To Whisper Her Name

Little did I know that when I started reading the first book published by a woman from my home area outside of Atlanta and even attended the same school years later that this same woman would be one of “the greats” in Christian Historical Fiction, right up there with Tracie Peterson and Francine Rivers. Tamera Alexander is an incredible author that absolutely leaves you begging for more after almost 500 pages! The same is the case after finishing To Whisper Her Name and I'm delighted to know it is the first of a trilogy from Zondervan, but even more fun is the slight cross over with another series from Tammy through Bethany House. I love historical fiction, but it is those that are set on telling the story of real history that give me chills.

While I've never been an equestrian myself reading about the Belle Meade Plantation thoroughbreds was just enough to interest and not bore me. But this was about so much more than horses. Through these pages a story was told that was lovely. It was romantic and heart breaking. Both realistic and thrilling filling my read hours with curiosity and apprehension as well as sighs of contentment. Touching and delving through the difficult after-war politics when everyone is trying to find their true place and sharing the harsh realities of the time without dwelling. Tammy knows how to tell a story!

More please, I cannot wait!

Thanks to PR by the Book for providing a copy for review.

posted: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2012/12/31/to-whisper-her-name-belle-meade-plantation-by-tamera-alexander/

It's been a while since I have read a historical fiction like this, in a good way. The story is compelling, I truly believe the character motivation, and the length of time it takes for understandings between characters to occur is reasonable.

I felt the ending was both timed right, and a little rushed, somehow. I can't say how it should be different, only that I guess I wish I got to enjoy a little more of the couple now that they're finally together.

Well-written, based on historical persons, and set on a plantation I now want to visit, I really enjoyed this book. Don't read if you're looking for a quick escape; this is the type of book you savor.

While it did leave a question or two unresolved, in general I really enjoyed this book. The characters were realistic (major and minor), there was a real plot (not just an excuse to throw two people together), and the writing was good. The romance was believable as a slow-growing process rather than a sudden event, between two real people with real concerns and real personalities. The ending was satisfactory, and I really enjoyed the cleanliness of the whole book (no objectionable scenes, yay!).

When I was finished with the book, I passed it on to someone else I thought would also enjoy it.

I won the book from Goodreads, but received no compensation for my review. My opinions, as always, are my own.

I loved this story! I read it more slowly than usual, yet still finished it in one day...perks of being at the car dealership for 4.5 hours and then staying up a couple hours too late for “one more chapter”.
I enjoyed so much of it that it's difficult to review. I loved Uncle Bob, and the horses added so much to the story.
For critique, two things jumped out at me. First, her wearing a bustle and a hoop. Ummm, a little ahead of time...and it felt really weird that it would fall off easily anyway. Hoop, yes. Bustle...I think that was about a decade later.
Second, “mantle”. Sorry to break the news, but a mantle is a physical or figurative piece of clothing. If it's something built over a fireplace, it's a mantel. No debate. It's sad the publisher's editor missed on both counts.
But the rest was fabulous. :)