Review: An Unconditional Freedom by Alyssa Cole
An Unconditional Freedom by Alyssa Cole Published by Kensington on February 26, 2019
Genres: Historical Romance, Romance
Pages: 320
Format: ARC
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
An assassination plot that could end the Civil War, and a hidden enemy that could destroy a secret league of unsung heroes …
Daniel Cumberland, born free in Massachusetts, studied law with dreams of helping his people—dreams that died the night he was kidnapped and sold into slavery. Daniel is rescued, but he’s a changed man. When he’s offered entry into the Loyal League, the covert organization of Black spies who helped free him, he seizes the opportunity for vengeance against the Confederacy and those who support it.
When the Union Army occupies the Florida home of Cuban Janeta Sanchez, daughter of an enslaved woman and the plantation owner who married her, her family’s wealth does not protect her father from being imprisoned. Under duress and blaming herself for the arrest, Janeta agrees to infiltrate a group called the Loyal League as a double agent—and finds a cause truly worth the sacrifice.
Daniel is aggravated by the headstrong and much too observant new detective he’s paired with, and Janeta is intrigued by the broken but honorable man she is tasked with betraying. As they embark on a mission to intercept Jefferson Davis and thwart European meddling, their dual hidden agendas are threatened by the ghosts of their pasts and a growing affection that could strengthen both the Union and their souls—or lead to their downfall.
Alyssa Cole never fails to deliver when it comes to The Loyal League series. An Unconditional Freedom is the 3rd book in this historical romance series and once again, we are entranced in a multi-layered story that is resilient, heartbreaking and promising all at once.
Daniel Cumberland is a man born free but he soon learns that freedom is fluid and not a guarantee. He’s a bright man with a promising future but none of that matters when he is sold into slavery and brought down South. After he is freed, he joins The Loyal League, an organization of spies committed to ending the Civil War. However, Daniel doesn’t necessarily fit in; the anger he carries around like a second skin does not make him likable amongst his fellow spies.
Janeta Sanchez joins with ulterior motives, and without giving much away, she is paired with Daniel and their partnership is rocky at first. Which honestly, was warranted.
Daniel is scarred, angry and eager for revenge. I braced myself for the emotions I would feel while reading this book but Daniel still took me off guard. His rage is palpable and almost suffocating throughout the entire book. You feel his pain and you want to both soothe and fight with him at the same time. Janeta was an iffy character for me, at first. She wasn’t honest when we first met her and I wondered how she would present herself by the end. I was immediately on the defense about her because as a reader, I knew her initial intentions were not pure. Would she really be able to redeem herself? Would readers believe it? She did as she realized soon enough whose side she needed to be on and became the fighter she was always capable of being.
Daniel and Janeta had a lot to work through and their evolving relationship took some time emotionally as they each had issues they needed to deal with. I liked them together well enough and while I didn’t quite feel as if they had an undeniable or ‘can’t live without’ love, they worked and their relationship was weaved well into the story.
An Unconditional Freedom, like the other two books the series, is one that’ll stay with you. If you haven’t read this series as yet, I recommend you do so now. You can also check out my reviews HERE.
Natalya is the author of All The Things I Never Said, a soul-stirring collection of short stories, prose and love letters for the soulful wanderers, the brokenhearted and the hopeless romantics.
You can follow her rantings and occasional sparks of brilliance on Twitter @NatalyaMuncuff.
- Review: Kiss of Life by Louise Lennox - July 21, 2021
- Release Blitz: Kiss of Life by Louise Lennox - July 13, 2021
- Review: The Alpha’s Affair by Dria Andersen - June 7, 2021
