Adriana's Secrets

Author: Cherly Colwell
Genre: Historical Romance

Tragedy strikes the mountain town of Mont Castello, the home of Adriana Montebelli. Orphaned in 1888, Adriana's life is swept along at the whim of forceful men who decide where she will live and who she will marry. Instead of breaking her, their cruel deceptions toughen her resolve to take control. Though she rises to manage the vast Van Buren estate, she wonders if her broken heart will have the strength to love again.

Follow Adriana in this historical novel as she navigates the challenges of woman's suffrage, union violence, and the tragic hardships of love and loss, while managing to cling to her faith.

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Reviewer: Janis Cox

I like to read before bed. It helps me relax before going to sleep. However, this book made it hard to turn out the light. Captivating characters, an interesting background and a plot that keeps moving – what more could I ask. I had read the first book in the series and at first it took me a while to realize this was a prequel to the first book. Once I figured that out I found it wonderful to get to know the history of the Montebellis and how Anna became the matriarch of the family.
 
My emotions certainly were played with as I grappled with frustration at some of the characters in the story. But even when I felt anger or irked by them they were certainly portrayed as real. And Anna remained true to her faith through all the upheaval that happened in her life.
 
I would say that the plot proceeded like Tolkien’s bringing us to an eucatastrophe (which refers to the sudden turn of events at the end of a story which ensures that the protagonist does not meet some terrible, impending, and very plausible doom). My heart raced as I read to see how on earth Anna was going to get out of this situation.
 
I would highly recommend this book and it could be read as first in the series too. I liked it so much I think I will go back and reread it, as my nighttime reading is not the best time for getting all the details.

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