Promise & Honor

Kim Murphy

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Amanda Graham's husband dies a hero's death. Left with no source of income, she smuggles medical supplies for Lieutenant Colonel William Jackson and the Confederacy.

Although a rogue, Wil is a man of courage and fiercely loyal to Amanda. Lieutenant Samuel Prescott, a soldier of honour and former comrade before the war, fights for the Union. As opposing forces move into Virginia, Sam clashes with Wil on more than the battlefield, when both men fall in love with Amanda. Torn by grief and loyalty, Amanda struggles with the harsh reality that her way of life has been altered forever by the growing storm...

Review by Denise M. Clark (190203) Rating (10/10)

Review by Denise M. Clark
Amanda Graham has been widowed after her Colonel husband John is killed during the First Battle of Manassas in July of 1861. While she, along with most of the nation, hopes that this War Between the States will end quickly, such is not the case. Approached by Lt. Colonel Will Jackson, a Confederate officer and long time friend of her husband’s, Amanda agrees to smuggle medical supplies to the Southern troops from her home in Fredericksburg, just across the river from the Northern boundary.

At home, she also cares for the infant daughter of her long time friend, Lt. Sam Prescott, who recently returned from duty in New Mexico, is now serving in the Union forces. Torn between loyalty and compassion for soldiers of both sides of this new war, Amanda does what she can for them, risking danger and even prison and hanging if captured. As the war draws on, and everyone begins to understand that it will not end any time soon, Amanda is caught in a tug-of-war that involves her heart. Both Will and Sam vie for her heart, sending Amanda into a maelstrom of conflicting emotions, desires and uncertainty.

Desperate to love and be loved, Amanda is faced with making a decision, and must do so before the dangers of war does it for her and she loses everything and everyone she holds dear to her heart.

Ms. Murphy’s Promise & Honor brilliantly captures the mixed feelings of a woman caught in the middle; of not only a war she wants no part of, but of the two men from opposite sides who hope for her affections. The author’s ability to write gritty yet realistic battle scenes effectively portrays the sacrifices made by the men of both sides. Well fleshed out characters bring that intensity to life, and her exciting narrative propels the reader on a grim and realistic journey into the heart of one woman’s struggle to find an enduring love in the midst of hell. This reader/reviewer certainly hopes to see more from this wonderful new author.
Denise M. Clark (19th February 2003)