The Truth of the Matter by Leigh Fleming
Publisher & Release: Envisage Press, LLC, June 5, 2021
Setting: 1877, Philadelphia
Genre: Historical Women’s Fiction
Length: 372 Pages
Heat Level: 1 Flame
Rating: 5 Gold Crowns
Book Description:
On a cold night in 1877, Laurel Whitman’s father flies into a rage and throws her into the street. His behavior isn’t unusual; he has ridiculed her for years, and Laurel doesn’t understand why. All she knows is that his vitriol has something to do with her grandmother, a woman shrouded in mystery.
Laurel goes on a harrowing journey from her home in Philadelphia to Maryland only to discover that her grandmother is on death’s door. She is welcomed with open arms by her extended family but receives a chilly reception from her grandmother who seems suspicious of Laurel’s arrival.
Over the next few weeks, her grandmother recovers and her distrust begins to thaw as she tells Laurel stories of her abusive first husband, the young immigrant whom she came to love, and the birth of her two illegitimate children. Laurel learns the secrets of her family’s fractured past, a story of resilience, deception, and forbidden passion that forces Laurel to confront the truths in her own heart. But will unearthing long-buried secrets heal the rift between Laurel and her father, or will the past haunt the present and the future forever?
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Truth-Matter-Leigh-Fleming-ebook/dp/B08YRYFHRP
FREE on Kindle Unlimited
Add to Goodreads & BookBub:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57434188-the-truth-of-the-matter
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-truth-of-the-matter-by-leigh-fleming
Vikki’s Musings
Thanks goes to Leigh Fleming for bringing her book, The Truth of the Matter, to my attention. I borrowed it through the Kindle Unlimited program. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.
The Truth of the Matter is a well written novel with engaging characters and an intriguing plot. There are several suspenseful scenes that had me flipping the pages on my Kindle as quickly as possible, breathlessly wanting to know what would happen next. It’s clear Ms. Fleming did a lot of research on this period of the world, which added greatly to my enjoyment.
Laurel Whitman is the heroine, and she’s a strong independent woman who hasn’t let her abusive father break her spirit. I quickly became vested in her character, and I admired the steel in her backbone. Now her stubborn side leads her into a horrifying situation that could have left her a broken woman, but fortunately, she manages to escape with the help of her friend.
Cillian O’Brien is the hero, and I loved his character, He refuses to give up on Laurel, even though she is so determined to find her grandmother on her own and thank goodness he does, or Laurel would have been hurt badly. I admired his steadfastness and devotion to her.
This is a family saga with complex relationships and some of them caused a great deal of pain. The grandmother’s choices had a huge impact on her son, Laurel’s father, which explains why he was so hard on Laurel.
I was glad Laurel learned her grandmother’s secret because she would have always been baffled by her father. This book shows that there are always two sides to every story, and that’s it’s important to dig beneath the surface.
While there is a love story, it isn’t the central theme of the plot, but I did want to see Cillian get the girl. I loved his style and loyalty to Laurel, and even though, her father is terrifying, he did not back down. That earned him a special place in my heart.
If you enjoy historical fiction with a strong female protagonist and compelling secondary characters, then you will love The Truth of the Matter as much as I did. While this is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Fleming, it will not be the last. Happy reading!
Author Bio:
Leigh Fleming is an award-winning author of romantic suspense and has published contemporary romance. The Truth of the Matter is her first work of historical women's fiction.
Leigh lives in West Virginia with her husband and her deaf French bulldog. When not writing, she enjoys reading, travelling, scrapbooking, and spending time with friends.
Social Media:
Website: https://leighfleming.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leighhflemingauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leighhfleming1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lhfauthor/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cottagelady/_saved/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/leigh-fleming
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7696506.Leigh_Fleming
No comments:
Post a Comment