Customer Reviews

Shades of Gray: A Novel of the Civil War in Virginia

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

There was a divide among the states, among brothers, families, and friends. There was a common ground, in honor. Jessica James' book, "Shades of Gray," is a novel about the Civil War in Virginia, but it is more about the honor and dedication, beliefs and convictions of both sides, than about the battles themselves.

Captain Hunter, a Confederate cavalry officer, is a fierce and worthy opponent to the Union. His determination and cunning is respected and feared. He'd never met an equal on the field, until a Union spy came face to face with him at a river crossing. Sinclair, with an imposing beast of a black horse, was a legend, escaping the grips of death again and again. These two foes would hunt each other, evade each other, and eventually, save each other's lives. Sinclair holds more secrets than the future plans of the southern forces; Sinclair is a woman in scout's disguise. Known only to her cousin's husband, Colonel Jordan, she is sent on missions to deliver messages, bring back information, and try to stay alive. Her desire to fight for her beliefs leads her to much more; going up against the famed Hunter becomes a challenge she cannot stop herself from pursuing. What she ends up allowing herself to do is well beyond what is expected, or accepted in the days of the Civil War.

Capturing the reader's attention from the start, Jessica James offers a different sort of historical fiction. While the conflicts and skirmishes are detailed and enthralling, the feeling within the soldier is what is so important here. The passion and depth of convictions is clear, respectfully portrayed on both sides, to a point. The plot is intricate with southern nuances, northern straightforwardness and the inner and outer battles of war. The humanity of feelings we cannot control is an outreach that will hit home. Life does go on, even in the middle of hell on earth.

Well written and expertly executed, this novel is sure to be embraced by readers of many genres. Surely, anyone interested in history, the War Between the States, or Virginia herself, will love it. Jessica James brings readers into the very minds of those who were there; you cannot leave this book unchanged in your understanding of the souls of the Civil War.

I have given relatives and friends a number of copies of Shades of Gray as I was so impressed by it. Their feedback has been fantastic! A sister wrote she could hardly put it down. Not a word should be changed, not a line omitted, perfect, she cried over it.

Sons of Confederate Veteran Camp members have also purchased copies and love it.

I bought this book on my Kindle because I cannot pass up a book with Civil War in the title. But I am deleting this book after struggling through Chapter 6. It is so full of cliches I can't bear to read it any futher. The main characters are shallow. The plot formulaic. I am amazed that it got even one review over 2.

Jessica James' Shades of Gray is a touching, captivating tale about Andrea, a spirited young woman serving as a scout for the Union, and Hunter, a dashing, powerful colonel in the Confederate army. After Andrea saves Hunter's life, their fates become intertwined as she poses as a Southern lady, reveals her true identity as a Unionist, and eventually ends up as a captive in his home.

The stubborn nature of both Andrea and Hunter, combined with Andrea's hot temper, make for some interesting, explosive battles of wits between the two. Their attraction for each other builds throughout the novel, but trouble befalls them from the moment they admit their feelings. The succeeding battles and plot twists pull the reader so deeply into the story that putting the book down is not an option.

Jessica James' has done a fantastic job with this novel, giving Civil War buffs and anyone looking for a wonderful book something fabulous to read. She skillfully weaves real battles and historical figures into her tale, and creates characters and plot twists that keep you begging for more. I wholeheartedly recommend this splendid book.

The American Civil War was among the darkest of times in our nation's history, a period in which both civilians and soldiers suffered greatly amidst the tragic circumstances that surrounded them on behalf of their respective causes. In addition to separating the country's northern and southern states, this `Great Divide' also cut through the fragile fabric of family and friends. As the threat of armed conflict became inevitable, loyalties among the country's citizens became blurred and one's sense of duty to the state often overshadowed the duty to the country.

Ultimately the War Between the States was a catastrophe of epic proportions, yet it is within this tragedy that we can sometimes find triumph. For every battlefield account depicting the worst of man, there are countless other stories that illustrate care and compassion. For every instance of hatred between the combatants, there are also stories of love. This is the basis for author Jessica James' debut release titled "Shades of Gray: A Novel of the Civil War in Virginia."

