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From the pages of history and the personal accounts of those who endured the Battle of Franklin…
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 … Franklin, Tennessee, the war demands an answer. The Carnton home, where she is governess, is converted into a Confederate 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 his moral ground is at odds with her own. Now torn between love, principles, and pledges made, she struggles to be true to her own 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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Wow, Tamera does a wonderful job telling the true story of the Battle of Franklin during the Civil War. She does such a wonderful job as a story teller. I really enjoy all her books but this one is definitely one of my favorites. If you’re into reading historical fiction – then this is one for you. Also all but two letters in this story are actual letters written from this time period from these characters. I was amazed reading that the hero and heroine were real.
Since I live in Franklin, TN, I have visited the Carnton Plantation a few times. I’ve taken the tours, listened to the guides talk about the home being used as a military hospital after the Battle of Franklin, seen the blood stains soaked into the floorboards of the home with my own eyes, and walked around the grounds where soldiers fought during the Civil War.
In With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander, the time and place of that battle are brought to life, giving words and stories to the people who once lived at Carnton. Alexander takes readers on a journey of family, survival, and making a stand for your convictions, even when they aren’t the popular opinion.
Lizzie and Roland’s story—one told from the Confederate viewpoint, with constant company, and two people committed to someone else—is not at all conventional, but it’s one that swept me away and kept my interest from the first pages. One that I’m still thinking about days after I finished reading the book.
With many characters true historical figures, Alexander’s attention to facts and details make With This Pledge even more special and truly worth top ratings. I, for one, can’t wait to read what Alexander has in store for us next.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
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.
This book is a marvelous picture of one of the major battles of the civil war. Well researched and historically correct. Difficult to put down
The Battle of Franklin brought Life brought drastic and immediate changes for the residents of Carnton, as told in this fictional account of real-life events and real-life people. I appreciate the research the author did to bring Lizzie’s story to the modern world. (In my mind it’s Lizzie’s story.) I admired the strength Lizzie shows during and after that day.
The author does an excellent job describing the horrors of the battlefield and its aftermath without being gratuitously graphic. The impact on the family is very well written too.
The way Lizzie and Roland’s relationship deloped was fascinating.
I recommend this book to all those that love Civil War history with a bit of real-life romance on the side.
I received a paperback ARC of this book from the publisher. A review was not required. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. **I purchased the Audible version which I highly recommend. The narration, with all the accents and different characters, is excellent.
Tamera Alexander’s With This Pledge is not only historical fiction as its best, but its most compelling.
With This Pledge begins a whole new series by Tamera Alexander called Carnton. I loved this first installment to the series. Lizzie and Roland’s story starts in 1864 at the Carnton Plantation in Franklin, Tennessee. Even though they are from two different worlds, they had undeniable chemistry. I enjoyed the historical and vivid details. The times were hard ones for the characters and I could just feel what they were going through.
I give With This Pledge five plus stars. I can not wait to find out what happens in the next installment from the Carnton series. I highly highly recommend this one.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
With This Pledge is based on a true story and Tamera Alexander portrays that in a wonderful way. From the first word to the last I felt as though I were with the soldiers, family, and staff at Carnton. This story is action packed from the beginning. There are descriptions in this book that you will not soon forget. The emotions I felt were real, hard at times, and lovely at others. They took hold of and seized my heart. I felt as though I was able to live in a time long ago. The author knocked it out of the park on this book!
I’ve known for quite some time that Tamara Alexander is a gifted author. Even knowing that, this book has simply blown me away. Her depth of research is incredible. The way that she has taken the historical facts about Carnton Plantation in Franklin, Tennessee and turned them into this compelling, heart-rending story is remarkable. The first chapter alone is amazing in setting everything up for the rest of the book. The way she describes the battle and what it was like for 40,000 soldiers to descend in the area around the plantation made me feel as if I were an eyewitness to the events. I’ve never read another Christian historical novel set in the Civil War time period that seems as authentic as this one. She does not lessen how horrible the war was and what it was like for a family home to unexpectedly become a hospital for the wounded soldiers.
