Catherine Samson, disguised as her brother Cooper, joined the fight against the Confederate soldiers. It's on the battlefield that he meets Sophie, serving as a nurse in the army. The two grow closer as the war heats up around them, but Catherine has her secret and doesn't know how Sophie will react to the truth that she's a woman. But their love is stronger than that? Isn't it?

I'm quite picky when it comes to historical fiction but this one was excellently written. I really enjoyed the slow burn nature of the romance that kept you savouring every word of their interactions and their letters while the action packed battles kept you flipping pages as fast as you could read. The setting of the American Civil War is not something I'm familiar with but I suppose all the events and battles are things Americans are familiar with and would create quite the driving structure for the story knowing what comes next. Still I found the book detailed and immersive without being dry, I love how the author engaged all the senses to bring us into Catherine's camp and Sophie's farm and home. I loved both main characters - I especially loved that Sophie, the more feminine of the two, was so confident in her sexuality.

This was actually my first book by the author and I will definitely have to go back to read the other books including the historical fiction.

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

just want to say that this is probably one of the best books, I have read on our American history so far. The attention to detail is so spot on, and the authors description of what happens on the battlefield was so realistic that I it made you feel like you were right there among the soldiers fighting for the ideal of freedom for all. I loved the idea of a woman soldier as the main character and Coop aka Catherine was an excellent example of what the author was trying for in this book. I loved the romance between Cooper and Sophie they were just right for each other, and the supporting characters just enhanced the story to a whole other level. I look forward to what this author writes next. I definitely would recommend this to my friends and family.

I absolutely loved this historical fiction from CF Frizzle. Extremely well researched, it feels like a genuine firsthand account. As a Brit I’m not as familiar with the fine detail as many of the readers may be but knowing Cathy frizzles previous work I have absolute confidence in the minutiae of her research.

The main characters are wonderful women that you can’t help rooting for, hoping that they can find a way to come together, survive Gettysburg and flourish in the world which doesn’t recognise their existence.

The whole is well written, well put together, with a gentle but inexorable story arc and a poignant romance from a bygone time. Just an excellent reading experience.

Have loved all this authors books and this is right up there with them. Highly recommended

This is a historical novel set in the time of the Civil War. Most of the book takes place during the Battle of Gettysburg with the weeks leading up to the battle used to introduce the characters. The story gives you a sense of the how horrific war can be.

The two main characters in this book are Catherine “Coop” Samson and Sophie Bauer. After Catherine’s family dies in an accident, she takes on her brother Cooper’s identity and enlists in the Massachusetts’ Militia to fight for the Union during the Civil War. Sophie volunteers as an aid for the ladies’ auxiliary unit. It is through this service that she meets Coop.

Sophie knows that she is attracted to women but does not believe she will ever find love since she has family obligations. Sophie’s mother passed away years ago, and she has 2 much younger siblings that she is raising. Also, her father needs help running the family farm. Sophie does not understand her attraction to Coop because she has never been attracted to a man. Coop is also drawn to Sophie, but fears that revealing her real identity will get her rejected by Sophie and dishonorably discharged from the militia.

I love historical novels and this one is excellent! I had a hard time putting this book down. Even though I have visited Gettysburg, I learned so much from Measure of Devotion. Several times I fact checked a few details for accuracy. Ms. Frizzell’s research was exceptional. Her writing is smooth and has an excellent pace. The emotions were high with fear of death, injury, and rejection. In addition, the story provides Americans with a reminder of what our forefathers fought for to achieve equality for all.

I have not read many of Ms. Frizzell’s books. After completing this one, I will surely read another of her books in the future. I give this book 5+ stars out of 5.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I had a strange upbringing: For a time, I lived next to a Civil War Battleground, I hunted for Minie balls and climbed around on Napoleon howitzers. I played “Gettysburg” when forced by my elder brother. It was a board game akin to Risk meets D&D, I was always the South and to my brother’s chagrin, I mostly won (the key was to take Little Round Top). I can argue about the urban legend of horse-positioning in Civil War Monuments or Shelby Foote’s role in the “Lost Cause” mythology. So, what I’m saying is, I have I working knowledge of the subject of the American Civil War.
I finished CF Frizzell’s Measure of Devotion and I was stunned. I read it again two days later and was even more impressed. Using a phrase from Lincoln as a title was ambitious and that was just the start of one of the best Civil War fiction pieces I’ve ever read. It is right up there with An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce and that was made into a ‘Twilight Zone’ and an Oscar-winning movie. This book was well-researched and included a history lesson, but the most incredible part was the feelings it evoked. I could smell the gun powder, I could hear the cries, I could feel the fear, and mourn the lost.
Frankly, I would have liked this book without the gender-bending love story, but Coop and Sophie’s story was the icing on the cake. It was almost too tender, if such a thing were possible. I appreciated that Coop was a front-line soldier and not a dashing officer and that Sophie was a member of the Ladies Aid Society but not a debutante. I got to feel what it must have been like to the ordinary folk trying to do their best to survive during the devastation of war. The supporting characters were fully fleshed out and contributed to the plot. Once again, the word ‘tender’ comes to mind when I think of Coop’s relationship with Tim and Karl and Greta were perfectly bratty younger siblings.
I could not have loved this book more unless it came with one of Karl’s biscuits.