More than a typical romance novel, "Shades of Gray" takes the reader on a whirlwind journey across the Old Dominion with a highly original and historically accurate plotline. It is presented with a wonderful narrative that echoes the classic writing styles of days gone by, and it is through the author's meticulous attention to detail that the book's characters come alive. Depictions of their tenacity, both for and against one another's causes, seem to spring from the pages and I found myself reading much faster than usual, as the forward momentum of the storyline was maintained throughout.

Our hero, a cavalier named Captain Alexander Hunter, represents the Confederate cause. He is a feared and revered trooper who is bent on stopping an equally courageous Federal scout who has repeatedly plagued the rebel army. This Yankee however, is really not at all what `he' appears to be, and through a strange twist of fate, we are introduced to Andrea Evans, a daring, female Union Spy, who plays the part of a soldier and a Southern belle. Both characters become entangled in each other's lives, forcing a duality of conflict that exists between their personal emotions and military obligations. The `conscience' of this book includes examples of courage, pride, loyalty and revenge, amidst a backdrop of romance and retribution.

It is this tension between the book's two main characters that echoes the very same sentiment that supporters on both sides of the Civil War struggled with, from the first shot at Fort Sumter to the surrender at Appomattox Court House. And it is within the history of America's greatest conflict that we are also caught up in a love story that transcends either side's political perspective.

In an email interview with me, Jessica James explained what inspired her to pen the book. "I am enthralled by the soldiers' deep devotion to Christian principles and their abiding belief in everlasting life," she said. "I have been reading Civil War nonfiction and 19th century fiction almost exclusively for the past three years. When I began to subscribe to romance and fiction magazines to keep abreast of industry trends, I discovered how revolting the romance genre now is." She added, "I felt the need to publish something that emphasized traditional American values. Publisher, Patriot Press, sets high standards to insure good, wholesome content that is both educational and inspirational."

Both Patriot Press and Jessica James have certainly met their goals with "Shades of Gray: A Novel of the Civil War in Virginia." The book is a wonderful read, as well as a moving commentary on the struggles that were faced by ordinary people, who rose to the occasion and became extraordinary. It is through the teetering lives of Captain Hunter and Ms. Andrea Evans that we can find the common ground that existed between the North and South.

(Reviewed for the Pinstripe Press by Michael Aubrecht)

I cannot remember how I found this book but I marked it to read in July for the 2009 Southern Reading Challenge. I'm very glad I did. I had a tough time putting it down - which is something since it is a book about the Civil War. War novels are not a genre I tend to enjoy. That said, it's more about people than battles. There are plenty of battlefield scenes but the real story is the one involving Alex Hunter, a Confederate officer and Sinclair, a Union spy. Ms. James wrote a wonderfully paced novel that kept my attention throughout. I think she shows a gift for believable, intelligent dialogue. Although the epilogue told more than I needed/wanted to know, I really hated to see the story end and will count the book among my favorites for the year.

Kindle edition

Loved it ~ start to finish. I didn't just read about the civil war I was there smack dab in the middle of it. The spying, the battles, the raids, the camps. The human drama, the camaraderie, the love, the lives hanging on the edge. This book has it all. The last 100-150 pages were intense, the last 50 pages heartbreaking, the last 20 pages I cried. I mean the tears were running down my face.

The passion between Andrea and Hunter is so explosive that I thought the book was going to catch on fire. The scenes where they argue and fight for their own beliefs and feelings about the war and why each is involved are intense and heated. I felt like I was in the room listening to these two worthy opponents do battle for themselves, their families, their homes and their country. As they slowly come to realize that what they feel for each other is beyond their control they surrender pieces of themselves to the other and cross battle lines.

