An Extraordinary Union
Books | Fiction / Romance / Historical / American
3.7
(165)
Alyssa Cole
A former slave finds danger, intrigue, and passion undercover as a spy in first of this Civil War–era romance series from an award-winning author. Elle Burns is a former slave with a passion for justice and an eidetic memory. Trading in her life of freedom in Massachusetts, she returns to the indignity of slavery in the South—to spy for the Union Army. Malcolm McCall is a detective for Pinkerton’s Secret Service. Subterfuge is his calling, but he’s facing his deadliest mission yet—risking his life to infiltrate a Rebel enclave in Virginia. Two undercover agents who share a common cause—and an undeniable attraction—Malcolm and Elle join forces when they discover a plot that could turn the tide of the war in the Confederacy’s favor. Caught in a tightening web of wartime intrigue, and fighting a fiery and forbidden love, Malcolm and Elle must make their boldest move to preserve the Union at any cost—even if it means losing each other. . . An Entertainment Weekly TOP 10 ROMANCE BOOKS OF THE YEARA Bookpage TOP PICKA Kirkus BEST BOOKS OF 2017A Vulture TOP 10 ROMANCE BOOKS OF 2017A Publishers Weekly BEST BOOKS OF 2017A Booklist TOP 10 ROMANCE FICTION 2017“Richly detailed setting, heart-stopping plot, and unforgettable characters.” —Deanna Raybourn, New York Times–bestselling author “You should absolutely read this book, immediately, if you haven’t already. . . . This book is a marvelous, intelligent, respectful, breathtaking treat for your brain.” —Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
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More Details:
Author
Alyssa Cole
Pages
272
Publisher
Kensington Books
Published Date
2017-03-28
ISBN
1496707451 9781496707451
Community ReviewsSee all
"Brilliant, witty, and heart pounding adventure. Romance isn't overdone and they make a not so perfect pairing. Just a phenomenal book."
AutisticJester
"one of the best books i have ever read."
I J
Ivori Jackson
"I feel bad for rating this so low since I usually really like Alyssa Cole’s work, but I couldn't stand this book.<br/><br/>The two main characters are incredibly stupid spies (we are told in narration how good at their jobs they are but they spend the whole book overreacting to things, making amateurish mistakes, and doing things they know will threaten the mission) during the American Civil War. The book acknowledges the power differential between the two characters due to race and gender, but then repeatedly shows the hero trying to push the heroine’s boundaries, which I guess is okay because she secretly wants him so badly that they have a bunch of embarrassingly written sex (including a notable scene after Elle was shot in the head!!!!) and get married after knowing one another for a week. The final act relies on a false rape accusation against the hero by a spurned lover to propel it forward.<br/><br/>Honestly, the story of the war and the spy network was interesting and I liked some of the side characters a lot, but even outside of the romance the hero felt unnecessary (he didn't actually help with the spying very much). While the whole conceit of Elle pretending to be mute felt contrived, I might have liked the book better as a solo adventure for her as a spy."
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