Belmont Mansion Novels · Book 3
A Note Yet Unsung
2017 Christy Award Winner | #1 CBA Bestseller | 2018 Carol Award Winner | 2018 RITA Award Finalist | Starred Reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Romantic Times, and Booklist
Bethany House · 2017 · ★ 4.31/5 on Goodreads (4,000+)
A master violinist trained in Vienna, Rebekah Carrington manages to wheedle her way into an audition with the maestro at the newly formed Nashville Philharmonic. But women are considered far too fragile and frail for the rigors of an orchestra, and Rebekah's hopes are swiftly dashed when the conductor bows to public opinion.
Nationally acclaimed conductor Nathaniel Tate Whitcomb is Nashville's new orchestra leader. Despite a reluctant muse and a strange recurring pain in his head, he must finish composing his symphony before the grand opening of the city's new opera hall—and before his father dies.
As Tate's ailment worsens, he believes Rebekah can help him finish his symphony. But how do you win back a woman's trust when you have robbed her of her dream?
As music moves us to tears yet makes our hearts soar, A Note Yet Unsung captures the splendor of classical music at a time when women's hard-won strides in cultural issues changed not only world history—but the hearts of men.
Praise for A Note Yet Unsung
"Intensity, conflict, suffering, compassion, and redemption fill the pages of this historical novel. An outstanding, inspirational and highly recommended story."
— Historical Novel Society
"This fast-moving work of inspirational historical romance highlights both classical and Appalachian music. Thanks to Alexander's vivid writing, one can almost hear the music resonating off of the page."
— Publishers Weekly ★ Starred Review (Feb 2017)
"Alexander is an inspirational fiction star. Her novels possess a lyricism that draws the reader in and keeps them close... readers will remember Alexander's well-crafted, multi-dimensional characters long after this tale is finished."
— Booklist ★ Starred Review (Shelley Mosley)
"Featuring a swoon-worthy courtship... a vivid portrait of a lesser-known chapter in the 19th-century classical music scene... will leave devotees on a high note."
— Library Journal
In Tamera's Words
On Winning the Christy Award for A Note Yet Unsung
"Winning the Christy Award for A Note Yet Unsung, a Belmont Mansion novel, is especially meaningful because the novel contains two very special 'threads' for me. First, as I wrote A Note Yet Unsung, I included an Appalachian subplot as a kind of 'ode' to Catherine Marshall's Christy—a novel I first read over thirty years ago. A novel that had a profound effect on me. So it was deeply gratifying for A Note Yet Unsung to win the award named after the author who so influenced my writing early on."
"And that we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of that renowned novel on the night of the Christy Awards was special too! In addition, I included a poem—'The Last Load'—in this novel that was written by my dear late father-in-law, Dr. Fred Alexander, in honor of his own father. Fred and I always talked about writing something together, yet never quite found the right opportunity. Fred went home to Christ in January 2016."
"But as I was writing A Note Yet Unsung (and when a character's father asks him to retrieve a piece of paper from a top dresser drawer), Fred's poem is what that character withdrew. I didn't see it coming. But I'm betting Fred did! The poem is included in the novel, the same poem that my husband, Joe, read at Fred's memorial service. As I said when I held the first author copy of A Note Yet Unsung… 'Well, Fred, we finally wrote something together!'"
To learn more about the Christy Award and Tamera's induction into the Christy Award Hall of Fame, click here →
Bonus Features
A Note Yet Unsung Playlist
Below are links to all of the music featured in A Note Yet Unsung. Enjoy listening while you read—or after you've finished!
Listen for Rebekah's oboe solo at around 1:08
- Spring Quartet—MozartCh. 10
- Rondo Alla Turca—MozartCh. 10
- Barbara (Barbary) AllenCh. 22
- Arkansas TravelerCh. 22
- Wayfaring StrangerCh. 22
- Lullaby—BrahmsCh. 30