This weekend, I am happy to be part of the blog tour for A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander. It is the first in a series revolving around Belmont Mansion in Nashville, Tennessee.
Tamera Alexander is a best-selling novelist whose deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots, and poignant prose resonate with readers. 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. And don’t forget Jack, their precious–and precocious–silky terrier. For more information please visit www.tameraalexander.com
A fake. A forger. More than anything, Claire Laurent longs for the chance to live an authentic life, to become the woman she wants to be. And she’ll be given that choice. But will it come at too costly a price?
Claire Laurent’s greatest aspiration is to paint something that will bring her acclaim. Yet her father insists she work as a copyist. A forger. When she’s forced to flee from New Orleans to Nashville only a year after the War Between the States has ended, her path collides with attorney Sutton Monroe. She considers him a godsend for not turning her in to the authorities. But after he later refuses to come to her aid, Claire fears she’s sorely misjudged the man. Finding herself among the elite of Nashville’s society, Claire believes her dream to create a lasting impression in the world of art is within reach–but only if her fraudulent past remains hidden.
The Federal Army has destroyed Sutton’s home and confiscated his land, and threatens to destroy his family’s honor. His determination to reclaim what belongs to him and to right a grievous wrong reveals a truth that may cost him more than he ever imagined–as well as the woman he loves.Set at Nashville’s historic Belmont Mansion, a stunning antebellum manor built by Mrs. Adelicia Acklen, A Lasting Impression is a sweeping love story about a nation mending after war, the redemption of those wounded, and the courage of a man and woman to see themselves–and each other–for who they really are.
Tamera has created such a sympathetic character in Claire. I can imagine her hunger to truly express herself in art. I remember having to duplicate a painting once for art class. It was painful not being able to create what I wanted, much like Claire feels in the beginning of the book. Her guilt is such an honest feeling; but Tamera allows her to have such integrity. I enjoyed the fact that she is such a real, emotional character. She goes through a transformation in the novel that is mirrored by the changes in the character of Adelicia. It is an amazing story of redemption for both of them.
The Civil War and Reconstruction periods are two of my favorite settings for historical fiction. I am glad that Tamera chose this time for the novel, as it showcases the struggles that Claire and Sutton deal with postwar. I also like that she used Belmont Mansion as a backdrop for the story, as it gives the reader a tangible place to one day visit and relive parts of the story. I like having little souvenirs from books I read; a picture of Belmont Mansion would be perfect. If you want to grab your own piece of history, read A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander.
Click here to purchase A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander
Kindle Fire Giveaway and Facebook Party from Tamera Alexander!
While Tamera and her book, A Lasting Impression, are traveling across the country virtually
(with a few international stops as well!), she will be hosting a Kindle
Fire Giveaway (11/4 – 11/15) and preparing for a lavish Southern-Style Facebook Party (11/15) (dripping
with hospitality, of course). She will be giving away Southern Food
Baskets, books, and an array of other fabulous freebies! Don’t miss a
minute of the fun. Swoon!
Read what the reviewers are saying here.
One grand prize winner will receive:
- A Brand New Kindle Fire (shipped as soon as it releases)
- A copy of A Lasting Impression and 3 other special books Tamera wants you to have (for Kindle)
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on November 15th. Winner will be announced at A Lasting Impression Facebook Party on the 15th. Tamera will be wrapping up the A Lasting Impression celebration with an author chat and giving away Southern Food Baskets (Loveless Cafe Food Baskets, books, Amazon & Starbucks gift certificates, and copies of Christy Jordan’s Southern Plate cookbook), six gift certificates to Starbucks and Amazon.com, and copies of A Lasting Impression! So grab your copy of A Lasting Impression (it’s okay if you don’t have one yet- you might win one!) and join Tamera on the evening of November 15th for an author chat, a trivia contest (How much do you know about the 1860′s?) and lots of Southern-inspired giveaways (complete listing here).
Don’t miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER. Hope to see you on the 15th!
Disclosure: I was provided with a complementary copy of the book by LitFuse Publicity for this review. All opinions are my own.
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Life is a picnic. You just never know when there will be ants.
