To Win Her Favor (Belle Meade Plantation #2) by Tamera Alexander

About Book

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

Any Irish-born son 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 start a farm, 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 annual Drayton Stakes at Nashville’s racetrack––the richest race 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. 

Cullen and Maggie need each other in order to achieve their dreams. But their stubborn, wounded hearts––and the escalating violence from a "secret society" responsible for lynchings and midnight raids––may prove too much for even two determined souls.

Read Excerpt

To buy: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CBD

About Author

Tamera Alexander is the USA Today bestselling author of numerous books, including A Lasting Impression, A Beauty So Rare, To Whisper Her Name, and From a Distance. Her richly drawn characters and thought-provoking plots have earned her devoted readers worldwide, as well as multiple industry awards.

These awards include two Christy Awards for Excellence in Christian fiction (and seven finalists), two RITA awards for Best Inspirational Romance, three Gayle Wilson Awards of Excellence, two Bookseller’s Best Awards, and being listed among Library Journal’s Top Christian Fiction, among others.

After living in Colorado for seventeen years, Tamera has returned to her Southern roots. She and her husband now make their home in Nashville where they enjoy life with their two adult children who live nearby, and Jack, a precious—and precocious—silky terrier.

She LOVES connecting with readers, so please join her through these venues:

www.tameraalexander.com
www.tameraalexander.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/tameraalexander
www.facebook.com/tamera.alexander
http://pinterest.com/tameraauthor/

Tamera's Historical Group Blog: www.writespassage.blogspot.com


My Thoughts

Maggie loves to ride and not just any horse.  It is her thoroughbred racing horse, Bourbon Bell.  Maggie is determined to race her horse at Drayton Stakes racetrack to win a very large purse. Winning will give her the money toand standing  save her plantation. She must first prove to her father that Bourbon Belle is ready.

Cullen McGrath is looked upon as Irish trash, not to be trusted because of his ethnicity.   He cares not what people think all he wants is his own piece of land and thanks to Maggie's father he is not only getting a plantation but a wife, a woman he has never met.  Cullen agrees to this barter which will keep the plantation for Maggie, only if Maggie agrees.  She has no idea of what they are conspiring behind her back.

Cautiously and not without anger, resentment and some stipulations does Maggie agree to the marriage, unbeknownst to the fact that Cullen is against horse racing, no if, and, or buts about it.

How will she get past this hurdle and change Cullen's mind?

Tamera Alexander is  one of my favorite authors. This book drew me in not wanting to put it down until the last page was read. Even then it kept me yearning for more.  You can't help connecting with the characters feelings and actions.

The story also provide me with the chance to catch up on some of the characters from book one of this series.  It was like catching up on old friends.

I want to thank Tamera for another great read!

I am looking forward to the next book in the BELLE MEADE PLANTATION series!

I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book 5 out of 5.

Disclosure:  I received a free paperback copy of this book from Zondervan and a digital copy from NetGalley for an honest review.  I was in no way compensated for this review.

An Amazing 2012 for Book Tours, Reviews & Giveaways

CHRISTMAS 2012

I have been blessed to read some wonderful books this year and to connect with some very talented authors.

I am hoping to have some free time to read and review some of the books have bought for my personal choice for reading.   It has been a busy year and it seemed almost impossible to turn down any request to tour and review a book.  I can't get over how many five star books I have had the opportunity to read.

I will not even attempt to say which were my favorites.  Actually which ever book I was read was my favorite at that time.

Here are just a few I plan to read.

Road To the Christys - A Lasting Impression by Tamara Alexander

2012 Blog Tour Travel the virtual "Road to the Christys" blog tour from Mon., July 9 to Tue., July 20th, 2012. Blog tour participants will be celebrating the 2012 Christy Award nominees leading up to the Christy Awards banquet in Orlando, July 16, and the winners after they are presented. Follow @ChristyAward, or like www.facebook.com/ChristyAward for a link to the first stop on the "Road to the Christys" blog tour.

HISTORICAL ROMANCE

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.




For more information please visit www.tameraalexander.com
Published by Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group

About Book

A fake. A forger. More than anything, Claire Laurent longs for the chance to live an authentic life, to become the woman she wants to be. And she'll be given that choice. But will it come at too costly a price?

Claire Laurent's greatest aspiration is to paint something that will bring her acclaim. Yet her father insists she work as a copyist. A forger. When she's forced to flee from New Orleans to Nashville only a year after the War Between the States has ended, her path collides with attorney Sutton Monroe. She considers him a godsend for not turning her in to the authorities. But after he later refuses to come to her aid, Claire fears she's sorely misjudged the man. Finding herself among the elite of Nashville's society, Claire believes her dream to create a lasting impression in the world of art is within reach--but only if her fraudulent past remains hidden.

The Federal Army has destroyed Sutton's home and confiscated his land, and threatens to destroy his family's honor. His determination to reclaim what belongs to him and to right a grievous wrong reveals a truth that may cost him more than he ever imagined--as well as the woman he loves.Set at Nashville's historic Belmont Mansion, a stunning antebellum manor built by Mrs. Adelicia Acklen, A Lasting Impression is a sweeping love story about a nation mending after war, the redemption of those wounded, and the courage of a man and woman to see themselves--and each other--for who they really are.

