As the Civil War rages between the states, a courageous pair of spies plunge fearlessly into a maelstrom of ignorance, deceit, and danger, combining their unique skills to alter the course of history and break the chains of the past. 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.
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“Defies genre stereotypes at every turn. It’s both a romance and a spy novel, with a healthy dose of adventure thrown in, and it offers a nuanced portrayal of Civil War–era racial politics. Any reader who thinks romance novels are pure fluff will be schooled by Cole’s richly drawn characters, who must overcome generations of trauma in order to let themselves love each other…A masterful tale.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“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 Weekly“A compelling and engrossing historical…that leaves you spellbound.”
— Huffington Post“Cole spins a tale that will pull you in from the very first page.”
— RT Book Reviews (5 stars)“Cole’s sparkling gem of a romance portrays love at its most practical and sublime.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)Be the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Alyssa Cole is an award-winning author of historical, contemporary, and sci-fi romance. Her romantic comedy A Princess in Theory was named a New York Times notable book for 2018. Her Civil War–set espionage romance An Extraordinary Union was the American Library Association’s RUSA Best Romance for 2018 and also the RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Award Book of the Year. She has contributed to publications including Bustle, Shondaland, The Toast, Vulture, and others, and her books have received critical acclaim from the New York Times, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, Jezebel, Vulture, Book Riot, Entertainment Weekly, and various other outlets.
Karen Chilton is a New York–based actor and writer and an accomplished voice-over artist and narrator. She has narrated dozens of audiobooks, won three AudioFile Earphones Awards, and in 2020 won the prestigious Audie Award for Best Nonfiction Narration. Her voice can be heard on numerous national network television, radio, and Internet advertising campaigns.