Words Spoken True

Words Spoken True
By Ann H. Gabhart
Revell, 2012. 356 pgs. Romance

In 1855 Louisville, all Adriane Darcy cares about is helping her father with their newspaper, the Tribune, which has long been the city's leading newspaper. But now The Herald, under the direction of Blake Garrett, who has a style vastly different from Adriane's father's political emphasis, is gaining readership. With the political arena heating up, Adriane's father encouraging her to marry a man she doesn't love, and Irish girls being murdered in the city, Adriane's life has been turned upside. And actually meeting Blake Garrett doesn't help, as Adriane is much more drawn to him than she is to her own fiancé. Although the attraction is mutual, the opposition against them ever having a relationship is nearly insurmountable.

I really enjoyed Gabhart's newest book. The elements of mystery and romance are woven well into the historical and political background. Readers will be quickly drawn into the plot and even if they guess at some parts, there is enough of a twist to keep it interesting. Two small quibbles: the book ends, despite it's title, with a lie. I find myself bothered by that partly because they're journalists and they're not supposed to do that, but also because the author seemed to want to emphasize that they don't lie...since, you know, she titled the book, Words Spoken True. Also, there was just a touch too much backstory drama for me (like Blake's father's death). Overall, though, quite enjoyable.

3.5 stars.