Storyline
Rebekah Carrington is a master violinist and dreams of playing in an orchestra. Unfortunately in the 19th century, it was thought that women were too fragile to attempt such a feat - no matter how talented they may be. Forced to return home to Nashville after having spent the last 10 years in Vienna, she must settle for simply being an assistant to the orchestra leader, rather than showcasing her real talent. Nathaniel Tate Whitcomb is the Nashville Philharmonic's youngest maestro and needs Rebekah's help writing a symphony - before his own secrets threaten to destroy everything he has worked so hard for.

Classic to author Tamera's usual style, this book grabs you right from the beginning and glides along like gentle rolling, green hills, a satisfying and pleasurable journey for the reader. She adds just the right amount of plot, activity and excitement to keep the reader hooked!

Despite the wonderful storyline, we felt the end came a little too quickly, with some loose ends not fully explained, and without a couple satisfactory conclusions.

Depth
Both Rebekah and Tate have secrets they wish to keep hidden for fear of rejection by others. Issues of loss, grief, relationships with families (especially parents), health problems and going back to one's roots are explored. And as are usual in Tamera's stories, the historical reality of racism and slavery are faced head on, with tact and grace.

Faith
Rebekah caught her faith as a child from the older slaves she loved, as they taught her hymns on the violin. Now that she is an adult and on her own, she often goes back to these hymns and accompanying Bible verses to guide her and help her through rough times. Tate was raised with faith and is beginning to realize how important the role of it in his life should be. Going back to his roots reignites his faith and he allows God to lead him down the unknown path in front of him.

Love Story
Tate and Rebecca definitely hit it off on the wrong foot which adds for some romantic tension! But as their walls come down and they understand each other more, a tender and genuine love develops between them. Especially sweet in their love story is the side of Tate no one knows about that Rebekah becomes involved in.

Overall
These two chicks have come to expect a lot from Tamera - complex plots weaved expertly together, well developed and realistic characters and a deep faith we can relate to. And sure enough, A Note Yet Unsung did not disappoint! This was the final installment of the Belmont Mansion Series and it was by far our favorite.

Really enjoyed this 'before its time" story. Rebakah is a women after my heart.

It is hard to describe this book. I am not a instrument lover. In fact, many of my siblings would testify of my desire to destroy piano's during many years of my life based on how annoying they were to me. But I do love beautiful music, when well played. This book is music, well played. The subject of music is artfully woven into the story of a pair of people struggling to find their proper place in life. The romance is here, but is not the focus of the story. It is a subtle part of the novel, but you could almost miss it, but yet you cannot. Instead, the music, life and the desire for freedom from abuse, standards placed on the characters by society, and a desire to belong is stronger throughout. I really enjoyed this closing novel of the Belmont series as well as the true, historical tidbits sprinkled throughout.

Music lover or not, A Note Unsung will capture your heart, reader friends because the story is about much more than the wonderful music! Reconstruction Era Nashville, as well as the struggles and triumphs of her residents, is brought to life once again by talented storyteller and bonafide southern belle, Tamera Alexander. The tenacious dreams and complex lives of the main characters will keep readers riveted to the pages.

I requested the opportunity to read and review this title through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

It was great to learn about what is was like for women in that time period. I learned a lot about being a musician in that time and in general. There were flaws in the book that I've listed on Goodreads.com. Am I happy I read the book, yes. Would I recommend it to others? Yes

Vienna-trained violinist Rebekah Carrington finds herself back in her hometown of Nashville after the sudden death of her grandmother. Unable to live with her lecherous step-father and apathetic mother. Pursuing her dream of playing with an orchestra, Rebekah auditions for Nashville's new conductor Nathaniel Tate Whitcomb. While clearly impressed with her talent, Tate can't bring himself to defy the conventions of the time and allow a woman to perform with his orchestra. Still seeking a way to support herself, Rebeka takes a job at Belmont Mansion teaching violin lessons.

As Nashville's youngest conductor, Tate feels intense pressure-- from himself and anxious donors-- to finish his first symphony in time for the grand opening if the city's new opera house. Fears for his dying father, frequent headaches, and a strange buzzing in his ears leave him seemingly incapable of finishing his symphony. As he learns more about Rebekah's training and natural talent, in becomes clear to Tate that she may be the only one who can help him. Can Tate manage to convince Rebekah to help fulfill his dream when he has effectively ruined hers?

