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Unconditional Freedom
Unconditional Freedom | Alyssa Cole
30 posts | 23 read | 24 to read
An assassination plot that could end the Civil War, and a hidden enemy that could destroy a secret league of unsung heroes . . . Daniel Cumberland, born free in Massachusetts, studied law with dreams of helping his people--dreams that died the night he was kidnapped and sold into slavery. Daniel is rescued, but he's a changed man. When he's offered entry into the Loyal League, the covert organization of Black spies who helped free him, he seizes the opportunity for vengeance against the Confederacy and those who support it. When the Union Army occupies the Florida home of Cuban Janeta Sanchez, daughter of an enslaved woman and the plantation owner who married her, her family's wealth does not protect her father from being imprisoned. Under duress and blaming herself for the arrest, Janeta agrees to infiltrate a group called the Loyal League as a double agent--and finds a cause truly worth the sacrifice. Daniel is aggravated by the headstrong and much too observant new detective he's paired with, and Janeta is intrigued by the broken but honorable man she is tasked with betraying. As they embark on a mission to intercept Jefferson Davis and thwart European meddling, their dual hidden agendas are threatened by the ghosts of their pasts and a growing affection that could strengthen both the Union and their souls--or lead to their downfall. Praise for Alyssa Cole "This book is fantastic." --Kirkus STARRED REVIEW on A Hope Divided "Thoughtfully portrayed characters with deep minds and passionate hearts make this . . . sparkle." --Booklist STARRED REVIEW on A Hope Divided "Brimming with vivid characterization, heartfelt dialogue, and sensual sweetness." --Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW on An Extraordinary Union
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Kathrin
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Pickpick

Neat conclusion to the Loyal League Trilogy.

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hes7
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Pickpick

#AwesomeAugust

13. An Unconditional Freedom 4⭐️
14. My Once and Future Duke 3.5⭐️
15. The Legend of Lyon Redmond 2.5⭐️
16. Ignite the Sun 3.5⭐️

#boutofbooks

Andrew65 👏👏👏👏🙌🙌🥳🥳🥳🍾🥂🍾🥂🍾🥂🍾🥂 4y
62 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Susanita
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Not necessarily my favorite of the Loyal League books but a fitting conclusion to the series. Interesting story. Sweet romance. Very touching author‘s note at the end. One book completed for #JubilantJuly

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effani
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Pickpick

I thought this was well done, and the way the two main characters dealt with their respective trauma and other baggage was particularly touching. I do struggle sometimes with characters in historical romance expressing modern attitudes, and there was a side character that went too far into that territory for my liking. But overall it mostly hit the mark for me, and there's no denying that it's an ambitious novel.

effani #ReadHarder2020: A historical fiction novel not set in WWII. I balk a little bit at using historical romance for this category since some of it is not very grounded in real history, but I think this one is enough to count.

This is also my #BookSpin pick. Thanks again to @TheAromaofBooks for hosting this! I don't know when I would have gotten around to this one otherwise, even though I love Alyssa Cole's work.
5y
TheAromaofBooks Thank you so much for participating!! Glad that you enjoyed your book! 5y
25 likes1 stack add2 comments
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effani
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I'm only a few chapters in, but wow, this is enemies-to-lovers romance on hard mode! The hero has PTSD from being abducted and sold into slavery, and the heroine is a double agent spying for the Confederacy. And they're both in love with other people. I have no idea how Alyssa Cole is going to pull this one off, but I'm sure she is!

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effani
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And now on to my #BookSpin pick: #12, An Unconditional Freedom. I'm also going to use this for #ReadHarder2020 task 7: A historical fiction novel not set in World War II. #ReadHarder

Alyssa Cole is almost always a win for me and I particularly loved A Hope Divided, the previous book in the series, so I have high hopes for this one.

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AshleyKorinE
Unconditional Freedom | Alyssa Cole

I made a tbr video for February explaining why I don‘t make tbrs!

https://youtu.be/ORjyYzzpNO4

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Julsmarshall
Pickpick

What a great ending to the series! Complicated characters, compelling story, spicy in all the right ways. This is what great romance reads like! #ReadHarder #challenge #9

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Julsmarshall
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#current read So good!

