Another Review at MyShelf.Com

The Sleeping Night
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.

 
Reviewed 2012
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