My Thoughts

Claire Laurent flees her past and steps off a train in Nashville, Tennessee into a new life God will provid for her. She crosses paths with Attorney Sutton Monroe which sets off a chain of events. It was as if God had her by the hand leading her to the future he had planned for her all along. She finds herself with a job that was beyond anything she could have dreamed. Yet, she fears it will all be taken away, even Sutton Monroe, if anyone found out about her past. She has impressed all of Nashville Society with her accomplishments.

A Lasting Impression has to be one of the best books I have read this year. The author brought the history and characters of Belmont Mansion alive. The way she described the mansion, art and characters was beyond brilliant. She actually used personal letters Adelicia Acklen, owner of the Belmont Mansion, had written to a relative in the book. The words were very inspiring and made me cry.

I am anxious to read more about the history of Belmont Mansion.

I highly reccommend this book.

I give this book a rating of 5+ out of 5.

Disclosure:
I recieved a copy of this book from the Bethany House for review. I was in no way compensated for my opinion. This review is my honest opinion.

Treated Myself To A Few Trilogies

I decided to share with you some Trilogies

 I bought for myself.  

I don't know when I will get to read them 

but I am sure all of you avid readers

understand where I am coming from.  

Does hoarding sound familiar? 

These are in print I have even more

 for my ereader  ;o)

   

   

   

Wish me luck reading all of them this year 

or next according to my schedule.

What are you hoping to read this year

 that is not on your schedule?

Litfuse Tour/Giveaway: A Lasting Impression by Tamara Alexander

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.


For more information please visit www.tameraalexander.com
Published by Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group

About Book:

A fake. A forger. More than anything, Claire Laurent longs for the chance to live an authentic life, to become the woman she wants to be. And she'll be given that choice. But will it come at too costly a price?

Claire Laurent's greatest aspiration is to paint something that will bring her acclaim. Yet her father insists she work as a copyist. A forger. When she's forced to flee from New Orleans to Nashville only a year after the War Between the States has ended, her path collides with attorney Sutton Monroe. She considers him a godsend for not turning her in to the authorities. But after he later refuses to come to her aid, Claire fears she's sorely misjudged the man. Finding herself among the elite of Nashville's society, Claire believes her dream to create a lasting impression in the world of art is within reach--but only if her fraudulent past remains hidden.

The Federal Army has destroyed Sutton's home and confiscated his land, and threatens to destroy his family's honor. His determination to reclaim what belongs to him and to right a grievous wrong reveals a truth that may cost him more than he ever imagined--as well as the woman he loves.Set at Nashville's historic Belmont Mansion, a stunning antebellum manor built by Mrs. Adelicia Acklen, A Lasting Impression is a sweeping love story about a nation mending after war, the redemption of those wounded, and the courage of a man and woman to see themselves--and each other--for who they really are.


My Thoughts:

Claire Laurent flees her past and steps off a train in Nashville, Tennessee into a new life God will provid for her. She crosses paths with Attorney Sutton Monroe which sets off a chain of events. It was as if God had her by the hand leading her to the future he had planned for her all along. She finds herself with a job that was beyond anything she could have dreamed. Yet, she fears it will all be taken away, even Sutton Monroe, if anyone found out about her past. She has impressed all of Nashville Society with her accomplishments.

A Lasting Impression has to be one of the best books I have read this year. The author brought the history and characters of Belmont Mansion alive. The way she described the mansion, art and characters was beyond brilliant. She actually used personal letters Adelicia Acklen, owner of the Belmont Mansion, had written to a relative in the book. The words were very inspiring and made me cry.

I am anxious to read more about the history of Belmont Mansion.

I highly reccommend this book.

I give this book a rating of 5+ out of 5.

Disclosure:
I recieved a copy of this book from the Litfuse/Author for review. I was in no way compensated for my opinion. This review is my honest opinion.

Blog Tour Schedule Here




Read what the reviewers are saying here.

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Brand New Kindle Fire (shipped as soon as it releases)
• A copy of A Lasting Impression and 3 other special books Tamera wants you to have (for Kindle)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on November 15th. Winner will be announced at A Lasting Impression Facebook Party on the 15th. Tamera will be wrapping up the A Lasting Impression celebration
with an author chat and giving away Southern Food Baskets (Loveless
Cafe Food Baskets, books, Amazon & Starbucks gift certificates, and
copies of Christy Jordan's Southern Plate cookbook), six gift certificates to Starbucks and Amazon.com, and copies of A Lasting Impression! So grab your copy of A Lasting Impression (it's
okay if you don't have one yet- you might win one!) and join Tamera on
the evening of November 15th for an author chat, a trivia contest (How
much do you know about the 1860's?) and lots of Southern-inspired
giveaways (complete listing here).

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER. Hope to see you on the 15th!

IN MY MAILBOX 10/18/11

IN MY MAILBOX@THE STORY SIREN

CLICK ON IMAGE FOR MORE DETAILS