"Touching the Sky"

Hold onto your hats because I've got several more book reviews this week.  Baby nurses, nurses, nurses and Momma reads, reads, reads.

I recently read Touching the Sky by Tracie Peterson.  The description from the back of the book:

"Though their first encounter is hardly auspicious, Laura Marquardt soon discovers herself drawn to the dashing Captain Brandon Reid. As an officer over the colored troops, he eagerly supports her desire to educate blacks and seek harmony in a town where the defeat of the South is a bitter reality.

When Laura's sister marries her Confederate beau, Laura finds herself in a difficult situation after overhearing a discussion with frightening consequences. In her heart she feels she should confide in Brandon, but Laura fears to do so may endanger her sister's life. Yet as the stakes continue to rise and Brandon's motives for pursuing her come into doubt, Laura questions where to turn... and wonders if her own dreams of love may be forsaken."

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end.  Peterson uses rich language to describe every detail of the ladies' dresses, the house furnishings, even the dinner parties.  I immediately fell in love with Laura and found myself defending Brandon's integrity.  Plucky Carissa is a hard pill to swallow but through the weaving of the story I found compassion and pity for her.  And Malcolm....well, let's just say no tears were spilled over him at the end of the story.

Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this book by Bethany House publishers.  All opinions are mine.