Tamera Alexander brings her Belmont Mansion series to an epic finale in A Note Yet Unsung. I've long been a devoted fan of Alexander's, and this newest novel may just become my new favorite of hers. It is easily my favorite of the Belmont series. I can't think of a single complaint. My inner Yankee often balks at her tendency to over-romanticize Southern culture, but there was very little of that in this case. Music, feminism, faith, and romance all come together here for a virtually perfect work of fiction, and I devoured every last page. The journey both Tate and Rebekah take in trying to reconcile their pasts with their dreams for the future is both believable and compelling, and caused me to shed more than one tear in the reading of it.

Rebekah Carrington is a tenacious young woman who has trained for years to become a master violinist, and is also fantastically skilled at the oboe, but is denied a place in the new Nashville Philharmonic because of the fact that she is a woman. So she applies for a job at Belmont Mansion as a governess, but when Adelicia Cheatham learns that Rebekah studied music in Vienna, she hires her to teach violin to her daughter Paulina.

Tate Whitcomb regrets not being able to offer a Rebekah a seat in teh orchestra, but he needs an assistant who can transcribe music, and he is saddled with the immense burden of building a orchestra from scratch with part time musicians. He is also composing an all new piece that is to be the show opener, so he asks Rebekah to help him.

Though reluctantly at first, Tate and Rebekah come to respect and admire one another. And as the they work together, sparks fly, and they find that they have more in common than they thought. Rebekah is a brave, passionate woman, who loves music, and does well with unexpected situations. She is humble and works tirelessly, without seeking recognition, she does everything she can to make opening night a success.

Tate is a determined man, and pushes on despite many disappointments and set backs.

Overall, this was a fantastic book that I just couldn't put down. It's one of the best books I've read in a long time, and is definitely going to be on my all time top ten. I loved the rich history and colorful characters full of faith, and passion for the music that they love. I loved watching Rebekah and Tate grow over the course of the book, as well as the clever dialog. This is a wonderfully entertaining read that you won't want to miss!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

Rebekah Carrington returns from Vienna after 10 years to find that her step-father is as difficult as ever and she sets about to find a place for herself away from his influence. She is determined to audition before Maestro Nathaniel Whitcomb, the conductor of the Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra. However, public opinion believes that such a thing would be scandalous! It’s much too rigorous, sensuous, and suggestive for a woman to master an instrument. Even as he dashes her dreams, Whitcomb soon comes to believe the she is necessary for him to accomplish his task of finishing his symphony before the new opera house opens.
It was fascinating to learn more about the orchestra in the 19th century. I felt for Rebekah who had such a gift from God and nowhere to set it free. I was astounded to learn that women were not truly welcomed into the orchestra until the 1970s.
This was my first Belmont Mansion novel so I hadn’t met Adelicia Cheatham before…a woman who could “wrap a dead skunk in silk and lace and pass it off as a mink” (location 2565). While she may have more bark than bite, she is not a woman to be trifled with. I am looking forward to going back to read the two prior books in this series to get to know her more.
I appreciated Maestro Whitcomb’s humility and that he didn’t look down on common folk despite his position. Rebekah’s feistiness and love for music were a treat as well. I feel I came to appreciate music more just by reading this book. I even went to the Tamera Alexander website to listen to the music “played” in this book (see link below).
This book was well written, with great characters. I would highly recommend it.
Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Belmont Mansion series:
Book 1: A Lasting Impression
Book 2: A Beauty So Rare
Book 3: A Note Yet Unsung
http://tameraalexander.com/books/belmont_mansion_novels/a_note_yet_unsung

When I see that Tamera Alexander has a new book coming out, I get excited. I've been reading her books for several years now, and I've never been disappointed. She is truly a master storyteller. A Note Yet Unsung is another beautifully written novel, with a depth to the characters that I appreciate every time.

This is the third novel in the Belmont Mansion series, but could be read as a stand alone. Previous characters are mentioned and have small parts in this story, and, of course, Mrs. Adelicia Cheatham plays a key role as she is the mistress of Belmont. I absolutely loved Rebekah and Tate's story. Tate was particularly interesting, as he is obviously hiding something about himself from everyone. As who he is starts to unfold, for me the story truly began. His vulnerability, showing who is behind this ambitious conductor, binds he and Rebekah together. Rebekah is also hiding something from Tate and learns to trust him with her secret as he trusts her with his. A truly beautiful tale of conquering your fears and trusting God to use you right where you are. I would highly recommend this book!

