‘Among the Fair Magnolias’ Southern Hearts Kindle Fire Giveaway | Book Review

Four best-selling novelists bring tales of four Southern women who face near impossible choices on their journeys in life and in love during the most turbulent decade of our nation’s history in Among the Fair Magnolias. Don't miss this collection of stories from Tamera Alexander, Shelley Gray, Dorothy Love, and Elizabeth Musser.

A Heart So True by Dorothy Love: This was such a sad, sweet story. The setting at Pawley's Island made me want to go to the beach! I was rooting for Abigail and Wade throughout the story. I'm glad we got to see Charles' true colors because I didn't like him from the moment he stepped on the scene. I love how the author portrayed the relationship between father and daughter at a time when tides were changing. He wanted to protect her future, but couldn't see past his own political ambitions to the real Charles. Overall, I really enjoyed this sweet story.

To Mend a Dream by Tamera Alexander: As always, I am delighted by Tamera Alexander's story. They never fail to evoke my emotions. This sweet story is no exception. I remember reading about Savannah first in To Win Her Favor, A Belle Meades Plantation Novel. I'm glad to see her here again and learn more about her and her family. Her sweet, unassuming nature drew me to her and I was praying for her to find what she so desperately sought. Aidan was such a gentleman. He is not at all what I expected in a man from Boston being portrayed in a Southern state. I really enjoyed his soul searching. I think Savannah sums up the message nicely in her thoughts at the end of the book: ...marveling at God's quiet orchestration of lives and realizing she'd likely never know how often the Almighty did this. How often he interlaced such painful parts of this earthly journey with such joyous ones, weaving them together with such skill and grace. And beauty." I couldn't have said it better myself!

Love Beyond Limits by Elizabeth Musser: This story addresses a very scary time in our nation's history. Freedmen and plantation owners are working to find their places in this new and scary world. Bring in those Southern Democrats who feel white supremecy should be brought back and the Klu Klux Klan, and you've got yourself an interesting story filled with love, hate, and God's quiet orchestration in our lives. I loved Emily's character for sticking to her beliefs, even though they were not popular in that time period. Her desire to do what's right for her fellow man, and her belief that all men are created equal in God's eyes was very forward for the time, especially for a woman. I admire her for that and want to strive to be that way in my own life. 

An Outlaw's Heart by Shelley Gray: Hearing about Scout Proffitt and Will McMillan from Shelley Gray's Heart of a Hero series brought back memories of reading those fantastic books. I loved them as much as I loved this story! Both Nora and Russell dealt with situations that, for young people, can change the course of your life and sometimes not for the better. Coming back home and fixing those wrongs can sometimes be a scary and daunting task. It was brave of Russell to do so, and I admired him for the bravery. I could even tell that his mother and Nora deeply regretted the way they treated Russell those seven years ago. This was a sweet, sweet story and the perfect way to end this fantastic collection of novellas.

Overall, Among the Fair Magnolias is an enchanting collection of novellas that sweeps the reader into the beauty and heartbreak of the "Old South." I was immersed into a world of change along with the heroines of each story. With a strong message about God's orchestration and heavenly interference in our life, this collection on novellas will immerse you into a world of faith, love, turmoil, and uncertainty. I highly recommend this sweet, southern collection.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the Litfuse blogging program in exchange for my honest review.*

Landing page:

http://litfusegroup.com/author/fairmagnolias

Join the authors in celebrating the release of Among the Fair Magnolias by entering to win their Southern Hearts Kindle Fire Giveaway and RSVPing to their August 13th author chat party!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HD 6
• One copy of Among the Fair Magnolias

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 8/13. The winner will be announced at the Among the Fair Magnolias Facebook party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Tamera, Dorothy, Shelley, and Elizabeth, as well as for a chance to win some great prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 13th!

About the book: 
Among the Fair Magnolias (Thomas Nelson, July 2015)

In the most turbulent decade of our nation's history, four Southern women---destinies forged by birth, hearts steeled by war---face near impossible choices on their journeys in life . . . and in love.

