Book Title: Promise & Honor Reviewed By: Kara Wolf Written By: Kim Murphy Genre: Historical/Civil War Romance Publisher: Coachlight Press ISBN: 0-9716790-2-9 Date: November 2002 Price: Trade paperback $14.95, ebook $4.95 Publisher s Web Site: Coachlight Press

This is an excellent first novel by newcomer Kim Murphy. It is the tale of Amanda Graham, newly widowed Southern woman, and how she copes with the trials of the Civil War. She is a friend to a southern Lieutenant, Wil Jackson, and a northern Lieutenant, Samuel Prescott. Sam and she had been close before the war, though out of honor neither ever allowed the other to know. Wil, on the other hand, was a rogue, and enjoyed teasing Amanda, though he hid the depths of his feelings from her. Determined to make her mark during the war, Amanda agrees to smuggle medical supplies for Wil, to help the wounded. She fears Sam will find out, for they are tentatively exploring their friendship. When he does, she must choose honor, or follow her heart into uncharted territory. Her choice is the core of this engaging historical romance.      I rated this book 4 stars, because the characters were lively, had definite minds of their own, and the history was excellent. Having lived in Virginia, I can attest to the pull of that red clay on the heartstrings! Watching Sam grow to love the land, and seeing how Amanda and Wil felt about it definitely made this book for me. The characters were easy to like--even the scoundrel Wil! The interactions felt very real, and each character remained true to themselves through the entire book. An excellent first novel, and I definitely can't wait to see the rest in this trilogy! Kara Wolf, September 2002

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Book Title: Promise & Honor Reviewed By: Rachel A Hyde Written By: Kim Murphy Genre: Historical/Civil War Romance Publisher: Coachlight Press ISBN: 0-9716790-2-9 Date: November 2002 Price: Trade paperback $14.95, ebook $4.95 Publisher s Web Site: Coachlight Press

The Civil War has barely begun when Amanda Graham is left a widow, looking after the young daughter of an old family friend, Lieutenant Sam Prescott who has lost his own wife. When she runs short of funds she starts running medical supplies for another young Lieutenant already known to her, the wild and roguish Wil Jackson. Amanda lives near Fredericksburg in Virginia and is a Confederate just like Wil, but Sam who she is increasingly fond of supports the Union. Torn between two men who both need her in different ways Amanda can see the life she has always known slipping away, while she is falling in love? But with whom?      If like me you enjoy romances but search for the ones that are far more than just a love story then this ought to have plenty of appeal. Author Kim Murphy has done her homework and gets under the skin of the Civil War without resorting to stereotypes. Amanda is a resourceful and courageous heroine, well drawn and sympathetic; her two suitors seem rather more shadowy. We are told about Wil being a rogue rather than actually see him being particularly rascally, and it would be good to get inside Sam more as well but these are minor gripes that don't truly get in the way of a good story. This is a book about people and how the war affects them and how difficult it is to separate friend from foe in such a situation. Women find new opportunities to break out of their roles, and throughout the novel people's way of life are seen to be changing irrevocably. Robust without being overly bloody, and romantic without being sweet or sentimental this is a good strong story that ought to please fans of Civil War novels as much as romantics. If this is the first part of a trilogy I can't wait to read the rest. Rachel A Hyde, November 2002

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