Olivia finds an escape route to the home of her mother's best friend and her husband. Elizabeth and General William Giles Harding have a thoroughbred stud farm close to Nashville, Tennessee. The name of the farm is Belle Meade and Olivia has been promised a job to be head housekeeper. When she arrives at Belle Meade she is told differently. She is accepted by Elizabeth, but Olivia finds the rest of the family is very cold to her.

On the day of Olivia's arrival she meets Ridley Adam Cooper. He is a man intent to learn all there is to know about horses. Mr. Cooper through uncomfortable circumstances has already met a Mr. Bob Greene who is a trainer for these magnificent horses. Mr. Cooper knows Mr. Greene is the man that can teach him. When Olivia meets Mr. Cooper, she pretends to be aloof, yet both of them feel that something is there between them. Both of them have pasts they wish to keep quiet about, but both of them must learn not to condemn, nor judge, so that they will not be judged. What you do to others, comes right back to you.

Olivia and Mr. Cooper find the time to heal their old wounds and as they do, a slow and steady romance begins. Even though Olivia is dependent on General Harding and his wife Elizabeth, she is willing and eager to work. I admire Olivia for this character trait. Through other hardened circumstances she gains-- the respect of others who at first pre-judged her. She is an admirable character who is easy to like and cheer for.

I loved TO WHISPER HER NAME and Tamara Alexander adds good wit and charm and a long lasting love. This story gave me an insight as to what it was like after the Civil War. Slaves that were given their freedom stayed on at Belle Meade for the plantation had done so well financially that it could keep it's servants. Many in the south could not see that the slaves were a free people now. Some wanted to continue to keep them as slaves, so one way of doing so, was to keep them with no education. TO WHISPER HER NAME was an adventure in learning for me.

Book Summary