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I've been so caught up by Alyssa Cole's Civil War historical romance series. I love the care toward historical accuracy, especially about a time as painful as the Civil War in the US, and I love the many different aspects / perspectives of that time that she gives us. In the first book, a spy for the Loyal League with an eidetic memory and a Pinkerton detective fall for each other despite all the risks and obstacles standing in their way.

I really liked the idea of a historical romance between a Black spy masquerading as a slave and a white spy masquerading as a Confederate soldier. Alyssa Cole‘s writing is good. It‘s just too much lust and not enough spycraft for me. This is a type of romance that just doesn‘t work for me: I want the characters to gradually get to know each other and have their interest increase, not fall in immediate lust and act like they hate each other.

1. Any of the women from the Loyal League series, but especially Elle.
2. Into the future so I know we still exist.
#two4tuesday

Thanks for the tag!

Rereading for romance book club. I remember being somewhat hesitant going in my first time (The Civil War setting initially made me nervous.). Luckily, I discovered one of my favorite romance authors. And double luckily, my book club jumped on the concept of this book when I pitched it.

This is the second book I‘ve bounced from in 2021 because something ableist snuck up and stabbed me in the heart: “He didn‘t know why, but it bothered him that she couldn‘t speak. It was selfish, and odd, but he couldn‘t help but guess at what her voice would sound like.” The fact that the heroine can speak is not the point. It‘s that the hero presumes being able to speak is a prerequisite for being a full human and love interest.

“Trust was a funny thing in that people thought they guarded it closely but were often willing to hand it over at the slightest sign of camaraderie.”

A low pick for this Civil War espionage romance. The setting was interesting, the characters were too, yet I had a hard time getting into it. I never really felt that drive to pick it back up. There were a lot of issues (obviously slavery and racism, but also a lot of emotional issues on both sides) that gave depth to the story.
Another goal complete for #MarvellousMarch with @Andrew65

1. I‘ve had Get a Life, Chloe Brown on my kindle for awhile but haven‘t gotten to it yet. Author is Talia Hibbert. I know there‘s much love for her on Litsy.
2. Enemies to lovers
3. First Alyssa Cole that I read. @ozma.of.oz #sundayfunday

I am glad this was my first ever romance novel. It was not to my taste but that was not because of the writing. I just don't think Romance novels are for me. I will say that the plot was engaging and kept me guessing. I will be interested to read her new mystery novel.

Last day! I really enjoyed this interracial romance historical spy series. Be advised there are some steamy moments! ☺️

#20series20days
#Top20series
#LoyalLeague

Just about sums up my Thursday night! This was a great historical romance to get sucked into on a rainy day like today. Elle and Malcolm are wonderful complex characters with a great dynamic and their high-stakes Union spying kept me on the edge of my seat. I'll definitely be checking out more of Alyssa Cole's work!

A romance set during the civil war that tackles serious issues and is a history lesson, had me from the beginning and got me hooked on Alyssa Cole.

#blackvoices

Buckle your seatbelts & grab some tissues. The opening scene sets the stage & immediately sucked me in. The book is about two union spies who are in deep undercover in Richmond Virginia in the first year of the Civil War. Simply put, this book was high octane, sexy, heartfelt, and tackled some serious issues about reparations, forgiveness, and how can we move forward. Do yourself a favor and read this book!
-Erika
Find the entire series on Libby!

#Audiobooks I started this as a light read, though to be fair it's not really light.. but anyway I have read the first 9 chapters of this book, it's wonderful!

Also in other news, I wrote out a general plan for how I would run my hypothetical podcast about Audiobooks!

#Audiobooks

#7days7covers #coverlove I could list all of Alyssa Cole‘s covers but I stuck with 2.

Set during the Civil War in the South, two spies work to disrupt Confederate plans. Elle, a strong, intelligent woman risks everything posing as a deaf-mute slave in a Southern Senator's household. Malcolm poses as a Confederate soldier to ferret out information for the Union. A romance blooms.

It is a well written and researched story. I'm not a big romance reader, but I will definitely read more of Alyssa Cole's books.

I liked the characters a lot. The beginning was a bit slow. I expected more intrigue in a book about two spies. Overall it was a good summer read.

Work is slow, so of course it‘s prime reading time! This is my first Alyssa Cole and, while a bit slow in the beginning, it was heartwarming and suspenseful all at once. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Book 30/30 for #BFCR2 !!!

I read this to complete the task on Bookriot's Read Harder Challenge, a Historical Romance by an Author of Colour. I don't usually read much romance, but I love historical fiction. This was a really interesting story about the American Civil War, and I must admit, the sex scenes were pretty hot 🙃

I've been saving this for a rainy day. 🌧 It's sunny, but I'm feeling blue - so I'm diving in! How 'bout you? What are you most looking forward to reading and what are you waiting for??