50 likes3 stack adds
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UnabridgedPod
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Pickpick

Alyssa Cole's An Unconditional Freedom, the third in her Loyal League series, is a strong historical romance. Cole's Author's Note, in which she explores the difficulty of writing about black characters' fighting for freedom from slavery at a time of "surging White supremacy" places the novel in a context that illuminates the importance of exploring this time period. ⬇️

UnabridgedPod I love her conclusion that "[the book's happily ever after] is in the *possibility* of perfecting, in finding a community of like-minded people who share similar goals and work toward them, together" (loc. 3934). 5y
25 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Owlizabeth
Unconditional Freedom | Alyssa Cole
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Up next on my #romantsy binge, moving from Regency London to Civil War South and the further adventures of the Loyal League. I‘ve been waiting for this one for months, so excited to finally have it in my grubby hands!

Liatrek It‘s a slow burn romance but very good❤️ 5y
55 likes1 stack add1 comment
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swishandflick
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Mehso-so

Not bad, but this one didn't grab and hold my attention nearly as well as the first two in the series. The chemistry between the two MCs also has a realllyyyy slow burn. Not that that's always a negative, but I haven't had much time to read this week and it just made this one feel even longer #romance

Scochrane26 I have this one on hold. Not usually a romance reader anymore, but I used the 1st for a book challenge & liked it enough to read more. 5y
74 likes1 comment
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sebrittainclark
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Pickpick

4/5

Another great book in a great series. I loved the characters and all their internal conflict. The romance built slowly between the two and it was just super well done.

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CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian
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Pickpick

An amazing book! My favourite historical by Alyssa Cole. Set in the American civil war, the story is about 2 people with a lot of growing to do. Daniel, a Black man born free in the North, is experiencing PTSD after having been kidnapped into slavery. Janeta is the Cuban daughter of a slaveowner and a former slave; she's been raised to think herself above other Blacks. Their love story and individual journeys are so beautiful and moving. I cried.

Liatrek I loved this one too❤️ such an amazing series! 5y
writerlibrarian That was a really good Cole indeed. 5y
CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian @Liatrek I somehow missed the second one so nowi have to go back and read it too! 5y
42 likes1 stack add5 comments
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CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian
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"He walked away from the idea that his only use in this world was vengeance, or that vengeance was only hatred and pain. Vengeance was happiness in a world that wanted to crush him. Vengeance was love in a world that wished him misery. Vengeance was stopping injustice." ? #BlackBooks #Romantsy #Romance

Owlizabeth I cannot wait for my library hold to come in!! 5y
CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian @Owlizabeth Hope you love it too! 5y
35 likes2 comments
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CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian
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My partner and I spent all day yesterday cleaning and organizing and unpacking our new apartment so today I am taking a much deserved day off to do all the things listed on this mug. Also, this book is fabulous so far! #Romantsy #Romance #BlackBooks

SW-T Congrats on your move! Hope the two of you enjoy your new home 😊 6y
brennahawleycraig I haven‘t started this series by her but I definitely want to! I have the first one at home. Enjoy your rest! 6y
CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian @SW-T Thank you! 😃 6y
38 likes4 comments
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CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian
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Oops checked out a #romance book on my shift at the library today. I loved the first one in this series, and the plot of this one sounds even better! Two spies, one who's a double agent set to betray the other?? #Romantsy #BlackBooks

32 likes2 stack adds
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Liatrek
Unconditional Freedom | Alyssa Cole
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Another great month 🎉 love both Aylssa Cole books ❤️

JoRead I need to try her books 6y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Looks great! 📖💖 6y
87 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Liatrek
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Pickpick

Deep and beautifully flawed characters struggling for redemption, Hope and love. The authors end note expressed what I think many people have felt recently like we are reverting back to scarier times. I think this might be my favorite of the series because both Daniel and Janeta grow so much during the story. Aylssa Cole is an amazing author and I can‘t recommend her books enough❤️

77 likes2 stack adds
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Liatrek
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Book and wine vs. pile of laundry🧐 who will win 🤷🏽‍♀️

