Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

To Whisper Her Name
To Whisper Her Name
To Whisper Her Name
Audiobook17 hours

To Whisper Her Name

Written by Tamera Alexander

Narrated by Tavia Gilbert

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

4.5/5

()

About this audiobook

From bestselling author Tamera Alexander comes an exquisite historical novel set against the real history of Belle Meade Plantation in Nashville, Tennessee, that explores the struggles of real people of the post-war South and the journeys of a man and a woman scarred by betrayal.

Olivia Aberdeen, destitute widow of a man shot as a traitor to the South, is shunned by proper society and gratefully accepts an invitation from Elizabeth Harding, mistress of Belle Meade Plantation. Expecting to be the Hardings’ head housekeeper, Olivia is disillusioned when she learns the real reason Elizabeth’s husband, Confederate General William Giles Harding, agreed to her coming. Not finding the safe haven she expects, Olivia is caught off guard by her feelings for Ridley Adam Cooper, a man who seems anything but a Southern gentleman.

Branded a traitor by some, Ridley Cooper, a Southern son who chose to fight for the Union, is a man desperate to end the war still raging inside him. Determined to learn “the gift” that Belle Meade's head horse trainer and former slave, Bob Green, possesses, Ridley harbors secrets that threaten both their lives.

As Ridley seeks to make peace within himself for fighting against the South he loved, Olivia is determined to never be betrayed again.

Praise for Tamera Alexander:

To Whisper Her Name has everything a fine historical novel needs: characters we truly care about, struggles that really matter, splashes of humor to engage us, and period details that bring the past to vibrant life. Ridley and Olivia both arrive with heartaches and disappointments tucked in their traveling bags. Watching them unpack those memories and make room for the Lord’s cleansing touch is pure reading pleasure.” —Liz Curtis Higgs, New York Times bestselling author

“Rich in history, romance, and human drama, To Whisper Her Name is a book to be savored, like a sumptuous Southern banquet. Tamera Alexander’s skills as a master storyteller have never been more evident.” —Robin Lee Hatcher, bestselling author of Cross My Heart and Who I Am with You

“To Whisper Her Name will grab you and not let go. It’s a beautiful, powerful story with unforgettable characters who face the unthinkable with honor while a captivating romance blooms where seeds should never have been scattered.” —Cindy Woodsmall, New York Times and CBA bestselling author

  • This inspirational historical romance can be read as a stand-alone novel or enjoyed as the first book in Tamera Alexander’s Belle Meade series
  • Book length: approximately 125K words
  • Includes discussion questions for book clubs, a recipe, and a note from the author
LanguageEnglish
PublisherZondervan
Release dateOct 23, 2012
ISBN9780310413141
To Whisper Her Name
Author

Tamera Alexander

Tamera Alexander is a USA Today bestselling novelist whose works have been awarded and nominated for numerous industry-leading honors, including the Christy Award (two-time winner, seven-time finalist), the RITA Award (two-time winner, four-time finalist), the Carol Award, the Maggie Award, the Booksellers Best Award, and Library Journal's top distinction, among others. After seventeen years in Colorado, Tamera and her husband now reside in Nashville, Tennessee, where they live a short distance from Belmont Mansion and Belle Meade Plantation, the setting of Tamera’s two USA Today bestselling Southern series.  

More audiobooks from Tamera Alexander

Related to To Whisper Her Name

Titles in the series (100)

View More

Related audiobooks

Christian Fiction For You

View More

Related articles

Related categories

Reviews for To Whisper Her Name

Rating: 4.413333333333333 out of 5 stars
4.5/5

75 ratings10 reviews

What did you think?

