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Among the Fair Magnolias: Four Southern Love Stories by Tamera Alexander, Shelley Gray, Dorothy Love
academy252's review
4.0
A good book to take on vacation or to the beach. Four authors with four stories to tell and each is a delightful read.
sydneyelaine's review
3.0
The only book I've actually read this summer... and I liked it!
The only story I did not really enjoy was "An Outlaws Heart." It really didn't fit the theme, it didn't feel well researched or "Southern," it just felt like a western novella and I don't really like westerns all that much. To me, Texas just doesn't feel historically Southern. Where the other three stories did reference the Civil War or big "true Southern" cities, pulling you into the South with historic context, this one just fell flat. I think with more editing or maybe even as a full-length novel it could have worked but I just did not like it.
The only story I did not really enjoy was "An Outlaws Heart." It really didn't fit the theme, it didn't feel well researched or "Southern," it just felt like a western novella and I don't really like westerns all that much. To me, Texas just doesn't feel historically Southern. Where the other three stories did reference the Civil War or big "true Southern" cities, pulling you into the South with historic context, this one just fell flat. I think with more editing or maybe even as a full-length novel it could have worked but I just did not like it.
khaven's review
3.0
I think maybe novellas are not my thing. I liked the one by Tamera and I liked the last one but the first story was too quickly reconciled, too predictable, boring. The third was just okay.
r_j_setser's review against another edition
5.0
Over the course of my reviewing time, I have really grown to love reading and reviewing novella collections such as this one because the book sets a theme and some of my favorite authors team up and write similar, yet equally unique, short stories. In Among The Fair Magnolias, I only knew two of the four authors (Tamera Alexander and Dorthy Love) but was excited to try the other two's writing. Each one of these stories are charming and I was not disappointed with the characters nor the plots. Each author has a writing style that blended perfectly with the other's and I was very pleased with how each of the stories fit together to match the title. Among the Fair Magnolias is probably one of my favorite novella collections and I am sure that I will be rereading each of the stories throughout my future!
5 out of 5 stars and highly recommended!
You can read this review, as well as many others, on my blog at http://acceleratethejesusmovement.wordpress.com
5 out of 5 stars and highly recommended!
You can read this review, as well as many others, on my blog at http://acceleratethejesusmovement.wordpress.com
indywrites's review against another edition
4.0
Among The Fair Magnolias
This book has 4 novellas by 4 very eloquent ladies. I had already read two of them and was glad I signed up to read and review this book for Litfuse. These four stories are all set in the turbulent times with a lot of changes happening all around. The love stories also mirror the tension, anxiety, conflicts and the reluctant acceptance of the changes.
To Mend a Dream by Tamera Alexander
Tamera has mentioned that Savannah had stayed in her thoughts after the novel To Win Her Favor and I agree! While reading it I wanted to read Savannah’s love story. Does she get her home back? Does she find what she is looking for? Who does she finally fall in love with? To Mend A Dream answers all these and some more. I found the story so engaging; in fact this is my favorite among all the four stories. The sad yet strong Savannah trying to keep her family together is so endearing. She works hard and fast, trying to keep a roof over her siblings and looking for the box left for her by her father.
Aidan is conflicted and his longing for peace, his association with the war leave him unsettled and that he is second guessing his proposal to Ms. Priscilla who turns out to be quite a task master. The poems that he remembers about Nashville bring a tear to the eye. Oh! Sweet Jesus, let me live to taste that again…..for the Peach Cobbler. The beauty of the place, the rolling greens and peace and quiet add to the charm of the book. Character with layers, plot with a questions that kept me turning the pages, I was glued to the book.
The scene when Savannah finally finds what she is looking for and finds much more than she thought possible is just the sweetest ever! Her coy, “I’m afraid we southerners don’t speak so openly of such matters……” was so sweet. A perfect ending to Savannah’s journey as she finally comes home.
An Outlaw's Heart by Shelley Gray
This story was fast, crisp and I enjoyed Russell as he was a man with hope, love and faith in his heart even though he had lost so much. He had been in the woods and a lesser man might embrace the dark side but not Russell. I think the best decision he made was to come back and see his mother that he found his long lost love made the return so special. Nora, the sweet, helpful young girl who had sent him away regretted her action for seven years and she got a chance to fix things. That she had a beau – Braedon only made it easy for her to realize the real thing.
