Character spotlight ~ Tamera Alexander’s Claire Laurent & Sutton Monroe

The highly anticipated first instalment in Tamera Alexander’s Belmont Mansion series is now available from Bethany House 

Synopsis
A fake. A forger. More than anything, Claire Laurent longs for the chance to live an authentic life, to become the woman she wants to be. And she’ll be given that choice. But will it come at too costly a price?
Claire Laurent’s greatest aspiration is to paint something that will bring her acclaim. Yet her father insists she work as a copyist. A forger. When she’s forced to flee from New Orleans to Nashville only a year after the War Between the States has ended, her path collides with attorney Sutton Monroe. She considers him a godsend for not turning her in to the authorities. But after he later refuses to come to her aid, Claire fears she’s sorely misjudged the man. Finding herself among the elite of Nashville’s society, Claire believes her dream to create a lasting impression in the world of art is within reach–but only if her fraudulent past remains hidden.
The Federal Army has destroyed Sutton’s home and confiscated his land, and threatens to destroy his family’s honor. His determination to reclaim what belongs to him and to right a grievous wrong reveals a truth that may cost him more than he ever imagined–as well as the woman he loves.Set at Nashville’s historic Belmont Mansion, a stunning antebellum manor built by Mrs. Adelicia Acklen, A Lasting Impression is a sweeping love story about a nation mending after war, the redemption of those wounded, and the courage of a man and woman to see themselves–and each other–for who they really are.

Enjoy meeting Claire & Sutton ~ thanks Tamera šŸ™‚

Rel: Brief physical description

Tamera: I always love seeing the male and female leads ā€œviewing each otherā€ through their own eyes. So, to that end:

This is Claire Laurentā€™s thought when she first sees Sutton:

Handsome couldā€™ve been used to describe him, but that would have been like calling Michelangeloā€™s David ā€œadequate.ā€

And since Claireā€™s on the cover of A Lasting Impression, wellā€¦a picture paints a thousand words, as they say. But I can tell you thisā€¦ The scene briefly captured on the cover proves to be a very memorable one in Suttonā€™s mind.

Actor/famous person

Claire is pictured on the cover so thatā€™s an easy picture to find. And for Suttonā€¦well, I prefer to let the reader ā€œfill in the blanksā€ for him!

Strengths and weaknesses

A fake. A forger. Thatā€™s what Claire Laurent knows she is, which is why she canā€™t fathom working in the home of the richest woman in Nashville, let alone America. But when she meets Sutton Monroeā€“ā€“Mrs. Acklenā€™s far too handsome and equally as discerning personal attorneyā€“ā€“Claireā€™s certain the first impression she made with himā€¦will be her last.

Your inspiration for the characters and background to the story

When I first stepped foot across the threshold of the Belmont Mansion in Nashville, TN, and learned about Adelicia Acklenā€“ā€“the born-before-her-time woman who built Belmontā€“ā€“and her ā€œtough as nailsā€ personality and extraordinary life, I knew I wanted to write a story that included her, her magnificent home, and this crucial time in our nationā€™s history.

But when I ā€œmetā€ Sutton Monroe and Claire Laurent while visiting the mansion one afternoon, or more rightly, when they shoved their way into my imagination and met each other, I knew I had to write their story. And I knew exactly what the setting would be too. The historic Belmont Mansion. After over two years of research and writing, A Lasting Impression is the culmination of that ā€œchance meeting.ā€

A Lasting Impression is about being authentic in oneā€™s life and relationships, and in oneā€™s faith. Itā€™s a love story about a nation mending after war, the redemption of those wounded, and the courage of a man and woman to see themselvesā€“ā€“and each otherā€“ā€“for who they really are.

Author Website: www.tameraalexander.com
Read a full two chapter excerpt here:

Thanks Tamera ~ always a true delight to have you visit šŸ™‚

Relz Reviewz Extras 
Reviews of Revealed, Remembered, The Inheritance, From A Distance, Beyond This Moment & Within My Heart
Interview with Tamera
Visit Tamera’s website and blog
Buy Tamera’s books at Amazon or Koorong

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One Response to Character spotlight ~ Tamera Alexander’s Claire Laurent & Sutton Monroe

  1. I enjoyed this book very much, and am looking forward to the next Belmont Mansion book.

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