Noble Cause

Military Heroes Through History #1

by Jessica James

Author's Note: This novel is a new version of Shades of Gray with a Happily-Ever-After ending.

This is the tale of Colonel Alexander Hunter, a dauntless and daring Confederate cavalry officer, who, with his band of intrepid outcasts, becomes a legend in the rolling hills of northern Virginia. Inspired by love of country and guided by a sense of duty and honor, Hunter must make a desperate choice when he discovers the woman he promised his dying brother he would protect is the Union spy he vowed to his men he would destroy. Readers will discover the fine line between friends and enemies when the paths of these two tenacious foes cross by the fates of war and their destinies become entwined forever.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Civil War, Historical Romance, Fiction, Historical, Ebooks

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 19, 2008

About the author

Jessica James is an award-winning author of suspense, historical fiction, Christian fiction, and military fiction ranging from the Revolutionary War to modern day.

She is a four-time winner of the John Esten Cooke Award for Southern Fiction, and was featured in the book 50 Authors You Should Be Reading, published in 2010.

Her novels appeal to both men and women and are featured in library collections all over the United States including Harvard and the U.S. Naval Academy.

When not writing, Jessica James can be found on the back roads of the country, finding new historic sites to blog about on www.PastLaneTravels.com.

James resides in Gettysburg, Pa., and is a member of the Military Writers Society of America, the Independent Book Publishers Association, and NINC.

AWARDS:
2020 John Esten Cooke Award
2020 Finalist HOLT Medallion Award
2020 Finalist Greater Detroit RWA Booksellers Best Award
2019 Finalist Indie Excellence Award
2019 John Esten Cooke Award for Southern Fiction
2018 Silver Falchion Award Finalist in Suspense
2017 Rone Award for Best Cover (Deadline)
2017 IndieBRAG Medallion Winner
2016 Gold Metal Military Writers Society of America
2016 Readers’ Favorite International Book Award Bronze Winner Romance – Suspense
2016 Finalist for BOOK OF THE YEAR in Foreword Magazine’s IndieFab contest
2015 NJRW Golden Leaf Award
2014 Valley Forge Romance Writers Sheila Award Finalist
2014 John Esten Cooke Award for Southern Fiction
2014 Reader’s Crown Award Finalist
2014 Next Generation Indie Award Finalist in Fiction/Religious
2013 USA “Best Books 2013” Finalist in Fiction/Religious
2012 Bronze winner Foreword Magazine Book of the Year in Romance
2011 John Esten Cooke Award for Southern Fiction
2011 USA "Best Books 2011" Finalist in Historical Fiction
2011 Next Generation Indie Award for Best Regional Fiction
2011 Next Generation Indie Finalist in Romance
2011 Next Generation Indie Finalist in Historical Fiction
2011 NABE Pinnacle Book Achievement Award
2010 Military Writers Society Award in Historical Fiction
2009 HOLT Medallion Finalist for Best Southern Theme
2008 Indie Next Generation Award for Best Regional Fiction
2008 Indie Next Generation Finalist for Best Historical Fiction