An Outlaw's Heart is a story that celebrates ‘second chances’ and of course true love finds a way!
A Heart So True by Dorothy Love
Abigail is a woman who knows her mind and I feel it were women like her who help women come out and make progress alongside men. Dr Wade Bennet is the one who has her heart and she wants to work with him, help him. Her parents make no secret of their liking for Charles and she bows down to their demands.
That she agreed to her parents even though it broke her heart told of the sacrifices we make for those whom we love. Turbulent times and quickly changing political changes add to the confusion. Yet in the end even her father realized that knowingly one cannot thrust one’s own child into abuse.
Even I wanted to smack Charles along with Wade!! A simple, sweet and succulent love story.
Love Beyond Limits by Elizabeth Musser
This story about Emily had so much suspense that I was wondering about the truth right till the end!
Emily thought she was in love with Leroy, a freedman from her own plantation and she was being courted by her childhood friend Thomas McGinnis. That he seems forceful yet loving, calm yet haunted by memories makes him and intriguing character. Even Emily had trouble understanding him.
When the troubled times head over to Emily’s farm and things come to a head I realized the true actions of Thomas and Leroy. Love Beyond Limits was a book that brought strong passions to fore and highlighted the times when life was so easily lost. The Ku Klux Klan was indeed a dreaded plague that wreaked havoc in so many lives. The manner in which Thomas was entangled with them and the lengths he went to save his love was so heartwarming.
I always enjoy stories where the heroine is not a typical damsel in distress but tries to tackle the odds on her own. She is willing to take help but is not waiting for it. The women in the stories were just as strong, determined and proactive like the women of today.
A true representation of the Magnolias and so very apt. A must read for lovers for romance which scales impossible odds!
(I received a copy of the book from Litfuse for an honest review.)
This book has 4 novellas by 4 very eloquent ladies. I had already read two of them and was glad I signed up to read and review this book for Litfuse. These four stories are all set in the turbulent times with a lot of changes happening all around. The love stories also mirror the tension, anxiety, conflicts and the reluctant acceptance of the changes.
To Mend a Dream by Tamera Alexander
Tamera has mentioned that Savannah had stayed in her thoughts after the novel To Win Her Favor and I agree! While reading it I wanted to read Savannah’s love story. Does she get her home back? Does she find what she is looking for? Who does she finally fall in love with? To Mend A Dream answers all these and some more. I found the story so engaging; in fact this is my favorite among all the four stories. The sad yet strong Savannah trying to keep her family together is so endearing. She works hard and fast, trying to keep a roof over her siblings and looking for the box left for her by her father.
Aidan is conflicted and his longing for peace, his association with the war leave him unsettled and that he is second guessing his proposal to Ms. Priscilla who turns out to be quite a task master. The poems that he remembers about Nashville bring a tear to the eye. Oh! Sweet Jesus, let me live to taste that again…..for the Peach Cobbler. The beauty of the place, the rolling greens and peace and quiet add to the charm of the book. Character with layers, plot with a questions that kept me turning the pages, I was glued to the book.
The scene when Savannah finally finds what she is looking for and finds much more than she thought possible is just the sweetest ever! Her coy, “I’m afraid we southerners don’t speak so openly of such matters……” was so sweet. A perfect ending to Savannah’s journey as she finally comes home.
An Outlaw's Heart by Shelley Gray
This story was fast, crisp and I enjoyed Russell as he was a man with hope, love and faith in his heart even though he had lost so much. He had been in the woods and a lesser man might embrace the dark side but not Russell. I think the best decision he made was to come back and see his mother that he found his long lost love made the return so special. Nora, the sweet, helpful young girl who had sent him away regretted her action for seven years and she got a chance to fix things. That she had a beau – Braedon only made it easy for her to realize the real thing.
An Outlaw's Heart is a story that celebrates ‘second chances’ and of course true love finds a way!
A Heart So True by Dorothy Love
Abigail is a woman who knows her mind and I feel it were women like her who help women come out and make progress alongside men. Dr Wade Bennet is the one who has her heart and she wants to work with him, help him. Her parents make no secret of their liking for Charles and she bows down to their demands.
