A Reluctant Belle by Beth White

Impoverished Southern belle Joelle Daughtry has a secret. By day she has been helping her sisters in their quest to turn the run-down family plantation into a resort hotel after the close of the Civil War. But by night and under a male pseudonym, she has been penning articles for the local paper in support of the construction of a Negro school. With the Mississippi arm of the Ku Klux Klan gaining power and prestige, Joelle knows she is playing a dangerous game.

When childhood enemy and current investor in the Daughtry house renovation Schuyler Beaumont takes over his assassinated father's candidacy for state office, Joelle finds that in order to protect her family and her home, she and Schuyler will have to put aside their longstanding personal conflict and develop a united public front. The trouble is, what do you do when animosity becomes respect--and even love--if you're already engaged to someone else?

This is the second book in the Daughtry House series.   It is not necessary to read the first book to read this one.  Although, Levi would be explained a lot better.  Joelle and Schuyler have been friends/ enemies since childhood.  One minute they are getting along and the next they are fighting.  Things haven't changed since they are adults.  Schuyler has been a playboy all his adult life.  Now that his father has been assassinated he has to grow up fast and find out who is responsible.  Joelle got so mad at Schuyler that she agreed to marry the preacher when he ask.  The only problem is she doesn't love him. 

This book helps show the aftermath of the southern slaves after the Civil War.  Nobody owned them but they were still looked upon and worthless.  I have only one negative thing about the book.  I didn't feel closure at the end of the book.  Schuyler and Joelle got together.  But there were still a lot of unanswered questions.  Maybe they will be answered in book 3.  That said I would recommend the book.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.