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Carol CoxBethany House / 2014 / Trade PaperbackOur Price$15.004.2 out of 5 stars for Truth Be Told. View reviews of this product. 30 ReviewsAvailability: In StockStock No: WW209574
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bookwomanjoanOak Harbor, WAAge: Over 65Gender: Female4 Stars Out Of 5Concern for hydraulic mining in the 1890sJuly 5, 2014bookwomanjoanOak Harbor, WAAge: Over 65Gender: FemaleQuality: 4Value: 5Meets Expectations: 4One of my requirements for good historical fiction is that I learn something about the time represented and the events taking place. This novel does exactly that.
The era is 1893 in a town near Prescott, Arizona. Amelia Wagner comes to visit her father for the summer, finds him ill, and then takes over his weekly newspaper when he dies. Her father was a stickler for printing the truth and she is determined to follow in his footsteps.
Her father had printed a few critical articles about a new mining company in the area. Amelia sets out to continue her father's investigative reporting. The owner of the company tries to thwart Amelia's efforts by assigning the handsome Ben Stone to the task of getting to know Amelia, convincing her of the upstanding nature of the company, and encouraging her to print a retraction.
The plans are thwarted when Ben begins to have affectionate feelings for Amelia and she for him. Amelia's life is threatened when she refuses to back down from reporting the truth. Will Amelia uncover evidence of the mining company's illegal actions before it is too late?
I was surprised that people in the 1890s would be concerned about damaging land through hydraulic mining. Cox mentions the Cominetti act which reintroduced such a practice. Apparently such an act did, in fact, happen. So that aspect of the novel is based on historical fact. I do wish Cox had included an historical note to let readers know that.
This is definitely a character driven novel. There are long passages of the characters thinking that I felt slowed down the novel. I found Amelia to be a mix of character qualities. She is strong in her determination to continue her father's work. She apparently has migraines which, on occasion, cause her to make irresponsible decisions. She has a temper and it gets her into a deadly situation. She came across as a strong heroine yet with at least one glaring defect in character.
I appreciated the theme of telling the truth. Amelia was determined to find the truth and report on it. Ben comes to the place of making a decision about the truth. His strong faith propels him to make the right decision.
I did like the novel and I do recommend it.
I received a complimentary egalley of this novel from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review. -
Lini536Cambridge, MAAge: 35-44Gender: female4 Stars Out Of 5History, Intrigue & RomanceJune 29, 2014Lini536Cambridge, MAAge: 35-44Gender: femaleQuality: 5Value: 5Meets Expectations: 5After tragically losing her father, Amelia Wagner stays on in the small town of Granite Springs to run his beloved paper.
It's 1893 and Amelia is expected, by her mother, to sell the press/newspaper and return to Denver, leaving the Arizona lifestyle behind her. But Amelia is not one to cowtail to peer pressure and the fact her mother wants the young woman to get married is also a good point not to move back. Instead she is determined to use her experience of working with her father, her journalistic skills and the aide of her father's good friend Homer to run the paper.
Perhaps in particular she would rather avoid being with her mother and her new husband. One Thaddeus Graystone - an utterly and disagreeable man.
Before he died, her father had written several articles about the Great Western Investment Company. The owner, one Owen Merrick, demands a retraction as he believes the articles put the GWIC in a bad light. Amelia reads the articles and knowing her father's ethos of only writing the truth, refuses. But her curiosity is wakened and she begins her own investigations. However, Benjamin Stone, employee of GWIC, is assigned a special task of befriending Miss. Wagner in the hopes that she will print a retraction.
As the friendship grows they bother uncover, not only their attraction for each other, but that there is something that Owen Merrick doesn't want revealed. Information that will have serious implications for Granite Springs. Can Amelia and Benjamin bring to light the truth without any harm coming to them? And how can she avoid seeing the lecherous Thaddeus who may be involved? But more importantly will this story cause the two young people to stray from God's intention.
Cox's love of history resonates loudly throughout the novel. Her brave, vibrant lead, Amelia, is a breath of fresh air in the small Arizona town. But she doesn't have airs or graces, the townsfolk like and respect her and firmly believe she will continue her father's good work. The romance is subtle and never detracts from the main storyline - finding out the truth.
