Warships in the harbor explode with battle cries for freedom in the hearts of Charles Town’s Patriots. Charles Town, South Carolina, 1776—With the British war ships threatening his family and livelihood, Louis Lestarjette commits to aid Francis Marion, Christopher Gadsden, Silas Deane and other fiery Patriots with secret correspondences in code and in French. Although not convinced that the … that the colonies can succeed in separation from Britain, he abides by his word—available with funds, his time, and if necessary, even his life.
Louis’ potential volatile role leaves Elizabeth Lestarjette uncertain of the future. Add to that her impending confinement, the secret missions her friends embark on, and the ever-encroaching danger into her domestic world, and the cost of independence grows steeper with each passing day. How will her family survive the coming turbulence? How will she survive not being an active part of it? One thing is certain, she must draw to God’s side or lose heart altogether.
Draw Me to Your Side… a prayer whispered against the coming destruction.
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What an excellent paperback book. Very well written. I loved this book as well as really enjoyed it. I really want to read the first three books in the series after reading book 4.
I highly recommend it.
WHEN HISTORY KNOCKS ON THEIR DOOR…
What would you do if outside your front door, history is playing out but inside your home, it is life as usual? That is what Draw Me To Your Side explores through the eyes of the Lastarjette family as the fight for freedom comes knocking.
I have enjoyed this series from the start. It is full of history and intrigue as we are placed in the middle of colonial South Carolina. I was moved by the desire of Louis and Elizabeth to keep things as normal as possible inside their home as their family grew. The tender moments that Ms. Gray describes balances out the moments of uncertainty this family goes through.
I think one of my favorite scenes is a moment that every family that has children has gone through. First steps and first words from the first born. Ms. Gray placed me right in the middle of this tender moment and brought to mind my own experience in this milestone.
If you are curious about daily life durning this time in history, this story, this series, will place you right in the middle of it all. It’s as if the one telling the story had jumped in a time machine and experienced it all for herself. You can tell Ms. Gray put a lot of time and research into this story and placed it onto the pages in a beautiful way.
* I received a copy of this story from the publisher through CelebrateLit Publicity. These views are my own and a favorable review was not required.
Having read the earlier books in this series, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read this book as well. The characters have grown to be part of my world. Their faith, the Scripture references, and the prayers that are written out bring an incredible Christian message to the series.
Elizabeth and her family and friends are on the side of the colonists. Both men and women are called on to take on dangerous assignments to help protect the colonists. I love how the characters and storyline weave together to bring what life was like for colonists during the Revolutionary War. So if you like reading historical Christian fiction check out this book and the rest of the series for yourself.
I received a copy of this book for my fair and honest review.
Draw Me to Your Side is the fourth in the series Revolutionary Faith. I have been reading and following along with this couple, Louis (from France) and his wife Elizabeth from book one. Married and with one child and another on the way, Louis and Elizabeth should be very happy. And they are, as much as they can with the coming war in the backdrop. I really liked the growth of Louis and Elizabeth individually and as a couple. The choices that they have to make are not going to be easy and the sacrifices may be monumental, but their love and faith in God will see them through.
Both of them are deep in fighting for the freedom of the American colonies and trying to break free of a tyrannical king. Both know that their lives, family, and livelihood are at stake. Louis certainly is worried about his clandestine lifestyle and how much risk he is putting a very pregnant Elizabeth and their little girl in for a country that he has grown to love.
Elizabeth as a mother is concerned for her children and husband as well. I certainly understood her fears and feelings. How much is the freedom worth that they are risking all for? Their faith is strong, especially when some tough choices will need to be made again, and that ending… I certainly hope there will be a fifth in this epic family war drama.
I received a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
Definitely among my favorite series to date, Marguerite Martin Gray’s Revolutionary Faith series belongs just as much to the attended upon than as to the smallest boy, stoking the patriotism of Americans then and now. As in the Colonial period in which events are heating up and hurtling toward war, I can’t help but notice parallels between the current Coronavirus pandemic. Both situations require us to come together as a nation, united under a common cause; in the case of the Revolutionary War, this is the first time that the colonies stand independently as one entity, a fact that never occurred to me until Louis realizes it in the book.
