I chose not to read the synopsis of The Lion of the South before I read it. Sometimes I like to let the story play out instead of anticipating what will happen. Even without reading the recap this book is incredibly predictable but sweet. It did take a few chapters for me to get my bearings, which made it hard for me to not only understand what was going on, but it also led to a slow read, which was frustrating. Once I got further into the story it became quite enjoyable. The only complaint I have as far as the rest of the story is that it felt a little rushed and I think it could've been a little more developed.

You see the story played out through the eyes of Julia and Landon, the main characters, but you also see the whereabouts of the Lion himself. I must admit that the sections where we see the Lion's plans and plots were convoluted due to it not being written from the Lion's point of view and I found myself skimming through quite a few of those parts.

Your heart goes out to both Julia and Landon and all that they have suffered due to the war and root for them throughout the entire book, while also trying to guess the identity of the Lion. The Lion of the South is perfect for anyone who loves a good Civil War book, though it does not delve into the issues of the war itself, but how it has affected the characters themselves, which I found refreshing. This book is historically accurate, written with beautiful imagery, and overall a good, clean read.

I was intrigued when I read the synopsis for this book, The Scarlet Pimpernel is certainly on my list of amazing books, and the prospect of the intrigue of that combined with the romance and determination to survive in Gone with the Wind, This book definitely promises, although I wish the story moved a little faster at times. Definitely a fun read!

Julia Dandridge grew up in Virginia. On the estate of her father’s friend, she ran wild, learning to ride and fish from Landon, who finally made Julia feel she was part of a family. Until she turned sixteen and Landon’s mother shipped her off to an aunt and uncle she’d never met, where she grew to adulthood in Washington society. Amid the Civil War, everything changed.

Now Julia is back, desperate to escape the prying eyes that keep tabs on her in Washington. She is also eager to see Landon, but finds the bitter, drunken man a far cry from the compassionate, noble young man she knew.

With everyone desperate for news of the Lion of the South—a heroic figure whose daring exploits bring hope to the Confederacy—Julia finds herself forced to choose between loyalty to the society she grew up in and the brother she adores.

The Lion of the South is set during the Civil War, but it leaves the issues behind the war strictly alone, focusing instead on the lives affected by war and its impact on society. This is a simple, sweet novel that reminds me rather strongly of The Scarlet Pimpernel. The book is a bit predictable but is a light and easy read nonetheless.

Jessica James is an award-winning author. The Lion of the South is her newest novel.

(Galley provided by Patriot Press in exchange for an honest review.)

I can’t resist a good Civil War book, so when this was compared to some other books I’ve read set in the Civil War, I was hooked. The story is set in Virginia during the second year of the war.

The main character, Julia Dandridge, is an orphan who has returned to the home of family friends where she spent much of her childhood. Julia had been taken under the wing of Landon Graham, the oldest son in the household and they developed a deep bond until Julia and her brother were taken away to live with distant relatives.

When Julia and Landon meet again after all their years apart, there is a tension in the air that foreshadows a looming romance. Landon attempts to keep Julia at a distance causing Julia to believe that he no longer cares for her. Little does she know that Landon is hiding a big secret.

As I got deeper into the story, I began to have a sense of deja vu. I soon realized that the plot was modeled after The Scarlet Pimpernel, which I read earlier this month. All the spying that was going on certainly made things interesting.

Readers who enjoy historical fiction romance will like this book. It was fun to see how the author molded the story of The Scarlet Pimpernel into a southern romance.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Patriot Press for allowing me an advance copy to read and offer an honest review.

I received an ARC of this via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. My actual rating of this book is a 3.5.

Even though I read this book in one sitting, I kept waiting for more to happen. There was intrigue, angst, love, loss, war, but this was above all a love story. The tension between both Julia and Landon had me on the edge of my seat only to be let down with such a hasty trite ending without even one kiss!

It was also obvious early on who the Lion of the South actually was but I still enjoyed reading about his humourous exploits. It had just enough elements of the civil war in it to make it interesting without being overly technical.

I enjoyed it, I just wish there had been a bit more to it.

“The Lion of the South” by Jessica James takes place during the War Between the States, 1863. Julia Dandridge returns to the southern plantation where she was raised and finds things in a sort of chaos. Her beloved friends, and especially the man she was fond of, Landon, were not the same people she had left years ago. Landon, especially seemed that he was not himself, a drunk, acting as though he’d lost his senses.

During this time, just when the South seemed to be losing the war, a knight in shining armor began a campaign of stealth and sly raids against the Yankees. No one could catch him, no one knew how he knew just where to strike. The Yankees were desperate to find him because his actions were rousing the people of the South to think that they could achieve victory. Who was this man?

Julia has found that her brother is a prisoner of war and she is approached by the Union Intelligence Service. In return for her brother’s life, she is to spy on those around her and try to find out just who The Lion of the South is. She is caught in a compromising position. If she does not do as she is bid, then her brother will die, but her information may cause more harm.

I think that Ms. James has written a wonderfully suspenseful novel. I very much enjoy this time period and she has captured the essence of life during that time. I highly recommend reading this book.

Not sure where to begin really…mmmmmm

Well…let me start off with how much I adored this book! It reminded me so much of an old favorite of mine The Scarlet Pimpernel. That book started my love of spies in my history books. Can’t help but love a charming spy now.

Instead of being set during the Reign of Terror, this one is set to America’s own reign of terror known as the Civil War. The story follows Julia and Landon who were childhood friends separated by an evil mother. Things happen and years go by. The two are brought together again, but things are different.

Landon is home from the war and is depressed because he blames himself for his brother’s death. Julia is no longer the tomboy Landon remembers. She is now a sophisticated Northern lady. Ooo Sallie, I get you wanted to bring Julia to stay with you guys, but….it is a little sensitive having “enemies” together. Landon fought against the North and bringing a Northerner into the house? Mhmmm. Not your best idea dearie.

I felt bad for Landon. He is so depressed.

I felt bad for Julia especially learning something (will not spoil it), but I was proud of her in the end after learning the full truth.

Sallie was a silly girl, but I did like her.

The baddie was certainly a baddie. He made my skin-crawl.

This was a fun adventure and there is some romance, but like The Scarlet Pimpernel, it does take FOREVER for the two to get over their differences and find love again. I’m glad the romance aspect didn’t take over the plot too much.

MORE SPIES PLEASE! It took a while to get to the espionage because there was a lot of character-building and world-building that needed to be done first. I get it and in the end, I'm glad I had to wait because when it happened I was drawn more into what would happen and how everything would be fixed. But during I was aching for more action to go on!

I want a sequel and I want the Lion of the South to go on some more raids. Sure, I know the outcome of the war, but it is fun to see the Lion get some good hits in before the finale of the war.

In the end, this was worth the read if you love spies and historical stories. It takes a bit to get to the espionage bits, but it was worth the wait to get the world-building and the character-building. So good! I’ll give this a solid 4 stars today.

If you loved the Scarlet Pimpernel, then you are going to love this book.

Julia Dandridge is back to visit friends in the state of Virginia. Around them, the Civil War is raging, and many families have been torn apart by the ravages of war. As she attempts to fit back into the mold of familiar surroundings, she is struck by the coldness of her once dear friend Landon Graham. Instead of welcoming her back to the home she lived in as a child, he seems angry that she is even there. Living with the weight of the death of his brother, Landon cannot seem to rejoin the world that he once so enjoyed. Instead he drinks heavily and hides himself away in his room.
With Julia there, small snippets of the past seem to slip through, only to be replaced with the cold contempt that has become his norm.
But the war is not one where women sit silent. Many women are involved in listening to the conversations around them and gain valuable information that can be used for military intelligence. Julia has been told that her brother is being held in prison, and that he will be hanged as a traitor if she does not help figure out who the Lion of the South is.
The Lion of the South has been raiding behind the enemy lines, making off with prisoners and officers alike. No one knows where he will strike, and he seems to come and go like a ghost. Julia is offered her brothers life in exchange for the Lion of the South. As she prepares to give the information, she finds that someone she is extremely close to may be involved, and may cause her to not only lose a brother, but the love of her life as well.

I enjoyed reading this book, but from the middle of the book on, it read just like the Scarlet Pimpernel in a different setting.

Historical fiction is one of my favourite genre but I kind of lost interest in this story at a fairly early point. I felt that the description of the valour of the mysterious man called the Lion of the South, was a bit too dragged on and exaggerated. Further, the identity of the Lion of the South became quite obvious at a relatively early stage of the story.

Nonetheless, I loved the way in which the author described the various emotions that her characters were experiencing. Although this was not a historical fiction that I really enjoyed, I found her writing style really beautiful. and the rich descriptive writing got me through the book..