Reviews

[Candace Tidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of my all time favorites. I have read it so many times I have lost count but it just gets better every time I revisit it.
I have always been a sucker for a strong, outspoken female lead and Andrea is all that and more. This is historical fiction at its finest.
I love history and this book takes place during the civil war but this book is so much more than the north versus the south. Life, love, liberty are words that can be used to describe it but doesn't even scratch the surface. Honor and loyalty are weighed against each other. Andrea will battle against Captain Alexander Hunter and emotions will run high. Can values and perceptions change or will those values and perceptions be the demise of these two characters?
This award winning book is incredible and mesmerizing. I, personally, felt as I was living the events as they unfolded throughout the book. The intellect and depth of the dialogue is really what makes the book in my opinion. Andrea is a spitfire and when she goes head to head with Hunter its explosive. There is a neverending debate between the two strong willed characters. Female versus male, north versus south, honor versus loyalty. Noble Cause is phenomenal and spellbinding. Do I recommend this book? Yes! It's one of a kind and I cannot sing its praises enough. So...buy it, read it and love it as much as I do.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Jessica James has written an amazing historical romance, "Noble Cause” – noted by the author as being a new version of Shades of Gray with a Happily-Ever-After ending. The Civil War, one of the most horrific episodes in American history is brought back to life with vivid battle scenes blended with the tragedy of having to choose honor and a sense of duty to country over promises made in the name of love. Confederate Colonel Alexander Hunter is known for his abilities on the battlefield, as well as his loyalty to his home, Virginia. The one thorn in his side is a young Union scout, Andrew Sinclair, who is willing to risk his life for the union as a spy. The two enemies cross paths often. But Andrew is not a small statured young man, he is Andrea Evans, a young Southern woman who abhorred the treatment of slaves on her father’s plantation, escaped her homeland to fight for the North.
Andrea is captured and brutally tortured in a Confederate prison camp. Alex rescues her and hides her at his Virginia home, at great personal risk. As she recovers her wounds, her ability to think decisively and speak up for what she believes to be right causes many heated, verbal battles between Andrea and Alex. The more they argue, the more they respect each other, the closer they grow emotionally, and maintaining their respective “North/South” attitudes becomes difficult. What they each considered to be black & white issues, becomes blurred, gray areas as they realize the flaws in their political doctrines.
The question that remains is which is more important, duty and love of country or the love of another person? How does one choose?
Jessica James blends history with a forbidden romance that blooms in spite of the taint of the War Between the States with characters that play off of each other so well, it gives another meaning to “Love Thy Enemy.” If you enjoy historical fiction with your romance, like feisty heroines and strong, gentlemanly heroes, this could be for you!
This ARC re-release copy was provided by NetGalley, Parrot Press and IBPA in exchange for my honest review.

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[Regan Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loving the Enemy in the Civil War

Set in Virginia, beginning in 1862, this is the story of Captain Alexander Hunter, an officer in the Confederate army, who is respected by all but continually outsmarted by a Union scout, a mere boy. In reality, the boy is a young woman named Andrea Evans, who works for her cousin’s husband, Col. J.J. Jordan of the Union army.

Thinking to send Andrea away from battle, J.J. sends her to Richmond on an undercover assignment to act the lady in the heart of the Confederacy. She is to report to Col. Daniel Delaney who is sweet on her. (Their emerging “sort of” romance was a bit confusing, especially given I was pretty sure Hunter was the hero.)

The author takes pains to tell us what courageous beings both Hunter and Andrea are—larger than life characters of extraordinary intelligence, strength, courage and ability. Andrea thinks Hunter is “the incarnation of knighthood”; he thinks her smile is “the sweetest that had ever illuminated a mortal face”.

Though she is a Southerner, Andrea fights for the North because of her past experience with slavery, slipping across the South’s lines, going without food for days (apparently without ill effect) as she defies Hunter. No less gifted than his nemesis, Hunter is committed to seeing the South independent.

Our heroine Andrea begins the story dressed as a lad with short hair, but less than a year later, she’s in Richmond with long hair, dressed as a lady and waltzing around the dance floor with Hunter, who sees her as the only intelligent female around. Her appearance, specifically her hair, was a constant question throughout the story. When she acted the lad, all accepted her as a boy; when she played the lady, she had a lady’s hair. Hmm….

When Andrea ends up in prison (beaten badly, but apparently not raped), Alexander brings her back to his family home to slowly recover. In that same house is Victoria, who we are led to believe is Hunter’s mistress, but we are never sure about that.

You won’t experience a major battle of the Civil War, but you will see some of the guerilla warfare Hunter and his men engage in and you will live through the aftermath of bloody men and horses.
I liked the story, much of it very well written, but the pace is uneven. The first part and the last part were the best; the middle dragged with the constant and repetitive bickering between Andrea and Hunter at his Virginia estate.

