“To Win Her Favor” – Book Review

Dec 28, 2015 by Rachel

Welcome back to Rachel’s Back Talk! I’m so glad you could join me again. Today I am reviewing Tamera Alexander’s book, To Win Her Favor.

 

As is my custom, if I could ask Tamera one question about To Win Her Favor it would be — “What drew you to writing about horse racing?” And if you want to know why I asked that question, I guess you’ll just have to read the book to find out!

 

And without further ado, onto Rachel’s Back Talk!

                                                                   

From the Back Cover:

A gifted rider in a world where ladies never race, Maggie Linden is determined that her horse will become a champion. But the one man who could help her has vowed to stay away from thoroughbred racing forever.

An Irishman far from home, Cullen McGrath left a once prosperous life in England because of a horse racing scandal that nearly ruined him. He’s come to Nashville for a fresh start, hoping to buy land and begin farming, all while determined to stay as far away from thoroughbred racing as possible. But starting over proves harder than he’d wagered, especially when Maggie Linden’s father makes him an offer he shouldn’t accept yet cannot possibly refuse.

Maggie is certain that her mare, Bourbon Belle, can take the top purse in the inaugural Peyton Stakes, the richest race ever run in America. Maggie only needs the chance to prove it. To give her that chance–and to save Linden Downs from being sold to the highest bidder–Maggie’s father, aging, yet wily as ever, makes a barter. His agreement includes one tiny, troublesome detail–Maggie must marry a man she’s never met. A man she never would have chosen for herself.

 

 

Rachel’s Back Talk:

5 – award winning covers

There are only certain authors who can write long books and Tamera Alexander is one of those authors! Though her books are long, don’t let that deter you! Each page, each word, holds you to the story and you find yourself longing to read more and more.

Maggie is a Southern belle who is used to a wealthy lifestyle, but finds herself strongly encouraged by her father to marry a stranger in order to be protected. Though it takes a while, Maggie finds herself warming to her stranger husband. I loved Cullen and Maggie’s relationship and the difficulties they had to work through. It was wonderful to see how Cullen could prove to be someone so different then his stereotype.

I also enjoyed Tamera’s emphasis on the history. She touched on some difficult issues that where happening in the South — plantation owners losing their homes and the mistreatment of slaves and the Irish. I also loved how she included Belle Meade plantation and the Hardings.

 

Other books by Tamera I will read next:

To Whisper Her Name (A Belle Meade Plantation Novel)

To Mend a Dream: A Southern Love Story

Rekindled (Fountain Creek Chronicles, Book 1)