A Covenant of Love

The Appomattox Saga #1

by Gilbert Morris

From the first rumblings of unrest and secession in the South, this dramatic saga follows the Rocklin family as they experience the intense emotions and spiritual struggles of the Civil War. As the nation is ripped apart, only to grow stronger, so also are the Rocklins. The family stands by helplessly as cousins Clay and Gideon Rocklin vie for the hand of beautiful Melanie Benton, whose choice starts the rejected suitor on a spiraling descent.

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

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

also published under the name Gilbert L. Morris

Gilbert Morris was one of today's best-known Christian novelists. He lived in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with his wife, Johnnie. He is the father to Lynn Morris and Alan Morris

Series:
* Adventures of Kerrigan Kids
* American Century
* Appomattox Saga
* Barney Buck
* Bonnets and Bugles
* Cheney Duvall, M.D. (with Lynn Morris)
* Cheney and Shiloh: The Inheritance (with Lynn Morris)
* Chronicles of the Golden Frontier
* The Creole (with Lynn Morris)
* Danielle Ross Mystery
* Daystar Voyages
* Dixie Morris Animal Adventures
* Far Fields (with Robert Funderburk)
* House of Winslow
* Jacques and Cleo: Cat Detectives
* Katy Steele Adventures (with Alan Morris)
* Lady Trent Mystery
* Liberty Bell
* Lions of Judah
* Lone Star Legacy
* Omega (with Lynn Morris and Alan Morris)
* The Price of Liberty (with Robert Funderburk)
* Reno Western Saga
* Seven Sleepers
* Seven Sleepers: The Lost Chronicles
* Singing River
* Spirit of Appalachia (with Aaron McCarver)
* Too Smart Jones
*

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable start to the series; can't wait to read more!

[Joleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book in the Appomattox Saga. Years 1840-1860
Just before Mexican/American War to pre-Civil War.
This is a story about the Rocklin family, a rather large family set mostly in the Virginia. Some of the family had migrated north, but they were all very close.
The story starts out with a rivalry, a nasty rivalry between cousins (Gideon and Clay) who are both in love with the same woman, Melanie.
Melanie makes her choice and marries Gideon. Clay goes off the deep end, drinking and carousing, and making a menace of himself. He becomes a shame to his family. Trying to make up for his ways and become "a hero"by joining the Army he screws his life up even more.
After Clay attacks a member of the family, his father blows up at him and is forced out on his own. He joins a shipping vessel crew and his life is changed radically.
Two other other females are brought into the mix, Clay's wife whom he never loves, and Melora, a child early in the book who through the years grows up to be a beauty that he can never have.
Opinion:
This was truly an historical fiction book. Descriptions of the Mexican/American war and pre-Civil War times were not my favorite. Not as engaging as the history in Candle in the Darkness, where details were given within conversations. These details were just written out, sounding more like a textbook, which if you're a history buff might be enjoyable, but less so for those of us who struggled with American History lessons in high school...ugh!
The family stories, amazing
The character descriptions, flawless.
Changes in characters, delightful. Even the ones you want to hate were done well.
I certainly recommend this book.

[Dena Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book❤️ this was my second time reading it and it was just as good as the first time I read it. I love Meloras character. I didn’t like Clay in the beginning but now he’s one of my fav characters. This book was chefs kiss🤌🏻 I totally recommend this book!

[Lienkie's Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ This book had some hectic historical plot lines, slavery, cotton plantations, civil war in America regarding the slave trade and the people caught up in all of it and their Christian beliefs! I loved the story of redemption and forgiveness that was woven throughout. The dialogue was hard to follow at times and the pov changed a lot (like every few lines) so I found it hard to follow which character I was with at times. I'm looking forward to continuing this series though!

[Karmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like the book, because the historical aspect of the book was really well done and I was excited for a family saga through the Civil War, but I thought the character development was lacking. I never really got attached to any of the characters in the book. I'll at least give the 2nd book a chance and I'm hopeful that maybe I'll get drawn in to care about the characters by then, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend this book on its merits alone.

[Saralyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining. Set in the times surrounding the Civil War. A bit cheesy. (Note the title.)

[MD]

I was a complete sucker for historical romance, Christian fiction when I was younger. :)

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure why this book is called A Covenant Of Love. It led me to believe it would be a story about a marriage. Also the tag line made me think it was about a love triangle.

It really isn't.

Yes it does start out that way. Yes one man goes on to greatness in the service and one spirals down, but that really isn't the story. Melanie and Gideon are really backdrops to Clay's story.

Clay does spiral out of control, but the story follows him. Every step of the way. It was hard for me to decide how I felt about that truth because I couldn't decide how I felt about him.

But from the moment he met 6 year old Melora I hoped they would fall in love. Is that perverse? Seems sorta screwed up right? Every time Clay needed to regroup he found his way back to Melora Yancy and her family.
Clay tries over and over to be a better person because she believes in him.

With her believing in him he manages to win back his daughter and even eventually a son.

I'm guessing from the end of the book that Dent or Deborah will be the major players in the next book, but all I want to know is what happens to Clay and Melora.

[Lisa M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book in a saga I may or may not have already read. LOL. I have read a LOT by this author and most of it was before I used Goodreads, so I don't have a record...But this is the first in a saga following a family through the Civil War. This one is the great-grandparents who founded Gracefield in the south...and then their children...but the majority of it is definitely focused on the grandchildren who by the end of the book are in their late 30s-early 40s. Book one ends with the sucession of the southern states and creating of the Rebel Army. By the end of the book, a chunk of the family is in the North and the rest are in the south--and there are some in the south with abolitionist views setting up into the next book.

