Noble Cause: A Civil War Novel of Love and War [Kindle Edition]

Jessica James (Author)

Book Description

Formerly called Shades of Gray. The award-winning Civil War novel Shades of Gray has a new happily-ever-after ending in this book called Noble Cause.

Author's Note: This novel is a new version of Shades of Gray with a Happily-Ever-After ending.

Noble Cause is the recipient of the coveted John Esten Cooke Award for Southern Fiction and captured the title for Regional Fiction in the 2011 Next Generation Indie Award contest. It was also a Bronze winner in Foreword Magazine's BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD contest in the Romance category, and was a Finalist in the USA "Best Books 2011 Awards for Historical Fiction.

Often compared to Gone with the Wind, Midwest Book Review called Noble Cause "a riveting piece of historical fiction."

This is the tale of Colonel Alexander Hunter, a dauntless and daring Confederate cavalry officer, who, with his band of intrepid outcasts, becomes a legend in the rolling hills of northern Virginia. Inspired by love of country and guided by a sense of duty and honor, Hunter must make a desperate choice when he discovers the woman he promised his dying brother he would protect is the Union spy he vowed to his men he would destroy.

Readers will discover the fine line between friends and enemies when the paths of these two tenacious foes cross by the fates of war and their destinies become entwined forever.

Author Jessica James uniquely blends elements of romantic and historical fiction in this deeply personal and poignant tale that, according to one reviewer, “transcends the pages to settle in the very marrow of the reader’s bones.” Winner of numerous national awards, James has received critical acclaim for this page-turning story of courage, honor, and enduring love.

Destined for an honored place among the classics of the American Civil War, Noble Cause is a book to read, and keep, and remember forever.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Noble Cause is a riveting piece of historical fiction, very much highly recommended reading." - Midwest Book Review, June 2011

From the Inside Flap

He was fiercely devoted to the Confederacy;
She, fervently dedicated to the Union.
One risked life to save a Cause--
The other, honor, to save a life.

Praised by readers of romantic and historical fiction since its publication in 2008, the award-winning historical fiction novel Shades of Gray now has a new ending in this special 150th Anniversary of the Civil War Commemorative edition entitled, Noble Cause.

This is the tale of Colonel Alexander Hunter, a dauntless and daring Confederate cavalry officer, who, with his band of intrepid outcasts, becomes a legend in the rolling hills of northern Virginia. Inspired by love of country and guided by a sense of duty and honor, Hunter must make a desperate choice when he discovers the woman he promised his dying brother he would protect is the Union spy he vowed to his men he would destroy.

Readers will discover the fine line between friends and enemies when the paths of these two tenacious foes cross by the fates of war and their destinies become entwined forever.

Author Jessica James uniquely blends elements of romantic and historical fiction in this deeply personal and poignant tale that, according to one reviewer, "transcends the pages to settle in the very marrow of the reader's bones." Winner of numerous national awards, James has received critical acclaim for this page-turning story of courage, honor, and enduring love.

Destined for an honored place among the classics of the American Civil War, Noble Cause is a book to read, and keep, and remember forever.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 759 KB
• Print Length: 384 pages
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004UH8YC0
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,081 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Noble Cause August 16, 2011

By MaryBeth Vincent

Format:Hardcover

Having stayed away from Civil War books (both fiction & non-fiction) for a long time as the subject matter is so depressing, this book drew me to it in a way no others have. By weaving a romantic story between a Union spy and a Rebel officer, Jessica James brings to life so beautifully the time period, the personal cost of war to both sides and the conflicts and pain it brought to people just trying to live their lives as best they could in such a tragic time. I agree with a reviewer on the jacket who said it was comparable to "Gone With the Wind" in scope, grandeur and quality. In addition, this is a special edition re-written for the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War with a "happy ending" vs. it's predecessor "Shades of Gray". A must read!

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars superb Civil War romance, ''six stars" August 30, 2011

By Virginia Campbell VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Author Jessica James has written a superb historical romance, "Noble Cause: A Novel of Love and War". With an elegant, evocative style, and a history lover's eye for detail, Ms. James brings to vivid life one of the most devastating of American tragedies. The involving battles scenes and fascinating military strategies are well-blended with the human issues of the war. An impossible and undeniable love is found just as so much is lost forever. Confederate Colonel Alexander Hunter is legendary for his battlefield brilliance and his deeply felt love of his Virginia homeland. His almost supernatural ability to outthink, outmaneuver, and upstage the Union Army faces only one real challenge: a young Union scout, small in stature, with unequaled horsemanship and the wiles of a fox. Andrea Evans, in her guise as Andrew Sinclair, risks her life at every opportunity to forward the cause of the Union. She is a scout, a spy, and a young woman on the run from her past. Born a privileged daughter of the South, Andrea fled her home at a very young age to leave behind the cruelty of her father, a slave-owner not afraid to use his whip. Time and time again, Alex and Andrea provoke and elude each other in a daring wartime dance. When Andrea is finally captured, she is sent to a hell-hole Confederate prison camp where she suffers unspeakable torture and becomes gravely ill. When Alex learns Andrea's fate, which was against his direct orders, he rescues her and takes her to his Virginia home to recover. He gambles much by keeping the infamous Yankee spy under his own roof, but he is following the dictates of his heart. Andrea proves to be more than a match for Alex, and their sparring intellects and spirited verbal battles make for a stirring romance. For me, a true hero must have an inner core of compassion. Alex is a man of ideals, a revered leader who has learned to place the needs of his command above his own personal needs. Andrea is a strong and intelligent woman, never afraid to stand up for her own beliefs, and those are the characteristics which Alex finds hardest to resist! The more that these two sworn opponents clash, the more their attraction begins to grow. As they learn about each other, they also learn about the "shades of gray" that cloud both sides of the horrific War Between the States. The skillful storytelling of Jessica James will keep you enthralled from beginning to end. The outcome of the Civil War is unchangeable, but the romance between the gentleman colonel and his fearless lady is one that you will not want to end. Highly recommended!

Review Copy Gratis Author

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is for the Civil War enthusiast....Bravo, Well Done. February 2, 2012

By Bonnie Divelbiss

Format:Hardcover

As a Civil War history lover, I can't explain my excitement when reading Noble Cause. This is a wonderful mix of Civil War history and a love story that proved love can endure in the harshest of circumstances. The history of this war is compelling and this book is written in a way that Jessica James portrays the events, the characters, the surroundings, and the words spoken with such eloquence to honor the North and South. She makes you feel like you are right there front and center just waiting for the next page page to turn. I could not put this novel down and neither will you. A must read.

More About the Author

Award-winning historical fiction author Jessica James resides in Gettysburg, Pa., where she enjoys writing and reading about the American Civil War. Her Civil War novel Noble Cause is the winner of the 2011 John Esten Cooke Award for Southern Fiction and the Next Generation Indie Award for Regional Fiction.

It was also Finalist in the Romance and Historical Fiction categories. Most recently, Noble Cause was announced as a bronze winner in Forword Magazine's BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD contest in the Romance category.

Originally published as Shades of Gray, Noble Cause provides readers with a new, happily-ever-after ending to the classic romantic tale. Shades of Gray was the winner of numerous national awards and has hit #1 on the Amazon best-seller list in its category.

James is featured in the book "50 Writers You Should Be Reading," published in 2010.