Barbara Samuel
Bell Bridge Books
June 21, 2012 / 161194127X
Historical Romance / 1946 in Gideon, Texas
Amazon
Reviewed
by Beverly J. Rowe
In Gideon,
Texas in 1946, racism was still a powerful force. Isaiah and Angel
have been best friends since early childhood, and her letters gave
him courage when he fought to protect America in World War II. The
relaxed racial tensions in Europe give Isaiah hope that he can change
things in Gideon as he returns from the war. Angel, who is now a
widow, and Isaiah find that their lifelong friendship has blossomed
into a deep love for each other that they must deny... he's black,
and she's white, and that could get them killed.
Barbara Samuel brings us complex, believable characters in an impossible
situation. The action filled plot is tangled and compelling. With
Samuel's strict attention to detail, the setting in this post-war
southern town is easily visualized.
I don't normally read romance novels, but this one looked intriguing,
and I definitely was not disappointed. This is not a book that you
can start and then put aside. The very emotional story of Isaiah
and Angel's fierce love for each other, and their monumental struggles
and fears had me crying and cursing by turns, cheering them on...
and reading all night. It is an unforgettable story of a very difficult
time in Southern American history.
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