[Gaile · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although this book started out well enough, it soon began to limp along like a goose with a broken wing.
There was too much squabbling between the two characters. There were extra characters that were not integral to the story and should have been eliminated. The pace would pick up and then slow down, pick up and slow down. I found myself reading it with only half my mind on it. The end was disappointing and again dragged along until I thought the end would never come. Not my favorite read.

[Cheryl Malandrinos · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful, engaging, and totally captivating novel of the War Between the States awaits you in "Shades of Gray: A Novel of the Civil War in Virginia" by Jessica James.

Andrew Sinclair is a Union spy and the dreaded foe of Confederate calvary officer Alexander Hunter. Both fighting a war based on honor and conviction--one fighting to keep the Union together, the other to preserve a way of life--they vow to fight to the death.

But there is something about Sinclair that Hunter does not know: he's a woman! And not only a woman, but a woman who is haunted by her past and motivated to fight without concern for her welfare to right past wrongs.

Neither could have imagined how their lives would become entwined. Neither could imagine giving up the fight. And neither could imagine life without the other!

"Shades of Gray" is without a doubt the finest historical fiction has to offer. Complex characters, an engaging plot, and historical accuracy, come together to make this novel a must read for any fan of historical and Civil War fiction.

It is a rare book that can pull the reader in so deeply that she is overcome with emotion. And yet, I could not contain myself as I read certain passages. A true page-turner, I digested over 400 pages in three days.

A reviewer can be alarmed when she receives a book the size of "Shades of Gray" (524 pages); what if it is like fingernails across a chalkboard that forces you to cover your ears until the painful screeching stops. This reader can attest that you will not find that in this novel. Every page moves the story forward, and so involved will you be with Andrea and Alex's story that you will be unable to break away from it. Not a page is wasted, not a word should be removed.

James has done her research and she has done it well. From the fashions, to the language, to the sense of honor and duty that fills its pages, "Shades of Gray" explores the War Between the States in a way that will touch you like no other work of fiction. If anyone seeks to know more about the reasons brother fought brother in a war that threatened the future of a nation, then she should read this book.

All this and more, makes me declare "Shades of Gray" by Jessica James, the best book I have read this year! Worth every penny, if you only read one book in 2009, make it this one.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC of Noble Cause from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I understand that Noble Cause is a re release of a book called Shades of Gray with a happier ending. I didn't read the original book so I went into this one knowing nothing about the other,
I really loved the historical fiction and romance part of this book combined together. Both are genres I enjoy and I felt this author did a great job of giving us a good balance of them.

Noble Cause is set during the Civil War and highlights many different aspects of grief during that time – from the familial bonds that were strained to friendships and lovers that were torn apart. I liked the Civil War as the setting of this book, I felt that there were enough facts to make the setting feel real and to come alive and make me feel as if I were there.
The relationship between Alex and Andrea pulls you in from the beginning and doesn't let you go. The romance feels realistic and very vivid. I was rooting for them to succeed and beat the odds that were stacked against them.
I know this book was re-done to have a happy ending and that’s the only part that felt a little too much to me. I can’t imagine a whole lot of happy endings happening during this time period so on one hand I was happy to see it happening but on the other I wasn't sure if I believed it. Either way, overall the book was very good.

[Englishrose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a simply fabulous book! Something every historical fiction and every romance lover will enjoy. James pulls you into a world of war, loyalties, and love in a wonderfully woven story of being true to your heart. Alex is a strong male character that you fall in love with. Andrea is an amazing woman whose moral dilemmas you feel in your own heart. Their romance is strong and realistic and absolutely heart-wrenching. To be pulled so strongly into a story with such wild and vicious issues and events left my heart racing long after I turned the final page. A sturdy host of sub-characters filled out the war on both sides and gave credence to the internal struggles of loyalty to love and country. Simply a fantastic read and one I would highly, highly recommend.

