Tamera Alexander: A Note Yet Unsung

By Kelly Bridgewater

A master violinist trained in Vienna, Rebekah Carrington manages to wheedle her way into an audition with the maestro at the newly-formed Nashville Philharmonic. But women are "far too fragile and frail" for the rigors of an orchestra, and Rebekah's hopes are swiftly dashed because the conductor--determined to leave his mark on the world of classical music--bows to public opinion. To make matters worse, Adelicia Acklen Cheatham, mistress of Belmont Mansion and Rebekah's new employer, agrees with him.

Nationally acclaimed conductor Nathaniel Tate Whitcomb is Nashville's new orchestra leader. And despite a reluctant muse--and a strange buzzing and recurring pain in his head--he must finish composing his symphony before the grand opening of the city's new opera hall. But far more pressing, he must finish it for the one who first inspired his love of music--his father, who is dying. As Tate's ailment worsens, he believes Rebekah can help him finish his symphony. But how do you win back a woman's trust when you've robbed her of her dream?
 

From Amazon

My Review:

Wow! Do you have at least one day completely free that you can sit down and spend reading a book? Well, I did. Of course, it is Christmas time, and my boys are free from school, so I allowed them to play while I sat in the living room and devoured Tamera Alexander's A Note Yet Unsung. This is a really long book, but it is really well-written. With a historical novel, I enjoy learning certain things about the past that bring the characters and the setting to life. Alexander does a good job at this.

While I don't usually read books that take place in the nineteenth century because they don't have any appeal to me, but many friends have recommended Alexander's books, so I took a chance and checked out the first book in the Belmont Mansion series, A Lasting Impression and enjoyed it. I couldn't wait to read A Note Yet Unsung. The cover is beautiful, and I really wanted to read more of the story from the synopsis.

I'm glad that I did. The pace of the story moves at a nice clip and kept my attention.  Alexander does a great job at bringing the setting to life that I felt like I was sitting in Nashville, TN for the entire day. The Belmont Mansion sparkled in my imagination alongside the characters in the novel. The romance between Rebekah and Tate grew slowing, which was great in my humble opinion. I loved how when Rebekah confronted Tate on where he grew up, she started to fall in love with this kind hearted man. I loved that. Made me smile for them.

As for the characters of Rebekah and Tate, I really enjoyed spending time with them. I liked how Rebekah was motivated to perform in the orchestra and worked her way closer to Tate to get the recommendation she needed to succeed. I admire her musical talent and her desire to do the lower work to achieve her dreams. As for Tate, I enjoyed that he wanted to better himself with his musical talent and worked himself practically to death to achieve his dreams. Both characters were admirable and definitely wonderful characters.

The plot with the music is original and definitely a look into another part of America's past. There isn't much mention of God, but I could see the work of God in both Rebekah and Tate's lives as they grew closer together.  I recommend A Note Yet Unsung to fans of historical fiction of any age group. Even young girls could read this book and enjoy it.

I received a complimentary copy of Tamera Alexander's A Note Yet Unsung from Bethany House, and the opinions stated are all my own. 

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Have you ever read an author because of friends or reviews written? If so, who? If not, why not?