BlameJennyJane Book and wine! 👍🏼 6y
Pricel101 Lol #booksandbooze will always win🍷🏆📚 6y
Ruthiella You are literally enacting that meme “I felt like doing laundry so I sat down and read till the feeling passed “😂 6y
Liatrek @Ruthiella lol 😂 6y
114 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Liatrek
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Happy Sunday reading 😊

writerlibrarian It's sooooo good. 😁💕 6y
106 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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writerlibrarian
Unconditional Freedom | Alyssa Cole
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Pickpick

A strong historical novel which two characters' journey in a world where despair, hope, vengeance, deceit are everyday occurrences. This third installment in Cole's Loyal League series is the best, most poignant and ultimately the more human story of them all. More historical than romance, although there a romance between two deeply hurt persons who journey to a better place both physically, emotionally.
#netgalley #AnUnconditionalFreedom

writerlibrarian I loved that the Janeta's "secret" was dealt in a wonderful and mature way. Both are self aware and know that the relationship, love that is developing between them can't cure them. That I loved. So much. Both know and express it consciously.

The storyline is eerily a mirror of our times. Cole addresses the subjects of racism, slavery, hate, freedom and democracy in a time where these are so much present in the every day lives of America.
6y
writerlibrarian This isn't an easy historical romance. It's a historical romance with heart, soul and a hard point of view on the times and ours.

It is an amazing read as a romance, an historical novel and a book that makes us, the reader, think.
6y
31 likes1 stack add2 comments
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writerlibrarian
Unconditional Freedom | Alyssa Cole
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? in Buffalo. This book is just fantastic. I"m almost 75% in. So so good.
I"m thinking I'll be finished tonight. So so good.
#readingandwatchinghockey

Liatrek My copy arrives tomorrow😊 I can‘t wait to read it this weekend 6y
writerlibrarian @Liatrek it is just so so good. I got an ARC back in January but didn't get to it until last evening and I'm almost done. 6y
writerlibrarian No goal after one period. 81 to 59 to 87 back to 81 🚨Slapshot from the point Dumo 🚨 71 🍎. PPG 🐧 🚨3-0 (edited) 6y
36 likes3 comments
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SW-T
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Pickpick

Janeta joined the Loyal League as a Confederate spy. Daniel joined for revenge. Born free, he was kidnapped, enslaved, and broken both in mind and body. Two troubled and broken people helped each other find out who they really were. Each developed a sense of worth, compassion, and a strength of character they lacked before. Between a pick and so-so, but these two had more work to do, were less likable at first, and had more internal struggles.

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SW-T
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Overall, enjoyed The Loyal League trilogy. Definitely interesting characters that I‘ll remember for a long time.

15 likes1 stack add
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SW-T
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Not my favorite book of the series, but definitely the book with the most character growth. After reading the author note I think it explains so much of the book‘s overall tone.

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writerlibrarian
Unconditional Freedom | Alyssa Cole
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Hawks in TO. Toews vs Matthews or Tavares. New book.
#readingandwatchinghockey

writerlibrarian The 🍁 are having a really terrible night. 3-0 Hawks so far. After one period, it's a 4-0 Hawks. It's 5-0 now. Finally 🍁 get on the board. 5-2. 5-3 now. Hawks better watch out. 9 m to go (edited) 6y
34 likes1 comment
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SarahSaysRead
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Pickpick

Probably not my fave of the series, but still pretty damn great. Heartbreaking in many spots.

Liatrek I need to buy this ASAP😊love the series. 6y
23 likes1 comment
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swishandflick
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Ooh - I didn't realize we were so close to a new addition to this series! #romantsy

64 likes1 stack add
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writerlibrarian
Unconditional Freedom | Alyssa Cole
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Another evening reading and watching hockey. 🥰
I got an advanced copy of Alyssa Cole's third book in her Civil war series. 🤗 this will be my next book.
Pens and Leafs are playing tonight so I'll be switching between the two.
#readingandwatchinghockey

Chrissyreadit Yay! Congrats- I read the first book and enjoyed it. 6y
writerlibrarian It's tied at 1 in Pittsburgh. 34 🚨 in TO. GO 🍁 . 34 again. 2-0 TO. Both my teams won tonight. 👏🏻👍🏻👊🏻 (edited) 6y
33 likes2 comments