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[Dee Sweitzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an historical novel, a love story in historical context. The leading male character, Alex, is based on Capt. John S. Mosby of the 43d Virginia Cavalry and chronicles the clash of Alex with a Union spy as they defend their beliefs, their country, and their honor. Though laced with historical detail, it is less about the clash of armies on the batttlefield, as it is about the clash of loyalty and love with honor and conviction.

Although I enjoyed reading this book, I did not like the long verbal spats (lasting for pages) between the 2 main characters; it seemed as though that is all they did in the first three quarters of the book and some of that should be edited. I am anxious to see what changes will occur if it goes to a national publisher.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit melodramatic and predictable...but still a good read if you like VA history.

[Suzanna Codd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book while on a trip to Gettysburg with my family. I am happy I read it and enjoyed it so much!

There were minor things that threw me off at first, but as the story continued I became used to them or they went away entirely(like the pacing and character backgrounds, for example).

I would recommend to american historical fiction lovers :)

[Sandy Vaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What drew me to the novel? The title which suggests a willingness to give the reader an unbiased view of the conflict? The cover? The fact that General Lee was from Virginia? Maybe I was influenced by my southern heritage with both parents being deeply routed there. I can only rejoice that i was drawn to the novel.

You are not taken from one blood battle to the next, rather you are taken through the war by the conflicts of two people, both Southerns, but one strongly for the rights of the stare and one strongly for keeping the states united. As they battle each other with their wits, as they dutifully do their assigned tasks to end the conflict, the reader is exposed to more of the war's complexities.

The book starts with a chase during the beginning of the war. Confederates chasing a small farmer boy on a big black charger. The Federals suddenly appear causing the Confederates to split up…except for their leader who is intent on his youthful prey.

As the reader, it was the start of a fast moving junket that did no slow down. I could see each character, hear their voices, understand their emotions.

Who do i think should read Shades of Gray? Civil War buffs. Lovers of historical fiction. History lovers. Anyone who just wants a really good read.

[Jultri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweeping Civil War saga which revolved around Andrea Evans aka Sinclair, the dare-devil Union scout, and her antagonist, legendary Captain Hunter of the Confederate army who swore that he would capture this evasive Yankee youth and bring 'him' to justice. Both passionately loyal to their respective causes, their prolonged forced acquaintance however tested their initial black and white stances, leaving them with the realisation that there were all too numerous shades of grey and that too many had lost too much to this insidious war. Gorgeous writing, intelligent and often humorous dialogue and spirited characters made this book an utterly captivating read. This is a 'clean' book, yet is a perfect example of the effectiveness of one well described touch in conveying depths of emotions and passion, that 20 pages of luridly detailed narration of the coital act fail to achieve.

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shades of Gray chronicles the clash of a Confederate cavalry officer with a Union spy as they defend their beliefs, their country, and their honor. Andrea is a woman of courage, faith, and commitment. Capt. Hunter is a man of devotion, valor, and honor. This is a great read.

[Tracyk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm i'm a bit torn wether to give this book a 3 or 4*. I enjoyed the beginning but the middle really slowed down with a lot of repetition of Hunter leaving for war missions for a couple of weeks then going back home & arguing with Andrea the Heroine.

I so hated the Ending.

[Kathleen Brunnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not been 100% captured by a book in such a long time. This Civil War historical fiction story had adventure, romance, humor, the works. I literally put my home life on hold to finish it. Always the highest compliment I can give a book.