Tap to rate

Review must be at least 10 words

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Wonderful!!!!! It was like time traveling! I look forward to reading more from this author!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    What a wonderful romantic story. Olivia Aberdeen is recently widowed. Her husband died a brutal death leaving Olivia embarrassed and shunned by her neighbors. She is offered a position of head housekeeper to her deceased mother's closest friend and gladly accepts it. On the way there she is in a carriage accident. She's trapped inside and cannot get out. Adding to that is her fear of the horse that had been pulling the carriage, now free and hurt. Along comes Ridley, another Southerner who has had a hard time during the war and he offers to help Olivia. Thus their rocky friendship begins. I love the well written story. It is definately a "keeper" for me. (A GoodReads win)
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I thoroughly enjoyed this heartwarming romance and the history. well done!!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Oh I liked this introduction to Tamera Alexander and her works. She knows how to balance romance and drama in a way that doesn't fall into the preachy pitalls of other Christian fiction titles nor the oversexed world of historical romance. Everything is presented in such a way that we get a wonderful romance and fantastic story of healing and new beginnings. I fell in love with Ridley's and Olivia's romance, pun intended. I felt they supported each and filled in each other where they were lacking. Olivia gave Ridley something to savor on his journey to horse knowledge and the Colorado Territory; I believe loving her showed him that life was meant to be savored and enjoyed along with striving for goals. And Ridley showed Olivia that not all men were brutes nor was life all about being proper. I think he gave her the push to start teaching and standing up for herself and what she wanted in life. They complimented each other nicely.I also enjoyed how the author was able to really show this was a romance. There was very evident romantic/sexual tension between these two and some very nice kissing scenes. No hanky-panky was shown but it was clear that these two were passionate about each other and very much in love. I've read Christian fiction novels before that struggled with this, with the two main leads really only coming to a strong friendship and that's it. Not Ms. Alexander! She knows how to tug at her reader's heartstrings with her love stories and heroes/heroines. Nicely done.There was a nice balance between North and South in this story of healing and moving on. The author was able to show that there was honor on both sides of the war, and that not all Southern men were brutes and horrible slave owners of the Simon Legree caliber. I really liked how the author stressed that time can bring healing, both from the scars of war as well as to the pain of past transgressions and brutal relationships. I enjoyed this Christian historical romance to the hilt. It was a beautiful introduction to the author and a lovely romance. I really felt the emotions from our two leads and was kept enthralled by their tale of healing and love. Definitely recommended if you're in the market for a Christian romance.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is a wonderful novel! My favorite by Tamera Alexander. I love horses and also Southern history, so this book pulled me in and held my attention to the very last page! It is simply beautiful in every way!The main characters, Olivia Aberdeen and Ridley Cooper, are both outcasts in Southern society in the aftermath of the Civil War. Olivia is the widow of a man who was murdered because he was a traitor to the Confederacy. She carries the shame of that marriage, which causes her to be determined never to love or trust a man again. Ridley is also a traitor to the South. He left his home in South Carolina, fought for the Union while his brothers remained loyal to the Confederate army. They arrive at Belle Meade Plantation on the same day. Olivia because she was invited to live at Belle Meade by her mother's best friend, and Ridley because he is seeking a job working with the thoroughbred horses which are raised on the estate. Belle Meade is owned by former Confederate General William Giles Harding. He has no idea that Ridley fought for the North, and assumes he fought with the Confederate forces. Ridley forms a bond with former slave (and resident horse whisperer), Bob Green and rises to the position of foreman. General Harding is impressed with Ridley and trusts him to manage the stud farm. At General Harding's request, Olivia is put in a position to work closely with Ridley. She is shocked to find that she is developing deep feelings for the man. Ridley is also falling in love with Olivia, even though he has no intention of remaining at Belle Meade for very long. All the while, General Harding is playing matchmaker and would like to see Olivia married to one of his associates. Olivia and Ridley deal with many personal issues which keep them from admitting their love for one another. The story is captivating and very well written.The Harding family and their servants actually did reside at Belle Meade Plantation. Many of the characters really did exist. This adds to the interest of the book. You can visit Tamera Alexander's blog and find photos of the Hardings and their estate. Ms. Alexander took painstaking care in her historical research. As a reader, you feel like you are living in the post-Civil War South as you read this novel. It is deeply moving, historically enlightening, and I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this period of history. Such a tragic and sad time. In the end, faith gets everyone through and God's hand is leading each character through very difficult times. At 473 pages, this is a very hefty read, but worth every minute of your time!
