A Book Review: {To Whisper Her Name} by Tamera Alexander

About the Book:
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.

 

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.

My Star Rating: 5 Stars 

My Review:
Oh my!  Where to start?  As with all of Tamera's books that I've read, I loved To Whisper Her Name!  I truly can't say enough good things about it.  Every single aspect of the book just simply SHINES!  From the very first line, to the close of the book, I was captivated by the beautifully woven story.  

The blending of history and fiction come together perfectly, for a story that drew me in and kept my attention.  With vivid descriptions, colorful characters, and a setting that transported me back in time -- this has become one of my favorites for the keeper shelf!  And needless to say, it's left me longing for a visit to the Belle Meade Plantation; if only Tennessee weren't so far away.

We can't travel back in time physically, but through the well-written pages of To Whisper Her Name, we can certainly take a stroll and sit a spell . . . as if we were right there walking the grounds of the Belle Meade Plantation.  If you're a fan of historical fiction, you won't want to miss this one!  Like a fine dessert, it's rich and decadent . . . a literary indulgence, indeed!