Tamera Alexander has written a new novella entitled Christmas at Carnton. This short story tells the tale of Aletta Prescott, a young civil war widow, trying to figure out how to hold her life together on her own. She not only needs to take care of herself, but also Andrew, her six-year-old son. When Aletta unexpectedly loses her job, she begins to scramble around Nashville looking for work. Her prayers are answered when Aletta lands a position, working in the kitchen at Carnton Plantation, providing support during the Women's Relief Society auction!
Soon after Aletta arrives at Carlton, she meets Captain Jake Winston, an injured soldier who has been sent to offer assistance to the women during the auction. As Jake begins to befriend Aletta and Andrew, both Aletta and Jake struggle against the feelings that are beginning to develop. Aletta thinks that it is too soon after her husband's death to be noticing another man and Jake, seeing Aletta's wedding ring, thinks that she is still married, not recently widowed. Once Aletta and Jake decide to move their relationship from simply friendship to something much more, Aletta suddenly receives news that her husband has been found alive!
This tale will have a surprising ending as you see Aletta walk this uncertain path knowing that God will carry her through!
I received this book from Thomas Nelson in exchange for my honest review.