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
4.8 Stars Out Of 5
4.8 out of 5
(61)
(9)
(0)
(1)
(0)
Quality:
4.8 out Of 5
(4.8 out of 5)
Value:
4.8 out Of 5
(4.8 out of 5)
Meets Expectations:
4.8 out Of 5
(4.8 out of 5)
99%
of customers would recommend this product to a friend.
SORT BY:
SEE:
Displaying items 1-5 of 71
Page 1 of 15
  1. Cindi
    Pennsylvania
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Beyond expectations
    September 25, 2018
    Cindi
    Pennsylvania
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    Let me start by saying that I don't typically like romance novels. But, if they were all written as well as this one, I would surely become a fan.

    I was immersed in this story from the beginning and felt myself drift back to another era. The timeline was realistic especially with the historical facts peppered into it . The characters, oh my. They were living, breathing people that I cared about and I loved spending time with them. Elenore was a breath of fresh air. I loved her spunk, her caring and generous personality and her tenacity. She knew she wasn't a pretty lady but didn't let that stop her. It didn't even slow her down, which really showed her true character. I admire women like her.

    My favorite quote was, "...one thing I've learned in my life is that it's best to keep on amiable terms with those who oppose you, rather than fight at all costs to win every battle."

    I cannot say enough things about how wonderful this novel was. I enjoyed it thoroughly. If you like historical romance that has substance and touches on some difficult topics, you are in for a real treat with A Beauty So Rare. I believe Tamara Alexander hit this one out of the ballpark!
  2. Angela J
    Age: 25-34
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Worth Reading This Large Book
    April 23, 2014
    Angela J
    Age: 25-34
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    A Beauty so Rare is the second of the Belmont Mansion novels and introduces Eleanor Braddock, a confirmed spinster who is trying to make a way to support her father and realize her dream of cooking for others. She arrives in post Civil War Nashville to seek the assistance of her aunt, Adelicia Acklen Cheatham, the owner of Belmont and the wealthiest woman in America.

    However, her aunt has a more traditional answer for Eleanor: marry a wealthy and practical man who will support her. In fact, she already has someone in mind. Eleanor balks at marrying but has few options without money to start her own restaurant and pay for the care her father needs. But a new passion ignites in her when she befriends many of the widows and orphans in the city and sees their needs.

    Marcus Gottfried is in Nashville to prove he can stand on his own two feet without relying on his family name or money. His dream is to design and build something that will last and be beautiful. While he seems to be thwarted at every turn, he finds work renovating old buildings, all the while waiting for his chance. He is also working in the Belmont conservatory, following his second passion: botany. Mrs. Cheatham has commissioned him to graft a rose of a very certain color to display in her garden.

    Though from very different backgrounds, Eleanor and Marcus are drawn together through various circumstances and find some common ground: both have people in their lives they are trying to please, even at the expense of their own dreams and desires. But they both have secrets they are unwilling to share, especially as they grow closer and find a love neither thought possible. But will they be able to let go of the past and the fears that come with opening the heart so completely?

    One of the things I love about Alexander's stories is the perfect blending of fact and fiction, the mention of real people, places, and events surrounded by her fictional characters. This was her longest book, at almost 500 pages, but it was worth the extra time and paper. The development, individually and together, of Eleanor and Marcus was gradual and made sense with what they were experiencing in the story. The pacing of the story was also realistic. They weren't falling in love within days of meeting; they slowly built a relationship while also learning lessons and experiencing things on their own. The novel played out like you might imagine real life happening. Not everything turned out just the way the characters wanted and there were hard decisions and sacrifices that had to be made, but that makes for a more realistic and enjoyable read in my mind.

    Although this is the second Belmont novel, you don't have to have read book one (A Lasting Impression) for this novel to make sense. It was nice to read about characters from that book and be reacquainted with them.

    I highly recommend this and all Alexander's books. Now the long wait until her next novel begins....

