A former slave finds danger, intrigue, and passion undercover as a spy in first of this Civil War–era romance series from an award-winning author. Elle Burns is a former slave with a passion for justice and an eidetic memory. Trading in her life of freedom in Massachusetts, she returns to the indignity of slavery in the South—to spy for the Union Army. Malcolm McCall is a detective for … is a detective for Pinkerton’s Secret Service. Subterfuge is his calling, but he’s facing his deadliest mission yet—risking his life to infiltrate a Rebel enclave in Virginia.
Two undercover agents who share a common cause—and an undeniable attraction—Malcolm and Elle join forces when they discover a plot that could turn the tide of the war in the Confederacy’s favor. Caught in a tightening web of wartime intrigue, and fighting a fiery and forbidden love, Malcolm and Elle must make their boldest move to preserve the Union at any cost—even if it means losing each other. . .
An Entertainment Weekly TOP 10 ROMANCE BOOKS OF THE YEAR
A Bookpage TOP PICK
A Kirkus BEST BOOKS OF 2017
A Vulture TOP 10 ROMANCE BOOKS OF 2017
A Publishers Weekly BEST BOOKS OF 2017
A Booklist TOP 10 ROMANCE FICTION 2017
“Richly detailed setting, heart-stopping plot, and unforgettable characters.” —Deanna Raybourn, New York Times–bestselling author
“You should absolutely read this book, immediately, if you haven’t already. . . . This book is a marvelous, intelligent, respectful, breathtaking treat for your brain.” —Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
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I love a unique historical and this book is one of the best I’ve read in a long time. A hero and heroine work as spies for the Union during the Civil War, with the free heroine going undercover in the South as a slave. This is wonderfully written, rich with details and passion. I was riveted from start to finish.
If you enjoyed Abigail’s role in the TV show TURN: Washington’s Spies, you like Civil War stories, or you just like spies and historical romance (my personal catnip), this book is for you. Well researched, emotional, sensual, and full of intrigue.
Cursing is not necessary to a story.
I finished reading An Extraordinary Union, my first book by Alyssa Cole, also my first book about the United States civil war. I love it, Ms. Cole delivered an extraordinary story that will stay with me for a long time.
Elle, the heroine was a freed slave living in the north of USA, her family purchased their freedom from the son of their late master that didn’t want to own slaves. Elle has a gifted memory (she could remember conversations and book pages) and that ability gave her the opportunity to work for the Loyal Legue as a detective, in this book she worked as an undercover mute slave in the house of a Confederate leader.
Malcolm, the hero, was born in Scotland and by the age of 7 he and his family were yanked from their home, lands, and country after the English soldiers raped his mother and took everything from them and tossed them into a boat for America. He became a detective for the Loyal Legue do to his many abilities to disguise himself and infiltrated his way anywhere. He fought for the Union because he was against the abuse of power that forced him out of his land and he was seeing now in his new country.
Both characters personal journey, and their understanding of their world grow with each challenge they faced. I think that was one of the best scenes in the book when each one of them questioned their own beliefs and life and then tried to see the lives of others.
The book is full of love for the right causes and for a country that has the potential to be what they dream it could be. The book also is about the love story of two people not allowed to be free to love each other by either race, territory or time. It was a great reading.
I am looking forward to the couple in book 2.
Loved the view of history come to life. Thank you!!!
A freed slave giving up her freedom to spy on the Confederacy and a Pinkerton spy who can appreciate her gifts and ingenuity meet their match. Danger around every turn and a refreshing choice for characters and plot against the Civil War South captured my imagination and kept me riveted.
It’s true that most Civil War romance tends to take place in the drawing rooms and ballrooms and battlefields so I was eager to get a unique ‘Upstairs Downstairs’ take on it. History came alive in this one while paired with suspense and romance.
The heroine is strong and fiery and determined to place herself in an untenable position for her convictions. The same can be said for the hero. She acts a part and so does he. Elle has no reason to trust and every reason to doubt Malcolm. He’s white and she’s black. He plays the role of a Casanova and charmer to gain the trust of the Confederate elite and she acts the part of a mute slave in the household gleaning what intelligence she can.
I enjoyed the tension and the push and pull of such a situation. Elle thinks she has Malcolm pegged because he’s a man and he’s white not understanding that Malcolm understands oppression rightly enough coming of age as a Scot who lived through the Highland Clearances done by the English, but he, too, must learn to grasp just how much he is asking of Elle when he sees the world around them through her eyes. This pair might be attracted and even later want something more, but they face a dim reality that both must understand.
The action and suspense of the plot could be nailbiting at times as both spy on the same group from different angles and have to be cunning and keep from getting caught even while doing their jobs. Oh man, I really came to loathe the family and group they were spying on. I know there were genteel Southerners that are on the opposite end of the spectrum from these beastly types, but whew, this group needed to come to a nasty end particularly the vixen poor Malcolm is forced to pretend to cozy up with.
Fantastic start to a new series and I can’t wait to see what happens next with more operators in the Loyal League. Those who are looking for strong POC stories set in history with a well-drawn romance and characters against a tension-filled plot should have a go at this one.
I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series.
This is the first of three historical romances written by Cole about the American Civil War.
When approaching historical fiction, I, and every other reader, have a set of expectations. I expect the great scheme of events to be accurate: From the fact that the Battle of Ford Sumter was lost by the North to the clothes, food, music, and even the brand of soap used by the heroine. The norms that ruled the times, the language, the habits – all must be reflected in the thoughts and emotions of the novel’s characters. Cole’s book delivers on all fronts.
