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Tamera Alexander

A Beauty So Rare (A Belmont Mansion Novel) Paperback – April 1, 2014

by Tamera Alexander (Author)

509 ratings

Book 2 of 3: A Belmont Mansion Novel

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From #1 CBA Bestselling Author Tamera Alexander . . . Pink is not what Eleanor Braddock ordered, but maybe it would soften the tempered steel of awoman who came through a war . . . and still had one to fight.

Eleanor Braddock - plain, practical, no stunning Southern beauty - knows she will never marry. But with a dying soldier's last whisper, she believes her life can still have meaning and determines to find his widow. Impoverished and struggling to care for her ailing father, Eleanor arrives at Belmont Mansion, home of her aunt, Adelicia Acklen, the richest woman in America - and possibly the most demanding, as well. Adelicia insists on finding her niece a husband, but a simple act of kindness leads Eleanor down a far different path - building a home for destitute widows and fatherless children from the Civil War. While Eleanor knows her own heart, she also knows her aunt will never approve of this endeavor.

Archduke Marcus Gottfried has come to Nashville from Austria in search of a life he determines, instead of one determined for him. Hiding his royal heritage, Marcus longs to combine his passion for nature with his expertise in architecture, but his plans to incorporate natural beauty into the design of the widows' and children's home run contrary to Eleanor's wishes. As work on the home draws them closer together, Marcus and Eleanor find common ground - and a love neither of them expects. But Marcus is not the man Adelicia has chosen for Eleanor, and even if he were, someone who knows his secrets is about to reveal them all.

From USA Today bestselling author Tamera Alexander comes a moving historical novel about a bold young woman drawn to a group of people forgotten by Nashville society - and to the one man with whom she has no business falling in love.

Print length

480 pages
Language

English
Publication date

April 1, 2014
Dimensions

5.5 x 1.2 x 8.5 inches
ISBN-10

9780764206238
ISBN-13

978-0764206238
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* After Eleanor Braddock’s brother is killed fighting for the South, and her father is institutionalized, she has no choice but to move into Belmont Mansion with her aunt, Adelicia Acklen, the richest woman in America. Adelicia is obsessed with finding a proper husband for her too-tall spinster niece and insists that Eleanor conform to society expectations. But Eleanor, who volunteered on the battlefields of the Civil War, feels called to establish a home for war widows and their children. Marcus Geoffrey is in Nashville to enjoy a respite from his duties and dabble in some plant breeding, and Adelicia has given him permission to perform his experiments in her greenhouse. When Eleanor has a run-in with Marcus, she has no idea that he is an archduke from the House of Habsburg, second in line to the Austrian throne, and under orders to marry Baroness Maria Elizabeth Albrecht von Haas. As Marcus and Eleanor strive for freedom from others’ demands, they grow close despite overwhelming odds. Alexander’s (Within My Heart, 2010) exquisitely written historical tale is filled with unforgettable characters, a romance that seems hopeless, and a close-up look at the aftermath of a war that nearly destroyed the country. --Shelley Mosley

Review

"Better than sweet tea on a veranda. I want to live at Belmont!"~ Francine Rivers, New York Times bestselling author of Redeeming Love about A Lasting Impression (a Belmont Mansion novel)

"Pure reading pleasure."~ Liz Curtis Higgs, NYT Bestselling author of A Thorn in My Heart about To Whisper Her Name (a Belle Meade Plantation novel)

"To put it simply: This book is a full-on HIT!"~ USA Today about A Lasting Impression, a Belmont Mansion novel

"Romance, secrets and Civil War battles line the pages of Alexander's second in her Belmont Mansion series. Fantastic!" 4 1/2 Starred Review~ Romantic Times about A Beauty So Rare "Bestseller Alexander will delight fans... Alexander's lengthy tale is full of bends and curves, as Eleanor and Marcus face down their struggles, deal with romantic entanglements, and begin to achieve their greatest dreams."~ Publishers Weekly about A Beauty So Rare

"Alexander's exquisitely written historical tale is filled with unforgettable characters, a romance that seems hopeless, and a close-up look at the aftermath of a war that nearly destroyed our country."~ Shelly Mosley (Booklist)

From the Author

View the book trailer for A Beauty So Rare by visiting Tamera's Amazon author page (by clicking on the author name above).