What a great read. I loved the characters and their chemistry. The fact that it was a period piece just added to wonderful feel of it all. I also really enjoyed that the gender reveal was not the only focus of the book, and that a large portion was them developing their feelings authenticly despite very real obstacles.

I don’t know much about the American Civil War, nor am I a reader of historical fiction, but this book had me so hooked I couldn’t put it down. The author had clearly done their research - the war setting was very well written and detailed and the battle scenes constantly had me on the edge of my seat. The atmosphere the author had created felt so real and authentic, yet also contemporary. There were scenes in this book I’ll never forget. A highly recommended read.

Catherine Simpson has disguised herself as her late twin brother Cooper in order to serve her northern states in the Battle of Gettysburg against the conservative southern states of America. Sophie Bauer is fully supportive of uniting the states as per President Lincoln's address to the nation and leaves her family farm along with her father and two younger siblings to serve as a nurse in the Battle. She is confused and questions her desires for a romance with a woman when she forms a strong connection with Private Cooper.
This period romance is well written and through some thorough research by the author gives a realistic insight into the Battle of Gettysburg.  A lot of the hardships are covered in detail in a time when life was just hard. The destruction of life and land was enormous and difficult to read at times. The romance between Cooper and Sophie was sweet and wholesome and really interesting as it challenged Sophie's own desires and her belief that she's only attracted to women. This book is a great read and the romantic storyline was unique. 4.5 stars

I have been an American Civil War buff for a long time so was excited to read this account of two women caught up in one of the bloodiest battles on American soil, the battle of Gettysburg.

Catherine Sampson joins the Union army when her family is killed in an accident, taking on the persona of her twin brother Cooper. Her resemblance to her brother aids in her disguise, even fooling Sophie Bauer, a young Ladies Aid volunteer helping with the wounded soldiers. Sophie is confused by her attraction to the kind and courageous Coop as she has never been attracted to a man before. Their friendship leads to a kiss and a promise to stay in touch when Sophie finishes her service and returns home to her family farm near Gettysburg.

I was so impressed with the historical accuracy the author achieves in Measure of Devotion. Her portrayal of the day to day life of a Union soldier, the endless marching, the bloody battles and the leadership debates rang true as did the hardships endured by both soldiers and citizens. Her use of secondary characters helped the reader understand the mindset of both the Confederate and Union soldiers and the attitudes and prejudices of the times. I loved how she wove the story of two women hoping against hope for a chance to build a life together while the battle raged around them. The danger both faced made their kisses and tender moments all the more precious.

Excellent historical romance along with a reminder to all of us of the price of freedom and the injustice so many continue to face.

5 stars

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.

What an interesting and informative read. Especially if you enjoy and appreciate history, specifically the Civil War (Battle of Gettysburg). This read is not so much a romance as it is a cruel reminder of the brutality of war. This historical story was heavy on the battle and light on the romance. Although I kinda understood why, I did not like that a large part of the book the MC's were separated, though, they did interact through letters. I thought the letters were very romantic which warmed my heart.

4.75 stars. A journey that will stay with me for a long time. I enjoy historical fiction and this is the best one I’ve read so far this year, in fact it competes with my all-time favorites. It is also one of the most realistic books I’ve read, you feel the research that went in this book.

My knowledge of American history is pretty limited and one of the things I like about historical fiction is that I also learn a bit of history, in this case about the civil war with a special focus on the battle of Gettysburg. This book made me look up some things out of interest and the dates events and names of key players, but also behavior, correspondence etc. are authentic (something the author also mentions in a special “to the reader” section) and this accuracy is something I greatly appreciate.

Private Cooper Samson joined the army to fight for freedom and equality. However, Cooper is in fact Catherine Samson, who has taken her twin brothers’ identity after he died. In the field she meets Sophie Bauer, a farmer’s daughter, who aids the army by taking care of the wounded. Coop and Sophie strike up a friendship and get separated when Sophie returns home to Gettysburg. Soon they find themselves in near proximity of each other again, but unfortunately under the worst circumstances as the Bauer farm is exactly situated between the union and confederate army front lines.

