With This Pledge

I am a big fan of historical fiction and I love the Civil War era but I wasn't familiar with this particular event until I began reading With This Pledge. The Battle of Franklin, Tennessee was one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War and author Tamera Alexander has based her story on actual events and real people. Carnton Plantation was located less than a mile from the scene of the battle and wounded soldiers were transported there to be cared for. This beautiful home became a hospital and often a morgue because many of the wounded didn't survive. The author doesn't sugarcoat her story and I felt as though I was there with those soldiers and a witness to Elizabeth "Lizzie" Causen's efforts to treat them. I sensed her feelings of helplessness as she feverishly worked to stop the flow of blood and tried to assure them that they would one day return to their loved ones. I also felt the strong attraction between Lizzie and one of the injured men, Captain Roland Jones. An attraction that they both denied because of his injury and Lizzie's pledge to marry her childhood friend! So many beautiful passages allude to this attraction between them, such as 'She'd found him attractive before, but now.....The features of his face, strong and angular, were more pronounced. And his eyes. They looked an even deeper gray than she remembered." I loved this amazing story of hope, love, and the ability to find good during the ugliness of war. It spans about one year of Roland and Lizzie's lives but the events that inspired With This Pledge resonate with us today, one hundred fifty-five years later! I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and Christian romance. I received a complimentary copy from the author and publisher but voluntarily chose to write this review. These opinions are my own.

What a joy to read this newest release…the first full length novel about Carnton Plantation, from Tamera Alexander! As I've experienced in all her previous novels, these characters come alive with realistic dialogue, full rounded characters, detailed (especially after the Battle of Franklin) descriptions that bring every scene to life, and a personal disappointment when this story ended! By the way, the descriptions, while accurate, are written in such a graceful manner that even the most sensitive reader will only benefit from the telling. With This Pledge is based on a true battle, one that I've not learned a lot about in the past,…as well as real people…who lived, loved, and experienced such atrocities during that period of time. You will feel the bullets whizzing by and hear the cries of the wounded men who lined the halls and rooms of Carnton. Somehow, the author takes that bloody scene and creates this poignant retelling of such an important time in our country's history…really the turning point of the Civil War. Lizzie, so brave and true, was one of my favorite heroines of all time, and to know that she really lived is so special! And who could not love Captain Roland Jones, so brave and steadfast in the face of death, dismemberment and possible imprisonment. Lizzie and Roland are very drawn to each other and when they get past some difficulties, are a match made in heaven! We see Lizzie standing for her convictions and Roland standing in His faith, as well. Their romance was definitely swoon worthy! Without revealing the plot too much, I will say that this is one of Tamera Alexander's best novel! I couldn't recommend it more! And though it covered some really tough scenes and topics, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and am anxiously awaiting the next book about Carnton! My family is planning a visit to Carnton Plantation sometime this year and I look forward to walking the grounds, as well, after the Battle of Franklin so vividly came to life for me in this novel! I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, but was not required or requested to leave a positive review. This in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255. All opinions are my own.