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17 August 2017

Giveaway: To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander -- Audiobook Review

To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander
To Wager Her Heart (Zondervan, August 2017)
by Tamera Alexander

Audiobook Review
by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Worth the Wait!
Another fantastic novel from Tamera Alexander! I've read all of her books and have never been disappointed. Like most of her other stories, we have a well-fleshed out heroine with a strong backbone but flexibility, too. Alexandra Donelson has to make some big choices when her father tries to force her into an unwanted marriage. She's overcome trauma and loss but isn't about to be married to a man over twice her age and her father's crony. But her father has a secret. Not saying what.

Readers will gain insight into the struggles that African-American students faced, as the author takes us to the struggling Tufts University in Nashville. Not only to we feel their difficulties but also the challenges of those who would instruct the freedmen students.

Entwined in this novel is a beautiful romance between a very unlikely couple. Alexandra has been brought up the privileged daughter of one of Nashville's oldest families, her father an attorney. Silas Rutledge, on the other hand, was first raised by his widowed mother before she remarried -- a man who would be come Sy's psychological father and a role model for him. Sy's railed engineer stepfather, however, has died in a controversial manner. Tamera Alexander includes many great tidbits about railroads and the men who built them as well as the very real dangers faced in railroad travel after the Civil War.

Bibliotherapy Elements: PTSD, loss of a loved one, clearing a loved one's name, trust.

I hope to re-listen to this audiobook again within the year, something I don't often do. This book will definitely be on my Best of 2017 and is a contender in the Bibliotherapy Best category, too.


Blurb: 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.
Belle Meade (image from Flickr)
Disclaimer: I listened to this book on a (paid by me, via membership) download from Audible.com (click here for the audiobook download of To Wager Her Heart). Additionally, I received a NetGalley copy, which I didn't read, but I'm grateful that it was available. The publisher sent me a paperback copy of this fantastic novel, which I'm giving away to one of our readers. I am under no compunction to offer a positive review. I've loved all of Tamera's books and have read every one!


Purchase at Barnes & Noble
At Christian Book Distributors
At Amazon
At Your local Christian Bookstore such as Lifeway (call ahead -- if they don't have it, they'll often get it for you!)

Giveaway: A paperback copy to one of our commenters. 

47 comments:

  1. Thank you for this great giveaway.
    MarilynDKC[at]AOL[dot]com

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  2. Thank you for the opportunity to win this giveaway.
    JoanEC128[at]AOL[dot]com

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  3. Thank you for this generous giveaway.
    MarionMPC[at[AOL[dot]com

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  4. I love Tamera Alexander's books. I would love to be a big winner!! Thank you for the opportunity! mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. Hi Melanie! Is your Book Club going to be reading this new novel?

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  5. This does sound fantastic thank you.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  6. TAmera is one of the sweetest southern people! I'd love to read this book :)

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    1. Yes, I agree, Tamera Alexander is an amazing lady! And a wonderful writer!

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  7. I have had this one on my radar since I'd seen all the hype about it on Facebook and her newsletter! It's a must have in my opinion :-) What a lovely review Carrie, thanks for sharing. I simply can't get over how gorgeous that cover is!

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. Hi Trixi! What's inside the book is even better than that beautiful cover on To Wager Her Heart!

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  8. Great review! I haven't read any of the Belle Meade books yet. *hangs head in shame* I've enjoyed Tamera's older books though. Just not enough hours in a day to read every book I want to. You know how that it is. :-)

    Looking forward to getting together next week.

    {{hugs}}

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    1. All of the Belle Meade books have been wonderful, Anne! Tamera's books always go to the top of my pile and I'm so grateful that most have been on audiobook! See you soon!

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  9. The Belle Meade novels are among my favorites! Thanks for the giveaway! rachaeldalquist(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. It was run visiting Belle Meade last year, Rachael. It helped bring the setting to life for me!

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  10. CARRIE, I enjoyed your lovely review. Tamera Alexander is a new-to-me author.

    Thank you for the giveaway.
    psalm103and138 at gmail dot com

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    1. Hi Caryl! I don't know how that is possible that Tamera is a new-to-you author but you simply must remedy that bad situation ASAP! Hugs!

