With This Pledge- Review Tour & Giveaway

Welcome to the Blog Tour & 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 Pledge
Series: 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 fiancé 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 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.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | CBD | Book Depository

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EXCERPT

Head HERE for an exclusive excerpt!

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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 THE AUTHOR: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

MY REVIEW

Wow! I don’t know if I even have all of the words to say how amazingly well this story was written. Tamera Alexander takes the reader on a journey straight into the trenches of the civil war, both physically and emotionally. When a war is being fought between brothers and neighbors, there is no escape–the war is guaranteed to leave it’s mark on all.

While the Civil War led to the abolition of slavery, it also held a lot of death and bloodshed. One question that was constantly posed throughout the story was “is it worth it?” Before being sent into war, men had to ask themselves if they were willing to die for what they believed. For many, as the war continued, their answers changed once it was too late. War is an ugly thing, and it both ends and destroys lives. Why did so many have to die before they would talk?

What I loved about this story was that it showed that while not everyone fought on the physical battle lines, the war touched virtually everyone. Men didn’t just lose their lives–but wives lost their husbands, children lost their fathers, siblings lost their brothers, parents lost their sons, and so on. Many witnessed events that would surely traumatize them for the rest of their lives. This story shares the painful truths of just how deeply the war had affected everyone. Tamera Alexander was able to masterfully weave the stories of multiple types of people into a story drenched with brokenness yet blanketed in hope.

I have an ARC copy so I’m not sure if this will exist in the beginning of the full published version, but in my copy there is a note in the beginning from the author to readers mentioning that she wanted to be as historically accurate in this story which leads to some content that may be difficult for some readers. She states, “I’ve written this novel with a careful consideration of history–including oftentimes disturbing descriptions of combat–coupled with a deep desire to weave a compelling story of hope” (pg ix). In my opinion the author did a flawless job with this. Yes, there are some graphic details, but I don’t believe they were avoidable while maintaining a historically accurate and realistic novel. Mentioned in the Afterward at the end, is the knowledge that many of the characters including the main characters, were actually real-life people and that Tamera’s web-page contains more information on what was fact vs fiction about them in the story. I have every intent to visit since I am fascinated about learning about the real people behind history.

I honestly don’t believe I could recommend this book enough. Yes, there are some difficult moments, but Tamera Alexander has made history come alive in a way that will stay with you forever. Just as the war left no one unchanged, so this book will leave no reader unchanged. This is absolutely a MUST-READ!

*I received a copy of this book from the author through JustRead Publicity Tours. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

Rating:

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will win a release copy of With This Pledge + $10 Amazon Gift Card

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight January 14, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm January 28, 2019. US only for a print copy of the book. International winners will receive an ebook. Gift card prize will be issued as an e-gift card. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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