To Mend a Dream by Tamera Alexander
Savannah Darby would do almost anything to revisit her family home. So when new owner, Aidan Bedford, a Boston attorney and former Union soldier, seeks to redecorate the house for his fiancée, Savannah jumps at the opportunity. But the clock is ticking. Can she find the box her father supposedly hid there during the war before her assignment is completed? And before she sees yet another battle lost on the home front. This time, one of the heart.

An Outlaw's Heart by Shelley Gray
When Russell Stark returns to Fort Worth, he's determined to begin a new life. But when he arrives at his mother's homestead, he discovers she's very ill, and the woman he loved is still as beautiful and sweet as he remembered. With time running out, Russell must come to terms with both his future and his past.

A Heart So True by Dorothy Love
Abigail knows all too well what is expected of her: to marry her distant cousin Charles and take her place in society. But her heart belongs to another. A terrible incident forces Abby to choose between love and duty.

Love Beyond Limits by Elizabeth Musser
Emily has a secret: She's in love with one of the freedmen on her family's plantation. Meanwhile, another man declares his love for her. Emily realizes some things are not as they seem and secrets must be kept in order to keep those she loves safe.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1Igkc7H

About the authors:

Tamera Alexander is the best-selling author of numerous books including A Lasting Impressionand The Inheritance. Tamera is a two-time Christy Award winner, two-time RITA winner, and a recipient of the prestigious Library Journal Award. A native of west Tennessee. website, Twitter,Facebook 

Dorothy Love makes her home in the Texas hill country with her husband and their golden retriever. An award-winning author of numerous young adult novels, Dorothy made her adult debut with the Hickory Ridge novels. website,Twitter, Facebook

Shelley Gray is the author of The Heart of a Hero series. Her Amish novel (written as Shelley Shepard Gray), The Protector, recently made the New York Times best seller list.website, Twitter, Facebook

Elizabeth Musser, a native of Atlanta, Georgia now living in France, is a novelist who writes what she calls 'entertainment with a soul.' For over 25 years, Elizabeth and her husband, Paul, have been involved in mission work with International Teams. website,Twitter, Facebook

Tamera Alexander’s To Win Her Favor Blog Tour and Kindle Giveaway

Can Maggie prove that her mare, Bourbon Belle, can take the top purse in the inaugural Peyton Stakes, the richest race ever run in America? Find out in Tamera Alexander's To Win Her Favor. To give her that chance—and to save Linden Downs from being sold to the highest bidder—Maggie must marry a man she's never met. A man she never would have chosen for herself.

My Review: This book tugged at my heartstrings from the very beginning. Tamera Alexander has such a powerful way with words. Putting feelings, emotions, and a well-thought out story together takes talent, and Tamera has it. To Win Her Favor is an emotional roller coaster. There are some scenes in the book that I found difficult to swallow, but fit with the time period. The suspense and the mystery kept me guessing until the very end.

I loved Maggie and Cullen from the beginning of the book. Their fiesty and fiery relationship had me turning pages late into the night. I loved their romance, the heated moments, the passion (all kept PG of course), and the love flowing off the pages enraptured me. Their confusion, hurts, and anger at each other frustrated me, but their make up was every bit as charming and lovable as I would want.

The best part of this whole book is about God's healing, God's grace, and God's mercy. I love when an author weaves the message in the story without making it overt or unnatural. Tamera has that talent. Overall, I loved this book and I look forward to more by this amazing author.

*Thank you, Litfuse, for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*

Landing page:

http://litfusegroup.com/author/talexander

Celebrate the release of To Win Her Favor with a Kindle Fire and book giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HD 6
• A copy of To Win Her Favor

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 10th. Winner will be announced May 11th on Tamera's blog. Plus stay tuned for more opportunities to win after May 11 with a special Pinterest contest—more details coming soon!