We view this story through the eyes of Lizzie Clouston, the governess for the McGavock family who own Carnton. In one short day, she goes from teaching the young children there at the plantation to assisting in surgery as the wounded soldiers come by the hundreds to Carnton. Lizzie is a strong and compassionate young woman who finds her strength in God as she faces these unimaginable challenges. There’s a romance that develops between Lizzie and Confederate Captain Roland Ward Jones as he recovers from his injuries there at Carnton. But they face an obstacle that seems impossible to solve: Although Lizzie is a southerner, she is against slavery. Roland is a caring slave owner. The author does an excellent job presenting both of their viewpoints and keeping the story real as Lizzie and Roland try to reconcile their beliefs.
This story has a strong thread of faith that runs all the way through it. It’s a clean novel with no foul language, and all the war scenes are handled perfectly. I’m looking forward to following Tamera Alexander’s research and read the personal accounts of the real Lizzie and Roland. I think a road trip to visit Carnton Plantation in Tennessee will be in my future.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
With This Pledge is set during the Civil War, during and after the extremely bloody Battle of Franklin. It tells the love story between Elizabeth Clouston and Captain Roland Ward Jones. Tamera Alexander researched extensively in writing this book, both to ensure the accuracy of the depictions of the battle and its aftermath, and to properly tell the story of these 2 people who really lived and met and fell in love in the midst of the chaos and tragedy of war. It tells of the moral and ethical dilemmas that they faced as they disagreed about slavery and equality of all people, about their convictions to stand up and fight for what they believed in no matter the cost, and of how their faith and trust in God kept them grounded. It is a sweet and beautiful love story that captures deep and intense emotion.
I’ve read and loved all of Tamera Alexander’s books, but for me, this one is a stand out. The imagery is so vivid that I feel as though I saw the events that took place with my own eyes. The characters are so well-developed and true to life. And the setting, the events of the battle and aftermath, combined with the love story and the personal struggles — all put together evoke so much emotion. Once I had the chance to get into the book (meaning once the rest of my family was asleep and I had quiet time to myself) I couldn’t put it down.
With this Pledge
This is an amazing book. I could visualize the characters and the scenes. I definitely could tell the book had a lot of research put into it. Also could tell the book took a long time to write. This is an story that will stay with me for a long time.
I was fortunate to receive an advanced copy of the book. I was not required to write an positive review. This is my own opinion.
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.
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 pledges made, she struggles to be true to her own heart while standing for what she knows is right-no matter the cost.
What a great book. It brought the Civil War battle of Franklin, TN to life. What a tragic event in our history. So much loss of life. This book told the story of the aftermath of the battle. The wounded were brought to Carnton for help. Lizzie was the governess who was pressed into service as a nurse. Roland was one of her patience. He made her promise that no matter what she wouldn’t let the surgeon amputate his leg. She kept that promise. But did she make the right decision?
I recommend this book. It was more interesting to be when I found out it was based on true people. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.
Wow! I will do my best to convey how much I enjoyed this book. I have loved all of Mrs. Alexander’s books. She is an amazing author and her books are so easy to read. I am always left feeling an “aaah” when I finish one. They are gritty at times, romantic and uplifting. This book, however, was more heart-wrenching. This book deals with war. In fact, one of the bloodiest battles in the civil war. She has taken well researched historical facts and wove a tale that allows the reader a glimpse into that horrible battle. I found myself crying several times throughout the book. With that said, however, I also felt sprouts of hope, and love instead of total despair. The characters were all well developed and since it was about actual people, I felt the author portrayed them in ways that showed their human nature. I felt I was actually there with them at Carnton Plantation feeling their pain and love. It ends beautifully. Great job Mrs. Alexander.
*I was given a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers. I was not obligated to leave a review. This is my honest opinion.
I have long been a fan of the Tamara Alexander having read all her works. I have to say, With This Pledge is her finest yet! The history of the battle at Carnton in Franklin Tennessee pours off the pages in this beautifully told love story that transpired between a governess (turned nurse) and her patient during this brutal time in history. It brought me to tears more than once. Tamera Alexandra does her homework! Excellent book! I received a complementary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through Net Galley, all opinions are my own.
#WithThisPledge#NetGalley
This lyrical tale set amidst the harsh realities of war will resonate with its readers long after the last page has been read. While Tamera Alexander has been at the top of my favorite author list for years, I believe this is her best book to date. Alexander’s impeccable research is evident as she masterfully tells the story of the residents of Carnton and their care of the injured and dying soldiers in the battle of Franklin, Tennessee towards the end of the American Civil War. Romance develops in this unlikely setting as two people seek to find God’s purpose and direction amidst the desolation of a battlefield. Alexander’s lyrical prose fully immerses her reader into the heartwarming love story of Captain Roland Ward Jones and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Clouston.
