Book Review - When the Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen

 

Mira has left her small, segregated hometown in the south more than a decade ago to forget her past. She tried to distance herself from her past and her best friends, Celine and Jessie. Celine was teased because she was the only white girl who had black friends. Her old neighborhood was known for being a poor black area and most people try to avoid it.

Years ago, she and Jessie, her secret crush, decide to visit the creepy Woodsman plantation together. The plantation has been rumored to be haunted by the spirits of slaves. While they were exploring, Mira comes across a ghost and the day goes wrong when a body is found on the plantation. Jesse is accused of murder and Mira is afraid to admit to what she saw that day.

Years later, Mira has returned to Kipsen to attend Celine's wedding at the plantation. The plantation has been remodeled into a vacation resort. Mira was hesitant to come because of her past but, she still hopes to reconnect with her friends.

Even though the Woodsman mansion went through millions of dollars of renovation, it still remains a monument to its racist history. They serve antebellum drinks, have horrifying reenactments and most of the service staff is black. The darkest parts of the plantation's past has been erased; the ones that fuel the rumor mills that the mansion is haunted. The rumor is that many of the slaves were horrendously tortured and then killed. Their ghosts haunt the land and seek vengeance on the descendants of those who hurt them.

I thought the novel started off okay but, then towards the middle of the book it got really slow and boring. I was expecting more from this ghost story. The ending felt rushed and out of place. It left me wanting more but, by then I was already over the book. I had a hard time connecting with some of the characters as some didn't feel very fleshed out.

Book Review - Love Held Captive (Lone Star Hero #3) by Shelley Shepard Gray

Photo Source - Amazon

Major Ethan Kelly and Captain Devin Monroe served together in the Civil War and were both POW together in the same camp. While their past has a common thread, little do they know that thread will also be a unifying factor in their futures. 

During the Civil War, the resources were tight and Ethan had to order his men to raid nearby homes for supplies to feed his troops. However, after one search and seizure of a woman's home, Ethan is unable to absolve himself of her sad and pitiful look during the raid. As he tries to move on, Ethan crosses path with the woman and he intends to right his wrong. However, Lizbeth Barclay has a dark secret and while Ethan is trying to make amends, Lizbeth has a tough time trusting his intentions.

Devin Monroe's life isn't much different after the war. He continues to live his bachelor life until he crosses path with Julianne Van Fleet. He becomes enamored and pursues her to be his bride. However, he finds out the source of Miss Van Fleet's seclude life and dark past. He struggles to come to terms with the truth. Devin and Ethan turn to each other for support, but when they find out someone from their past is the source of their women's misery, they decide to put an end to it. Will Devin be able to forgive Julianne? What is the dark secret that is clouding Lizbeth's heart? 

I have read several of Miss Gray's work and I thoroughly enjoyed them. While this is the first one of her novels I have read that isn't of an Amish theme, I must say I was a bit disappointed. I have read several books of historic (and Civil War) romance novels, but Miss Gray let me down with this novel. The book was filled with intrigue and had an interesting story line, but I felt portions of the book was drawn out and stuffed with filler and then the few last pages were written in haste. I am hoping this was an anomaly, but I would continue reading her future books.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**