{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}

About the book:
To Win Her Favor (Zondervan, May 2015)

A gifted rider in a world where ladies never race, Maggie Linden is determined that her horse will become a champion. But the one man who could help her has vowed to stay away from thoroughbred racing forever.

An Irishman far from home, Cullen McGrath left a once prosperous life in England because of a horse racing scandal that nearly ruined him. He's come to Nashville for a fresh start, hoping to buy land and begin farming, all while determined to stay as far away from thoroughbred racing as possible. But starting over proves harder than he'd wagered, especially when Maggie Linden's father makes him an offer he shouldn't accept yet cannot possibly refuse.

Maggie is certain that her mare, Bourbon Belle, can take the top purse in the inaugural Peyton Stakes, the richest race ever run in America. Maggie only needs the chance to prove it. To give her that chance---and to save Linden Downs from being sold to the highest bidder---Maggie's father, aging, yet wily as ever, makes a barter. His agreement includes one tiny, troublesome detail---Maggie must marry a man she's never met. A man she never would have chosen for herself.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1OYbn27

About the author:

Tamera Alexander is a best-selling novelist whose deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots, and poignant prose resonate with readers. Having lived in Colorado for seventeen years, she and her husband now make their home in Nashville, Tennessee, along with their two adult children who live near by. And don't forget Jack, their precious---and precocious---silky terrier.

Find Tamera online: website, Facebook, Twitter

Top Ten Tuesday: Can't Wait for Sequels

For future Top Ten Tuesday topics & info on how to participate, click here!

 Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. 

 

This Week's topic: Top Ten Sequels I Can't Wait To Get

 

 

I really enjoy series that follow a family or group of friends, such as Sabotaged and Now & Forever. It's fun to meet the new family member or friend, while still keeping up with the previous characters. A new favorite kind of series of mine is one that follows the same person throughout the whole series, like Julia Elliston in Price of Privilege, Kate Adams in Desperate Measures, and Mia Quinn in Lethal Beauty. I feel like you can really connect with the character and watch them learn and grow.

1. Sabotaged by Dani Pettrey - Alaskan Courage Series
2. Price of Privilege by Jessica Dotta - Price of Privilege Series
3. To Win Her Favor by Tamera Alexander - Belle Meade Plantation Series
4. Now & Forever by Mary Connealy - Wild at Heart Series
5. Until the Harvest by Sarah Loudin Thomas - Appalachian Blessings Series
6. Gone Without A Trace by Patricia Bradley - Logan Point Series
7. Desperate Measures by Sandra Orchard - Port Aster Secrets Series
8. Lethal Beauty by Lis Wiehl - Mia Quinn Series
9. The Daughter of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky - Edwardian Brides Series
10. After a Fashion by Jen Turano - I don't know if this will be a series or not, but I love Jen's writing so I added it anyways :D

 What sequels are you DYING to get your hands on?

 

A Beauty So Rare by Tamera Alexander - Book Review

I am so excited to be FINALLY bringing this review to you! I loved the book and I love this author! 

Since I was part of Tamera's Blogging Buddies, a special group of bloggers who helped promote this book, I posted the overview along with a trailer and excerpt already. To view that post, please follow the link below:

A Beauty So Rare - Trailer and Excerpt

My Review: 

I absolutely love Tamera Alexander's writing. She has a way of pulling you into the story and leaving you wanting more. This sweet story is no exception. The story itself has a lot of components that are woven together seamlessly. It focuses on time period specific issue: women's rights, treatment of immigrants, mental illness, and the recovery of a nation after war. It's often hard to appreciate the beauty in life after something as ugly as war, and Tamera doesn't diminish that fact, in the least. That is something I can really appreciate, especially in light of my circumstances.