For the time it took me to read this book I was transported back to those war years. I was there in the thick of it. I was riding my beloved horse across enemy lines to bring dispatches and information back to camp. I shared my days and nights with my fellow soldiers. I fought side by side with them. I stared the enemy in the eye. I worked to save their live and when I couldn't I held them as they died. I shared stories of home and family as they read letters from loved ones. I cleverly played the part of spy whether I was a southern belle or disguised as a young man.

Any book that captivates me, absorbs me, captures my imagination is a good book indeed. Shades of Gray did all that. I recommend this book to any reader as it has something for everyone. Readers of historical fiction should especially enjoy it.

I just finished reading Shades of Gray by Jessica James, I found this book to be fascinating and hard to put down. I purchased the book in Gettysburg earlier this year (Patriot Point) but had put off reading it immediately. I met Jessica there and got a signed copy, I think it is the best Civil War fiction book since Cold Mountain. I know a little about Civil War history since I am related to six Condederate enlisted soldiers and General A P Hill. One of my relatives was with Mosby's Rangers 43 Va Calvary, which loosely resembles Captain Hunter's command.
Keep up the great writing, James D Bibb SCV Trimble Camp 1836 Treasurer.

Set in Virginia during the Civil War, "Shades of Gray" is more a novel of the concept of honor and loyalty than battles. As the United States grew from a collection of brave, but independent states to a full-fledged federal system, a few states like Virginia struggled to adapt from the courageous but soon-to-be outdated concept of individualism to that of being part of a larger national entity.

A romantic novel set within the framework of a Union - Confederate relationship, Virginia's Captain Hunter seems to have met his match in bravery, intelligence, and stubbornness until he meets Sinclair, a Union spy in disguise.

Set in the 1860's, author Jessica James's historical fiction contains many twists and turns, perhaps a few too many. The interplay between northern bluntness and southern graciousness is well illustrated as "Sinclair the spy" is soon revealed to be Andrea, a lovely lady who believes herself to be the equal of any man.

This is an interesting story on several levels; that of a Civil War novel, that of a romance story, but more importantly, one that delves into the thoughts and feelings of combatants who are fighting for respect (her) and honor (him) in a war in which both sides knew deep down what would be the outcome.

While perhaps too romantic and sweet for many Civil War readers, those who enjoy romance and the psychology that builds relationships will find "Shades of Gray" to be a very enjoyable book.

One of the trends in tradebook publishing in the past two decades has been the strong growth of historical fiction, particularly those books aimed at women. Combining plots that strongly emphasis character development and personal interrelationships with believable historical situations and settings, these books generally sell very well and appeal to a broad audience. Some, like Cold Mountain, have become best sellers that have cut across across wide genre of readers.

The most recent addition to this segment of the book industry comes from a Gettysburg author, Jessica James. Shades of Gray: A Novel of the Civil War in Virginia (ISBN 978-0-9796000-0-5, softback, 524 pages) is a worthy addition to the line up. Published by Patriot Press, the novel concerns the growing relationship between a Virginian who is a ardent secessionist and Confederate advocate. The lead female character, by contrast, is a devoted Unionist. The interplay of their divergent beliefs, coupled with the backdrop of the growing war, is well written and sustaining. Crisp, well flowing, and with a storyline that holds your attention, James shows off her talents as a novelist, as well as revealing a solid understanding of the Civil War era.

Her powerful prose is both descriptive and evocative, vividly painting a word picture that draws the reader into the action. For example, in a passage concerning the bursting of an artillery shell that kills the heroine's horse, James writes, "Justus, startled by the thunderous clamor, reared high in the air, throwing Andrea backward and off balance. She heard an appalling thud, a loud crack, the sound of iron consuming flesh and bone. She leaned forward, grabbing erratically for a handful of mane to regain her balance. But there was no mane to grab. The strong, well-muscled animal between her legs had dissolved. Disappeared. He was gone." Similar strong passages dot the book.

I trust that Jessica James will continue to share her talents in future books. Her work stands out among the best of the historical novelists, and is a worthy addition to the Civil War fiction line-up. Huzzah!