Noble Cause: A Civil War Novel of Love and War [Kindle Edition]

Having stayed away from Civil War books (both fiction & non-fiction) for a long time as the subject matter is so depressing, this book drew me to it in a way no others have. By weaving a romantic story between a Union spy and a Rebel officer, Jessica James brings to life so beautifully the time period, the personal cost of war to both sides and the conflicts and pain it brought to people just trying to live their lives as best they could in such a tragic time. I agree with a reviewer on the jacket who said it was comparable to "Gone With the Wind" in scope, grandeur and quality. In addition, this is a special edition re-written for the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War with a "happy ending" vs. it's predecessor "Shades of Gray". A must read!

Author Jessica James has written a superb historical romance, "Noble Cause: A Novel of Love and War". With an elegant, evocative style, and a history lover's eye for detail, Ms. James brings to vivid life one of the most devastating of American tragedies. The involving battles scenes and fascinating military strategies are well-blended with the human issues of the war. An impossible and undeniable love is found just as so much is lost forever. Confederate Colonel Alexander Hunter is legendary for his battlefield brilliance and his deeply felt love of his Virginia homeland. His almost supernatural ability to outthink, outmaneuver, and upstage the Union Army faces only one real challenge: a young Union scout, small in stature, with unequaled horsemanship and the wiles of a fox. Andrea Evans, in her guise as Andrew Sinclair, risks her life at every opportunity to forward the cause of the Union. She is a scout, a spy, and a young woman on the run from her past. Born a privileged daughter of the South, Andrea fled her home at a very young age to leave behind the cruelty of her father, a slave-owner not afraid to use his whip. Time and time again, Alex and Andrea provoke and elude each other in a daring wartime dance. When Andrea is finally captured, she is sent to a hell-hole Confederate prison camp where she suffers unspeakable torture and becomes gravely ill. When Alex learns Andrea's fate, which was against his direct orders, he rescues her and takes her to his Virginia home to recover. He gambles much by keeping the infamous Yankee spy under his own roof, but he is following the dictates of his heart. Andrea proves to be more than a match for Alex, and their sparring intellects and spirited verbal battles make for a stirring romance. For me, a true hero must have an inner core of compassion. Alex is a man of ideals, a revered leader who has learned to place the needs of his command above his own personal needs. Andrea is a strong and intelligent woman, never afraid to stand up for her own beliefs, and those are the characteristics which Alex finds hardest to resist! The more that these two sworn opponents clash, the more their attraction begins to grow. As they learn about each other, they also learn about the "shades of gray" that cloud both sides of the horrific War Between the States. The skillful storytelling of Jessica James will keep you enthralled from beginning to end. The outcome of the Civil War is unchangeable, but the romance between the gentleman colonel and his fearless lady is one that you will not want to end. Highly recommended!

Review Copy Gratis Author

As a Civil War history lover, I can't explain my excitement when reading Noble Cause. This is a wonderful mix of Civil War history and a love story that proved love can endure in the harshest of circumstances. The history of this war is compelling and this book is written in a way that Jessica James portrays the events, the characters, the surroundings, and the words spoken with such eloquence to honor the North and South. She makes you feel like you are right there front and center just waiting for the next page page to turn. I could not put this novel down and neither will you. A must read.