For Love or Honor Bound [Paperback]

Derek Hart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2001

One hundred and thirty-seven years ago, the Countess Isabelle Sophia Bario, diplomatic representative of Emperor Dom Pedro II of Brazil, sailed to war-ravaged America, to negotiate with President Lincoln to allow Brazil to trade with the Confederate States of America. In fact, she was a Rebel spy and instead of treaties, Sophia was after Union secrets. What she found instead was intrigue and murder. Fleeing for her life, Sophia was rescued by Captain Robert Norton, a Confederate cavalry officer. Thus began a torrid love affair with strategic implications.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The epic scope of war is there, but it is the lives of its three protagonists that are to the forefront, giving them plenty of time to develop. --myshelf.com/literary/03/forloveorhonorbound.htm --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Author

For Love or Honor Bound is fiction, but takes place during The War Between the States, or Civil War, as it is more commonly referred. There are references to many actual persons involved within the time frame of this bloody conflict.  The 3rd South Carolina Cavalry did patrol the shores of South Carolina under Colonel Charles Colcock and participated in the defense of Savannah, as well as the Battle of Honey Hill.  The names Norton, Schofield and Oetzel are all ancestors of the author.  During the war, Norton's, Oetzel's, and Schofield's fought to preserve the Union, while Norton's, Oetzel's and Schofield's (the other branch of the same family tree) threw their lot in with the Confederacy.

Brazil was an important international player during the Civil War, being directly involved with Confederate blockade-runners and the famous incident surrounding the ramming of CSS Florida within her territorial waters. After the American war ended, thousands of disgruntled Southerners resettled in Brazil, adding their diverse presence to that South American country's already rich culture.  At that time, Brazil was a slave country, but abolished the practice peaceably in 1879.

Women spies were not uncommon during the war, several celebrated femme fatales becoming quite famous in their exploits.  The truly successful agents were those never discovered.  Spying reached quite an art form on both sides, but probably was more flamboyantly displayed by Confederate operatives.
 
The impressive voyage of CSS Shenandoah was an anomaly of timing and luck.  Or was it?  Most of the other blockade-runners named were actual ships, while USS Superior is an amalgamation of several Union gunboats.

 
The author apologizes for any inaccuracies, especially in the compressed timeline. Every attempt was made to keep historical fact aligned with literary license.  In the end, however, the characters make this story come alive. At least for Robert and Ian Norton, as well as Sophia Bario, For Love or Honor Bound gives space for their exploits on paper. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 532 pages
• Publisher: Xlibris Corp; First Edition edition (October 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401026699
• ISBN-13: 978-1401026691
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,333,192 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Derek Hart is the prolific author of action and adventure novels, known for their historical accuracy, while still maintaining a high level of entertainment. Romance is also a vital part of Derek Hart's trademark style and his novels generally appeal to men and women alike. Recently Mr. Hart authored Secret of the Dragon's Eye, his first novel aimed at the young adult market, which met with instant success and outstanding reviews, followed by Secret of the Dragon's Breath, the second in a series of 6.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Civil War Action + Hot Brazilian Spy!, November 29, 2001

By 

Ian Treadwell (Chicago suburb, Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: For Love or Honor Bound (Paperback)

Okay, now I admit it, I'm not a romance reader. The only reason I bought this book was because a friend recommended it for the Civil War historical fiction angle.
However, was I in for a very pleasant surprise. This book is a page turner. I was hooked right away.
There are 3 major characters - Sophia Bario, a Brazilian diplomat who is also a Confederate spy, Ian (I like his name) Norton, who commands USS Superior, a Union blockade ship, and Robert Norton, a dashing Confederate cavalry officer. Their lives get entangled for a number of reasons and the Nortons are brothers divided by the war.
However, it's Sergeant Lowe I liked best. I wanted more. He was the perfect aide for Confederate Norton and had a great sense of humor and loyalty.
Then there's the research that went into this book. I'm a Civil War reenactor and I checked on some of the stuff in this novel. It was written with an eye to accuracy, while still propelling the story along. Sherman's March to the Sea took on a new perspective for me, since I've always looked at it from the Yankee side.
Okay, let's get to the romance. I like the fact that Countess Bario was hot and choosey. With all the eligible men chasing her, she falls for the guy on the soon-to-be-losers side. I understand from my mother thant most romances take almost 2/3 of the book for the main characters to fall in love. Well, not here. It's pretty much love at first rescue!
Here's a novel for just about anybody. If you like Civil War books, get it. If you like historical fiction, get it. If you like romances, get it, because there's plenty of torrid romance. But especially get this book if you like novels where you care about the characters and the action moves you right to the end.
For Love or Honor Bound may not make it on any best-seller list, but if you like a solid story, read it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Love or Honor Bound, May 16, 2002

By 

Koko Kuzmanoff (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: For Love or Honor Bound (Paperback)

Never before have I been so engrossed in a novel pertaining to the American Civil War!

The character development is so very rich, and the complexity of each relationship illustrates that no matter which side one represents, each is "fighting the good fight".

The author moves the reader from battle ground, to deep, territorial waters and back again, weaving the tale of two brothers. One fights for the Confederacy, the other for the Union. Throughout their respective journeys, each falls in love with Countess Bario, is honored as a powerful and effective leader, and learns that there are more similarities than differences between them.

Every possible emotion is exercised when reading For Love or Honor Bound, and upon turning to the last page, the reader is compelled to think of friends with whom to share this wonderful novel.

Well done, Derek!

3.0 out of 5 stars Everything but a worthy heroine......., January 2, 2005

By 

stacey renee (rochester new york) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: For Love or Honor Bound (Paperback)

The history is excellent, the reality of the battles and the strategy planning, etc. is incredible. The hero's Ian Nortin, the union commodore and his half brother Robert, confederate cavalry are so different and yet each is the star of this book!

They are the stuff hero's are made of and that makes this book a page turner. Our heroine is Countess Sophia who is a spy, murderess, adulterer and brazen . Why 2 men of such integrity and honor would fall hopelessly in love with her still leaves me confused. And for that reason I would rate this a 4-.....such a shame really because it is excellent in all other respects. The 'romance' part is also unreal because sophia and robert meet once and are hopelessly in love for the rest of the book...Kind of like the author thought there should be a love interest and threw it in. He even has her young daughter condoning her adulterous affair......The more I think of this, I'm only rating it a 3......sorry.