MY REVIEW:

A Lasting Impression was of particular interest to me because of its Nashville setting. Although I have not actually toured the Belmont mansion, I have spent some time in the general neighborhood. As a lifelong Tennessean, I also enjoy reading novels set in Tennessee. After reading this novel, I will have to make the Belmont tour a must on my next trip to Nashville.

Claire Laurent hated that her father forced her to forge paintings yet constantly disparaged her own talent. When circumstances forced her to flee New Orleans, she learned of her father’s death upon her arrival in Nashville. With nowhere to turn, she sought overnight shelter in a church where her life was changed forever. Hired as a liaison to Adelicia Acklen, owner of the Belmont estate, Claire was finally able to turn away from her past and work toward a respectable future. But how long could Claire keep her secrets hidden from Adelicia and Sutton Monroe, the man Claire was rapidly falling for?

A Lasting Impression is a richly embroidered story that transports the reader to post civil war Nashville.  The plot is perfectly paced and the characters almost step off the pages. Although much of the story takes place within the Belmont Mansion and describes life among the privileged set, Alexander also includes accounts of devastation and loss in the aftermath of the war. This is a story of second changes, renewed trust, and restoration. I cannot say enough positive things about A Lasting Impression. If you enjoy historical fiction, this is one book you need to add to your collection.