Author: Tamera Alexander
Reviewed by: Alexis A. Goring for Bethany House
A Note Yet Unsung (A Belmont Mansion Novel) was a masterful storytelling adventure, filled with high and low notes to what could be a melodious song.
This is a book for music lovers and trailblazers who believe in breaking down stereotypes while challenging the status quo and allowing innovation to take place. The result is hope fulfilled and a better world.
Tamera Alexander, the author, does a delightful job of introducing the heroine of the story (Rebekah Carrington). It is obvious from the first page that Rebekah is a strong-willed, stubborn, fierce and beautiful woman who is determined to break through the glass ceiling and become a concert violinist. Her dream is to perform. She believes that if she can just play for a moment before the great Maestro of the Nashville Philharmonic, then her dreams for playing for audiences professionally in opera halls will come true.
It’s admirable that Rebekah thinks that her talent as a violinist will make room for her. After all, the Bible says that and this is a Christian fiction novel. Speaking of faith, the author knows how to add faith elements to this masterful composition without being overbearing. Instead, it is a sweet crescendo that ebbs and flows in all the right moments.
The romance between Rebekah and the hero Nathaniel Tate Whitcomb (a “nationally acclaimed conductor”/the great Maestro) is well written and not without challenges. They conflict with each other at first but as the story progresses they fall in love and make beautiful music together (literally).
There are subplots that make this story have depth. The author dives deep into the development of her characters, not leaving the readers lacking in any sense of the word. The reader will get to meet the hero’s family and may grow to like them very much. All of the characters in this story are well imagined by the author and while likeable, they do have necessary flaws.
There is a historical political climate in this story that’s true to the real-world because it was written about a time where women did not have all of their rights in society. Eras ago, it was unheard of a professional woman playing music in concert halls. But this is an issue that the author tackles effortlessly and does it in a way that makes you want to root for the heroine and fall in love with the hero.
The only fault I could find is that it was a very thick novel and took me several days to finish reading. Nothing is wrong with that for someone who enjoys reading long stories. But for this reader, there were moments where I was tempted to skip ahead or just skim through a few chapters.
However, don’t let my personal preference for shorter stories sway you from reading A Note Yet Unsung. It is a delightful story and definitely worth reading!
*Bethany House sent a complimentary copy of A Note Yet Unsung to Alexis A Goring in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks for the review! I got started on the book, and I'm enjoying so far!
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