With a gently, easy style of writing and imagery, the book is an easy read. The plot is absorbing and the references to the printing press fascinating. Overall a great book that gives some insight into how difficult it would have been for a woman standing up for what she believes in. A recommended read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book to review from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group. The opinions expressed are my own and I am not required to give a positive critique. -
Robin WallaceFloridaAge: 35-44Gender: female4 Stars Out Of 5Truth Be ToldJune 24, 2014Robin WallaceFloridaAge: 35-44Gender: femaleQuality: 4Value: 4Meets Expectations: 4Truth Be Told
Carol Cox
Book Summary: Wild West Romance and Mystery. When Amelia Wagner takes over the running of her father's newspaper in Granite Springs, Arizona, she vows to carry on the paper's commitment to reporting only the truth. But Amelia soon learns that even the truth can have consequences. Her father's revealing articles about Great Western Investment. Company's business methods have caught the notice of the wrong person, and pressure mounts for Amelia to retract her father's statements. Determined to find the truth, Amelia goes through her father's notes and begins to interview members of the community. She can't seem to shake Benjamin Stone, a Great Western employee who's been assigned to keep tabs on her for the good of the company. The more Ben and Amelia learn, the more Amelia's father's claims appear to be accurate. In fact, it's probably worse than he realized. Even Ben is beginning to wonder if he's become a pawn in the workings of a corrupt empire. But Great Western isn't about to stand for a female reporter and one of their own men bringing down their lucrative schemes. Working against time, and never knowing what danger lurks around the next corner, Ben and Amelia set out to reveal all they've discovered before Great Western silences them for good.
Review: This is the first, but not last book by Carol Cox that I have read. I enjoyed getting to know Amelia and Ben. The sadness of Amelia loosing her father at the start was hard, but realistic. The Great Western thing was realistic for the most part, although Owen Merrick, in my opinion, could have been a little more slick. Since he had someone do all his dirty work it would have been more realistic. Clara, Martin, Jimmy, and Homer were good secondary characters that helped move the story along. The mystery was not so mysterious and that was disappointing. Overall I liked the writing style. Ms. Cox did well painting a picture of the town and the surrounding areas. The newspaper aspect was a great hook to draw me into the story. The newspaper office was realistic and interesting to think of all that went into printing a newspaper.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bethany House Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone. -
Alice4 Stars Out Of 5Great Western Suspense!June 18, 2014AliceQuality: 4Value: 4Meets Expectations: 5Truth Be Told was a fast-paced story full of life lessons and the promotion of truth.
The plot in this story is very intricate and mysterious- drawing you into the adventure alongside the characters and keeping you on the edge of your seat, climaxing with a highly suspenseful "nick of time" ending.
There were many lovable characters as well as some nasty villains. An entire town is drawn together by the faithfulness of one young lady's burden to uncover the truth and carry on her fathers legacy of honesty.
I highly enjoyed my first Carol Cox adventure, and am looking forward to reading more!
I received this book from Bethany House Publishers for my review. -
Gringa93Minneapolis, MN4 Stars Out Of 5Delightful MysteryJune 5, 2014Gringa93Minneapolis, MNQuality: 4Value: 4Meets Expectations: 4Delightful, enjoyable read.
Carol Cox delivers another historical mystery that is easy to read. Amelia Wagner heads back to her childhood home. Upon her arrival, Amelia finds that her father is about to die. Instead of folding up the town's newspaper and heading back to Colorado, Amelia stays to run her father's newspaper. Her father also left some intriguing clues about the business that seems to be buying up all the land around town. Amelia sets out to find out the truth and along the way discovers a friendship with someone who works for the "enemy".
I enjoyed this story. Cox pulls you in immediately with the drama of Amelia's father passing away. Amelia's commitment to continue to run her father's newspaper with the same commitment to truth that her father has pulls at your heart strings. The grit and determination of this character jumps off the page.
Ben works for Great Western Union. He looks for potential land to buy. He is happy to have a job, but this is not his passion. As he befriends Amelia, he learns he has a love for the truth and will do what needs to be done to reveal it.
I like the conflicts in this story and how each character learns how to deal with their flaws in honest and truthful ways. You feel their pain and struggle. There are delightful moments in the story as you read about the time consuming way papers were printed back in the 19th century.
Take a trip back in time and enjoy a good mystery.
My thanks go to Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley for the free e-copy of this book to review.
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