Tamera Alexander's The Carnton Series: Pledge of Love and Devotion

Lynn A Sanders: House turned hospital at the Battle of Franklin TN near the end of the Civil War. Honor in the midst of pain and suffering. An excellent inside look at efforts to do the right thing in the worst of circumstances. Honoring God as best they could, trusting Him for the outcome. The author did her homework to bring historical accuracy to the story.

United States on Sep 02, 2023

smithgg: We all like to make choices for ourselves and most of the time we get to. But there are people in the world that don’t have the freedom of choice. While Lizzie and Roland had differing opinions regarding slavery and the war, they both knew that once the war was over, change was going to be very difficult for everyone. I appreciate this story and the history it documents. Very nice job by the author.

United States on Jun 06, 2023

Lainey: Learned a bit about the civil war that I didn't know before. Good read, but not spell-binding.

Canada on Dec 12, 2020

Steve: My wife really injoyed this book

Canada on Feb 26, 2020

Chris: I have never yet been disappointed by Tamera Alexander’s fine storytelling ability and this account of the battle at
Franklin Tennessee was moving and poignant whilst allowing the strength of the characters’ convictions and conscience to move from the bleakness and horror of the war to the realisation of the need for a new beginning.

United Kingdom on Jul 08, 2019

Blessed&Bookish: This lovely book begins with a promise made by two strangers. A simple pledge and the courage to keep it leads to a deep and lasting friendship between Elizabeth (Lizzie) Clouston and Captain Roland Ward Jones during a time in our history when very few things blossomed.

Lizzie, the governess at the Carnton plantation near Franklin, TN, is abruptly swept up into the war when the plantation house is commandeered as a field hospital by the rebel army. She, and the rest of the household work feverishly to help as many soldiers as possible, but the battle is devastating for both sides, especially the Confederacy. Lizzie makes many promises that day to dying soldiers. Memorizing final words, promising to mail letters to loved ones. But one promise is different than all the others. One of the injured soldiers is Captain Roland Jones, a sharpshooter for the Confederacy and a slave owner himself. He and Lizzie form a bond when she promises to keep the doctor from amputating Roland’s leg. Lizzie finds herself repeatedly drawn to the captain despite having promised herself to another.

When Roland and several other soldiers are allowed to convalesce at Carnton while their...

United States on Feb 21, 2019

Holly Marjan: well written.

Canada on Feb 12, 2019

Nicole S.: Helplessness is one of the worst feelings a human can experience. To me, there is nothing more awful than seeing someone in great pain and genuinely being unable to help. Tamera Alexander does a really good job of portraying true helplessness in With This Pledge. There are so many horrible moments that take place in this book where Lizzie, the heroine, feels utterly powerless to do anything to make the situations better. On the night of November 30, 1864, Carnton House was commandeered by Confederate soldiers and turned into a makeshift hospital. Acting governess to the McGavock family, Lizzie finds herself pulled in to help the surgeon as he furiously tries to save the lives of many, many broken and severely injured soldiers. Uncertain what to do, but absolutely willing to help, Lizzie aids the surgeon in ways she never imagined. Between the agonizing cries of the wounded and the devastation left after many, many men die senseless deaths, Lizzie struggles with how useless she feels. Sometimes in life, moments barrel us down leaving us questioning whether we will ever be able to get back up again. The Battle of Franklin and its aftershocks is a prime example of life beating down...

United States on Feb 05, 2019