Book four, “Draw Me to Your Side”, represents the culmination of the rising action of South Carolina and the other colonies as war is declared and what will become known as the Revolutionary War begins. Louis Lestarjette commits fully to the patriot cause, which seems to be doomed from the beginning due to lack of resources and the might of the English King’s opposition. Looking back through history, it is easy to see the heroes and recognize the victories, but we tend to forget that those same brave patriots were living in the midst of great uncertainty, risking everything for the cause of freedom. This includes the women, too, both those carrying out dangerous missions and those caring for their homes and families. Elizabeth’s internal conflict about this demonstrates how much the unstable political environment has affected the colonies: “She may never understand the timing of her love for Louis, her marriage, and the births of her children. But she’d do the best she could as a faithful wife and mother.” This is one of the traits that I admire most about Elizabeth, however, and also about Louis: their ability to look beyond the present discomfort and conflict and see a positive resolution.
The Lestarjettes are a family whom I never grow tired of reading about, and their faith in God and love of country and each other is something that we should seek to emulate, a testament to the foundation of America as truly one nation under God. I hope that there will be more books to follow since the American Revolution is still raging at the conclusion of “Draw Me to Your Side.” There are a few discussion questions focused on Elizabeth and Louis, respectively, as well as a Revolutionary Faith short story entitled “A Heart’s Home (Jeanette’s Story)” at the end of this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.
My Thoughts on Draw Me To Your Side:
If you love a good historical fiction work then you’re going to love this novel. It takes you on a deeper look within the American Revolutionary War and how it affected those who might not have been actively fighting it. I loved this home front type look at what was happening and how being on the sidelines could sometimes be worse than being on the front lines.
But I also think the deeper message of drawing closer to God in uncertain times is a very timely message that lots of people really need to hear right now. With the way our world is we’re not in a Revolutionary War but rather a war of humanity. A war against a virus but also against people who have no respect for others lives.
This is the fourth book in the series. Please read the whole series. You could get by with reading this as a stand-alone book but you would miss out on a wealth of information from the last books. While you wouldn’t feel lost you definitely would not have all the knowledge and insight that reading the whole series would give you.
The characters are wonderful and fully developed. They draw you in and make you feel like you’re a part of their world. This is an excellent read and I highly recommend the whole series.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
I was excited to receive this latest in the Revolutionary Faith series! There are many things I appreciate about this novel. First is unmistakable faith, as seen in prayers, scripture references, and the recurrent theme of being drawn to the Lord’s side. I am invested in the characters, especially Elizabeth and Louis, Jeannette, Sarah, and Anne and their families. Since I haven’t read much about the Revolutionary War, I continue to learn about it through the author’s extensive research. It is written with excellence by an author who puts herself into the circumstances to anticipate the feelings and reactions of each person, including a wife whose husband is leaving for battle without phones or internet, only occasional letters.
This series focuses on Elizabeth, who met and married Louis Lestarjette after he came to Charles Town, South Carolina from France. His Aunt Jeannette, also from France, and Uncle Henry, born in the colonies, welcomed him. Elizabeth and Louis have now been married over two years. Elizabeth has long been on the side of the Patriots. Her father left his Loyalist views within the past couple years. Her mother and her sister Anne have been Patriots, also. One struggle the sisters share is how their brother George is a staunch Loyalist, even at the expense of his estranged wife and his tiny daughter.
We get to see the daily lives of Elizabeth, Louis, and her family and friends. The Lestarjettes were real people, ancestors of the author. Reading about families and events that really occurred, even if a fictionalized account, brings history alive with a new wonder of what it might have been like to talk with people we now honor, such as John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. I appreciated seeing Charles Town’s reception of the Declaration of Independence and seeing how the first British warships in the harbor effected the daily lives of residents. There was danger to themselves and their loved ones daily. Louis knew the Lord had a role for him to play in this war; they truly had to rely on God and pray that he can return home again!
Louis and Elizabeth are three-dimensional characters brought to life by their hopes, dreams, and fears, interactions with others, daily actions, and deep love for the Lord and each other. It was like visiting old friends. I missed seeing Jeannette and Henry to the extent of earlier books. Ellen and her daughter, who work for Elizabeth, are much more like family than employees, as well as their son Tom, now fighting with the Patriots.
There are many historical events that I had not remembered, such as the Stamp Act and what was included in Thomas Paine’s pamphlet, Common Sense. The author shares ideas I hadn’t considered before, such as how the decision to fight affected people of faith or pacifists. I never realized the mixed feelings people experienced as subjects of England declaring independence from the country they used to call their own to embrace the dream of a new country of freedom under God.
