Launch Day! To Whisper Her Name - My Review

To Whisper Her Name
(A Belle Meade Plantation Novel)
Tamera Alexander
(Zondervan)
ISBN: 978-0310291060
October 2012/473 pages/$14.99
Olivia Aberdeen, destitute widow of a man shot as a traitor to the South, is shunned by proper society and gratefully accepts an invitation from "Aunt" Elizabeth Harding, mistress of Belle Meade Plantation. Expecting to be the Harding's head housekeeper, Olivia is disillusioned when she learns the real reason Elizabeth's husband, Confederate General William Giles Harding, agreed to her coming. Not finding the safe haven she expects, Olivia is caught off guard by her feelings for Ridley Adam Cooper, a Southern man who seems anything but a Southern gentleman.

Branded a traitor by some, Ridley Cooper, a Southern son who chose to fight for the Union, is a man desperate to end the war still raging inside him. Determined to learn "the gift" that Belle Meade's head horse trainer and former slave, Bob Green, possesses, Ridley harbors secrets that threaten both their lives.

As Ridley seeks to make peace within himself for "betraying" the South he loved, Olivia is determined to never be betrayed again.

Set at Nashville's historic Belle Meade Plantation, the most influential thoroughbred stud farm in America's history, To Whisper Her Name weaves the struggles of real people of the post-war South with the journeys of a man and a woman scarred by betrayal.

WATCH THE TRAILER



In addition to the trailer, Tamera and her publisher filmed six video vignettes on location at Belle Meade plantation in Nashville. You can view these fascinating vignettes, which share a bit of the plantation's history and a peek into the story, by clicking here.

Read an excerpt.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tamera Alexander is the bestselling author of numerous books, including A Lasting Impression and The Inheritance. Her richly drawn characters and thought-provoking plots have earned her devoted readers worldwide, as well as multiple industry awards.

These awards include the 2009 and 2008 Christy Award, the 2010 and 2007 RITA for Best Inspirational Romance, the 2010, 2009 and 2007 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, 2007 Bookseller’s Best Award, and Library Journal’s Top Christian Fiction for 2006, among others. Her books have finaled six times for the Christy Award, a mark of excellence in Christian fiction.

Tamera and her husband recently returned to her Southern roots and now make their home in Nashville.

Learn more about Tamera and her novels by following her at. . .

Her website: http://tameraalexander.com/
Her blog: http://www.tameraalexander.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tamera.alexander?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tameraalexander

MY THOUGHTS

Oh. My. The wait for this book has been excruciating, but it was absolutely worth it. To Whisper Her Name sets the bar for historical romance. Once again, Tamera Alexander has created a masterful saga that swept me away, this time to Belle Meade plantation. I adored Ridley Cooper and Olivia Aberdeen. Their individual stories are captivating and heart-wrenching; their relationship is superbly depicted. I loved their clashes and snarky verbal sparring just as much as the tender moments that made me catch my breath. No one can write a scene to quicken the heart quite like Tamera can! This is romance done right--but this is so much more than a romance novel. Infused with rich historical detail, each page pulsates with emotion. Although the Civil War had officially ended, the wounds ran deep in the South and the rejoined states were far from united. Long-held attitudes and opinions about the role of the (now former) slaves, those who fought for the North, and anyone who dared to act outside of the strict Southern code of propriety resulted in tension that could escalate and erupt with the power of one of General Harding's unbroken stallions. Tamera's gift for character portrayal breathes life into the servants, the stable hands, and the Harding family. I could practically smell the horseflesh, taste the beaten biscuits, and hear the servants singing and clapping! A novel as grand as Belle Meade itself, To Whisper Her Name beckons you to sit a spell and experience a year on the plantation. I sighed when I read the last page and reluctantly closed the book. I'm ready for the next one!



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tamera Alexander and Zondervan. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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