Welcome to the BlogTour & Giveaway for With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander, the first full novel of the Carnton series, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: With This PledgeSeries: Carnton, Book 1
Author: Tamera Alexander
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: January 8, 2019
Genre: Historical Romance
History takes on vivid life in the stunning first full-length installment of USA TODAY bestselling Tamera Alexander’s new series, The Carnton Novels.
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 fiancĂ© 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 towardthe Confederate captain, she discovers that his moral ground is 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 accounts 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.
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EXCERPT
Head HERE for an exclusive excerpt!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tamera Alexander is a USA Today bestselling novelist whose works have been awarded and nominated for numerous industry-leading honors, including the Christy Award (two-time winner, seven-time finalist), the RITA Award (two-time winner, four-time finalist), the Carol Award, the Maggie Award, the Booksellers Best Award, and Library Journal's top distinction, among others. After seventeen years in Colorado, Tamera and her husband now reside in Nashville, Tennessee, where they live a short distance from Belmont Mansion and Belle Meade Plantation, the setting of Tamera’s two USA Today bestselling Southern series.
CONNECT WITH THEAUTHOR: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
TOUR GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will win a release copy of With This Pledge + $10 Amazon Gift Card
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
REVIEW
My Thoughts ~
Guys, I don't even know where to start! With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander is truly in a class of its own!
One of the reasons I love historical fiction is because I love learning about history in a fictional setting! With This Pledge was no exception! To be honest, the detail and the research that went into this novel was inspiring and a little humbling. Like the author noted at the start of the story, I also want to note that there are graphic descriptions of combat, wounds, death, and amputations for more sensitive readers. However, I personally feel the author needed to go as in-depth as she did in order to tell the story the way it needed to be told. This is not a light tale, but it is an inspiring message of hope.
The author captured the angst, heartache, and desperate hope for the future that filled the hearts of all whole lived through the Civil War. While Lizzie had come to the conclusion that slavery was heinous, she kept what she knew was the truth hidden from her southern friends, family, and employers. Watching Lizzie step out in bravery and repentance for her own fears truly moved my heart. I am still crying from the beauty of it! Roland's perspective was certainly harder for me, but I think it was supposed to be. Here's this God-fearing (though his relationship with God was a little strained after the deaths of his family), kind man who was so deceived about the sin of slavery. His perspective really shows that someone on the "other side" may not be as evil as we believe, that maybe they are deceived. I found that to be powerful, and as Roland came to terms with his own sin, I cried (again) from the pure grace of God that flowed from Himself to Roland.
While the tender, swoon-worthy romance between Roland and Lizzie was one of my favorite parts, my favorite moment may be when Lizzie told Roland that no matter what side they had been on, everyone needed to get on the same side, or none of them would make it through this. This powerful truth is still so applicable today!
Four Stars ~ With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander is a powerful story of hope with the potential to move mountains of hate with love and grace. With This Pledge is (to my knowledge) a standalone, but the author has many books for readers to enjoy!
Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.
Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!
See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!
Hugs!
~V. Joy Palmer
V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.
