Just after the civil war, our stud-muffin protagonist walks onto Nashville's renown thoroughbred plantation of Belle Meade intending to ask for a job in order to learn how to train horses. His only fault? He has to keep secret that he joined the "wrong side" of the battle field and it's discovery would not only get him strung up it also jeopardizes his interest in young widow, Mrs. Aberdeen. I wasn't hooked on the story right away. It drew me in the more complicated I imagined that period of history would have been for me to experience. I enjoyed it based on its ties to real people who lived, suffered and rebuilt after one of the worst times in American history. Plus, a clean, imagined romance didn't hurt none either. It's been a while since I have read a historical fiction like this, in a good way. The story is compelling, I truly believe the character motivation, and the length of time it takes for understandings between characters to occur is reasonable. I felt the ending was both timed right, and a little rushed, somehow. I can't say how it should be different, only that I guess I wish I got to enjoy a little more of the couple now that they're finally together. Well-written, based on historical persons, and set on a plantation I now want to visit, I really enjoyed this book. Don't read if you're looking for a quick escape; this is the type of book you savor.
What do You think about Fluister Zacht Haar Naam (2000)?
A young woman meets a Civil War soldier after the war who trains horses at a large plantation.
—janey380
Another fine historical romance read from Tamera Alexander.
—Bree28