**I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in order to give an honest review.**

Tamera Alexander is one of my all-time favorite authors. She has a way of creating a captivating tale with incredible settings and irresistible characters. A Note Yet Unsung is the final installment of the Belmont Mansion series of novels. Within the pages of this novel are a few historical people as well as the characters of the book. Adelicia Cheatham owns the Belmont Mansion and takes in Rebekah Carrington as an employee to tutor her daughter in playing the violin. Rebekah's home life was not safe at all because of her stepfather who had tried to assault her when she was a young child. Rebekah's lifelong dream was to play in a symphony but the times are such that women are not allowed to play in the symphony.

Nathaniel Tate Whitman was named the Maestro of the Nashville Symphony. Rebekah goes to him to apply for a job in the symphony only to be turned down. But Tate comes back to ask her to be his assistant, to help him with writing his symphony to be performed on the opening of the new theater in Nashville.

The road to love for Tate and Rebekah is anything but smooth, but it is never boring, and it makes the book all the sweeter. This is a five-star book, with two thumbs up, and a mystery violinist playing the most beautiful music you've ever heard.

I appreciated Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book. Extremely hard to put down.

LOVED LOVED LOVED this book. This book kept me up reading long after the hours of the day dictated that I should have been asleep. But no, I just didn't want to stop reading it. I just had to know how it was going to end.

A Note Yet Unsung is about Rebekah Carrington who has returned home after spending her years of education in Europe, learning music. But she returns home after the death of her grandmother and the funds for her to stay overseas is gone. She returns home to a house that holds terrible memories and she's eager to find a job that allows her to live elsewhere. Thus, her determination to audition for a seat in the orchestra. But despite her determination, she fails to obtain a seat because she is a woman. So after obtaining a potential governess position, she seeks out work so that one day she can apply for a seat in the orchestra in New York, where a woman has successfully been employed.

The one thing that I love about this book is that despite it being book three of the Belmont Mansion series, I did not find myself lost and floundering at any time. In fact, I have no idea who the previous characters were other than the Mrs. Adelicia Cheatham. But upon reading this story, I find that I definitely need (no wait, want) to read the first two in this particular series.

The author, Tamera, did an excellent job I believe in weaving the plot throughout the story along. There wasn't an excessive amount of talking, and where there was, I was able to stay along with the story without being overwhelmed. There were moments where I could feel moisture in my eyes, and then laugh out loud moments. Then those awwww, and hurray!

The only pieces I felt were lacking were the issues with her and her mom, and the problem with her grandmother's money, and her stepfather's issues. But, despite those loose ends, I thought the story being as it was about Rebekah, was excellent.

I did receive this book from the publisher Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.

Tamera Alexander once again proves why she is historical fiction royalty. I could not put this book down!

From the very first chapter, I was swept away to 1870s Nashville and the sumptuous world of the symphony and opera house. The historical detail is second-to-none as Alexander brings post-war Nashville to life, and readers of the previous two Belmont Mansion novels will relish the opportunity to revisit that grand story setting. But as much as I love history (and if you know me or have ever read one of my reviews, you know just how much I love my history!), it's the characters who really made this story shine for me.

Even though I am a musician like the heroine, Rebekah, I believe I would have felt a kinship with her even if we didn't have that in common. She was immediately likable, and her struggle to "make it in a man's world" is one I think every woman reader can relate to. She believes in herself and her God-given talent, and is plucky enough to go after what she wants even while settling for what she needs in order to survive. Likewise, Tate was a flawed yet compelling hero. Trapped within the social confines of his day, he struggled just as much as Rebekah to channel his talent—and ultimately hers—in a direction that would honor both God and their family legacies. I especially loved how Alexander was able to channel Tate's purported favorite composer, Ludwig van Beethoven, into Tate's very character. Their mutual desperation and genius was one of my favorite parts of the whole book.

And these two characters combined to make one swoon-worthy romance! It's often hard for an author to make two complete strangers fall in love within the course of 400 pages, but Alexander kept the pace steady and realistic. I found their attraction to one another very believable, and the layers they kept peeling back, revealing more and more of their true hearts to one another, made this a romance I could easily and happily root for. Rebekah and Tate also have wonderfully moving relationships with their families and friends, and I was sobbing on more than one touching occasion.