This is one of those books that will be on my all-time favorites list. It is difficult to describe how wonderful this book is, when the historical setting is filled with so much tragedy. The characters and their story will invade your thoughts for days after you finish.
Some of my favorite quotes:
” Real heroes are the one’s who do what’s right even when no one’s looking, and who give up something for someone else even when it costs them dearly.”
“Sometimes life on this side of the veil is far more difficult than I think it should be. Especially for those of us who belong to God. But then again, God’s promises do not eliminate suffering.”
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Such a hard read, yet so well written and hard to put down! This is not a light hearted read, because it tells in vivid detail what happened during a battle in Franklin, Tennessee. The details are hard to swallow, but makes you pause to consider what happened during the civil war. Elizabeth and Roland were very well developed and had a strong connection that can be felt throughout the book. There were a few times I thought the story lagged a bit, and it was easy to confuse all of the soldiers, but other than that, it was a truly enjoyable read. I cannot recommend enough.
I received a copy from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
‘Sometimes life on this side of the veil is far more difficult than I think it should be. But then, God promises to not eliminate suffering.’
Every so often you read a book, that when you finish, you can’t even bear to pick up another to read. I stayed up late to finish this powerful story and then the characters populated my dreams and held my mind captive for a long time. This is such a book.
November 30, 1864. Franklin, Tennessee. The Civil War is raging. Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ Clouston is a governess for the McGavocks at their home, Carnton. The battle of Franklin begins that day and rages for 8 hours and kills nearly 10,000 men. Carnton is immediately turned into a field hospital, so full of men undergoing surgery that they spill onto the lawn and beyond. The battlefield is clearly visible from Carnton’s windows and it is vicious. So vicious that one soldier said, ‘It was as if the devil had full possession of the earth.’ An actual soldier of the battle said this.
Lizzie is pressed into service as assistant to the doctor and surgeon, administering chloroform as he operates and tending to the wounded and dying. Her heart is breaking at the atrocities she sees. One soldier, Captain Roland Jones, insists she stand up for him while he is under anesthesia and not let the doctor amputate his leg, even if it means he’ll never have use of it again.
Lizzie hates slavery, even though she lives in the south and works for a slave owner. Roland is himself a slave owner. She is convinced that the south will lose and she hopes for this to happen so that all men may be free. But Lizzie is not vocal about her feelings and this begins to bother her greatly.
This book is based on historical fact. There was a real battle of Franklin, as there is still a real Carnton plantation. Almost every character in her story was an actual person. Tamera Alexander’s research is impeccable and she makes this dreadful time come alive for her readers. I studied the Civil War in school and have read numerous books that dealt with the subject or set in the time period, but she completely brought it home fully to me. The Battle of Franklin has been called the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. Numerous Confederate generals met their death in this battle and it was said that a person could walk across the battlefield and not touch the ground because there were so many dead. As a history lover, this book was eye opening to me. It also made me reach out and do some research of my own.
Alexander’s descriptions are so vivid, the reader feels as if they are transported back in time, standing right there in the middle of the scene where life and death hangs in the balance for these wounded soldiers. I felt as if I were in those rooms at Carnton where the blood was spattered along the walls, men lay dying and begging for relief. Our hearts hurt as they cry out for someone to let their loved ones know what happened to them. This actually happened! This part is not fiction. The feelings that Alexander conveys are so visceral that the reader gasps at the savagery of it all. I wept through many passages. And all through the book, her spiritual theme shines through. Tamera Alexander manages to include her readers in everything she writes; not just this book, but her others as well. There is such a depth to her writing that it’s no wonder I carried these characters with me long after finishing the book. And that they invaded my dreams. This was one of the most powerful and outstanding books I’ve ever read. I highly recommend this. Not to be missed!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers through Net Galley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
This was a powerful story told through bold characters set invivid scenes. The story was haunting yet touching. You were pulling for the characters from the very start and almost couldn’t let them go when the book ended. A great read.
Love all of Tamera Alexander’s books.