From the Back Cover

Pink is not what Eleanor Braddock ordered, but maybe it would soften the tempered steel of a woman who came through a war--and still had one to fight.

Plain, practical Eleanor Braddock knows she will never marry, but with a dying soldier's last whisper, she believes her life can still have meaning and determines to find his widow. Impoverished and struggling to care for her ailing father, Eleanor arrives at Belmont Mansion, home of her aunt, Adelicia Acklen, the richest woman in America--and possibly the most demanding, as well. Adelicia insists on finding her niece a husband, but a simple act of kindness leads Eleanor down a far different path--building a home for destitute widows and fatherless children from the Civil War. While Eleanor knows her own heart, she also knows her aunt will never approve of this endeavor.

Archduke Marcus Gottfried has come to Nashville from Austria in search of a life he determines, instead of one determined for him. Hiding his royal heritage, Marcus longs to combine his passion for nature with his expertise in architecture, but his plans to incorporate natural beauty into the design of the widows' and children's home run contrary to Eleanor's wishes. As work on the home draws them closer together, Marcus and Eleanor find common ground--and a love neither of them expects. But Marcus is not the man Adelicia has chosen for Eleanor, and even if he were, someone who knows his secrets is about to reveal them all.

From USA Today bestselling author Tamera Alexander comes a moving historical novel about a bold young woman drawn to a group of people forgotten by Nashville society--and to the one man with whom she has no business falling in love.

"Bestseller Alexander will delight fans of gently inspirational historical romance with the second Belmont Mansion novel." --Publishers Weekly

"Romance, secrets, and Civil War battles line the pages of Alexander's second in her Belmont Mansion series." -RT Book Reviews

"Alexander's exquisitely written historical tale is filled with unforgettable characters, a romance that seems hopeless, and a close-up look at the aftermath of a war that nearly destroyed our country." --Booklist

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Tamera Alexander is an award-winning novelist whose deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots, and poignant prose have earned her devoted readers worldwide, and multiple industry awards. Among them, the Christy Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the HOLT Medallion, the National Reader's Choice Award, the Bookseller's Best Award, and the prestigious Library Journal's top honors for Inspirational Fiction. Tamera has over a million books in print worldwide and will be visiting Germany and Switzerland on a book signing/speaking tour in June 2014. Visit TameraAlexander.com for more details.

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Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0764206230
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bethany House Publishers; Later Printing; First Printing edition (April 1, 2014)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 480 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780764206238
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0764206238
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.08 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.2 x 8.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #461,392 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,680 in Historical Christian Romance
- #3,406 in Christian Historical Fiction (Books)
- #23,413 in Historical Romances

Customer Reviews:
509 ratings

About the author

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Tamera Alexander

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One of today's most popular writers of inspirational historical romance, Tamera Alexander writes novels that USA Today calls "a full on HIT!" (about A Lasting Impression) and Publisher's Weekly describes her writing as "so vivid, one can almost hear the music resonating off of the page" (about A Note Yet Unsung).

Tamera is an author and inspirational speaker whose novels have garnered or been short-listed for numerous awards, including her induction into the Christy Award Hall of Fame for Excellence in Christian Fiction, the RITA Award, the Carol Award, Bookseller’s Best Award, National Reader's Choice Award, Library Journal’s Top Christian Fiction, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, the Golden Quill Award, and the HOLT Medallion, among others.

Her books have been translated into multiple languages including Dutch, German, Polish, Romanian, Slovakian, and Portuguese.

Tamera loves living in Nashville with her husband, not far from the Southern mansions that serve as the backdrop for many of her critically-acclaimed novels.

For more about Tamera's books, visit www.TameraAlexander.com

(Photo credit: Mandy Whitley Photography)

Customer reviews

5 star		85%
4 star		9%
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1 star		2%

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Susan Snodgrass

Tamera Alexander At Her Best!

Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2014

Verified Purchase

I own every single one of Tamera Alexander's books. She writes well and I've loved everyone. But this one....it's her absolute best! All 480 pages were just terrific.

Eleanor Braddock is nearly 30, plain and has nothing to offer in the marriage market. Her father is ill and she accepts her Aunt Adelicia Acklin's offer to come live with her at Belmont Mansion. Eleanor has no interest in the little teas and parties her aunt has planned for her, but feels she must consent since she is living off her aunt's charity. Her heart lies elsewhere, but she is doomed to disappointment. Her dream does not ever seem it will come true.

Marcus Geoffrey is hiding a secret, a very deep secret. He can't risk anyone knowing this secret,either. Marcus's passion is for nature and architecture and he is indeed talented in this area. Things just don't seem to cooperate for his dream, either.

Eleanor and Marcus begin work on a widow and children's home but they can't seem to agree on everything. They begin to develop feelings for one another but Eleanor knows her aunt will never approve of this. Besides, Marcus is not free. Or is he?

Tamera Alexander has a way of creating characters that seem so real they nearly jump off the pages. This book was so rich and full, like nothing I'd ever read. I cherished every sentence.

This book is Christian fiction and a romance. Some Christian fiction authors push the envelope way too far to remain a clean novel. Tamera Alexander never does that. She manages to create romance just with a conversation. I loved that this book was clean but still romantic.

Also, in the spiritual realm, the reader learns that what we want and long for and know is best for us is not always God's best for us. Instead, He gives us far richer dreams that we ever even dreamed of. (Ephesians 3:20.) It was wonderful to watch Eleanor and Marcus discover this. God blessed them with HIS plans for them far more than they wanted themselves. God's good like that.

I ached for these two as they suffered with their plans being cast down. I ached for them as they realized they could not ever realize their hopes with each other. But I also rejoice and yes, wept, with them as God blessed them in so many little ways throughout this book.

I wanted to read quickly to finish this book, but I tried to savor it as it should be savored. I know that when I pick up a Tamera Alexander book, I'm in for a treat. And her books always minister to me in some way. Never fails. Now I have to wait another year to read another of her good books.

This book is worth every penny and every moment spent reading.

24 people found this helpful

Helpful

She Doesn't Know it, But She's a True Beauty

Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2017

Verified Purchase

Eleanor Braddock doesn't do "pink." Not just the color, but everything it represents. She's not a frilly, feminine 1870s Southern belle. In many ways she can't afford to be--she's recently impoverished, and her father is succumbing to dementia/Alzheimer's. But even if Eleanor had money and resources at her disposal, she wouldn't take the typical route for women of her time. Her desire is to achieve autonomy, make something of her life, and help people. She is a woman ahead of her time by at least 50 years, and I cheered for her from page one.

Eleanor Braddock and her mission to care for the widows and children of Nashville carry the entire novel. What begins as a simple dinner shared with two friends blossoms into a unique and cheer-worthy ministry. I enjoyed every scene in which Eleanor does what God calls her to do, and every scene in which she mentally, emotionally, and spiritually develops because of it. The people she meets are a wonderful cast of characters, though unfortunately there wasn't time to get to know them all on a deep level. Little Maggie and the Lebensteins are some of the best characters; the cameo of Belle Birch and her son is a favorite of mine, too.

The uniqueness of Eleanor's situation is another selling point for A Beauty So Rare. In many ways, she's dealing with what readers might (erroneously) consider modern problems, such as maintaining a relationship with an elderly parent receiving institutional care. The scenes between Eleanor and her father were by turns heartbreaking and touching, especially when Marcus befriends Mr. Braddock. I also thoroughly appreciated Eleanor's determination to find the "Mary girl" a wounded soldier pointed her to, years after the fact. This woman is a perfect mix of practicality and compassion--a true beauty worthy of a wonderful hero.