    I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of writing an honest review. They in no way influenced my review or description of the book and the thoughts above are my own.
  3. Janet
    Belton, TX
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: Female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    A Must for Fans of Historical Fiction
    April 22, 2014
    Janet
    Belton, TX
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: Female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    I don't know how Tamera Alexander managed to pack so much into one book, but she did it beautifully! I thoroughly enjoyed her newest book, "A Beauty So Rare." Set in Nashville just after the Civil War, this is the story of a single woman nearing age thirty, caring for her father who suffers from dementia, and trying to fulfill a personal dream. Eleanor Braddock wants to open her own cafe, so she can do what she loves best—cook—while supporting herself and her father independently. Unfortunately, her Aunt Adelicia Acklen, the richest woman in America, has different plans for her—plans Eleanor finds too unpleasant to consider.

    Also struggling against the wishes of relatives is Archduke Marcus Gottfried of Austria who has come to America to chase his own dreams. He longs to combine his interests in architecture and botany, bringing the beauty of nature into his building designs. His time is limited, though, as he's expected back in Austria to fulfill a role he is to inherit and to marry a woman he doesn't love.

    Eleanor and Marcus's story alone was fascinating, but the historical and scientific elements woven into it made it even more so. In this book, readers will learn about the struggle of many Civil War widows and orphans, the development of the science of genetics, mental health issues, botany (grafting in particular), Nashville's developing culture and changing society, architecture, Civil War nursing, cooking, Dorothea Dix, Austria's House of Habsburg, the Belmont Mansion, and Adelicia Acklen. Readers also get brief glimpses of and updates about fictional characters, Claire and Sutton Monroe from "A Lasting Impression," the first book in this series.

    Bethany House Publishers sent me a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review. I am happy to recommend it as a must-read book for fans of Christian historical fiction romance.
  4. Mocha with Linda
    Texas
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Gloriously epic tome; highly recommended!
    April 14, 2014
    Mocha with Linda
    Texas
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Sigh. Tamera Alexander's books have one major flaw. They end. Even this gloriously epic tome of 480 pages concluded before I was ready to bid farewell to the captivating story, the delightful characters, and even to the manner in which the words flowed upon the page. Tamera Alexander has once again created a multifaceted saga that gripped me from the opening pages. Her impeccable historical research mingles seamlessly with her gift for crafting rich fiction, resulting in a magnificent tale which pulsates with authenticity. I empathized with Eleanor's insecurities, mourned over her father's decline, winced at Adelicia's stern proclamations, and fell in love with sweet Caleb and "Magpie" and their penniless mothers--as well as gallant Marcus! Of course, as with every good story, A Beauty So Rare also includes a few individuals that raised my hackles but, like Eleanor, I learned which battles were worth fighting. This riveting tale prompted me to turn the pages faster and faster while at the same time Alexander's exquisite prose cautioned me to slow down and savor every sentence, and occasionally I paused to reread a passage just to soak it in. As always, Alexander weaves in a beautiful message of faith which springs from the characters' experiences, encouraging the reader's soul. A Beauty So Rare aptly describes as well as titles this story that will now rest on my shelf of treasured novels. The second in the Belmont Mansion series (yet it stands alone), this is a must-read!

    Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Bethany House Publishers as part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
  5. Pam Burke
    Potosi, MO
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: Female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    A story so rich
    April 12, 2014
    Pam Burke
    Potosi, MO
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: Female
    In A Beauty So Rare Tamera Alexander shows again her true talent for telling a rich story, filled with vibrant characters and set in such a way that you are drawn right into the time and place of the events. She takes real historical figures and locations and weaves them seamlessly into a beautiful work of fiction.

    In this second Belmont Mansion novel, Tamera takes us back into post-Civil War Nashville, Tennessee, to the real-life home of Adelicia Acklen, the richest woman in America at the time. Eleanor Braddock is much more than Adelicia's niece. She is a strong woman with a very open and giving heart, intent on using her talents to make the world a better place for people who could never dream of living in a world like the one at Belmont.

    Eleanor, Marcus, and so many other minor characters drive this beautiful story of love, compassion, and finding your place in God's plan --whether coming from the lowest places on society's ladder or the highest pinnacle of wealth and power. For almost 500 pages (which didn't seem that long at all), I felt like I was sharing in Eleanor's love of cooking for others, Marcus's botanical and architectural dreams, and the many ways the other characters did their own part to make the world a better place -- even against strong obstacles.

    And Eleanor's recipes that Tamera has shared through social media provide a nice bonus to a great story.

    Thanks to Bethany House and Tamera Alexander for providing a copy of this awesome book in exchange for my honest review.
Displaying items 1-5 of 71
Page 1 of 15