With This Pledge, by Tamera Alexander

The Civil War was a terrible time in U.S. History, but the personal devastation that families and individuals faced is not something we today have much empathy or sympathy for. While the war was terrible it was long ago and somewhat out of sight out of mind.

Tamera Alexander takes a true event from the war and brings it to life in a dramatic fashion through this novel. The characters and setting are correct but the dry characters of history come to life through this expressive detail.

Lizzy Clouston is a nanny for a family living in Carnton when the battle of Franklin Tennessee takes place. Their plantation is taken over by the Confederates as a hospital for their wounded. Lizzy will be confronted with the war up close and personal. She will assist the doctors in their surgeries and then take great pains is nursing the wounded over a period of months.

She will also deal personally with the deaths of several of the men in such a personal way that it will somewhat haunt her until she can bring some resolution to the families of the fallen.

She also will face the reality of her childhood friend being in the army and in harms way. She also has to confront her romantic feelings for one of the wounded when she is 'pledged' to another.

I was riveted by the story and my empathy level rose with the turning of every page. Tamera brought me to a very emotional and insightful awareness of how this war effected those fighting it as well as those on the sidelines and even more so the slaves who's freedom was in question.

Enjoy!