An Honorable Man

Rating:
Summary: Horribly unsatisfying
Review: As southern states succeed from the Union like dominos both sides of the conflict wonder what position will highly regarded Senator David Campbell take. Two presidents court the Mississippi representative, but David accepts Lincoln's offer of advisor on the war council. Before he leaves for DC, David decides to free his slaves as a symbolic gesture. Though his daughter Cameron bursts with pride over her father's courageous actions, his son Grant detests the destruction of his privileged life. In a drunken ire, he kills his father, but persuades authorities that an accident occurred.

Grant denies Cameron's insistence that their father was freeing the slaves because he intends to sell them. However, Grant fails to recognize his sister's passion for honoring her father's wishes and see the slaves to safety and freedom. She persuades Lincoln's escort envoy Jackson Logan, undercover as a merchant, to help her even though he broke her heart several years ago. As they journey together, their love flourishes while they struggle to survive one harrowing experience after another.

Most readers realize that a visit to Rosemary Rogers' neighborhood is always a sure shot for finding a powerfully enjoyable novel. Her latest tale, AN HONORABLE MAN, may be her best as this Civil War tale contains a terrific plot, a feel for the era, two delightful lead protagonists, a nasty villain, and a tremendous support cast. Fans of historical romance will gain much satisfaction with this superior Americana story.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: superior Americana story
Review: As southern states succeed from the Union like dominos both sides of the conflict wonder what position will highly regarded Senator David Campbell take. Two presidents court the Mississippi representative, but David accepts Lincoln's offer of advisor on the war council. Before he leaves for DC, David decides to free his slaves as a symbolic gesture. Though his daughter Cameron bursts with pride over her father's courageous actions, his son Grant detests the destruction of his privileged life. In a drunken ire, he kills his father, but persuades authorities that an accident occurred.

Grant denies Cameron's insistence that their father was freeing the slaves because he intends to sell them. However, Grant fails to recognize his sister's passion for honoring her father's wishes and see the slaves to safety and freedom. She persuades Lincoln's escort envoy Jackson Logan, undercover as a merchant, to help her even though he broke her heart several years ago. As they journey together, their love flourishes while they struggle to survive one harrowing experience after another.

Most readers realize that a visit to Rosemary Rogers' neighborhood is always a sure shot for finding a powerfully enjoyable novel. Her latest tale, AN HONORABLE MAN, may be her best as this Civil War tale contains a terrific plot, a feel for the era, two delightful lead protagonists, a nasty villain, and a tremendous support cast. Fans of historical romance will gain much satisfaction with this superior Americana story.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Horribly unsatisfying
Review: Had to respond to the previous 5 star review, because I couldn't disagree more. This book was truly a disappointment!

Although Rosemary Rogers has a decent writing style, the plot and character development of An Honorable Man is almost nonexistant. The main heroine of the book, named Cameron, is very unlikeable to the point where you wonder how all the people around her can love her so much. She is spoiled, bratty, and dumb to boot. And you cringe at her selfish decisions that put everyone at jeopardy. Much more likeable is the secondary heroine, Taye, Cameron's mulatto half-sister, and I kept hoping that the hero of the book would dump Cameron and sensibly go for Taye.

As for plot, although the book is set in the South at the onset of the Civil War, the characters' story is not adequately weaved into the bigger backdrop of the war. The hero is supposed to be an agent of the North and morally just because he opposes slavery, but really all he does is run around in secret meeting shadowy contacts. He doesn't really DO anything. He's a jerk in the beginning, which is never really explained, and it's never clear why he falls in love with Cameron when they reunite.

Although I applaud writers who try to break away from formula romance writing, the one thing a romance novel can't get away from is two main characters that are sympathetic or admirable or plain likeable enough for readers to be invested in their stories. If we are to root for their finding true love, we have to like them enough to think they deserve it. There is nothing I hate more than devoting a few hours to spend with people I come to despise, because then I feel cheated by a happy outcome.

Avoid this book. You will be happy you did.