1. A Beauty So Rare #2
    Tamera Alexander
    Bethany House / 2014 / Trade Paperback
    Our Price$16.99 Retail Price$22.00 Save 23% ($5.01)
    4.8 out of 5 stars for A Beauty So Rare #2. View reviews of this product. 71 Reviews
    Availability: In Stock
    Stock No: WW206230
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Displaying items 11-15 of 71
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  1. Carrie
    Virginia
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Another Belmont Hit!
    March 24, 2014
    Carrie
    Virginia
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    What a wonderful read! A Beauty So Rare starts out a little bit slow but have no worries, Tamera Alexander soon takes off with a story wonderfully woven. I was tickled pink over heroine, Eleanor's reaction to certain colors of clothing, which I enjoy. Mr. Geoffries, a German archduke, and is a wonderful hero. Eleanor is strong and capable and learns to trust her heart, over the course of the story. Loved the secondary characters, with the widowed ladies and their children receiving help through the H/H's efforts. Some terrific antagonists, with great characterization. Highly recommend! The only bad thing is that I believe this is the end of the series!
  2. Pamela Jo
    Bucks County, PA
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    A Beautiful Story!
    March 23, 2014
    Pamela Jo
    Bucks County, PA
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    Tamera Alexander has a marvelous way of weaving romantic tales with actual historical locations. I have become a fan of her novels, always expecting a great read, and A Beauty So Rare does not disappoint! This story is set in Nashville, at the Belmont Mansion in the aftermath of the Civil War. Adelicia Acklen is the mistress of Belmont and actually is a real person who was considered to be American Royalty throughout the South during the 19th Century.

    The main character in this story is Eleanor Braddock. She is not a typical southern belle, and thinks of herself and plain and unappealing. Her life recently took a downward spiral, as so many lives did because of the war. Adelicia Acklen is Eleanor's aunt, by marriage. She invites Eleanor to live with her and expects her to be swept into her high society lifestyle. She also wants to settle her niece into a married life with an appropriate suitor. Eleanor is never comfortable with that, and is more concerned with those less fortunate. When she arrives at Belmont, Eleanor meets Marcus Geoffrey. He is employed by Adelicia and has a serious interest in botany. Marcus works on developing beautiful plants and flowers for the estate. He is also an architect and has dreams of building a grand and beautiful public building in Nashville. Thos dreams are dashed. Eleanor also has dreams, less grand, of opening a restaurant, which her aunt crushes. A lady of society would never consider cooking for others. It is simply not done! Both Eleanor and Marcus are also hiding secrets from their past. Marcus is not who he seems to be and is hiding his true identity. Eleanor does not want him to find out about her true circumstances in life. They both understand that they can't allow themselves to fall in love. Their hearts do not hold the same understanding.

    Eleanor and Marcus are fascinated with each other and enjoy being in each other's company. The plot takes many turns and through it all, Marcus and Eleanor find they are, indeed, falling in love. It is a nearly impossible situation, yet they continue to depend on one another and become more and more emotionally entangled. Will their secrets be revealed? If they are, will Eleanor and Marcus be able to reconcile their pasts and find a life together? The deceit may be too much for both of them to work through. They may be forced to deny their true feelings and return to the duties and expectations waiting for them and be forever parted.

    This is the second novel in the Belmont Mansion Series. Some characters reappear in A Beauty So Rare, but you do not need to have read the first book to enjoy the second. However, once you read one of Tamera Alexander's novels, you will want to read all of them. She is a talented writer and always delivers a very enjoyable read.

    I received an advance reading copy of this book from Bethany House, courtesy of Library Thing's Early Reviewers group. This is my honest review and I highly recommend A Beauty So Rare!
  3. ChooseWisely
    Fredericksburg, VA
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    I love this book!
    March 22, 2014
    ChooseWisely
    Fredericksburg, VA
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    I have anticipated reading A Beauty So Rare for some time. Having read all but one of Tamera Alexander's titles, I knew it was going to be fantastic. She is gifted at painting a picture with words, so much so that I can't remember turning the pages.

    In A Beauty So Rare, we meet Eleanor Braddock who is sensible, plain, and determined. Her life has not been easy as she has known loss and the terrible feeling of being alone. Eleanor is put in the position of making a difficult decision regarding her father's health. She finds herself at the mercy of her wealthy Aunt Adelicia of Nashville. Her first day on her Aunt's Belmont Estate, Eleanor encounters Marcus whom she believes to be the under gardener. However, Marcus becomes so much more to Eleanor. Throughout the story, Tamera Alexander gently weaves together not only a love story, but a tale of two people ending up exactly where they belong, doing precisely what God intended them to do.

    I love the meatiness of this book. Like my Southern Aunt's Apple Stack Cake, A Beauty So Rare is delicately layered for maximum enjoyment. There are many story lines, but they are all essential to the plot. Up until the final chapters, I wasn't sure how the story would end. I recommend this book to anyone who loves romantic historical fiction with substance.

    I was given a complimentary copy of A Beauty So Rare from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
  4. An Old Fashioned Girl
    Minnesota
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    A rich and rewarding read
    March 20, 2014
    An Old Fashioned Girl
    Minnesota
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    I am so thankful that the author is not afraid to write a long book. It is not long for the sake of being long, but long to do justice to the plot, and she certainly does that. Besides working several plot threads that require time, Alexander develops the characters, the setting, and the historic detail that bring the novel to life, turning the length purely to her advantage. There is no pointless puttering around, but every passage is working towards the conclusion.

    The author does a marvelous job setting the story in history. It is not just a romance that takes place after the Civil War - it is a meticulously researched tale firmly anchored in the Reconstruction era with real people and events. The rise of women's shelters, safe asylums for the insane, troubled relations between Austria and Russia, research with plant genetics and grafting, the search for a potato not prone to rot - all were issues being dealt with at the time. Not only were Adelicia Acklen, her immediate family, and her servants all real, set in the picturesque Belmont estate, but so also were numerous places described in Nashville, such as the insane asylum. Additionally, historic figures such as Dorothea Dix (activist for the insane), Gregor Mendel (geneticist), and Luther Burbank (developer of the Russet potato) cameo in the story.

    One of the strongest themes of the story (hinted at by the title) is that of beauty. Eleanor knows that true beauty is dependent on what is inside a person, not in their outward appearance; however, as a plain woman, she struggles with the fact that, by worldly standards, she isn't beautiful. There are few women I've known who cannot relate with that feeling of deficiency, no matter their outward appearance. And the author makes a really good point - something I have noticed myself - that the better you know someone and the more you love them, the more beautiful they become. And conversely, the uglier a person acts, the less and less attractive they appear, no matter how physically flawless. In this world where so much weight is placed on physical appearance, it is good to be reminded of what beauty truly is.

    I suspect historical novels such as this - by captivating my interest and prompting me to research further - have led to as much if not more of my knowledge of history than I learned in school. Like all of Alexander's books, this novel is rich with historic detail, a well-thought-out plot, faith, and encouragement. 5 out of 5 stars!

    Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for a free e-copy for the purpose of review; I was not required to make it positive, and all opinions are my own.
  5. EmKate23
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    A Beautiful Book
    July 20, 2021
    EmKate23
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    I just loved this book! The characters, the writing, the story, the faith, and the historical detail. I loved it all! The characters and their stories stole my heart and kept me reading this book till late at night. I really enjoyed, and recommend it!
Displaying items 11-15 of 71
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