That she agreed to her parents even though it broke her heart told of the sacrifices we make for those whom we love. Turbulent times and quickly changing political changes add to the confusion. Yet in the end even her father realized that knowingly one cannot thrust one’s own child into abuse.
Even I wanted to smack Charles along with Wade!! A simple, sweet and succulent love story.
Love Beyond Limits by Elizabeth Musser
This story about Emily had so much suspense that I was wondering about the truth right till the end!
Emily thought she was in love with Leroy, a freedman from her own plantation and she was being courted by her childhood friend Thomas McGinnis. That he seems forceful yet loving, calm yet haunted by memories makes him and intriguing character. Even Emily had trouble understanding him.
When the troubled times head over to Emily’s farm and things come to a head I realized the true actions of Thomas and Leroy. Love Beyond Limits was a book that brought strong passions to fore and highlighted the times when life was so easily lost. The Ku Klux Klan was indeed a dreaded plague that wreaked havoc in so many lives. The manner in which Thomas was entangled with them and the lengths he went to save his love was so heartwarming.
I always enjoy stories where the heroine is not a typical damsel in distress but tries to tackle the odds on her own. She is willing to take help but is not waiting for it. The women in the stories were just as strong, determined and proactive like the women of today.
A true representation of the Magnolias and so very apt. A must read for lovers for romance which scales impossible odds!
(I received a copy of the book from Litfuse for an honest review.)
readingqueen's review against another edition
4.0
Four southern love stories ranging from before and after the civil war, Under the Fair Magnolias is another interesting read for romance fans and short story lovers. With some of my favorite authors and such a beautiful cover, I couldn’t pass it up. Shelley Gray, Dorothy Love, Tamera Alexander, and Elizabeth Musser have each written interesting, heartwarming tales of sweet romance.
To Mend a Dream by Tamera Alexander is a short story written about Savannah Darby, a minor character from Tamera’s book To Win Her Favor. I believe I said before in my review of To Win Her Favor that I wanted to know where Savannah’s story would go, so I was thrilled to find out that this story was hers. To Mend a Dream was easily my favorite of the four.
Love Beyond Limits by Elizabeth Musser was my second favorite. This story features more of the ugliness that was happening around the time, so there’s more of a realness to the historical setting. I admired the bravery of Emily Derracott.
An Outlaw’s Heart by Shelley Gray and A Heart So True by Dorothy Love were also well written, although I felt like I was missing something. Most everything was explained and did work as short stories, but it wasn’t quite enough for me.
To Mend a Dream by Tamera Alexander is a short story written about Savannah Darby, a minor character from Tamera’s book To Win Her Favor. I believe I said before in my review of To Win Her Favor that I wanted to know where Savannah’s story would go, so I was thrilled to find out that this story was hers. To Mend a Dream was easily my favorite of the four.
Love Beyond Limits by Elizabeth Musser was my second favorite. This story features more of the ugliness that was happening around the time, so there’s more of a realness to the historical setting. I admired the bravery of Emily Derracott.
An Outlaw’s Heart by Shelley Gray and A Heart So True by Dorothy Love were also well written, although I felt like I was missing something. Most everything was explained and did work as short stories, but it wasn’t quite enough for me.
rachelm31f6b's review against another edition
3.0
I liked two stories but didn't like the other two. 'To Mend a Dream' I loved loved it. 'An outlaw's heart' liked that was too! 'A heart so true' scan read it, wasn't feeling it. 'Love beyond limits' meh. I knew this story wasn't fully possible in the historical context so it was hard to get into and uncomfortable because I didn't really want people to die....
Worth it at least for 'To Mend a Dream' I enjoyed it so much!
Worth it at least for 'To Mend a Dream' I enjoyed it so much!
lizb's review against another edition
4.0
I don’t typically read novellas because I usually feel like the story was too short and wrapped up quickly. However, I really enjoyed these four southern love stories and they made me more hopefully of liking novellas in the future. I thought each story was the perfect length and the story was complete. All four of these authors were new to me so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised and will be looking for their books. All of the stories take place in the South after the Civil War; I enjoy reading historical fiction so it was nice that they all contained quite a bit of history. Each story had surprises that made them fun to read. I recommend this book to anyone looking for fun, quick, and romantic reads.
I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for an honest review.
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