[Virginia Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Jessica James has written a superb historical romance, "Noble Cause: A Novel of Love and War". With an elegant, evocative style, and a history lover's eye for detail, Ms. James brings to vivid life one of the most devastating of American tragedies. The involving battles scenes and fascinating military strategies are well-blended with the human issues of the war. An impossible and undeniable love is found just as so much is lost forever. Confederate Colonel Alexander Hunter is legendary for his battlefield brilliance and his deeply felt love of his Virginia homeland. His almost supernatural ability to outthink, outmaneuver, and upstage the Union Army faces only one real challenge: a young Union scout, small in stature, with unequaled horsemanship and the wiles of a fox. Andrea Evans, in her guise as Andrew Sinclair, risks her life at every opportunity to forward the cause of the Union. She is a scout, a spy, and a young woman on the run from her past. Born a privileged daughter of the South, Andrea fled her home at a very young age to leave behind the cruelty of her father, a slave-owner not afraid to use his whip. Time and time again, Alex and Andrea provoke and elude each other in a daring wartime dance. When Andrea is finally captured, she is sent to a hell-hole Confederate prison camp where she suffers unspeakable torture and becomes gravely ill. When Alex learns Andrea's fate, which was against his direct orders, he rescues her and takes her to his Virginia home to recover. He gambles much by keeping the infamous Yankee spy under his own roof, but he is following the dictates of his heart. Andrea proves to be more than a match for Alex, and their sparring intellects and spirited verbal battles make for a stirring romance. For me, a true hero must have an inner core of compassion. Alex is a man of ideals, a revered leader who has learned to place the needs of his command above his own personal needs. Andrea is a strong and intelligent woman, never afraid to stand up for her own beliefs, and those are the characteristics which Alex finds hardest to resist! The more that these two sworn opponents clash, the more their attraction begins to grow. As they learn about each other, they also learn about the "shades of gray" that cloud both sides of the horrific War Between the States. The skillful storytelling of Jessica James will keep you enthralled from beginning to end. The outcome of the Civil War is unchangeable, but the romance between the gentleman colonel and his fearless lady is one that you will not want to end. Highly recommended!

Review Copy Gratis Author

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Patriot Press for my copy of Noble Cause.

Honestly, when you start a book that is compared to Gone with the Wind, you almost feel intimidated. I LOVED Gone With the Wind, and to think that a book could compare was... impressive.

I started Noble Cause and could not put it down. The characters were what made the book. You have a southern born belle fighting in any way that she can for the North, and the United States of America, and you have a Virginia born horse breeder, willing to give his life to protect the state that he loves. This could be one of the most impartial civil war books I have ever had the priviliage to read, which was refreshing.

The relationship between Alex and Andrea is a rocky one. Both are very stubborn individuals completely driven by their convictions and the love of their country. Their sparring was great fun to read, and so refreshing to see a woman that is educated and willing to share her ideals, and a man that is willing to respect them, even if they are different from his own.

I did wish that there was more action, and less convalescing. Although all the recovering from injuries did give Andrea and Hunter a better chance to learn about each other.

All in all, a great book. I am not sure it is quite a "Gone With the Wind" but it is good. I would most certainly recommend it to anyone. I am sure that I will read Jessica James again!

[Donna McBroom-Theriot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved historical romances. They are always full of intrigue and action, and of course, love. Noble Cause opened with action and kept you riveted from the first page to the last.

I love the quote that the author opened the book with, written by Abraham Lincoln:
"But one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive; and the other would accept war rather than let it perish. And the war came."

The characters in the book are inspired by the love they hold for their country and they are guided by their sense of duty and honor and loyalty. The war, for many, was not cut and dry. The war pitted friends against friends and soul-wrenching decisions had to made in the face of battle.

The writer gives the reader wonderful characters. There is the young, spirited spy, the loyal soldier, and a legendary Confederate officer.

The writer also gives an accounting of the daily struggles, the good and the bad, of war, as she brings the pages of the book and history, to life for the reader.

I enjoyed this page-turner and couldn't put it down. It is worth every star of its five star rating.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started out very slowly with way too many capture and escapes between the main two protagonists repeating the same arguments over and over but once you get about 150 pages into the book, the story picked up and held my interest. At that point I began to care about the characters and wanted to know what happened to them. I even shed some tears a few times towards the end of the book. I would recommend this book for people who enjoy historical romances set during the civil war just speed read the first 150 pages or so.

