My Review - To Whisper Her Name

TO WHISPER HER NAME by Tamera Alexander, was rich in history and romance, which I enjoyed.  But the overall book I felt was a tad too long.

After the death of her husband–an abusive man labeled a traitor, and shot for his crimes––Olivia Aberdeen has no choice but to move in with her Aunt and Uncle at the famed Belle Meade Plantation.  Shunned by society because of the sins of her husband, Olivia hopes to live in obscurity and put the past behind her.  When she meets Ridley Cooper on the way to the plantation, she has nothing but dislike for the man and is glad she will never have to see him again once she arrives at her new home.  But fate takes a turn when Ridley is hired on as a hand to assist with the thoroughbreds that have fostered Belle Meade’s reputation.  As much as Olivia tries to ignore the man, she is equally drawn to him.  She wishes nothing more than solitude, but somehow Ridley has gotten under her skin.  As her affections grow for him, she must face the fact that Belle Meade is only a temporary home for Ridley.  His future lies in the Colorado territory.

Ridley Cooper harbors a secret only one other person knows.  Though he is from the south, he fought for the Union, betraying the land he loves so much.  Belle Meade is only the first leg on his journey towards a new start.  Once he learns the skills from a “horse whisper” he will be on his way to make his own mark in the newly opened land of the Colorado territory.  Meeting Olivia Aberdeen was not part of his plan.  Though their first meeting is anything but hospitable, the sparks he feels when Olivia is near fuels his decision to extend his stay at Belle Meade.  Knowing he is only putting off the evitable, he dreams of the day he will leave Belle Meade with Olivia by his side.  But that is all it is–a dream.  Knowing he can never tell Olivia the truth about his past, he focus’ his energy on bettering his equestrian skills so he can leave the south, the war, and his lies behind.

The story of Belle Meade, Olivia, and Ridley was rich in American history, but at times seemed to drag.  The redundant descriptions of Olivia’s and Ridley’s past seem to slow the pace of the story down.  But other than that, the story draws you in and keeps your interest enough to see it through.  A lot of secondary characters are introduced, some better than others.  In fact, there were some that could’ve been left out all together without compromising the main story.  Again, I really enjoyed to book, but it easily could’ve been pared down by 100+ pages.