The drama of all that is occurring, personally and in the big picture, is breathtaking at times. This is a family I would want to know had I lived in those days and I am eagerly awaiting the next novel. I highly recommend it to older teens and adults of all ages who appreciate historical fiction that includes real people and events, filled with scripture, wisdom, and prayer.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Celebrate Lit, and this is my honest review.
Drew Me to Your Side” is book #4 in Marguerite Martin Gray’s Revolutionary Faith Series. This can be a stand-alone book, but I recommend reading the first three books. The book takes place in Charles Town, South Carolina in 1776 during the Revolutionary War. The colonies and Britain are still at war in 1776.
The main character who is focused in the book is Louis and Elizabeth Lestarjette’s family. We see how they deal with the turbulent times all while starting a family. Author Gray created well-rounded characters who are relatable. I could tell she really did her research because I felt like I was reading non-fiction of the lives of the Lestarjette’s family but it isn’t. I loved reading parts of historical documents about the start of our country. The dialogue between the characters sounded authentic. You can see how much Louis and Elizabeth support each other and love each other.
There is a family element to the story. There wasn’t much war action. It amazing to see how people are sacrificing their lives to make a great country of freedom. After reading books like “Drew Me to Your Side” I can’t believe how they worked together to make this country great, but today’s time-period we are so divided. It makes me sad. I think technology is the biggest reason why we are so divided. Anyways, there is a clean romance between Louis and Elizabeth. Living in wartime is where the focus lies. The book covers many issues including faith, secrets, love, loyalty, respect, and disrespect.
The author does a great job of bringing you into the fear, emotions, love, and faith. She captured the atmosphere of that time frame wonderfully. “Draw Me to Your Side” is a historical romance full of adventure, love, and faith. Check out her other books “Hold Me Close” “Surround Me” “Bring Me Near.” I am hoping Gray will write book #5. I recommend reading “Drew Me to Your Side” and the first three books.
Check out Stephanie’s Life of Determination for more book reviews and giveaways!
“I received a copy from Celebrate Lit with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions are my own. ”
Draw Me to Your Side is the fourth installment from the Revolutionary Faith series. It is my first introduction to books written by Marguerite Gray and it definitely will not be the last. Since I have not read any of her previous books and this one is part of a series, I believe it can be read as a stand alone. I did not feel as though I was lost or missing anything by reading those.
Draw Me to Your Side is a wonderfully written book set during the era of the American Revolutionary War. I thought the author did a fabulous job with her historical details. I felt like I was right living in the moment with the characters.
I am giving Draw Me to Your Side a very well deserved five plus stars. I would love to go back and read the other books from the Revolutionary Faith series.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
This is a captivating story of love and devotion between a husband and wife and a tale of loyalty and commitment to the cause of freedom. Louis and Elizabeth Lestarjette have a deep love for each other and their two young children but they find themselves caught up in the efforts of the American colonies to separate themselves from England. It is 1776 and Charles Town, South Carolina is the home of both Loyalists and Patriots during this pivotal year of the American Revolution. Author Marguerite Martin Gray paints a powerful picture of a family trying to maintain a normal life during a time of secret meetings, increasing distrust, and the ever present threat of danger. Elizabeth fears for her husband’s safety but she realizes that “they were fighting for family and a peaceful place to live.”
From the very beginning I was drawn into the drama of Draw Me To Your Side and I found myself very impressed with the amount of historical detail that Gray included in her story. It’s very apparent that she devoted a lot of time to the research of this exciting period of our nation’s history and she powerfully describes Elizabeth’s conflicting emotions as she alternates between fear and complete faith in God.
I certainly recommend Draw Me To Your Side to all who enjoy historical fiction and Christian romance and I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
I received a copy of this book from the author and Celebrate Lit. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.
I think this is a very good writer but this book in the series seemed a bit draggy for me. I sometimes have a hard time with a story that goes on as long as this one but only covers a little more than a year of the war. I like the characters but none of them really stood out for me. I enjoyed the other three in the series a lot more. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
The fight is for independence!