Merged review:

Read Shade of Gray and liked it once I got into it. Have to read the end of this one to see how she changed it.

[Faith Ingram · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the most moving book I have read about the Civil War. The characters have very deep conversations about their reasons for fighting in the war. I was so connected with the main characters feelings and emotions that I wept right along with her through several parts of the story.Her horse and her country are the great loves of her life. Because of past and present hardships she does not let herself get too close to people until one great man is finally able to crack the hard protective shell she has around her heart.

[Elizabeth Stagis · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is purely a love story with a LOT of tedious dialogue. I was expecting some serious historical fiction and got a simpering romance novel. The characters felt very contrived and were the embodiments of extremes. Their conversations were repetitive and the end was, frankly, a bit hokey.

That said, it was a good romance. If I'd gone into it expecting a straight romance novel plus a little Civil War backdrop, I would've been happy and satisfied. But this book stretches on far too long for what it is.

[Wandering Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just 2 words... Loved It! I would totally recommend this to anyone who loves historical romance. I quite enjoyed the arguments between Andrea and Alex. They reminded me so much of the "discussions" my own husband and I have had regarding the reasons for secession and fighting the Civil War. Bottom line - It's a great storyline, you quickly fall for the characters (both are highly intelligent and strong willed), it's action packed to the point where you won't want to put it down, and it has some real facts and locations mixed in as well. Pick it up today!

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll preface this by saying I haven't read Shades of Grey. I downloaded Noble Cause as it was being offered as a free Kindle book. I felt that this book was nothing more than two people arguing non-stop. It was kind of cute at first, but it became completely unbelievable by the end. It just wasn't my cup of tea. I'm wondering if it was just me....judging by the other reviews on here, lots of folks seem to have a different opinion.

[Sarah]

This book got great reviews on Amazon so I was expecting it to be a well-researched historical novel. Instead, it was more like a slow moving harlequin romance novel (without any romance in the first 10 chapters of the book where I abandoned it). The writing was contrived and juvenile. Disappointing.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book thinking it would be a "meaty" historical fiction that detailed the civil war. I was disappointed in that instead it was a light "romance" story taking place during the civil war. Not what I expected.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful love story set during the Civil War. Great settinga and dialogue that helped me understand the choices that were made.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this story.

Merged review:

This is a re-write I believe of Shades of Gray. This is just is shorter version.

[Misfit]

Just picked up at the library. Interesting comments on the critical one star reviews on Amazon. Must see for myself.

[Moonlight 🌸 · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Southerners were the wrong ones and any author who tries to paint them otherwise is racist.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know that some people get fed up with reading books about wars, but I read this as the first in a three book set called Heros through the ages. I instantly fell in love with the two main protagonists, a heroic but elusive Confederate soldier with a fearsome reputation, leading his band of loyal men through unconventional methods of making life difficult for the Union army, and a fearless young girl acting as a scout and messenger, very much a law unto herself, disguised as a boy, with no fear for her own life, due to a mysterious past. Honestly, I loved them both and the romance between them was hard won. The battle scenes I found so well described and the horrors and reality of war so reminded me of Gone With the Wind, that took my imagination so that I've hardly forgotten a word since I read it 52 years ago. There is an epilogue that the author kindly gives through her website or Facebook page. OMG I used FOUR tissues whilst reading it! I do love stories that are rounded off properly and completely, not leaving me to wonder or imagine. I do believe this is one of those novels that is going to stick in my memory. I thoroughly recommend it.
As a memorandum, I've read in the past, how some people hung on to the idea of the North and South as enemies, even in modern times. I even read, probably around 30+ years ago, how in a hotel dating from the civil war era, that straddles the line between Confederacy and Union, there were people, particularly women, who refused to stay in rooms that were in one or the other side of the building. There's a little illustration of that in the epilogue. It seems such a shame to me.