With This Pledge

GIVEAWAY

ALEXANDER, TAMERA
WITH THIS PLEDGE

What can a woman -- a mere governess -- do against the scourge of slavery?

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Clouston's quietly held principles oppose those of the Southern Cause -- but when forty thousand soldiers converge on the fields of Franklin, Tennessee, the war demands an answer. The Carnton home where she is governess is converted into a Confederate field hospital, and Lizzie is called upon to assist the military doctor with surgeries that determine life or death. Faced with the unimaginable, she must summon fortitude, even as she fears for the life of Towny, her fiance and lifelong friend.

As a young soldier lies dying in Lizzie's arms, she vows to relay his final words to his mother, but knows little more than the boy's first name. That same night, decorated Mississippi sharpshooter Captain Roland Ward Jones extracts a different promise from Lizzie: that she intervene should the surgeon decide to amputate his leg.

Lizzie is nothing if not a woman of her word, earning the soldiers' respect as she tends to the wounded within Carnton's walls. None is more admiring than Captain Jones, who doesn't realize she is pledged to another. But as Lizzie's heart softens toward the Confederate captain, she discovers that his moral ground in at odds with her own. Now torn between love, principles, and promises made, she struggles to be true to her heart while standing for what she knows is right -- no matter the cost.

From the pages of history and the personal account of those who endured the Battle of Franklin, Tamera Alexander weaves the real-life love letters between Captain Roland Ward Jones and Miss Elizabeth Clouston into a story of unlikely romance first kindled amid the shadows of war.

My Review:

There aren't many authors who can drag me into the Civil War era with only a minimum of kicking and screaming and Tamera Alexander is one of them. I'm Irish Canadian so the War Between the States really doesn't mean a whole lot to my personal history. Plus...Gone With the Wind likely scarred me for life. :-) And I find it really hard to relate to southern politics -- especially slavery -- so, it's just an era I tend to shy away from in my fiction. But then...what can I say? It's Tamera Alexander!

Richly layered, exquisite storytelling beguiled this semi-reluctant reader from the very first page. I became transfixed, completely absorbed in this based-on-true-life historical romance. I've noticed a Carnton Plantation buzz on social media for awhile now but never quite understood the fascination...until reading this book. Every little detail captivated me and this author is renowned for her exacting research skills.

A complex plot delivers action and angst with relatable characters that sent this reader into an emotional tailspin. Alexander does such a great job of depicting not just the war raging around them, but the war raging within as well. So...while I'm still not a Civil War aficionado I've been converted enough to declare With This Pledge belongs on every reader's wishlist.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of With This Pledge, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday May 11 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!