TO WAGER HER HEART Belle Meade, Book 3

In this Christian romance, the author realistically depicts life in Nashville, Tennessee, after the Civil War. Melba Sibrel narrates as a relationship between Alexandra, a sheltered teacher, and Sylas, a former gambler turned businessman, gradually builds. After losing her fiancé to a devastating train crash, Alexandra becomes a teacher at the freedmen’s school, Fisk University. As her father and most of Nashville shun her, Sibrel’s layered interpretation captures Alexandra’s dedication to her pupils and bonds with her friends, and, to her surprise, Sylas. The compelling African-American characters are presented with realism and dignity in their fight for an education. Sibrel’s pace and tonal qualities make the varied Southern characters distinctive and keep the listener involved with the story. S.H. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2018]