A Hope Divided

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"A masterful tale." -Kirkus, Starred Review on An Extraordinary Union The Civil War has turned neighbor against neighbor-but for one scientist spy and her philosopher soldier, war could bind them together . . . For three years of the War Between the States, Marlie Lynch has helped the cause in peace- with coded letters about anti-Rebel uprisings in her Carolina woods, tisanes and poultices for Union prisoners, and silent aid to fleeing slave and Freeman alike. Her formerly enslaved mother's traditions and the name of a white father she never knew have protected her-until the vicious Confederate Home Guard claims Marlie's home for their new base of operations in the guerilla war against Southern resistors of the Rebel cause. Unbeknowst to those under her roof, escaped prisoner Ewan McCall is sheltering in her laboratory. Seemingly a quiet philosopher, Ewan has his own history with the cruel captain of the Home Guard, and a thoughtful but unbending strength Marlie finds irresistible. When the revelation of a stunning family secret places Marlie's freedom on the line, she and Ewan have to run for their lives into the hostile Carolina night. Following the path of the Underground Railroad, they find themselves caught up in a vicious battle that could dash their hopes of love-and freedom-before they ever cross state lines. Praise for An Extraordinary Union " B rimming with vivid characterization, heartfelt dialogue, and sensual sweetness." -Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW "Cole spins a tale that will pull you in from the very first page. A true treat!" -RT Book Reviews, 5 stars,TOP PICK

Reviews

Exceptional Praise forThe Loyal League Series

Its gratifying to read a novel that deals so frankly with such issues and takes an unflinching view of the realities of life during the Civil War rather than reiterating the dangerous Lost Cause rhetoric that often colors romance narratives of this era.Entertainment WeeklyonA Hope Divided

Successfully navigating the challenges of writing an interracial romance set during the Civil War is difficult enough to do once, but to pull it off twice is truly impressive. And yet Cole has managed to do just that with her second book in the series.Shondaland.comonA Hope Divided

Thoughtfully portrayed characters with deep minds and passionate hearts make this second novel in Coles Loyal League series, followingAn Extraordinary Union(2017), sparkle. Highly recommended for lovers of historical romance.Booklist,starred reviewforA Hope Divided

Alyssa Coles An Extraordinary Union was one of our favorite spring romances, and this season she returns with the sequel. Bookish Autumns 2017 Most Swoon-Worthy Romance Books listforA Hope Divided

An exceptional story that both educates and entertains and beautifully launches a unique series.Library JournalSTARRED REVIEW,Editors Fall PicksforAn Extraordinary Union

The second book in Cole's Loyal League series (An Extraordinary Union, 2017) follows much the same pattern as the first. Again, Cole's heroine is gorgeously portrayed and powerful enough that readers will worship at her feet just as Ewan does. But if this book shows that Cole is settling into a pattern, readers won't want her to break the mold on book No. 3. Her prose is flawless. Her historical research is absorbing, and her characters are achingly human. This book is fantastic. As the war closes in around them, the line blurs between who is the rescuer and who is the rescued. Kirkus starred reviewforA Hope Divided

Brace yourself for another amazing installment of Coles The Loyal League series!A Hope Dividedfeatures plenty of twists and turns that make Marlies family secrets as surprising to the reader as they are to her.RT Book Reviews, 5 Stars GoldforA Hope Divided

Coles books are always timely, and yet timeless. She has a solid grounding of how to use history in her plots, and knows exactly what story she wants to tell. I could not put this down, even as some of the characterizations made me squirm in recognition (Marlies White sister is the ancestor of a lot of white feminism. Like, alot). I love it when the second book in a series totally exceeds the (very high) expectations of the first book. Smart Bitches Trashy BooksonA Hope Divided

Cole does the seemingly impossible, using the Civil War as a backdrop for a realistic, gripping interracial romance that interrogates slavery, systemic racism, and more, while still remaining utterly swoon-worthy. Entertainment WeeklyonAn Extraordinary Union,Top 10 Romances of 2017

Cole deftly interweaves the fraught realities of American history with romance and adventure this is a spy story, after all and it is elegantly told. Vulture.comonAn Extraordinary Union

The first installment in ColesLoyal Leagueseries defies genre stereotypes at every turn. Its both a romance and a spy novel, with a healthy dose of adventure thrown in, and it offers a nuanced portrayal of Civil Warera racial politics. Any reader who thinks romance novels are pure fluff will be schooled by Coles richly drawn characters, who must overcome generations of trauma in order to let themselves love each other.Kirkus starred reviewonAn Extraordinary Union

Coles sparkling gem of a romance portrays love at its most practical and sublime. Publishers Weeklystarred review,BEST BOOKS OF 2017onAn Extraordinary Union

Cole spins a tale that will pull you in from the very first page. RT Book Reviews*five star*Top PickreviewonAn Extraordinary Union

In the first installment in what should be a spectacular new series, Cole opens her adventurous historical romance at the beginning of the American Civil War. Bookliststarred reviewTop 10 Romance Fiction: 2017onAn Extraordinary Union

Cole's Civil War-set romance boasts one of the most delightfully, unapologetically powerful heroines in recent memory. Elle Burns quotesThe Art of Warin between dodging Confederate bullets, and by the end ofAn Extraordinary Union, readers are just as smitten with her as her adoring love interest is. BookPage 10 Best Romance Novels of 2017onAn Extraordinary Union

Alyssa Cole in any situation is magic, and from what Ive heard from advance readers its going to change the face of historical romance. BookRiotBest Books of 2017 (So Far)onAn Extraordinary Union

With projects like WGN AmericasUnderground, Coles lively novelbesides being an enjoyable romance full of adventure and extremely good lustis therefore part of a long-overdue pushback against the way historical fiction portrays this seminal moment in American history. JezebelonAn Extraordinary Union

A compelling and engrossing historical civil war romance between two spies, a free black woman and a Scottish immigrant that leaves you spellbound. Huffington PostonAn Extraordinary Union

Author Bio

Alyssa Cole is a science editor, pop culture nerd, and romance junkie who recently movedto the Caribbean and occasionally returns to her fast-paced NYC life.Her writing has been featured in publications including Vulture (New York Magazine's entertainment blog), Heroes and Heartbreakers, and The Toast. When she's not busy writing, traveling, and learning French, she can be found watching anime with her real-life romance hero or tending to her herd of pets.