"fabulous Reconstruction Era romance"

In 1869 Redemption, Texas co restaurant owner of Ollie's café Laurel James works hard to overcome the stink of whoring during the war although she knows she was not at fault having been abducted and sold when she was fifteen to a brothel. She is engaged to marry kind hearted Murphy Yates, but procrastinates on setting the date. Although she is fond of her fiancé, Laurel doubts that she loves him, but is that enough or does he deserve better.

With the Civil War over, Murphy's brother Brodie comes out of the cold having spied for the Confederacy at Shenandoah to visit his sibling. He is shocked to learn Lil, a prostitute he met in St. Louis, is Murphy's fiancée Laurel. Angry and jealous, Brodie warns Laurel to end her engagement or he will reveal her past to Murphy as his brother deserves better than a prostitute. Laurel rejects his blackmail, but detests herself because she wants and feels she probably still loves Brodie as she did when they first met during the war.

REDEMPTION is a fabulous Reconstruction Era romance starring two super lead protagonists and a powerful insightful support cast. Post Civil War Texas is filled with action although the outlaws who invade the town make it too easy for Brodie to reassess Laurel. The triangle is delivered perfectly so that the audience will follow the heroine as she must choose between the brothers knowing that when she selects a schism between siblings could result. This is a strong historical with a delightful not so tender love story.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted June 28, 2005