A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander

Having lived in Colorado for seventeen years, she and her husband now make their home in Nashville Tennessee, along with their two adult children who live near by. (Side note: Isn't the cover gorgeous? That dress! And I think the model looks just like Natascha McElhone from The Truman Show.)Ībout the author: Tamera Alexander is a best-selling novelist whose deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots, and poignant prose resonate with readers. I give A Lasting Impression 3-1/2 out of 5 stars. So if you like historical fiction, consider checking this book out. I've seen what other bloggers are saying, and I seem to be an anomaly. So what's the problem? I'm not sure-I just didn't connect with it emotionally. Throw in a woman scorned and an unexpected plot twist, and you should have a winner. Claire, Sutton, and Adelicia (the owner of Belmont Mansion, where Claire works) are all intriguing characters, and the romance between Claire and Sutton is believable.

I don't often think about what life was like after the war-and Alexander does a great job of showing the effect the war had on people both rich and poor.Īs for the story, I enjoyed it, but I wasn't captivated. My take: I've long been fascinated by the Civil War period, and I enjoyed this look at Nashville in the time just following the war.

but when her past comes calling, will he be able to forgive her? As Claire and Sutton become acquainted, she realizes he is the type of man she could trust her heart to. Homeless and penniless, she spends the night in a church, where she learns of a job opportunity and meets attorney Sutton Monroe.

When her father is killed during a robbery, she flees to Nashville. (Nov.Claire Laurent wants nothing more than to become a famous painter, but she spends her days painting forgeries for her father to sell in his New Orleans art gallery. Alexander does a lovely job of representing the historical details of this time in American history without letting the facts distract from a tenderly told love story. Through painful pangs of conscience and events out of Claire’s control, she has to decide if she is willing to hide her past or admit her mistakes to those who’ve shown nothing but goodwill toward her. Claire also meets Sutton Monroe, a young lawyer who is obsessed with righting the wrongful death of his father, but who is growing increasingly interested in Claire-and her past. Adelicia Acklen, the richest woman in America in the 1860s. Claire finds shelter with a compassionate minister and his wife before landing a position with Mrs. Claire’s art gallery owner father forces her to comply with his illegal activities and then dies, leaving her to fend for herself. Alexander (Within My Heart) has crafted a cleverly designed story line featuring an artist, Claire Laurent, who is forced to paint forgeries.

A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander