Weekend Read: With This Pledge, The Carnton Novels, Book 1 Review and Recipe

A special thank you to my Mother-in-Law, Hilda Simmons, for letting me borrow this beautiful novel during the Christmas season.


At the onset of reading this novel, I was impressed with the vast expanse of history covered in this storyline which centers around the Civil War battle in Franklin, Tennessee.

Governess Lizzie Clouston encounters more than her genteel upbringing has allowed when the battlegrounds of the war come calling on the mansion of Carnton. What ensues brings Lizzie and the family into a tumultuous time of life and death situations and dealing with a soldier's physical and spiritual needs.

One such soldier, Captain Roland Jones enters the palatial home as a stranger, yet becomes a friend to all who inhabit this home. Added to the cast of characters a cook who has a heart as large as the home for others, adorable children, and their kind parents, and other not so kind rabble.

I'll be looking for more novels by this very gifted author.

To purchase With This Pledge on Amazon: https://bit.ly/355uTc3


Tamera Alexander mentions sausage biscuits in the novel and includes some recipes for the other foods featured in the book.

As an extra, I've included one of my family's favorites, Sausage Balls, which we love to serve at this time of year.

   1 roll of sausage
   1 c of Bisquick
   1 c of shredded cheese blend
   1 egg (beaten)
   3 tsp sage
   3 tsp ground pepper (if desired)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Cook the sausage in a pan and break into small pieces until mostly cooked. (Around 6 minutes on high). Remove from heat and drain any excess fat. Place in a bowl and sprinkle cheese and spices on top. As the sausage cools, pour the egg into the mixture and beat with a spoon. Add in Bisquick and combine until all ingredients are blended. Form into 1-inch balls and place on a greased baking sheet about 2-inches apart from one another. Bake for 22 minutes and let partially cool before storing it in the fridge.

These can also be frozen for several months and warmed in a 350-degree oven for eight minutes.

From me to you-I hope your Christmas was wonderful and you have a happy, healthy, memorable 2020!

Thank you for reading the reviews, author chats, interviews, and joining me on this great ride for the past few years.

Please look for some new features monthly in 2020 on the blog! Blessings to you!