CFBA Tour & BOOK REVIEW: With My Heart by Tamera Alexander

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Within My HeartBethany House; Original edition (September 1, 2010)

byTamera AlexanderABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tamera Alexander is the best-selling author of Rekindled, Revealed and Remembered, the critically acclaimed Fountain Creek Chronicles historical series with Bethany House Publishers. Her second historical series, Timber Ridge Reflections (From a Distance, Beyond This Moment, and Within My Heart), penned in her style with deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots, and poignant prose have earned her devoted readers—and multiple industry awards.

These awards include the 2009 and 2008 Christy Award, the 2007 RITA for Best Inspirational Romance, the 2009 and 2007 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, 2007 Bookseller’s Best Award, and Library Journal’s Top Christian Fiction for 2006, among others.
After living in Colorado for seventeen years, Tamera has returned to her Southern roots. She and her husband now make their home in Nashville with Tamera's father, Doug. They enjoy life there with Tamera's and Joe's two adult children, and Jack, a precious—and precocious—silky terrier.
ABOUT THE BOOK

Widow Rachel Boyd struggles to keep her ranch afloat and provide for her two young sons, though some days it feels as though her efforts are sabotaged at every turn. When her cattle come down with disease and her sons' lives are endangered, she must turn to Rand Brookston, Timber Ridge's physician and reluctant veterinarian. While Rachel appreciates his help, she squelches any feelings she might have for Rand--her own father was a doctor and his patients always took priority over his family. Rachel refuses to repeat the mistakes her mother made. But when she's courted by a wealthy client of the local resort, she faces a choice: self-sufficiency and security or the risk inherent in the deepest of loves.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Within My Heart, go HERE.

My Review:

When a reviewer sits down, we judge the book carefully on what we expect. A moving and captivating novel for me needs: prose that moves me, the grace of the weaving an amazing tapestry. Characters that grow and change while speaking to my heart with their honesty and depth. And emotions that leave me filled or drained, uplifted or in pain.

WITHIN MY HEART gave me every promise I was looking for and so much more. I didn’t judge this book. Not once did I think about the review, just the absolute certainty that this book was worth 5 stars. I simply read it. Experienced it. Let it sweep me away in the best novel I have read by Tamera Alexander.

I have read every one of Alexander’s books to date and loved them all, but this one. This will stand out in the halls of great fiction for years to come. This novel was real. That is the only thing that comes to mind when I try to find the words to describe it. It felt real. The emotions are vivid, emotions you can tell have a history behind them that makes them all the more poignant. To know the history behind this book while it was being written, makes the wait for the release and the pleasure of reading it all the sweeter and moving. I highly recommend it and want to thank the author for sharing a piece of her heart, because through it, this book spoke to mine.

This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers through CFBA for my copy to review.