To Wager Her Heart
- Fiction
- Publisher: Zondervan
- Published: 2017
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Publisher's Description
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 American history when both were tenuous and hard-won. 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 the truth doesn’t tear them apart first. Sylas Rutledge, new owner of the Northeast Line Railroad, invests everything he has into this new 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 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 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? Sy is willing to risk everything to win over the woman he loves. What he doesn’t count on is having to wager her heart to do it.
Endorsements (8)
“For lovers of historical romance, To Wager Her Heart offers the very best of both history and romance. Tamera Alexander’s well-told story details the early years of Fisk University as a school for freedmen after the Civil War. I was fascinated from beginning to end. This thoroughly enjoyable novel proves why Tamera Alexander is one of the genre’s most beloved authors—and one of my favorites.”
“A steadfast heroine, a redemption-seeking hero, and a complex Southern society in post-Civil War America seamlessly combine in Tamera Alexander’s To Wager Her Heart. Fans of Alexander’s Belle Meade Plantation novels will fall in love with this new installment—but the real stars are the depth of research and the masterful attention to setting the perfect historical scene. Honor. Faith. And love . . . this novel’s a journey in them all!”
“Having read all of Tamera Alexander’s books, it came as no surprise that To Wager Her Heart is another masterpiece of storytelling. This is a book for everyone—and I highly recommend it!”
“Tamera Alexander has created a story that blends true historical events with unforgettable characters. Her vivid depiction of the struggles of the newly freed slaves, the expansion of the railway, and the journey of the Jubilee Singers brings post-Civil War Nashville roaring to life. To Wager Her Heart interweaves heroic life challenges with rich spirituality and a sigh-worthy romance.”
“No one writes southern fiction better than Tamera Alexander.”
“From the very beginning of [To Wager Her Heart], Tamera Alexander invites readers on a remarkable journey, traveling alongside resilient characters determined to do what’s right even when family and peers choose prejudice and contempt. Well done, Tamera! This was a journey that I didn’t want to end.”
“Tamera Alexander is one of my favorite authors, so I expect a lot from her novels. To Win Her Favor is captivating beyond expectation! This novel has everything readers are looking for—rich characterization, page-turning intrigue, a heartwarming romance charged with tension, and more!”
“Tamera Alexander has done it again. Her imagination and skillful pen intertwined with history takes the reader on a beautiful journey. To Win Her Favor is sure to stir the heart and open the mind.”
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