Now, lest this turn into a complete gush, there were a few things that kept this from being a 5-star book for me. Without spoiling the ending for those of you who haven't read it, suffice it to say, I wanted and needed more from the ending. After the steadfast, consistent pace of the first 95% of the book, the final two chapters felt way too rushed for me, even as they left too many plot points unexplained. And I really felt there was a point-of-view missing from the final, climactic scene, so that the big "ta-da" moment the entire book had been building toward fell a little flat for me. There was also a subplot about a street urchin that I could've done without entirely, as it didn't seem to add anything whatsoever to the story. And this is also totally nitpicky of me, but considering this is a story about a violinist and a symphony conductor, the title, A Note Yet Unsung, kinda rubs me the wrong way, as this story really isn't about singing!

But on the whole, if you love historical romance with exquisite detail and a heart-pounding romance between two equally flawed yet driven characters, set in a lavish, real-life world, then you don't want to pass up A Note Yet Unsung. It's Tamera Alexander at her finest, and definitely one for any historical fiction lover's keeper shelf.

A few years ago someone gave me a book by Tamera Alexander. I can't remember which one it was, but I just couldn't get into it, so I never finished it. Because of that, I haven't even tried any of her books since. What have I been missing out on? A Note Yet Unsung was excellent from page one. The characters, the plot, the attention to detail, all made me want to curl up inside the pages and live there. (Figurative pages, since I read this on my Kindle.) I cant' remember a time when I've loved two characters more--or fell in love with them as quickly--as I did Tate and Rebekah. Their story was unexpected, and beautifully written. Now, ya'll know that I sometimes accidentally choose a second or third book in a series, usually because I love the cover, and it ends up not working out for me. I didn't realize it at the time, but A Note Yet Unsung is the third book in a series, but that didn't hinder my enjoyment at all. It only means I need to go back and read the rest of the Belmont Mansion series in order to understand some of the side characters a little better. And that is something I totally want to do. I stayed up way too late reading this book, but I went to bed feeling so happy, and wasn't able to stop smiling because the ending made me so happy.



The Civil War is not long over, and Rebekah Carrington has just returned to Nashville after spending the last ten years studying music in Vienna, Austria. Her beloved grandmother and benefactor has died, and she has no choice but to return home. But she refuses to live in the house with her mother and stepfather, who is a cruel man, and the reason her grandmother sent her away all those years ago. A talented musician, Rebekah learns of a position as assistant to the maestro of the newly formed Nashville Symphony. Under the ruse of applying for the job, Rebekah auditions with her oboe for Nathaniel Tate Whitcomb, the young maestro. Tate knows Rebekah is talented--and very beautiful--but he cannot give a woman a place in his orchestra. Rebekah leaves disappointed, and takes a job as a music tutor, but her path will cross with Tate's again. Tate has a secret that no one else knows, and when Rebekah stumbles upon it, their whole relationship will change. As their feelings deepen, Rebekah knows that she soon must tell Tate her secret, too. But what will be his reaction? Can their newfound love weather all that's about to be thrust upon them?

This story had so many unexpected avenues that made it really unputdownable. I was on pins and needles wondering when Rebekah would reveal her violin-playing talents to Tate. I thought I knew how it would happen, but I was wrong--and gladly so! What really happened was even better than I could have hoped. It's obvious that the author did a lot of research about music and the symphony (or she is also a very talented musician in addition to her writing skills!) and her attention to detail really shines. I feel like I've been missing out on a lot by not reading her novels before, but I plan to remedy that in the future! I'm really glad I read this book, and it's already one of my favorites for the year!