‘You don’t have to understand or even like the circumstances or the situations of life in order to love and obey God. He knows the outcome already and stands ready to see you through it.’ – Grandmother
Another fabulous installment in the life of Louis and Elizabeth. The author has obviously done a great deal of research into what life was like in this turbulent time. I must admit I could feel the fear that continued to resurface in Charles Town, SC. When Elizabeth stated she felt that she wasn’t strong enough for this, Louis’ response was that we are strong enough with God’s help. Imagine standing on the water’s edge and seeing warships. I’m quite sure it would be very difficult to continue on but for knowing that God is here.
The fight for independence comes at a cost. The danger is real, especially when you are helping with food, supplies and caring for injured men. Babies are born, children play war games while the men train to fight and the ladies sew shirts for the militia, all for the ability to rule these Colonies for themselves. There is a time for war and a time for peace, and also a time for love. 1776 brought many of these things to this lovely seaside city.
I am looking forward to the next book in this series. I received this digital copy through Celebrate Lit Publishing and CelebrateLit. The comments and impressions are my own and are in no way solicited.
Marguerite Gray’s fourth novel in this series brings the reader into the conflict of the American Revolutionary War. In each chapter I could feel the angst and worry in the characters. As they conversed about the coming war, I felt that I was in the living room listening to the discussion, in the alleyways and secret meetings, in the storerooms for goods and arms needed in preparation. The scenes came to life with this brilliant writing and descriptions so vivid I just knew that Elizabeth was my sister and all of her community my friends and that I too was part of this grand challenge.
Reunite with Elizabeth and Louis Lestarjettes and their young family in revolutionary days. Elizabeth finally has her baby, while Louis drills with the militia and is asked to use his French heritage for the cause. Through it all, they remember God is always with them. The story becomes more meaningful to realize it’s the author’s ancestral history.
It is fun to read more of Louis and Elizabeth Lestarjette’s story which is based the actual relatives of this author. Each time I read a book by this author, I am amazed at her attention to historical detail, as well as continually reminded of the great faith and tremendous sacrifice of our country’s forefathers in establishing America. Even though this is historical fiction, I have enjoyed the glimpse into what it might have been like if we lived during this time period, including the emotions, the tensions, the choices to make and allegiances to choose, the secrecy that was often necessary, the ever-present dangers, etc., while still having families to raise and lives to keep living. Scattered throughout are several French phrases that might have been used, due to Louis Lestarjette being French, as well as the many other Frenchmen who would have been present in America during this time. There are other mundane things like what the clothes may have been like or the food they would have eaten – all things that enhance this historical fiction novel and help the reader to feel like they are reliving history and watching it unfold before their eyes. It is a history-rich novel that easily captivates the reader and makes us eagerly anticipate the next edition of this story.
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
– “I sometimes feel He is pulling me or drawing me to Him. I don’t want to refuse, even if the end result is not what I want.”
– “Her desire to help the cause stemmed from her faith in God’s wisdom to lead His people.”
– Only if God wills it. Only then can any of us sustain our dreams and fragile existence. Patience and prayer.
– “It’s (the danger factor) is high. It’s war. And that is why we stand hand-in-hand drawing ever closer to God’s side.”
I always look forward to reading a book by this author. She is able to capture the time period with precision that makes you feel part of the book. This story is rich in history and allows readers to visualize the uproar going on in the colonies. . It must have been so scary for Elizabeth to know her husband was in danger. I felt compassion for Elizabeth as she sees destruction growing closer to her. She feels left out as her friends engage in secret missions and her husband withholds information from her.
This time period is especially interesting because it talks about the colonies and the fight to be free. The secrecy that went on was intriguing as messages were delivered under fierce danger. The closeness of the colonies were apparent and as they come together to fight for freedom, a new chapter in history is written. I could understand the turmoil Elizabeth felt as she worried about the children. What kind of future will they have? I often thought the same thing as my three boys were growing up. Even today we have wars brewing and a future that at times seems hopeless. The faith factor in the story is excellent and I loved the scriptures the author uses. There is heartbreak, danger, secrets and a story that bring some families together while others are torn apart. I loved how the author lets us glimpse into Elizabeth and Louis’s lives as they try to keep their family safe.
Each book in this series has been well written but I think this one has to be my favorite. It delves more into how a war affects relationships and gives an honest look at the struggles each character deals with. We witness a new life coming into the world that for a moment erases the horror going on in the country. I hope you enjoy this story as much as I did.
“These are the times that try men’s souls. Tyranny is not easily conquered.”
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.