I give this a solid 3-3.5 stars. It's not AMAZING, it's just a solid GOOD book. It's a light read for me and didn't move me at all. I plan on continuing the series.

[Emily Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book in the Appomattox series. This book starts as the rumblings of unrest are upon the United States. With the understanding starting to show itself in people’s hearts the Rocklin Family is spread between the plantation in Virginia and up North in Washington. Two cousins love the same woman and her decision drives one man to a ruinous path and another to greatness. I love this book in the ease of reading and the character description. It is easy to follow and fast to start caring for the characters in the story. I am excited to see how the families will grow and change in the upcoming books.

[Isaiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A Covenant of Love" by Gilbert Morris is the first book in a ten book series called the "Appomattox Saga." This series is about a high society family who owns a large cotton plantation in 1860's America. Reading this book was like trying to eat a very dense, rich dessert—slow, heavy, best enjoyed in small portions, and yet still flavorful. I really enjoyed getting to know the complexities within the Rocklin family. There were also some very strong faith-centered moments throughout the book and was especially enthralled by Clay's arc throughout the story. I am not sure if I will continue this series any time soon due to my lack of interest in American history (sorry, maybe someday).

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book in the Appomattox Saga following a family leading into the Civil War times...I found this book to have some very descriptive and dramatic characters.This first book ended on a somewhat sweet moment, but would definitely have to read into the next in the series to see what happens with this family.

[Kay Adelin]

Buddy reading this, but I got spoiled for the ending and honestly? I don’t like it or agree with it at all from a Christian perspective. Which is odd because I’ve really enjoyed this Author’s other books. Not sure if I’ll ever come back to this to finish it or not, maybe just to say I finished it. But for now I’m putting it aside.

[Mindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this book through Hoopla. I read it as a teenager. It was a bit weird listening to the gentlemen who read it, but I got use to it. There was a lot of truth in them and the historical aspect was interesting.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book at the thrift store. I read the description on the back, and thought it would be one that I'd enjoy, or at least somewhat enjoy. The author was new to me. I enjoyed the book more than I thought I would. I liked it enough to get the second book, which I am about to read.

[Keira Glass · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was written extremely well. The way Gilbert describes things in such a descriptive, discrete manner is unmatched. I absolutely loved Clay’s character arch. I just wish Denton and Deborah would have gotten together in this book.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it!

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good southern pre-Civil War story, lots of family characters to hear and think about, will continue to #2 in the trilogy next.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome historical fiction, with well developed character and plots.

[Kaitlyn Krispense · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow, that was so good🫶

I forgot how much i enjoy Gilbert Morris books!

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Civil War Series - getting ready for #2 next. A family saga, well written and holds interest. The characters are complex individuals.

[Heather Burdge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent start to what I’m sure is a great series. Ending the story with an open ending was an interesting twist I didn’t expect from Gilbert.

[jessica weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn’t think I’d enjoy it as much as I did with it being set around the civil war. Thought it would be boring but it had a really good storyline

[Elle Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one took me some time to get into. It breaks all the rules of modern writing (head hopping, characters telling each other things they would already know in dialogue, etc.), but it isn't a new book, so that makes sense.

Once I got into it, I became engrossed in the story and the characters. If you are sensitive to racial language from the 19th century, you might want to skip this one.

This book isn't one that neatly wraps up all the loose ends. It doesn't end on a cliff-hanger, but it ends as the country enters the civil war and most of the individual stories in the book do not have what I would call a happily-ever-after or even a happy-for-now ending. While there is a redemptive arc for one character and some forgiveness arcs for others, it doesn't have a satisfying ending. I have not read the rest of the series, so I don't know what might happen in the later books.

Also, I saw in some other reviews that readers were confused by the title since this isn't much of a love story by human standards... the COVENANT OF LOVE referenced in the title is the one between God and man.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audiobook. The narrator was pleasant to listen to, even if I did chuckle at his female impersonations a few times.

I started out thinking this was going to be a romance story, but that turned out to be only part of it. There was a lot more about the war and different things. It surprised me how many years were covered in this book, but I actually kind of enjoyed that.

I almost quit listening to this book several times because I disliked one of the main characters so much, but by the end, that character had become one of my favorites. I don't know if I have ever had such a turnaround on how I feel about a character. It made me love this story! Very well done!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great sensitive writing, especially for a man author. Being a rebel myself, I enjoyed the story line and topics included. He was quite descriptive with character's personalities that I felt like I knew them. I could feel the rage that Clay allowed and the kindness that Gideon displayed to his friend. The character of Melora was endearing and how Clay followed the Lord's leading after his conversion. The owner of the plantation had to humble himself and I believe in his late life learned a great lesson about his son's change. An overall fine read.

[Darlene Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the first rumblings of unrest and secession in the South, this dramatic saga follows the Rocklins as whey experience the intense emotions and spiritual struggles of the Civil War - -Clay, Gideon, Melanie, Melora - - -

[Maria Elmvang · Rating 4 out of 5]

You follow a family in the South from 1840 to 1860 Some of the atmosphere reminded me of GWTW, but it's much more positive and the characters (most of them anyway) much more likable.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

hope there's a sequel excellent Civil War story by a favorite author

[Walter Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

another winner Gilbert Morris never fails!