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  11. Wow! To Wager Her Heart sounds soooo good! You totally reeled me in with your review, Carrie! I'm smitten and can't wait to read it! Thanks so much for the opportunity of this giveaway!!!
    ~Alison Boss

    nj(dot)bossman(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. HI Alison, I pray you'll read Tamera's new story "To Wager Her Heart" soon!

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  12. I have to admit that I don't know as much as I'd like to about the Civil War and its aftermath on the south. I'm so excited to read Tamera's latest!

    (Not sure why Google has me as anonymous.)

    Karen: mylittlebirdiebooks (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. Hi Karen! This story gives some insight into how much people sacrificed in order to help their fellow man (freedmen in this case).

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  13. This sounds like a very interesting historical novel. I hope I win it!
    lemonade 050 (a t) hot mail d o t ( c o m )

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    1. Best wishes, Brenda! Tamera Alexander's "To Wager Her Heart" is a wonderful novel!

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  14. I would love to read this one .... perfect setting!

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    1. There's a chance I might be going back to Nashville this fall, Susanne. It was very very hot the day I visited Belle Meade and I sweat buckets!

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  15. Wonderful review, Carrie - thank you!! "To Wager Her Heart" sounds like such an exciting story - love Tamera's books and can't wait to read this one!!

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    1. Hi Angel Bonnie! Yes, this is a great listen. You might want to try it through audible instead of reading it with your eyes, so you can rest after that conference!

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  16. I love her books! Thank you for the opportunity to win this one.

    Thank you,
    Stephanie C.
    grumpysmurf817(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. I'm SO glad there will be a Christmas novella, too, Stephanie!!! Delighted I don't have to wait long for the next read!

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  17. I have enjoyed Tammy's books so very much. They always make me want to go visit the areas she writes about. Someday, perhaps, I will be able to. Thanks so much for the giveaway, Carrie.
    bettimace at gmail dot com

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    1. I got to visit Nashville and Belle Meade last year, Betti! I pray you get the chance to visit!

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  18. oh wonderful. I love stories that have rail roads and civil war
    quilting dash lady at Comcast dot net

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    1. Hi Lori! I like railroad stories, too. This new novel by Tamera is right after the Civil War, during Reconstruction!

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  19. This one is n my wish list, and I would love to win a copy of it. Thanks for the chance. 😊
    gobersATembarqmailDOTcom

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    1. This was on my wish list, too, and I was SO thrilled when it released on audiobook! Blessings!

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  20. I think I've only read the first Belle Meade book. I'm falling behind... Would love to read this one.
    Arletta

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  21. I would love a paperback copy of this book. Excellent review Carrie! And that's a high recommendation from you as well! Makes me want to read it even more! She was one of the author's I began reading when I first started reading Christian Fiction.

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    1. Hi Nancy! Yes a Tamera Alexander book with Joann's fudge is my idea of heaven! Hugs!

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  22. I love Tamera's books and this series! Can't wait to read it!

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    1. Always worth the wait, Julie, for Tamera's next book!

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  23. Carrie, Great review of To Wager Her Heart. Your recommendation and so many nice reviews has this book calling to me to read it. The premise also makes it an intriguing book to read. Thank you for sharing.
    marilynridgway78 [at]gmail [dot]com

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    1. Marilyn don't miss out on Tamera Alexander's new book! Blessings!

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  24. Carrie, bless you for your kind words—and for your very generous review! So appreciate you and this blog, and your readers too! Thanks for sponsoring this giveaway. If the winner would like an autographed book plate, just let me know! Thanks to everyone for reading. I hope you all enjoy Sy and Alex's story.

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    1. Very happy to review your wonderful audiobook, Tamera! I hope all the readers get a chance to read To Wager Her Heart very soon! Blessings!

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  25. I would love to read this!! thanks for the giveaway!

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  26. I would love the opportunity to read this book! Thanks for the giveaway and the lovely review, Carrie.
    bettimace at gmail dot com

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  27. I can't wait to read the third book from the Belle Meade Plantation novels. The first two were amazing :) Thank you!

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