of her? Joelle is my new friend. As the middle sister in the Daughtry House series, she is coming to age in Tupelo, Mississippi, during the changing times following the Civil War. Her aspirations of teaching former slaves and of having her writings published bring danger to herself, her loved ones, and her community. Beth White balances historical facts with sensitivity, humor, and romance.

Reluctant Bride, the latest from Beth White, is a tale telling the awful world of the Ku Klux Klan, in the years following following the Civil War. Catch up on the lives of the Daughtry sisters in this tale full of changes to the American culture!

A Reluctant Belle is the second book in Beth White's Daughtry House series. It focuses on Joelle Daughtry and Schuyler Beaumont in South dealing with the conflicts that continued or intensified in the aftermath of the Civil War. Joelle and Schuyler have been friends and constantly bickering since childhood. Joelle and her sisters had found themselves in tough circumstances at the end of the war and following the death of their father. Determined to stay together and fight for themselves, the sister are converting the family plantation into a hotel that they will manage. The sisters support the right to freedom and education for all and take their own actions to support equality in the South, Joelle the most outspoken of the three. In an area with a strong presence of KKK seniments, their support of equality puts them and those around them in a position of danger.

The sense of danger for our characters was real and very well written. Beth White wrote a great book in which our characters each have their own flaws but you feel so endeared to them as you progress through the book. What I really respected about this book is that she pictured all kind of characters and showed us that you don't always find your villian in the most obvious of places. Everyone has their own motivations and sometimes the evil of a person will surprise you. There were a few times throughout the course of the story that I was caught off guard as to who our villians were. When I'm surprised by the unvealing of a villain, that is the mark of a good book for me. A very enjoyable story, I would definitely recommend this book.

I did not read the first in the series, A Rebel Heart, before I started this book. Therefore I went into this book with no prior knowledge of the characters or the circumstances that brought them to where they are at the start of the book. I was in no way lost or felt like I was missing important information vital to the understanding of the plot or characters, anything relevant was explained in the text. This book could easily serve as a stand alone or you could read it with the series. I'll likely go back and read the first in the series and continue on with the rest of the book when they become available.

Thank you Revell and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read a copy of this book. This is my honest review.

This was well written but the pace of the book felt quite slow. I enjoyed the way the author described things but the story struggled to hold my attention.

A Reluctant Belle picks up right where A Rebel Heart left off. While those who read the first book in the Daughtry House series will have some insight into the characters that others will not, A Reluctant Belle will work as a stand-alone read. This second book is set in the Reconstruction period in Mississippi and Alabama, and deals with atrocities that were not uncommon in that time and place. White examines the hearts on both sides of the continuing social conflict as well as personal events that shaped them. Sometimes hardships bring out the best in folks, and sometimes the worst. White also draws attention to the difference between authentic faith and self-serving religion, and the difference between those who seek to be transformed by the renewing of their minds, who want to have the mind of Christ, and those who seek to create God in their own image.

Embedded within weighty themes, White writes in suspense and romance that will hold tight to the reader's interest. This story focuses on the middle Daughtry sister, Joelle, a shy but headstrong young woman, one who knows her own mind and does not see the necessity of conforming to the demands of society. One who can thoughtfully and logically put pen to paper with great success, but one who often acts on impulse. While a bit older than a typical unwed southern belle, Joelle now has two suitors, one whom she recognizes as such, the other only recognized by those closest to her, but only one to whom she is well suited and who is well suited for her.

I highly recommend A Reluctant Belle, and am grateful to have received a copy from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

It was explicitly pointed out that Joelle was an introvert. I was curious to see how that was going to impact the story but other than one outburst in public which surprised people, it didn’t really affect things. Joelle is a lively woman who is passionate about her beliefs at a time when women weren’t supposed to think much for themselves. One of her friends accused her of talking as if she’d “swallowed a dictionary.”
Joelle has two main men in her life. Gil is safe and persistent but Schuyler brings out the sparks. It was fun to see her relationship with Schuyler change. Their arguments were always colorful. “Let me tell you something, you unmitigated arrogant beast….” (location 511).
This book was a bit slow at times for me as it dealt with the politics of reconstruction and how to handle the freedmen. There were many conflicting opinions and making your opinion known could have life-threatening consequences.
I really enjoyed the characters in the story and the dialogue. This is book two in the Daughtry House series. I was able to understand it easily without having read the first one but I’m sure it would have been richer if more of the backstory had been filled in.
Thank you to Revell for providing me with a complimentary e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Daughtry House series:
Book 1: A Rebel Heart
Book 2: A Reluctant Belle

“A Reluctant Belle” by Beth White is the second novel in the Daughtry House series. I read the first novel, “A Rebel Heart”, and enjoyed it. This second book is no less interesting and entertaining.

Joelle Daughtry is helping her sisters turn their Southern mansion into a hotel. However, Joelle is very opinionated and can’t keep that to herself. Because women during this period after the Civil War and before were not considered to have enough brains in their head to have a coherent thought other than planning parties, teas and balls. Joelle has been writing anonymously for the local paper for a long time. Her editor is the only one who knows her identity.

Also, she is being pursued by two gentlemen, one a pastor and the other her longtime childhood friend. Although the pastor, Gil, seems to be a weak-kneed sort and treats Joelle like a Southern belle; she and Schuyler spend their time arguing. Both want to marry her, but each one has a different idea of how Joelle should act.

Also during this time of Reconstruction, the South is resisting allowing the black freedmen to be able to vote or to allow them to live as the new after-war rules dictate. There are some hateful individuals who take it into their hands to deliver punishment and detrimental atrocities to them and to those who champion them. When Joelle, Schuyler, and Gil are caught up in the dangerous acts of the KKK, the truth sorts itself out.

I really enjoyed this look back to the time of Reconstruction and am satisfied that this activity did take place. Putting names to the characters adds a sense of being there.

I read the first book in this series and did not remember it being so well written. I very much enjoyed The Reluctant Belle. I liked the quirkiness of the characters and their depth. It was entertaining and funny at times. Highly recommended!!!

The second book in the Daughtry House series by Beth White will keep you entertained as the story focuses on Joelle Daughtry and her long-time nemesis Schuyler Beaumont.

It was wonderful to see all the sisters in the second book, and of course, see the relationship between Joelle and Schuyler develop. I liked the friction between Joelle and Schuyler and how their love for each other grew. There was definite growth in both characters as they took their problems to the Lord.

The aspect of racism and its poisonous rhetoric was very well done, with just a bit of mystery and a whole lot of danger to anyone who tried to do the right thing. A twist in who was involved in helping the Ku Klux Klan was a real surprise towards the end of the book.

Overall, this was a great story with lots of fun, mystery, danger and romance. A perfect combination!

This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group through Net Galley.

I enjoyed Beth White's first book to this Daugherty House series. It was a joy going back and revisiting some of the interesting characters. Joelle Daughtry is a strong determined Southern lady. The time is just after the Civil War. Joelle has a passion to educate the recent freedmen. She has started a school to teach reading and writing. She enlist her childhood friend Schuyler for help. There is much opposition in educating the former slaves. This is one of the darkest times in America's history. The KKK is still very active down south. I found it hard to read some of the things that happened in this time period. Beth did an excellent job giving us the historical information. Yet, she was able to add light in this dark time. I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Company through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.