One hundred and thirty-seven years ago, the Countess Isabelle Sophia Bario, diplomatic representative of Emperor Dom Pedro II of Brazil, sailed to war-ravaged America, to negotiate with President Lincoln to allow Brazil to trade with the Confederate States of America. In fact, she was a Rebel spy and instead of treaties, Sophia was after Union secrets. What she found instead was intrigue and murder. Fleeing for her life, Sophia was rescued by Captain Robert Norton, a Confederate cavalry officer. Thus began a torrid love affair with strategic implications. The epic scope of war is there, but it is the lives of its three protagonists that are to the forefront, giving them plenty of time to develop. --myshelf.com/literary/03/forloveorhonorbound.htm For Love or Honor Bound is fiction, but takes place during The War Between the States, or Civil War, as it is more commonly referred. There are references to many actual persons involved within the time frame of this bloody conflict.  The 3rd South Carolina Cavalry did patrol the shores of South Carolina under Colonel Charles Colcock and participated in the defense of Savannah, as well as the Battle of Honey Hill.  The names Norton, Schofield and Oetzel are all ancestors of the author.  During the war, Norton's, Oetzel's, and Schofield's fought to preserve the Union, while Norton's, Oetzel's and Schofield's (the other branch of the same family tree) threw their lot in with the Confederacy. Brazil was an important international player during the Civil War, being directly involved with Confederate blockade-runners and the famous incident surrounding the ramming of CSS Florida within her territorial waters. After the American war ended, thousands of disgruntled Southerners resettled in Brazil, adding their diverse presence to that South American country's already rich culture.  At that time, Brazil was a slave country, but abolished the practice peaceably in 1879. Women spies were not uncommon during the war, several celebrated femme fatales becoming quite famous in their exploits.  The truly successful agents were those never discovered.  Spying reached quite an art form on both sides, but probably was more flamboyantly displayed by Confederate operatives.   The impressive voyage of CSS Shenandoah was an anomaly of timing and luck.  Or was it?  Most of the other blockade-runners named were actual ships, while USS Superior is an amalgamation of several Union gunboats.   The author apologizes for any inaccuracies, especially in the compressed timeline. Every attempt was made to keep historical fact aligned with literary license.  In the end, however, the characters make this story come alive. At least for Robert and Ian Norton, as well as Sophia Bario, For Love or Honor Bound gives space for their exploits on paper. Derek Hart is the prolific author of action and adventure novels, known for their historical accuracy, while still maintaining a high level of entertainment. Romance is also a vital part of Derek Hart's trademark style and his novels generally appeal to men and women alike. Used Book in Good Condition