To Wager Her Heart (By: Tamera Alexander)

To Wager Her Heart
By: Tamera Alexander

Story Line: 3.5 Stars
Depth: 4 Stars
Faith: 3 Stars
Love Story: 3 Stars
Overall: 3 Stars

These two chicks have been eagerly anticipating this third installment of the Belle Meade Plantation Series! However, although the first two books were worthy of a place on our Golden List, this final read didn't shine nearly as bright. Although the first 75% of the book was written incredibly well - great character development, interesting plots and deep themes of racism in the post Civil War era in the South - the last part of the book fell flat for us. 

Alexandra is a gentle, kind soul and learns to lean on the Lord for courage as she steps out of society's expectations for her and decides to teach at the first freedmen's University in the United States. We admired her love for all people, no matter the color of their skin, and her willingness to give up comfort to do this! Sylas is determined to clear his father's name from a tarnished reputation, and we loved the lengths he went to in his quest.

Like the first two books in this series, Tamera expertly weaves historical details and settings into this fictional story, and it reads along at an even pace. But unfortunately, the end of the book took a bad turn for us. The story became choppy and rushed, and some of the plot lines left us unsatisfied and unresolved. Although we loved the settings and the characters, and even most of the story itself, we kept waiting for a climax but never felt like we got one.

Having to give this book (and one of our favorite authors!) only 3 stars is a disappointment, but we look forward to her future books.

Note: We were given this book in exchange for our honest review.  

Novella - Christmas at Canton (By: Tamera Alexander)

Christmas at Carnton
By: Tamera Alexander

We love getting our appetite ready for a new series with a novella to kick things off! Tamera has a new series coming out based around the Carnton Plantation in Franklin, Tennessee. We have loved her previous series based around other historical plantations and this one has hopes of being just as wonderful!.

This story is set in the time period of the Civil War. Aletta - a widow, a mother to a six year old boy and eight months pregnant, is desperate for hope. She has lost her job and is being evicted out of her home. This war has taken everything from her. Can she find the strength to keep fighting while also encouraging those around her? When she lands a job at the Carnton Plantation for the Christmas season, she falls in love with the people and surroundings but has only been promised the position for a short amount of time. One person in particular has caught her eye - and a part of her heart.

Captain Jake Winston, a Confederate sharpshooter, is now on the injured list. Sent to Carnton on a special task to assist the Women's Relief Society Auction is not what he desires for his foreseeable future. However, soon he realizes these women are fighting their own battles and he starts to have a change of heart. But can his heart handle the emotions a young widow and her son provoke?

We eagerly await this new series and were thankful to have this sweet introduction!

Find it on Amazon: Christmas at Carnton

Note: We were given this book in exchange for our honest review.  

A Note Yet Unsung (By: Tamera Alexander)

A Note Yet Unsung

By: Tamera Alexander

Storyline

Rebekah Carrington is a master violinist and dreams of playing in an orchestra. Unfortunately in the 19th century, it was thought that women were too fragile to attempt such a feat - no matter how talented they may be. Forced to return home to Nashville after having spent the last 10 years in Vienna, she must settle for simply being an assistant to the orchestra leader, rather than showcasing her real talent. Nathaniel Tate Whitcomb is the Nashville Philharmonic's youngest maestro and needs Rebekah's help writing a symphony - before his own secrets threaten to destroy everything he has worked so hard for.

Classic to author Tamera's usual style, this book grabs you right from the beginning and glides along like gentle rolling, green hills, a satisfying and pleasurable journey for the reader. She adds just the right amount of plot, activity and excitement to keep the reader hooked!

Despite the wonderful storyline, we felt the end came a little too quickly, with some loose ends not fully explained, and without a couple satisfactory conclusions.

Depth

Both Rebekah and Tate have secrets they wish to keep hidden for fear of rejection by others. Issues of loss, grief, relationships with families (especially parents), health problems and going back to one's roots are explored. And as are usual in Tamera's stories, the historical reality of racism and slavery are faced head on, with tact and grace.

Faith

Rebekah caught her faith as a child from the older slaves she loved, as they taught her hymns on the violin. Now that she is an adult and on her own, she often goes back to these hymns and accompanying Bible verses to guide her and help her through rough times. Tate was raised with faith and is beginning to realize how important the role of it in his life should be. Going back to his roots reignites his faith and he allows God to lead him down the unknown path in front of him.