I think the book cover could also be made a bit more appealing. for example by adding a darkened figure representing the Lion of the South.

This book's blurb states that it is "The Scarlet Pimpernel meets Gone with the Wind in this suspenseful tale." I didn't find it particularly suspenseful as I figured out what was going on almost immediately. From the blurb I expected the book to be in the point of view of Julia Dandridge. In fact the book is written in a rather distant omniscient POV that keeps the reader from fully experiencing the emotions of either Julia or Landon (the Lion of the South). This book is also full of romance novel cliches. For instance, "his large hand covered hers" recurs several times. I didn't need to be told but once that his hands were large (which one would expect from a tall, well-built male. I had a hard time retaining interest in it.

This book is a clean fiction romance novel set during the civil war. Although at times in was predictable, it is overall cute. I enjoyed the background the two main characters had from growing up with each other.
Julia is an orphaned girl who moved with her brother into a home of a family friend when she was only nine year old. She lived in Virginia until she was sixteen, when the lady of the house shipped them off to an estranged relatives home in Virginia. It is alluded that she did so because of the close relationship between Julia and her son, Landon.
Now she is back in Virginia after living amongst Yankees, and it’s the civil war. Can she be trusted, or is she a spy? Who is this Lion of the South everyone is talking about?
The novel is confederate biased. It makes the Union leaders either vicious and evil, or bumbling idiots. Julia is alluaded to helping the South, but it’s never really mentioned how. instead, She needs to be constantly saved. Landon is the handsome, southern rich gentleman who after war trauma is not the same carefree loving man and needs to be saved by Julia.
The prologue and first couple chapters were disjointed and I didn’t under what was going on. After I understood the plot, I had to go back and read them. I didn’t enjoy when the story would flip over to the Lion’s escapades, maybe because it wasn’t actually told through someone’s POV.
All in all, I’d recommend it if you like lighthearted, clean romances without deep substance.

Something about this book was just off. It was trying too hard to fit into multiple genres.

I also find using books to compare a new book to can set it up to be a disappointment. With a tag line of "Scarlet Pimpernel meets Gone with the Wind" I was hoping for more.

The relationships were hinted at but not really built well for an entire book to flow nicely. I felt at times I was reading a reallly good book and at other times I was reading a story someone wrote in high school in response to a history lesson on the Civil War.

I had to look to remember the characters names of a book I finished not even a week ago.

This was a fairly entertaining read. Julia is a woman who returns to the home of her friends (who raised her) during the Civil War. Everyone in the Virginia town is speaking of the "Lion of the South," an unknown man who time and again rescues Confederate prisioners from the Union troops.

If you have ever read or watched Scarlet Pimpernell you will notice many similarities between the two stories. This is why I could not give the book more stars than I did. I love the idea of a Scarlet Pimpernell story, but this book seems to almost take the storyline from the Scarlet Pimpernell and just make it take place during the Civil War. Instead of the same general idea it uses many almost exact situations.

I did read the story from start to finish as I wanted to come to the conclusion, so for that reason I gave it three stars. I could not give it more because it did not seem very original at all.

I received this book through NetGalley for my honest review. The book sounded like something I would like, mystery, romance, Civil War. However, this book took me long while to get into, say about 75%, but I stuck with it to the end and wished it had been the beginning. The book in general was A LOT of description, and lots of big words. I am used to big words, I work in the legal field. But these were words I had to actually stop and sound out and really concentrate on them. I loved the relationships between Landon, Sally, and Julia -- I just wish they were developed more. We truly did not really get to know them until almost the end of the book. The relationship between Landon and Julia would have been so much better had it been developed much sooner. The character of The Lion of the South was interesting, but very predictable from the very beginning, and though was the main idea of the book was not developed as much as it could have been, it gave you bits, but lots of time left you hanging before moving on. This could have been a great book had the plot, characters, and storyline been developed more.

Though not necessarily a fan of historical fiction, I was locked in to this Civil War tale that was thoughtfully and intricately woven, smoothly unfolded and deeply engaging with heroes that are larger than life. Without stories like this we would forget that there were ever such grand, elegant and tragic times in America filled with such legendary figures as "The Lion of the South" who wove themselves so deeply into the fiber of our origins.

I have always enjoyed historical fiction and this book lived up to my expectations. Not only was it entertaining, it was informative with a hint of suspense. I'm sure there were spies on both sides of this war, however, this was much more interesting and suspenseful! I would definitely read other books by Ms. James.