It is January 1862 in Richmond, Virginia. The North has blockaded the Southern town, and supplies are running dangerously low.
Malcolm McCall works for the great Pinkerton Detective Agency as a spy. Elle Burns is a black free woman who volunteered to spy for the Union as well – as a house slave in the townhouse of the governor of Virginia. Cole has based many of the characters, including Malcolm and Elle, on real people. The Rebels are trying to break the blockade that suffocates supply lines and both Malcolm and Elle try to learn about it and convey that information to the North.
Elle is a prodigy, a genius. Not only does she have a photographic memory, but she also thinks fast on her feet. Malcolm is a charming Scotsman, and we all know that Highlanders are irresistible. Enough said. Their chemistry is combustible. Their romance brings home, more than once, the huge gap in privilege between a white man (still the most powerful ethnic group on the planet) and a black woman.
The plot is flawless. You know there is an HEA but you still doubt it, the action is unstoppable until the very last page.
I’ve read all three books in this series now and I have to say these are the best characters you are ever going to read in a romance series, hands down. And the series itself is remarkable. In each book Ms. Cole gives us exceptionally strong heroines and distinct heroes, and weaves their romance into the raw and ugly realities of the American Civil War.
Half interracial romance and half adventure, this historical fiction novel is based on considerable research and the characters are based on real people—spies for the Union during the Civil War. There’s enough history here to pique my interest in learning more about Mary Bowser, Timothy Webster and Robert Smalls. Fascinating stuff that was never taught to me in public school.
Elle, with her eidetic memory, is an incredible asset as a Union spy. (She’s based on Mary Bowser.) Having been emancipated for years now, she bravely re-enters life as a slave in the home of a southern senator to glean any information she can and funnel it to Washington through her network. At the same time, Malcolm (based on Timothy Webster), an expatriated Scot and Pinkerton’s ace detective, is posing as a Confederate soldier and ingratiating himself to the same family for the same purpose. The two team up using Elle’s perfect memory and Malcolm’s charm and chameleon-like skills to maximize their mission’s impact, but it’s all the more dangerous because of the mutual attraction that develops. Once preservation of the Union was their only goal, but now keeping each other safe is equally imperative. Through one nail biting scene after another the story ends with an exceptionally exciting climax and is brought to closure with a satisfying epilogue.
Ms. Cole brings a nuanced Black perspective to all three of these well researched novels in this series. These concepts merit more attention and honesty in the retelling of American history. It was sheer genius on Ms. Cole’s part to capture the interest of her demographic using her signature genre, all the while shining a light on the social psychology of slave culture. Each book in this series is adventurous and suspenseful with amazing climaxes and enduring food for thought. They can be read as standalones but I’m really glad I read them together.
This was a hard read as I expected. I’m sure it was even harder to write. Because of this, I felt the need to write a review. Now where do I start?
The romance wasn’t my favorite. I didn’t hate it but I didn’t fully buy it. The chemistry wasn’t really there for me. I liked Elle and Malcolm as characters, but I didn’t get their attraction to each other.
The historical parts were what really got to me. There’s so much tension because Elle and Malcolm are spies. It made me perpetually anxious. Then, there’s dealing with the race issues. Ms. Cole doesn’t hide from the atrocities of American history. But she also doesn’t blanket vilify Southerners (or glorify Northerners). Humans are complicated and this shows that. I really appreciated the raw look at things that happened.
While this isn’t a new favorite, I did like it and will read more Alyssa Cole books. It also does some important things. It’s also important to tell more non-traditional romances-whether character, time, location, or situation.
Ok this has probably gone on too long.
Couldn’t put it down.
I really liked this book. Well written with likeable characters. Those who enjoy historical novels and Civil War stories should read it!
An Extraordinary Union is a great book. I was real!y happy to read the book notes at the end and find out that some of the characters are based on actual people who were very involved on the union side during the civil war. I highly recommend this book and have had multiple book groups I am part of read it.
Extraordinary is right. Elle is such an extraordinary woman, who is brave and brilliant and so strong. Malcolm was interesting, in his ability to charm the socks off of everyone around them. Watching them learn to rely on each other, and watching Elle shine, was extraordinary!!
This book!!! Elle and Malcom were stunning, the history was riveting, and the action-steam-spying overlaid perfectly with this romance. Extraordinary!
High drama!
Elle Burns is a free Black detective who goes undercover as a slave in blockaded Richmond during the Civil War. This story is full of intrigue, suspense and unexpected romance!
I just adored this book. A brilliant heroine, a noble hero, great history incorporated, spies, and action! Oh and an incredible love story that moved the world. What more could you want?
DNF at 33%. I really thought this book was going to be different, I don’t know how, just better I guess. I know it’s just a story and I can suspend belief in order to move the story along but a romance between a black woman and a white man during the Civil War??? Seriously!!!
Anyway, while I do enjoy really good historical fiction and romantic suspense, this one just didn’t do it for me on either level. With so many other books on my to read list, I’m trying to be more selective about how I choose to spend my limited reading time.
DNF 47%
So I have come to the conclusion that Alyssa Cole’s writing style is not for me. This is the second book of hers I have DNFed this week.
The romance was very slow building, which usually I am fine with, but not this time. By 47% there was barely any romance as the characters were still very antagonistic against each other. Sometimes I am ok with this but it wasn’t working for me this time. The two characters also were just ok for me, which is the main reason why I am DNF this book. I just am not connecting with the characters which is making this a very uninteresting read for me right now.
The dialogue was well written, shows a different side ofEveryone involved in the Civil War no negativity great book I really enjoyed it I wanna read some more by this author