Book Summary (Goodreads): With fates bound by a shared tragedy, a reformed gambler from the Colorado Territory and a Southern Belle bent on breaking free from society's expectations must work together to achieve their dreams—provided that the truth doesn't tear them apart first.
Sylas Rutledge, the new owner of the Northeast Line Railroad, invests everything he has into this venture, partly for the sake of the challenge. But mostly to clear his father's name. One man holds the key to Sy's success—General William Giles Harding of Nashville's Belle Meade Plantation. But Harding is champagne and thoroughbreds, and Sy Rutledge is beer and bullocks. Sy needs someone to help him maneuver his way through Nashville's society, and when he meets Alexandra Jamison, he quickly decides he's found his tutor. Only, he soon discovers that the very train accident his father is blamed for causing is what killed Alexandra Jamison's fiancee—and what has broken her heart.
Spurning an arranged marriage by her father, Alexandra instead pursues her passion for teaching at Fisk University, the first freedmen's university in the United States. But family—and Nashville society—do not approve, and she soon finds herself cast out from both. Through connections with the Harding family, Alexandra and Sy become unlikely allies. And despite her first impressions, Alexandra gradually finds herself coming to respect, and even care for this man. But how can she, when her heart is still spoken for? And when Sy's roguish qualities and adventuresome spirit smack more of recklessness than responsibility and honor?
Sylas Rutledge will risk everything to win over the woman he loves. What he doesn't count on is having to wager her heart to do it.
Set against the real history of Nashville's Belle Meade Plantation and the original Fisk University Jubilee Singers ensemble, To Wager Her Heart is a stirring love story about seeking justice and restoring honor at a time in history when both were tenuous and hard-won.
My thoughts...I have thoroughly enjoyed Tamera Alexander's Belle Meade Plantation book series. Each book is unique in its connection to the historical home, and also features different historical events that took place in 19th century Tennessee. The way that Alexander weaves a mix of fictional characters in with non-fictional ones, makes each story even more interesting and gives a little history lesson without a textbook feel. It is impressive and shows how much thought and research is put into each novel.
My expectation before I started reading To Wager Her Heart was that it would be centered around the railroad. While that is part of the story, as our hero is a rugged railroad man, an even bigger part is centered around the heroine, Alexandra. This novel is a journey detailing a woman's personal growth through a time of loss and heartache. She must face her fears and insecurities as she travels by herself, without the support of her family, to become a teacher at Fisk University. As a teacher myself, I loved her passion for the mission she felt God was leading her to do, as well as the friendships she developed along the way. Our hero, Sylas, while a total opposite of Alexandra, learned to appreciate her business savvy and ability to connect with those in high society. This is what drew them together, but I appreciated the friendship and mutual respect that was developed between these two characters.
Some of my favorite quotes are:
"No matter where you're going, God is already there."
"None of us knows what we're fully capable of doing until God leads us to a place where we realize our strength is nothing compared to his. He says to take a step, yet you look out and see nothing but thin air in your path. Yet, he calls you on. And only when you finally trust him and take that step into nothingness do you discover you're standing on solid ground."
If you enjoy historical Christian fiction, you'll enjoy this novel by Tamera Alexander. I would also highly recommend her other novels, all of which are in the same genre.
**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley to give an honest opinion of this book, which I did.**
My expectation before I started reading To Wager Her Heart was that it would be centered around the railroad. While that is part of the story, as our hero is a rugged railroad man, an even bigger part is centered around the heroine, Alexandra. This novel is a journey detailing a woman's personal growth through a time of loss and heartache. She must face her fears and insecurities as she travels by herself, without the support of her family, to become a teacher at Fisk University. As a teacher myself, I loved her passion for the mission she felt God was leading her to do, as well as the friendships she developed along the way. Our hero, Sylas, while a total opposite of Alexandra, learned to appreciate her business savvy and ability to connect with those in high society. This is what drew them together, but I appreciated the friendship and mutual respect that was developed between these two characters.
Some of my favorite quotes are:
"No matter where you're going, God is already there."
"None of us knows what we're fully capable of doing until God leads us to a place where we realize our strength is nothing compared to his. He says to take a step, yet you look out and see nothing but thin air in your path. Yet, he calls you on. And only when you finally trust him and take that step into nothingness do you discover you're standing on solid ground."
If you enjoy historical Christian fiction, you'll enjoy this novel by Tamera Alexander. I would also highly recommend her other novels, all of which are in the same genre.
**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley to give an honest opinion of this book, which I did.**
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