Starred Review After Eleanor Braddock's brother is killed fighting for the South, and her father is institutionalized, she has no choice but to move into Belmont Mansion with her aunt, Adelicia Acklen, the richest woman in America. Adelicia is obsessed with finding a proper husband for her too-tall spinster niece and insists that Eleanor conform to society expectations. But Eleanor, who volunteered on the battlefields of the Civil War, feels called to establish a home for war widows and their children. Marcus Geoffrey is in Nashville to enjoy a respite from his duties and dabble in some plant breeding, and Adelicia has given him permission to perform his experiments in her greenhouse. When Eleanor has a run-in with Marcus, she has no idea that he is an archduke from the House of Habsburg, second in line to the Austrian throne, and under orders to marry Baroness Maria Elizabeth Albrecht von Haas. As Marcus and Eleanor strive for freedom from others' demands, they grow close despite overwhelming odds. Alexander's (Within My Heart, 2010) exquisitely written historical tale is filled with unforgettable characters, a romance that seems hopeless, and a close-up look at the aftermath of a war that nearly destroyed the country.

Bestseller Alexander will delight fans of gently inspirational historical romance with the second Belmont Mansion novel (after A Lasting Impression). In post-Civil War Nashville, Eleanor Braddock regretfully takes her father to an asylum because of his memory loss and outbursts, and moves in with her aunt Adelicia Acklen Cheatham, owner of Belmont, a real historical figure. Eleanor-s plan to open a restaurant is vetoed by Adelicia, so Eleanor uses her cooking skills to feed the city-s many struggling widows and children. Eleanor often runs into Marcus Geoffrey, whom she at first mistakes for an undergardener, but his activities suggest that there-s much more to his life. They become friends, but both have secrets that threaten to undermine their relationship. Alexander-s lengthy tale is full of bends and curves, as Eleanor and Marcus face down their struggles, deal with romantic entanglements, and begin to achieve their greatest dreams. Agent: Natasha Kern, Natasha Kern Literary Agency. (Apr.)