To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander

First a window, then a door. . .

Another in the series based on the real Belle Meade Plantation in Nashville and real-world events after the Civil War. As the story unfolds it is obvious that the two main characters, Alexandra and Sy are of separate worlds on separate paths. But Tamera gently weaves the story and we see an illustration of how God takes us through our lives – first opening a window, then a door, until time goes by and we can see the path clearly. It has character styles that I am drawn to – a strong, independent, intelligent woman and a rugged, compassionate, intelligent man.

Alexandra was on the train that crashed and her fiance was killed. Sylas' father was the engineer who was driving the train. Sy now owns the railroad and is trying to find out what happened and clear his name. His business depends on influencing General Harding of Belle Meade, but he is not accustomed to prosperity or the Southern way of doing things. Alexandra is accustomed to both and in a position to help Sy, but she is about to lose her connection with her family.

This is one of the best truly Christian stories where Jesus is mentioned often. Beautifully written full dimensional characters you are glad to get to know.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Zondervan Fiction and the Netgalley book review bloggers program. 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”.

From the Publisher:
Can a railroad man and a Southern Belle turned teacher find a way to work together to achieve their dreams in the new reality of the post-Civil War South?
Sylas Rutledge, former gambler and new owner of the East Line Railway, invests everything he has into this venture, partly to see if he can do it—but mostly to avenge his father. One man holds the key to the railway’s success—General William Giles Harding of Nashville’s Belle Meade Plantation. But Harding is champagne and thoroughbreds, and Sylas Rutledge is beer and bullocks. Sy needs someone to help him maneuver in high society, and when he meets Alexandra Donelson, he quickly decides he’s found his tutor.
Spurning her family’s wishes that she marry, Alexandra Donelson is pursuing her passion for teaching at Fisk University, the first freedmen’s university in the United States. But her family does not approve, and ultimately, her father expels her from the family home and cuts her off completely.
Through her friendship with Mary Harding, Alexandra is thrown together with both General Harding and Sylas Rutledge. And she soon finds herself falling in love with a man whose roguish qualities and adventuresome spirit smack more of recklessness than responsibility.
Sylas Rutledge will risk everything to win the hand of the woman he loves. What he doesn’t count on is having to wager her heart to do it.
Set at Nashville’s historic Belle Meade Plantation, To Wager Her Heart is a sweeping Southern love story about a nation mending after war, the struggle to move a country forward, and the courage of a man and woman to see themselves for who they truly are—and can be—with each other.


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Book Fun

Justified by Varina Denman

 

Reviewed by Robin Willson

Radiant Lit Blog Tours

Genre : Contemporary Fiction           

Publisher: David C. Cook      

Release Date: June 1, 2015

In a small Texas town ruled by gossip, Fawn Blaylock believes others are justified in condemning her untimely pregnancy. Stifled by guilt, she yearns for grace while the local football coach treats her with gentle respect.

Well told. I've always liked learning what makes other people tick. Although you can pretty much guess how this story is going to go, it's getting to know the characters that matters. And as they are learning and growing in their faith, what their thought processes are and the conclusions it brings for them, and the stretching and changing that comes about. I think it's a great teaching/writing style that the characters sit and talk about their faith and share lessons they've learned. Even when one character pulls away from another it doesn't always weaken them - sometimes it brings about stronger faith and a stronger relationship to God and Christ than what they had before. And there just might be a twist in there that you won't expect.

God knows who He intends for us to end up with, and those whose lives we touch along the way. Fawn of course needs to forgive herself as she has been forgiven, but she also learns that she has more things in common with others in her family and the community than she thinks. Including people who have looked down on her after she became pregnant. 

I normally stick to Christian Historical Fiction, but am glad that I branched out and read this story. I highly recommend it!

Varina Denman is a native Texan who spent her high school years in a small Texas town. Now she lives near Fort Worth with her husband and her five mostly-grown children.

Note: I received this book as part of the Justified  blog tour from Radiant Lit.  I received no compensation for this review and only received a copy of the book for review purposes. Review copy provided by the publisher for Radiant Lit Blog Tours. 

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