MrsK Books: To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander

Sunday, January 14, 2018

To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander

To Wager Her Heart (Belle Meade Plantation, #3)

Tamera Alexander

ISBN: 9780310291084

Publisher's Synopsis:

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. But he soon discovers that the very train accident his father is blamed for causing is what killed Alexandra's fiancé and shattered her world.

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?

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.

"I'm here because I desire to help the freedmen in their new lives.

I believe we have a responsibility to teach any and all who

would like to learn. Up until recently, the freedmen have not

been afforded that opportunity. And I would like to help change that."

MrsK's Review:

Alexandra Jamison is spunky, loyal, trust worthy, and willing to accomplish those things that most people will shy away from.

In 1871, women were told who to marry. Alexandra loved her father, yet she had a life to live and her father's plan of marriage didn't fit in any way. Even though she was part of Nashville's founding families, the social life for a lady wasn't of importance. Since Dutchman's Curve and David, her life would have a different meaning.

When her father requests that she help the owner of the Northeast Line Railroad, she didn't expect all the frustration nor the bonding that would eventually lead her to discovering the truth about why her husband died at Dutchman's Curve.

Silas Rutledge doesn't have time to become a "Southern Gentleman." Coming from Colorado, he knows how to get things done. Yet, Alexandra had an intriguing solution. If he wanted to win the bid for his railroad, he would have to be taught how to the prospective owner of the Belle Meade Station thought which meant he would need to think like a southern gentleman.

When Alexandra begins her new life as an instructor at the Fisk University, she was determined to help all who attended her classes become educated. Fisk students were expected to become scholars. Scholars who were well educated in the knowledge of eternity, the Creator, His Son, and the Spirit. She never considered that she might called to travel with the Fisk Jubilee Singers as they performed for funding of their university. Nor did she expect to be mentoring Mr. Rutledge in the expectations of southern etiquette.

For Silas, he thought winning the bid was his main purpose for coming to Nashville. He was not prepared to learn the ways of the south, nor was he completely prepared to clear his father's name from the scandal that was associated with the train wreck at Dutchman's Curve. The last thing he had on his mind was an intelligent, albeit strong-willed women and her need for his truth in her healing.

The delightfully entertaining quips between Silas and Alexandra are equally matched as a captivator and a spitfire. Be prepared to smile, entertain moments with a few giggles, and become completely engaged in the lives of these characters.

When historical fiction is well woven, the reader forgets which time frame they are presently entertaining...
MrsK

"The time had come for her to choose her own path...

No matter the cost."

Very inspiring... quick... spirited... and oh, so entertaining!

Meet the Author:
Tamera Alexander

Tamera Alexander is a USA Today bestselling author and one of today's most popular writers in the inspirational historical fiction genre. She and her husband live in Nashville, Tennessee, not far from the Southern mansions that serve as the backdrop for six of her award-winning novels.

"I received this book for free from the Fiction Guild for this review."

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MrsK's Reading Bio

Reading is important! No questions asked, not even a blink of the eye from any student I grew up with. On the first day of the First grade, we were given our first books. Day two we all read aloud, round robin of course. Day three we were place in our first basal, now known as a lit circle group. Books were so important, publishers designed new curriculum so that every student was reading by the end of the first week. These early readers had images that looked like what we could see in the classroom, beyond the classroom, even on the big screen. Reading is important, throughout history every generation has believed that “Reading” opens up the world for endless possibilities.

I adore the 1950’s Dick and Jane books. Actually, most reading specialists and experienced (45+) educators believe that every student learned to read with Dick and Jane. Since these books are being re-issued, I have heard many parents, grandparents, and students claim that Dick and Jane stories of repetition does teach students to read.

Early influences from my mother influenced my desire to read. I would watch her read and we would go on “secret” excursions to the library. The library became my playground. I owned every book I could carry home, of course they needed to be taken back to their home after visiting with me for a week or two. My first book that I could pull off of the library shelf and read was, Father Bear Comes Home. I only saw my dad on Sundays for a few hours. I would pull this beginning reader off of the library shelf every week. Every week I would try to read the first chapter. Every week I got further in the story. My mom would let me check it out, only if I could read it myself (She didn’t like the illustrations therefore she didn’t want to take time to read it to me). One day, I pulled the book from the shelf and when mom came to get me from the children’s corner, I realized that I had read the whole story. I ran to the check out desk and the Librarian KERCHUNKED the checkout card. My mother, brother and neighbors read. My teachers read. We all read aloud all day long in school. The Priest read aloud every day at mass, even in Latin. Everybody in the Doctor’s office read. People on the bus read. Dad’s waiting in their cars as the Mom’s and children grocery shopped, read. In fact, once you could read and write, Sunset Magazine considered you a reader and sent you mail every day.

Reading is important; I’ve spent my life reading. I’ve traveled around the world and into space through books. My favorite genre is whichever book I have open at the time. Children’s Literature is my passion. Book clubbing is one of the best past times, especially if food is involved. In fact my friends of old are in a book club and we are about to embark on a beach trip to “read” and discuss our newest selection.

My “home-run” book story has helped every student find his or her own “home-run” reads. Every year, I have shared my, Father Bear Comes Home, and every year my students have brought in their “home-run” books. That’s the “diving board” into our Lit. Studies.

In “Growing Up Digital,” Tapscott’s insights into the new generations enthusiasm for the Net reminded me of my generation’s enthusiasm for reading, movies, TV, parties and our driving permits. The Net-Generation, as Tapscott describes, “are learning, playing, communicating, working, creating communities, and enforcing a social transformation.”
N-Geners are interactive “techies” who are always looking for a way to “work it” verses the TV Generation of “Baby Boomers” who started out looking for “how it works.” Reading development is tougher today, society moves too fast to invest their “non-working” free time into a book or even “home work.” Since I stepped into my own classroom, I have seen students being told to read, being forced to read, and threatened into reading. Homework is not any longer the vehicle for students to gain their future lifestyles or careers with. Yet, the Internet does create an enthusiasm for learning. Since I have been enrolled in these courses, I have used the computers in every subject. My students are using the newest technology in the classroom because I am giving them investigative sites to use as they learn from each other and books. I agree with Tapscott, in order to bridge the gap with this up and coming generation we must “live and learn with them.”

FTC Required Disclaimer: I receive these books from the publishers. I did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews. These reviews have been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)