Customer Reviews

For Love or Honor Bound

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

This is one that can be read over and over.

It has plenty of action, romance, accurate depictions of Civil War battles and places and events that happened during that time.

This novel is a real "page-turner." You'll lose sleep because it's hard to put down. I've read it once but plan to read it again and again!

I hope Derek Hart writes another Civil War novel!

This was a book I really wanted to make time to read. I liked the chartacters and I liked the story!

I like action & adventure. I like historical novels, where fictional people are living during interesting times. I especially like accurate history blended well with fascinating characters. Well, this book matched my likes in every category. Yes, Sophia is hot and a spy. Yes, both the Yankees and the Rebs have likeable respresentation. But I just kept turning the pages and enjoying the flow. This is a good book, no great literary masterpiece, but entertaining and fulfilling. So, the next time you complain about not having read a good book, you obviously didn't read For Love or Honor Bound, or Derek Hart's other top-notch novel - Tangles of Truth.

Derek Hart's obvious knowledge of the Civil War era and his intricate detailing of people, places and events, leads the reader on an amazing journey back in time. One does not merely read this book, but "watches" the battles of the war and "feels" the struggles and emotions of two brothers and the beautiful Countess. I couldn't put it down!

The Countess really steals the show. Yes, the other characterizations are very good, but Sophia can really capture a man's heart. The tryst on the boat had me in a feverish sweat. I've never considered the War of Northern Aggression in such a light. Thank you, Derek Hart!

by Nancy Wilson
I read books for escape from my normal routine. This book sure filled the bill. It also helped that it was well researched and taught me something.

I am a civil war addict. I loved the book and recommend it to anyone interested in the civil war