Love Story

Tate and Rebecca definitely hit it off on the wrong foot which adds for some romantic tension! But as their walls come down and they understand each other more, a tender and genuine love develops between them. Especially sweet in their love story is the side of Tate no one knows about that Rebekah becomes involved in.

Overall

These two chicks have come to expect a lot from Tamera - complex plots weaved expertly together, well developed and realistic characters and a deep faith we can relate to. And sure enough, A Note Yet Unsung did not disappoint! This was the final installment of the Belmont Mansion Series and it was by far our favorite.

Find it on Amazon: A Note Yet Unsung

Note: We were given this book free in exchange for our honest review.

Novella - Among the Fair Magnolias

Among the Fair Magnolias
Four Southern Love Stories
By: Tamera Alexander, Shelley Gray, Dorothy Love, Elizabeth Musser

This historical romance novella collection has equal parts warmth, sweetness, shocking history and creative writing. Each novella is very different but adds a new perspective on what life might have been like in the post-civil war South. Freedmen, although no longer slaves, still don't enjoy as much privilege as whites and face radical discrimination. Some families are still wealthy while others lost everything in the war, and now their economical differences divide them. 

It is important to note that these stories follow characters from the authors' earlier works, although read just fine as standalone novellas as well. They are thorough, detailed and satisfying novellas that will please readers!

Find it on Amazon: Among the Fair Magnolias

To Win Her Favor (By: Tamera Alexander)

To Win Her Favor
By: Tamera Alexander

Check out the newest addition to our Golden List! We could not put this book down and were thrilled to jump back into another historical novel at Belle Meade Plantation.

Storyline

Cullen McGrath, an Irish immigrant, comes to Nashville after losing his wife and daughter to Typhoid. Looking to buy land and start over, he faces severe discrimination against his people in the post-civil war era. Gilbert Linden, who is dying, is very close to losing the farm that has been in his family for generations - land that neighbors the magnificent Belle Meade Plantation. When he and Cullen meet, Gilbert sees a way to avoid losing the land and secure his daughter Maggie's future - if she will agree to marry a man she doesn't know. 

Maggie Linden wants nothing more than to race her thoroughbred horse to make him a champion. But little does she know, Cullen has vowed to stay far away from racing because of his past. When their interests conflict, sparks fly. Will these two be able to make their marriage work and overcome all the obstacles and discrimination against them?

Depth

Author Tamera is nothing short of masterful at revealing the beauty in good people's hearts against a backdrop of darkness. In post civil-war era, racism against former slaves and foreigners was a nasty, festering issue. She doesn't shy away from the harsh reality of racism and discrimination, but rather balances it out by highlighting the goodness in people who saw all as equally God's children. Although there were some incredibly evil acts done during that time, those who sought to love outshone the darkness. Tamera weaves it all together in a deep, insightful glimpse into humanity.

Faith

Gilbert Linden has a rock solid faith that rubs off on Cullen, almost from the moment they meet. Faith is not so much preached in this book as rather shown in God's love through people's actions. As mentioned above, those who want to be a light in the darkness are a striking light against the culture of the day. Faith is lost and found by the characters and really winds up being the final answer to all the conflicts and and obstacles to overcome.

Squeal Factor

Did someone turn up the thermostat? Wowzers! Marriages of convenience usually have the highest potential for squeal factor, since man and wife are free to explore their attraction and chemistry. Cullen and Maggie sizzle as they learn to love one another as God intended, and it does our hearts good to enjoy their witty, tender and electrifying love story. Kudos to Tamera for making the reader feel what the characters feel!

Overall

Not since To Whisper Her Name - the first Belle Meade Plantation novel - has Tamera so thoroughly thrilled our hearts and minds with a story. Our hearts delighted in the relationships crossing racial boundaries, our pulses raced at the romance, our minds were stimulated by the original plot, and these 2 chicks had a couple of very late nights reading! This books deserves a spot on our Golden List and we are thrilled to recommend it to any historical fiction fans.

Find it on Amazon: To Win Her Favor

We were given this book from the publisher in exchange for our honest review.