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Olivia Aberdeen, the main character in To Whisper Her Name, is self-absorbed and her speech is so overly formal as to appear stilted. She is not a protagonist who it is easy to root for in life or in love. She keeps repeating that she doesn't want to get remarried, but until opportunities fall into her lap, she does nothing to seek an alternative to support herself as a widow. Her ridiculous fear of horses is ill-conceived: for someone in the Civil War era to be afraid of horses would be like someone in modern America having a fear of cars -- she simply would not be able to get through so many years of her life without addressing it. The love interest, Ridley Cooper, is more interesting and complex in his motivations, but what attracts him to such an unappealing heroine as Olivia is a mystery. The early development of their relationship, including stolen kisses before he proclaims an interest in marrying her, is sadly typical of so-called "historical" romances that have "historical" characters behaving like modern couples. The other issue that is glaringly present in this novel is the overly politically correct handling of interactions between the central characters and the servants: although it is nice to see the main characters treating black servants as their equals, everyone except the few stereotypically racist characters sees it as perfectly normally for blacks and whites to interact as equals, when of course that was the opposite of the norm in the South in the post-war years. The story's finale is overly rushed and feels even more unrealistic than what proceeded it, which is sad because the earlier chapters were too drawn out and the author could easily have spent more time on the ending.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
     Typical romance set on a horse plantation in the post civil war south. The heroine, Olivia, has to overcome a host of fears--including a fear of horses--before she finds her way into the arms of her true love. Her beau has a secret to hide--he fought for the Union side in the war, not the Southern side as his employer--a former Confederate officer--supposes. These obstacles and many more contribute to a charming story which has plenty of Southern trappings, as well as an underlying plot line concerning the treatment of slaves. Fans of Christian romances will enjoy this solid addition to the field.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Little did I know that when I started reading the first book published by a woman from my home area outside of Atlanta and even attended the same school years later that this same woman would be one of "the greats" in Christian Historical Fiction, right up there with Tracie Peterson and Francine Rivers. Tamera Alexander is an incredible author that absolutely leaves you begging for more after almost 500 pages! The same is the case after finishing To Whisper Her Name and I'm delighted to know it is the first of a trilogy from Zondervan, but even more fun is the slight cross over with another series from Tammy through Bethany House. I love historical fiction, but it is those that are set on telling the story of real history that give me chills. While I've never been an equestrian myself reading about the Belle Meade Plantation thoroughbreds was just enough to interest and not bore me. But this was about so much more than horses. Through these pages a story was told that was lovely. It was romantic and heart breaking. Both realistic and thrilling filling my read hours with curiosity and apprehension as well as sighs of contentment. Touching and delving through the difficult after-war politics when everyone is trying to find their true place and sharing the harsh realities of the time without dwelling. Tammy knows how to tell a story! More please, I cannot wait! I received this product free for the purpose of reviewing it. I received no other compensation for this review. The opinions expressed in this review are my personal, honest opinions. Your experience may vary. Please read my full disclosure policy for more details.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Author: Tamera AlexanderPublished by: Zondervan Age Recommended: Adult Reviewed By: Arlena DeanBook Blog For: GMTARating: 4Review:"To Whisper Her Name" by Tamera Alexander was a wonderful historical christian romantic long read that has it all. This setting was from 'Belle Meade Plantation' in Nashville, TN. (1866) following the Civil War where you will find "Southerners who fought on the side of the South, the women who were left behind to defend their homes, a Southerner who aligned himself with the North during the war, the widow of a Southerner who betrayed them all, last but not least, the slaves who had recently gained their freedom" and most importantly 'Belle Meade Plantation' raises thoroughbreds.This story deals with Elizabeth and Ridley a couple of years after the war with secrets that will 'make or break them.' If you are a reader of Ms. Alexander's novels you will note that this novel is one of her best ones. "To Whisper Her Name" was a excellent novel with an long and detailed engaging story that really shines through with what all going on. Yes, this novel somewhat predictable at times but still a good read. The characters are well developed, 'marvelous and meticulously crafted' ...keeping you turning the pages will all of the drama that comes along from the read.. A few characters like Uncle Bob, General Harding and Rachel could have stories of their own being so complexed and all! To get a real fill for this read you must pick up the good read to find out which way this author is taking the reader. Be prepared for a long read.If you are looking for a novel of faith, love, forgiveness..."To Whisper Her Name" will take you there and would I recommend this as a good read? YES!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I enjoyed reading this novel because it takes place in Nashville, Tennessee where I was born and raised and only moved there after I married. I had the privilege of visiting the beautiful historic Belle Meade estate a few years ago. Since I have previously visited Belle Meade I was able to picture all the sites in my head when the descriptions of the property and buildings were described. Growing up in Tennessee I could smell the air in my head.With the exception of the first few pages the story takes place just after the Civil War. Olivia Aberdeen's husband has just been hung for being a traitor to the see but she sheds no tears over the loss of a husband who was extremely cruel to her. Riley Cooper comes to Belle Meade intending to only stay a short time to learn everything he can from Bob Green, Mr. Harding head horse trainer. Bob Green is former slave at Belle Meade and well respected by William Giles Harding for his knowledge of horses. Riley has plans on relocating to Colorado. He did not intend to stay a long time at Belle Meade but falling in love with Olivia was not in his plans. He is also harboring a secret from Olivia and the Hardings that he indeed did fight in the Civil War but he fought on the opposite side. Olivia has her own secrets and that she is deathly afraid of horses.I do not want to give too much of the story away. What little I have told is revealed in the first chapter. You will have to read this story for yourself to see how Olivia and Riley overcome their problems.Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a e-book of this book to review.