As the Civil War rages between the states, a courageous pair of spies plunge fearlessly into a maelstrom of ignorance and danger, combining their unique skills to alter the course of history and break the chains of the past in New York Times bestselling Alyssa Cole's first installment in The Loyal League ...
1861. Elle Burns is a former slave with a passion for justice. She also possesses a photographic memory. She has the rare fortune--a human right--to live a free life. But to spy for the Union Army, she is willing to risk the brutal indignity of the slave system deeply entrenched in the South.
Malcolm McCall is a seasoned detective for Pinkerton's Secret Service. His latest mission is his riskiest yet: to infiltrate and embed himself within a Rebel Virginia enclave. Together with Elle, these two brave spies stumble across a plot that could turn the tide of the war in the Confederacy's favor. Caught in a tightening web of wartime intrigue, Malcolm and Elle must make their boldest move to preserve the Union at any cost--even if it means losing each other ...
"Blending the high stakes of history with convincing emotional connections, every installment in Cole's Civil War-set trilogy are must-reads."--Oprah Daily
Named a Best Book of the Year by Entertainment Weekly - BookPage - Kirkus - Vulture - Publishers Weekly - Booklist
About the Author :
Alyssa Cole is an award-winning author of historical, contemporary, and sci-fi romance. Her romantic comedy A Princess in Theory was named a New York Times notable book for 2018. Her Civil War-set espionage romance An Extraordinary Union was the American Library Association's RUSA Best Romance for 2018 and also the RT Book Reviews Reviewer's Choice Award Book of the Year. She has contributed to publications including Bustle, Shondaland, The Toast, Vulture, and others, and her books have received critical acclaim from the New York Times, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, Jezebel, Vulture, Book Riot, Entertainment Weekly, and various other outlets.
Karen Chilton is a New York-based actor and writer and an accomplished voice-over artist and narrator. She has narrated dozens of audiobooks, won three AudioFile Earphones Awards, and in 2020 won the prestigious Audie Award for Best Nonfiction Narration. Her voice can be heard on numerous national network television, radio, and Internet advertising campaigns.
Review :
"A compelling and engrossing historical...that leaves you spellbound."
-- "Huffington Post"
"Cole does the seemingly impossible, using the Civil War as a backdrop for a realistic, gripping interracial romance that interrogates slavery, systemic racism, and more, while still remaining utterly swoon-worthy."
-- "Entertainment Weekly"
"Cole spins a tale that will pull you in from the very first page."
-- "RT Book Reviews (5 stars)"
"Cole's sparkling gem of a romance portrays love at its most practical and sublime."
-- "Publishers Weekly (starred review)"
"Defies genre stereotypes at every turn. It's both a romance and a spy novel, with a healthy dose of adventure thrown in, and it offers a nuanced portrayal of Civil War-era racial politics. Any reader who thinks romance novels are pure fluff will be schooled by Cole's richly drawn characters, who must overcome generations of trauma in order to let themselves love each other...A masterful tale."
-- "Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"