The characters, oh the characters! I absolutely fell in love with Eleanor. She is kind, sweet, witty, and strong. She is, indeed, a beauty so rare. Her development, while important, is not as highly played up as Marcus' development. I believe that was done because Eleanor is already the person God wants her to be, she just has to learn to embrace and trust. Marcus, on the other hand, while handsome and witty, had a lot to learn. His development from prideful to humble was an experience I think everyone goes through at one time or another. We all question our place in the world and do our best to find out where we belong. One important note: I REALLY did not like Adelicia Cheatham. I understand what she was trying to do for her niece and I admire her strength and ambition, but I just didn't like her!

The message was fantastic. I absolutely enjoyed seeing Eleanor and Marcus' journeys, which were both separate, but similar. While there thoughts are different in regards to God, their realizations were very similar. God doesn't protect us from all the hurts in life. Sometimes, He allows pain and suffering, even war, to come. What we have to grasp is that everything happens for a reason. We may never know the answer to the "why's" in life, but we have to learn to trust God and his righteousness. The Bible says in Isaiah 55:9, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." - NKJV (thank you Tamera for including this verse in your reading guide, it fits perfectly!).

**Thank you Bethany House, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.**

BUY IT: B&N |  Amazon | CBD

My Favorite Quotes:

There were so many parts of this book that I loved, I had a hard time choosing, but I narrowed it down to three that meant the most to me:

"Not everything has to be beautiful to be worthy of admiration." - Eleanor Braddock

"Every brick laid in the foundation of life, however meaningfully or haphazardly places, shaped the whole." - Marcus Geoffery

"Just because a husband--or wife--passed on didn't mean the love they'd shared had died. It lived on in the hearts of the people who still loved them. Good-byes were simply part of this life..." - Eleanor Braddock

Quick Links:
BethanyHouse Website
BethanyHouse Blog
Tamera's Website
Tamera's Facebook
A Beauty So Rare Trailer
A Beauty So Rare Excerpt

A Beauty So Rare - Scavenger Hunt!

Hello all! I have had the awesome opportunity to work with Tamera Alexander and Bethany House to promote A Beauty So Rare for the past month! Part of that month, I was in Belize, but I still was able to participate some on Facebook. Today, I'm bringing you a Pinterest Scavenger Hunt with Tamera!

From Tamera's Blog:

Join me for a Pinterest Scavenger Hunt and win 1 of 7 copies of USA Today bestselling author Tamera Alexander’s newest novel, A Beauty So Rare, the second standalone novel in the Belmont Mansion series. 

The questions are posted below and the giveaway runs through Sunday night, April 27. The answers to the questions can be found on Tamera's Pinterest page. Not on Pinterest? Doesn’t matter. You can still participate and find the answers by using this link. 

Your answers must be submitted to TameraAlexander@ymail.com (numbered 1 - 6) by Sunday, April 27, midnight Central to be entered into a drawing to win one of seven copies of A Beauty So Rare, the second standalone novel in the Belmont Mansion series. 

Questions for the Pinterest Scavenger Hunt

    1.     On the A Beauty So Rare board, find the pin that shares the seamstress who sewed the dress on the cover of A Beauty So Rare (featuring the heroine, Eleanor Braddock) and *click the pin* to discover what the seamstress’s most challenging part of making the pink dress was. 

    2.    On the A Lasting Impression board, find the pin where Tamera shares about the desert seasons in her life––those times that helped her write about a certain relationship in her novel, A Beauty So Rare. *Click the pin* to learn what specific relationship Tamera mentions in that blog. It’s the relationship between which two people?

    3.    On the My Novels board, find the pin where Tamera shares about the inspiration behind A Beauty So Rare. *Click it* and watch the video to learn the true history that ties the Belmont Mansion (the setting of A Lasting Impression and A Beauty So Rare) to the real Insane Asylum that existed in Nashville in the 19th century.

    4.    On the Recipes from my novels board, what's the recipe from A Beauty So Rare that’s posted about most often on that board (doesn't necessarily have the most re-pins)? It's also a favorite of Eleanor's.

    5.    On the My Loves board, find the pin that references Easter weekend then *click it* to learn what kind of fish Tamera caught this past weekend.

