Among the Fair Magnolias: Four Southern Love Stories

by Tamera Alexander, Dorothy Love, Shelley Gray, Elizabeth Musser

Overview

“You don’t have to be a fan of Southern fiction or historical fiction to appreciate and enjoy the fabulous storytelling in this collection.” —4½ stars, RT Book Reviews

In the most turbulent decade of our nation's history, four Southern women—destinies forged by birth, hearts steeled by war—face near impossible choices on their journeys in life . . . and in love.

To Mend a Dream by Tamera Alexander

Savannah Darby would do almost anything to revisit her family home. So when new owner, Aidan Bedford, a Boston attorney and former Union soldier, seeks to redecorate the house for his fiancée, Savannah jumps at the opportunity. But the clock is ticking. Can she find the box her father supposedly hid there during the war before her assignment is completed? And before she sees yet another battle lost on the home front? This time, one of the heart.

An Outlaw's Heart by Shelley Gray

When Russell Stark returns to Fort Worth, he's determined to begin a new life. But when he arrives at his mother's homestead, he discovers she's very ill, and the woman he loved is still as beautiful and sweet as he remembered. With time running out, Russell must come to terms with both his future and his past.

A Heart So True by Dorothy Love

Abigail knows all too well what is expected of her: to marry her distant cousin Charles and take her place in society. But her heart belongs to another—and a terrible incident forces Abby to choose between love and duty.

Love Beyond Limits by Elizabeth Musser

Emily has a secret: She's in love with one of the freedmen on her family's plantation. Meanwhile, another man declares his love for her. Emily realizes some things are not as they seem and secrets must be kept in order to keep those she loves safe.

“Four intriguing novellas rich in historical detail, with unique settings and surprising premises—each filled with romance and heartbreak, pain and redemption. This collection set in the nineteenth century took me home to times and places in the Deep South I’ve visited only in my dreams. An absolute pleasure to read.” —Cathy Gohlke, bestselling author of Secrets She Kept and Saving Amelie

“Among the Fair Magnolias will sweep you into the past, carrying you into the beauty and battles of the Old South. You will love, laugh, and lament as your heart is inspired to face life with courage and live it more fully.” —Cindy Woodsmall, New York Times and CBA bestselling author

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781401690731
Publisher:	Nelson, Thomas, Inc.
Publication date:	07/14/2015
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	948,601
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Tamera Alexander is a USA Today bestselling novelist whose works have been awarded and nominated for numerous industry-leading honors, including the Christy Award (two-time winner, seven-time finalist), the RITA Award (two-time winner, four-time finalist), the Carol Award, the Maggie Award, the Booksellers Best Award, and Library Journal's top distinction, among others. After seventeen years in Colorado, Tamera and her husband now reside in Nashville, Tennessee, where they live a short distance from Belmont Mansion and Belle Meade Plantation, the setting of Tamera’s two USA Today bestselling Southern series.

A native of west Tennessee, Dorothy Love makes her home in the Texas hill country with her husband and their golden retriever. An award-winning author of numerous young adult novels, Dorothy made her adult debut with the Hickory Ridge novels. Facebook: dorothylovebooks Twitter: @WriterDorothy

Shelley Gray is the author of The Heart of a Hero series. Her Amish novel (written as Shelley Shepard Gray), The Protector, recently made the New York Times best seller list. A native of Texas, she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Colorado and taught school for ten years. She and her husband have two children and live in Southern Ohio. Visit her website at www.shelleyshepardgray.com Facebook: ShelleyShepardGray Twitter: @ShelleySGray

Editorial Reviews

You don’t have to be a fan of Southern fiction or historical fiction to appreciate and enjoy the fabulous storytelling in this collection. Each story is different and readers will ‘feel all the feels’ as they experience the challenges these characters encounter.” - 4 1/2 starred review

RT Book Reviews

06/01/2015
The Civil War era is the inspiration for these four romantic, Texas-set novellas. In Dorothy Love's "A Heart So True," Abigail Clayton is expected to marry her distant cousin Charles. To go against her father's wishes may put the family in financial jeopardy, but Abby's heart is not listening. Shelley Gray's "An Outlaw's Heart" tells of Russell Champion, who returns home to mend fences with his dying mother and discovers that her housekeeper is his former love. Emily Derracott adores her childhood friend Thomas McGinness, but their contrasting opinions about the newly freed slaves is a stumbling block to their romance in Elizabeth Musser's "Love Beyond Limits." Finally, Alexander's "To Mend a Dream" revolves around Savannah Darby's efforts to revisit her old family home, now owned by a handsome attorney and former Union soldier. Secretly seeking a box that her father hid within the house, Savannah uncovers romance and an unexpected surprise. VERDICT Four touching, well-crafted stories about following one's heart will find favor with the authors' fans and serve as a great introduction to these writers for new readers.

Library Journal