About the Book

Book: Love’s Allegiance

Author: Linda Shenton Matchett

Genre: Historical Romance

Release Date: August 15, 2019

Love's Allegiance ebook jpg cover With most U.S. boys fighting for Uncle Sam in far off countries, Rochelle Addams has given up hope for a wedding in her future. Then she receives an intriguing offer from a distant relative to consider a marriage of convenience.

Conscientious objector Irwin Terrell is looking forward to his assignment at Shady Hills Mental hospital to minister to the less fortunate in lieu of bearing arms. At the arrival of the potential bride his father has selected for him, Irwin’s well-ordered life is turned upside down. And after being left at the altar two years ago, he has no interest in risking romance again.

Despite his best efforts to remain aloof to Rochelle, Irwin is drawn to the enigmatic and beautiful young woman, but will time run out before his wounded heart can find room for her?

Inspired by the biblical love story of Rebekkah and Isaac, Love’s Allegiance explores the struggles and sacrifices of those whose beliefs were at odds with a world at war.

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I have become captivated by books I have read by Linda Shenton Matchett. She does such an incredible job of bringing historical fiction and Christian characters to life. Rochelle is looking for a way to serve in a meaningful way during World War II, while Irwin is trying to stay true to his convictions about what God is calling him to do regarding the war.

So when Irwin’s father arranges for Rochelle to come and explore the possibilities of marriage to Irwin, Irwin resists the idea with everything in him. The similarities between the Biblical account of Rebekkah and Issac drew me into the story. Irwin’s father sends his male secretary to present his plan to Rochelle and her family, and things take flight from there, albeit in a slow-moving, fighting the idea every step of the way scenario on Irwin’s part.

Irwin is a conscientious objector to the war and I love how his story is told. I also learned new things about how conscientious objectors were treated during World War II. The historical facts and details helped the story come alive for me.

I love how Irwin has to step away from being hurt in the past before he can accept a future with Rochelle. Another thing I love about this book is the way both Rochelle and Irwin stay true to their faith and are willing to share it with others. Truly this is a book worth reading. So check it out for yourself.

I received a copy of this book for my fair and honest review.

About the Author

Linda Shenton Matchett is an author, speaker, and history geek. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry and has lived in historic places all her life. Linda is a member of ACFW, RWA, and Sisters in Crime. She is a volunteer docent and archivist for the Wright Museum of WWII and a trustee for her local public library.

More from Linda

Love’s Allegiance is the fourth book in the Wartime Brides series that retells biblical stories by setting them during World War II. Each story was challenging to write in some way, and this novella was no different.

While brainstorming ways to twist Rebekkah’s and Isaacs’s love story, I happened to take a phone call from my younger brother who is a pastor. I mentioned my quandary that I wasn’t sure which aspect of the home front to address with their story, and he suggested the topic of conscientious objectors (COs).

After we hung up, I realized I knew very little about COs and that I wasn’t sure how I felt about them. Were they cowards, as many people assumed? Were they right? Wrong? Were their convictions biblically based?

I began my research by reading first person account articles and watched oral history interviews with men who served in the Civilian Public Service, a government organization created to use COs who refused military service as medics and other non-combatant roles. More than 12,000 conscientious objectors chose not to take up arms during the war, and I knew I had to tell their side of the story.