Speaking of that hero, Marcus Gottfried (Geoffrey) is a pleasure to get to know. He and Eleanor are a great match because they both want more than what life expects of them. They want independence and a chance to be their own people, and they do a great job of helping each other become who they want to be. I thoroughly enjoyed their banter, as well as the romantic moments Marcus engineers for Eleanor. The scene with the night-blooming cactus is one of my favorites, as is the scene where Marcus sends Eleanor her favorite flowers and an apron.

My only real problem with A Beauty So Rare is Marcus' character arc. He's an archduke hiding his royal heritage, who just wants to be normal. There's nothing wrong with that story, but I've seen it a million times, and it got stale really fast. I would've appreciated the story more if Marcus was more of a regular guy. Between dealing with the fallout of his brother's suicide and trying to make a name for himself in a new country, I think he had enough to deal with that the archduke bit wasn't needed. Other than that, though, this is a beautiful novel worth your time.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Kelli Nash

Loved it from the first page to the last

Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2015

Verified Purchase

A Beauty So Rare was one of those books that I simply couldn't put down. I loved it from the first page to the last, and didn't want it to end.

Eleanor was immediately likable, and so easy for me to relate to. I really felt for her in her struggle to become her own woman and not depend on a man to survive. Eleanor is honest, hardworking and dependable. She is considered an old maid at age 29, and has reconciled herself to the fact that she'll never marry. However, Eleanor's great dream is to own a restaurant and she does everything in her power to make that dream a reality.

Marcus was an enigma from the start. I liked him too, but Eleanor was my favorite. I liked the air of mystery surrounding Marcus, and the tension between he and Eleanor was palpable. I wanted them to fall in love so badly!

Alexander's books are Christian fiction, however the Christian element is handled with a light hand. By that I mean that they aren't in-your-face Christian and if someone were not a fan of faith-based reads, I don't think that would stop them from enjoying these novels. I think of Alexander's novels as clean historical romance. I love how she conveys emotion and feelings between characters without going into the physical side of a relationship. She does it perfectly, without feeling too sweet, yet the feelings are so raw they are palpable.

I loved everything about A Beauty So Rare and immediately bought another one of Alexander's books upon finishing it!

3 people found this helpful

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McKenzie

A Beauty so Rare - by Tamera Alexander

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 1, 2014

Verified Purchase

I felt as if I knew the characters personally in this Novel. I found myself relating to many of the life situations it highlights. "She wasn't responsible for seeing to everyone's needs - that was God's responsibility. Hers was to do what God brought to her attention; what he placed in her path - whether it was bandaging a wound, making a pot of soup......................etc". Another excellent ready from Tamera Alexander. H.

Gabrielle Marshall

Loved this book!

Reviewed in Canada on April 14, 2014

Verified Purchase

Having read Tamara Alexander's previous books, I was looking forward to a great read with "A Beauty so Rare". I was not disappointed! I just finished reading it last night past midnight and thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn't want it to end! I'm still savouring this wonderful story, refusing to start another book lest I forget Eleanor and Marcus. Truly inspirational! Well done Tamara! You have a way of putting skin on your characters that make them so very real. I can't wait for your next book.

Buchwurm

Leicht zu lesen und trotzdem tiefgründig

Reviewed in Germany on April 19, 2014

Verified Purchase

Mir gefällt es Geschichte in einer Romanze verpackt zu lesen und hier bekommt man jede Menge Einblick in die amerikanische Nord/Süd Problematik von früher. Das "Klassenverhalten" jener Zeit ist interessant verpackt und aufgearbeitet. Die Persönlichkeiten sehr ausführlich beschrieben, Tugenden noch super gut rausgearbeitet. Ich warte auf die das nächste Buch der Schriftstellerin.

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Amazon Customer

Five Stars

Reviewed in Australia on October 2, 2017

Verified Purchase

Beautiful story - keeps you in suspense

Elisabeth

schönes Buch

Reviewed in Germany on May 12, 2014

Verified Purchase

schönes Buch über eine fortschrittliche Amerikanerin und einen fiktiven Erzherzog aus Österreich, der am Ende natürlich abdankt und in Amerika bleibt - war wie die anderen Bücher von Tamera Alexander eine entspannende Lektüre

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