To Wager Her Heart (A Belle Meade Plantation Novel)

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 powerful love story about seeking justice and restoring honor at a time in American history when both were tenuous and hard-won. 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 mansion. 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 fianc 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. From USA TODAY bestselling author Tamera Alexander comes a sweeping and historically rich novel about justice, renewal, and the power of love amid times of great change. This inspirational historical romance is a standalone novel, though it can be enjoyed as the third book in Tamera Alexander's Belle Meade series (Book one: To Whisper Her Name; Book two: To Win Her Favor) Book length: approximately 102K words Includes discussion questions for book clubs, recipes, and a note from the author "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." --Lynn Austin, bestselling author of Waves of Mercy and Until We Reach Home "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 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!" --Kristy Cambron, bestselling author of The Painted Castle "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." --Susan Anne Mason, award-winning author of Irish Meadows "To Wager Her Heart is a poignant glimpse into our country's history and conflict after the Civil War. From the very beginning of this novel, 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!" --Melanie Dobson, award-winning author of Catching the Wind