I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own and a favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

A Note Yet Unsung is the 3rd book in the Belmont Mansion series by Tamera Alexander. It can, however, stand alone. In this book we read the story of a young gifted musician who happens to be a woman in post civil war settled in Nashville, Tennessee. Upon the death of her beloved grandmother, Rebekah returns from being abroad in Vienna where she has been studying music from a composer. Her dream is to play with a symphony. At this time, women were not admitted at all, but she is determined to try. Meeting with the Nashville Conductor, Tate, she auditions by playing the oboe. She is also proficient in the violin and the piano. Things do not go well and she is still determined to find employment due to her cruel stepfather. She meets Mrs. Adelicia Cheatham, the mistress of Belmont, who in turns offers her the position of violin tutor to her daughter. Mr. Whitcomb, who turned her down for the symphony, wants to help her so he hires her as a transcriber for the music. From here, Rebekah and Tate build a friendship that soon turns into attraction.
I love the banter between them. They love to argue! I love how Tamera Alexander weaves the beauty of music into something amazing. I had the hardest time stepping away from Rebekah and Tate’s story. I felt drawn to find out what would happen next. There are so many situations that I had no idea would happen. Like Tate’s background for example and so much more. I would definitely recommend this, along with any of the authors books. Tamera Alexander is a gift author. 4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. The writing flowed nicely and I was pulled into the narrative immediately. I really enjoyed Rebekah and Adelicia. Tate annoyed me a little. But overall I enjoyed their story. At times I thought the story was a little slow moving and predictable, but overall it was very interesting and moving.

I received an ARC of A Note Yet Unsung from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Okay, well, it's been quite a while since I've read the previous books in this series. (I checked. The one before this came out in 2014...) But it was okay! While there are some things in the book that happened in previous books that were alluded to, even if I hadn't read the others, I still would have gotten everything. Sometimes I love those kinds of books, sometimes I don't. With that much time between books, though, I will say that I appreciated the separation of the books.

That totally wasn't important, but I needed to get it off my chest. On to the actual review!

I definitely enjoyed A Note Yet Unsung. I think that Tate's growth as a character was probably the best part of the story. He kind of comes off as a jerk for most of the first half of the story and even as he's changing, he definitely has his jerky moments. But he really does get better, and making someone go from undesirable to desirable in the course of a story (believably, no less) is a masterful feat that Ms. Alexander pulled off beautifully.

I have a bit of a secret/not so secret love of historical romances. I don't like romances nor do I enjoy history, but stick them together and I can't seem to get enough of them. I think it's the fact that I'm learning all of these historical tidbits without feeling like I'm actually learning them, that is, if the author wrote it that way. And this book was written that way. And it's not just the references, it also has to do with the setting. Everything was described in such a way that I had no trouble picturing Nashville in the 1870's. The details were rich, lending themselves to be painted with their clarity.

Endings are a hard thing to master, and I believe that the ending didn't quite do the book justice, which is the reason for the loss of a star. I've noticed in some of the other Tamera Alexander books that I've read that the ending seems to come almost too fast and is wrapped up too quickly for my liking. I was looking for more closure about Tate's hearing issue and Rebekah's stepfather situation. One of these was just kind of left open-ended, interpret it as you will. The other was tied in a neat little bow that didn't feel right for all the lead-up it had. I also really wanted to know what happened to Rebekah's grandma, but it was also left open-ended. "Maybe she died of natural causes, maybe she didn't, I guess we'll never know, but that's okay." ... No, I kind of need to know.

On that note, though, I really liked A Note Yet Unsung. The plot moved along at a nice pace and the characters were engaging, keeping me reading to the end to see how their stories would end. Anyone who's looking for a sweet historical romance need look no further.

Yes, Yes, and Yes. This was such a satisfying read. I was worried before I started because the only other Tamera Alexander book that I've read, I didn't finish because of content. But I tried again because this author comes highly recommend by a friend of mine. Oh it was a winner. Totally clean and really really great characters. I have this thing for music books, and it just kills be how music was thought of as unfeminine and too rigorous. I knew this from previous regency reads, but I didn't ever equate it with American culture (which was stupid, I should have, but all my regency books are in England...so it never occurred to me).


Sometimes I wanted the story to go faster, but it could have been that I was reading it on my kindle and not a hard copy. I like actual books so I know and can anticipate length and where I'm at in the story. I have a harder time doing that on e-books. It also could have been that I really liked the story and wanted to get to it (I'm weird that way....I like to hurry through a book and get the meat of it, and then go back and reread and enjoy all the little things about it).

Anyway, I would completely recommend this book, and I can't wait to read it again :)

A beautiful story with well-developed characters. Rebekah Carrington possesses incredible talent as a musician in a time period when women had no practical outlet for their musical talents. Along the way, readers come to understand the fact that if God gifts us with a talent, we have a responsibility to use it to glorify HIM, not ourselves—even if it means stepping outside of our comfort zone.