    6.    On the My Novels board, find the pin for the book trailer for A Beauty So Rare, then *click it* to watch the video. What is it that Aunt Adelicia is determined to find for Eleanor?

7. BONUS: LIKE Tamera's Facebook Page for an extra chance to win.

In your email, remember to number your answers from 1 to 6, like this:

1. Answer 

2. Answer

3. Answer

4. Answer

5. Answer

6. Answer

Hope you have fun with it!

Note: Pinterest is not sponsoring this promotion nor are they formally affiliated with it. 

A Beauty So Rare - Trailer and Excerpt!

Pink is not what Eleanor Braddock ordered, but maybe it would soften the tempered steel of a woman who came through a war—and still had one to fight.

 

Plain, practical Eleanor Braddock knows she will never marry, but with a dying soldier's last whisper, she believes her life can still have meaning and determines to find his widow. Impoverished and struggling to care for her ailing father, Eleanor arrives at Belmont Mansion, home of her aunt, Adelicia Acklen, the richest woman in America—and possibly the most demanding, as well. Adelicia insists on finding her niece a husband, but a simple act of kindness leads Eleanor down a far different path—building a home for destitute widows and fatherless children from the Civil War. While Eleanor knows her own heart, she also knows her aunt will never approve of this endeavor.

Archduke Marcus Gottfried has come to Nashville from Austria in search of a life he determines, instead of one determined for him. Hiding his royal heritage, Marcus longs to combine his passion for nature with his expertise in architecture, but his plans to incorporate natural beauty into the design of the widows' and children's home run contrary to Eleanor's wishes. As work on the home draws them closer together, Marcus and Eleanor find common ground—and a love neither of them expects. But Marcus is not the man Adelicia has chosen for Eleanor, and even if he were, someone who knows his secrets is about to reveal them all.

I am SO excited to read this book. I have loved every single one of Tamara Alexander's books and I'm sure this one will be no different. Look for my review, coming soon!

If the description is not enough to get you excited about this book, maybe this will help!

Still not enough?! Read an excerpt of A Beauty So Rare here!

Quick Links:
BethanyHouse Website
BethanyHouse Blog
Tamera's Website
Tamera's Facebook
A Beauty So Rare Trailer
A Beauty So Rare Excerpt

To Whisper Her Name

To Whisper Her Name by Tamara Alexander

I was first introduced to this author in the book The Inheritence and I absolutely loved it. Her style, the story, the characters, everything. I have thoroloughly searched and read every book (I think) by this author since and was SO excited to read this book!

I was not disappointed! The book is a little on the long side (about 500+ pages) but it holds your interest the whole way through. I don't think there is any part in the story that can be left out because each chapter introduces new character traits or developes a trait further. You really get to know the main characters and feel a deep connection with them. You sympathize with them and laugh with them.

The plot was very interesting to me. Ridley Cooper is a war veteran from South Carolina. Olivia Aberdeen is wife to a Southern "traitor." Both come to live at Belle Meade Plantation to forget their past and move forward with their lives. They meet following a carraige accident and Ridley is instantly attracted to the prim and proper Olivia. But there's a catch! Ridley has a secret that could destroy the budding relationship and cost him his position at Belle Meade. The story progresses from there (I will NOT be a plot spoiler) and we can see the growth and developement of each character as their relationship grows.

The Christian message of the story is elegantly weaved in. It is not the in-your-face-Christian message, and that's what I liked about it. I believe there were two main points that each character had to learn: 1) Choices we make are not always simple. Sometimes God makes the choice for us, and it might not be what we would have chosen for ourselves; 2) Even when we make bad decisions, God never leaves us alone. He is always there, every step of the way. All we have to do is acknowledge His presence in our lives and He will help us get through.

Overall, the story, plot, characters, and themes are well developed and elequantly executed. This is a great book and I would recommend it to anyone!

Check it out here: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to-whisper-her-name-tamera-alexander/1109359331?ean=9780310291060