Whoops! I read this book the whole time I was at the lake in my hammock, and then before bed I thought I'd read just a bit more...and now it's midnight and I'm 67% into the book in one evening. I'm going to tear myself away and save the rest for morning, but first I think I might need to check if the library has the rest of the series... 😂😍❤️ #romantsy #BookFitnessChallenge #BFC @wanderinglynn

Walked to the lake to read in my hammock. 😊 I can't put this book down! I started it a few hours ago and I'm at 30%. Cole might be the only romance writer I like! I started A Princess in Theory in the fall and was loving it too, but bailed when I was unceremoniously dumped at Christmas. Hopefully my heart is ready to finish this one. 🤞
Hit 10,000 steps and 100 active min with the walk to the lake! #BookFitnessChallenge #BFC @wanderinglynn

I may be dead tired today, but there's fresh blueberry crumble made from our own blueberry bushes and an entertaining book to dive into. 👍
All my working out this morning has me too tired to get many more steps today, so I'm rewarding myself with a lazy afternoon. 😊 #BookFitnessChallenge #BFC @wanderinglynn

This might be the first #romance novel that I have liked in my life. So much so, that I am considering to read the other books in the series. Gasp!! 😂😂😂

#RHC Task 16: An historical romance by an #AOC

Elle has lived for years with her family as a free woman in the North, but she chooses to serve as a spy and goes back to the South posing as an enslaved person to spy in a Confederate senator‘s house.

There she meets Malcolm McCall, a Northern spy posing as a Confederated captain. There are a million reasons they shouldn‘t be together, and yet...

#romance
#readingwomenofcolor2019

Loved this so much. So good. Lots of peril, lots of romance, on the right side of history and a happily ever after. What‘s not to enjoy?

Read Harder Journal inspirational!

Saturday night library book!

I‘m not a romance genre reader, haven‘t ever been. But now this article makes me want to explore: more diversity than I ever thought! Link: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/apr/04/fifty-shades-of-white-romance-nove...

Currently reading. I would never have picked this one up if it weren‘t for Bookriot‘s Read Harder challenge. But this satisfies the historical romance by an aoc and it‘s quite good so far! Lots of vivid history and the romantic interest isn‘t overdone.

#aoc #poc #historicalromance

Currently listening. :)

Along with building a relationship, Cole builds intrigue in this romance. The spy plot makes it a little denser than most historical romances I've read. Cole brings the action to the forefront, which actually helped me buy the romance better honestly, since I'm not huge on love-at-first-sight. It did take me a long time to get invested in this one, but I liked it well enough to consider the rest of the series one day.

4/5

I love Alyssa Cole's Reluctant Royals series, so I was super excited to get started on her historical romance series. An Extraordinary Union is great. The romance is fantastic and the high stakes of spying during the civil war had me so worried for the characters that I couldn't put the book down. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

It's an excellent choice for the #readharder historical romance.

#readharder16

The romance was super hot, the attraction electric, and best of all, the main plot line (or, I suppose, secondary plot line to the romance) was super exciting and as interesting as the romance. Many elements of the story are based on true events or figures, which made it even more interesting to read.

Yesssssss this book. One of the best historical romances I‘ve read and unique in that the stakes are significantly higher than usual. Excellent and I can‘t wait to read more Alyssa Cole! Vacation read number two down 🤗 #romantsy

I tried but I‘m struggling to find the thread of the story under all the quivering flesh. Giving up about 1/2 way through. Confirms that romance novels are not for me...not even historical ones. Seems I am to be defeated by this Read Harder prompt for 2018.

HOW GOOD is this book?? Romance in the Resistance.

Soooo excited to start this one!!!

Well, this is the best historical romance I‘ve ever read. Okay, it‘s the only historical romance I‘ve ever read. I did it for the challenges & I hate-read it from beginning to end. I love the idea of the protagonist—she‘s strong, independent, fiercely dedicated to the cause of eradicating slavery, and very human. The story wrapped up nicely and Alyssa Cole did her research, presenting a fresh perspective. But, as it turns out, I HATE romance.

It was so good! Why did it take me so long to read this book?!?! 😀 #romance #romantsy #historicalromance

Loooved this. I bought it last year and I can't believe how long I took to get to it. It had all of the romance and history and adventure and intrigue and sex and emotion that I wanted. I will definitely be reading the sequel and other Alyssa Cole books.

Holy smokes, Alyssa Cole packed a bunch into one book! It‘s definitely heavier than her contemporaries (I mean, obviously; it‘s about a free Black woman going undercover as an enslaved woman during the Civil War), but it‘s so good! One caveat—it‘s something I haven‘t see a lot of people talking about—Elle pretends to be disabled while undercover, and I hate that. It feeds the narrative that disabled people are faking it. Stop doing shit like this.

A little historical Alyssa Cole for book club this weekend.

Excellent historical romance set during the US Civil War. Elle Burns is a free black woman posing as a mute slave in the household of a southern senator. She is a Union spy with an eidetic memory who (unwillingly) teams up with Malcolm McCall, a Scottish Pinkerton detective posing as a Confederate soldier. They feel an instant attraction, but Elle doesn‘t trust Malcom.

I will admit that I liked the second book in this series more but this story about a freed slave spying in the house of a Confederate senator and falling for a Scottish Pinkerton detective is still a resounding pick. Elle is smart, determined, sharp tongued, and everything I want in a heroine. She was the best part of this book for me. #reversereadathon

I‘m not a romance reader. Nothing against the genre, I just am not inclined to seek them out and in the past haven‘t really enjoyed the very few I‘ve read. This makes me think I‘m missing out. I loved the characters. Elle is full of smarts and sass; a heroine I can get behind. And Malcolm is funny, sweet and strong; pretty close to a perfect combination. Three cheers for the #readharderchallenge getting me out of my comfort zone, yet again!

Really enjoyed reading this article as a huge fan of Aylssa Cole and romance novels. https://www.buzzfeed.com/bimadewunmi/meet-the-black-women-upending-the-romance-n...