This is not a light read. The life and hardships of the soldiers are described in detail, the camps, the marches and the battles that lead up to the battle of Gettysburg. The honor and loyalty of the soldiers fighting for their cause is apparent, but also the sense of desperation and anger when they are stuck in an impossibly bad situation and seeing the impact of the war on everything and everyone around them. One of those innovent bystander casualties is the Bauer farm and what happens there during the heat of the battle. While this specific farm is fictional, the situation is not. Some of the war “tactics” (basically overpowering the enemy by sheer numbers no matter how many people you lose) also made a deep impression on me. Obviously, I knew these things happened, but now it really came to life for me. Parts of the story are set in field hospitals, so the casualties and wounded are also described and with thousands of wounded it is not a pretty picture. Personally, I was glad all these details were not glossed over in order to make it a romantic story, but keeping it authentic. It’s raw, and this might be too much for some people, but I found myself completely engrossed in the story and could not put this book down.

The characters and the romance are other strong points of the book. There are some excellent secondary characters, but Coop and Sophie steal the show. Coop is considerate and brave and Sophie is both strong and nurturing. There is almost an immediately a spark between them, but they struggle with their feelings for each other, both for different reasons. The romance is very slow burn but so sweet, there is of course the hidden gender issue, but they are also separated during a large part of the book. I find the latter sometimes annoying in romance novels, but in this book I still felt the romance building and appreciated their moments together even better and the other storylines were so very good to read that I didn’t mind it at all. My only wish would be an epilogue just to see how some things worked out in time and to have a bit more HEA.

This book has my highest recommendation, especially if you like historical (war) fiction and appreciate a well-researched book.

Historical fiction holds a certain fascination for me. I admire the ingenuity of authors to fine tune a well known event into a smaller and more intimate point of view from their characters. CF Frizzell has achieved this successfully with her earlier novels chronicling the prohibition years and does so again in Measure of Devotion.

You can tell this story is special to Frizzell even without reading the chapter To the Reader. The attention to historical detail, no matter how gruesome, and the care she takes in describing the battle scenes is her best work to date.

Disguised as her twin brother, Catherine “Cooper” Samson is fighting on the Union side in the Civil War. She is one year into the war when she meets Sophie Bauer, a medical volunteer from the Gettysburg area. The war keeps them separate for a healthy portion of the novel however the beautifully composed letters between Cooper and Sophie keeps them bound together on the page.

Measure of Devotion is a beautifully crafted story depicting the devotion of a sibling to their family, soldiers to fight for their cause, friendships formed in battle and two women falling in love. The Battle of Gettysburg displays the ultimate devotion of soldiers to their leaders no matter their personal cost.

Frizzell has written a story sure to pull on your heart strings. This is definitely a must read novel.

Historical novels aren’t usually high on my TBR list, and there’s something about the American Civil War that makes me hesitate even more. With my reading being sporadic over the last month or so, I figured I’d try something different to kick start my reading binge and gave this one a try.

Wow. I was impressed – I was completely enthralled with the story and characters.

After the death of her parents and twin brother, Catherine Sampson assumes her brother’s identity as Private Cooper Sampson and joins the 19th Massachusetts Regiment of the Union Army in the early days of the American Civil War. After a brutal battle, Coop is searching the hospital tents for her best friend when she meets Sophie Bauer, a volunteer with the Ladies Aid Society. As slow but sweet relationship begins as the two continue to cross paths and correspond.

This is a well crafted story that depicts the harshness of the Civil War with historic accuracy and at the same time creates a wonderful sense of humanity in the characters. I have to admit that I was shocked at some of the battle scenes – seen through both Coop and Sophie’s perspectives – the carnage and devastation not just to the soldiers but the people whose homes and land were the sites of the fighting. The romance is what lays at the heart of the book – it is a slow burn, complete with a series of letters that make me regret the age of texting and email.

As odd as it may sound, I really had no idea what was going to happen next and that added to the suspense as the story moved along. As I am not an American, I know generally about the American Civil War but I don’t know a lot of the details- I know about the Gettysburg Address, but not what preceded it. This made the book all that more mesmerizing as I was just as unsure as Cooper of whether the Union or the Confederates were going to prevail in the battles, let alone if Coop was going to make it.

Well written, fascinating and thought provoking – this is an excellent historical fiction novel that will draw you in immediately and keep you turning pages well into the night.

RECOMMEND

I love historical fiction when it is done well and has an attention to detail. Historical accuracy isn't always super important for me, but historically accurate details are always fun little easter eggs for me to give a book a little more fleshed out world. I loved that about this book, along with some of the ways in which the author denotes time. Fizzell also gives a balance between slightly more modern diction and using the more formalized speech we associate with the time period. While it makes most of the book feel alittle slower, I also liked that our protagonists Catherine (Coop) and Sophie had to correspond through letters, and that their relationship developed through them rather than the little time they had with each other.

I think a lot of folks might get frustrated that Coop and Sophie are apart so much, but I thought it made the times they had together more impactful, even though I fought the urge to actually skip over to those sections. I thought Coop's and Sophie's chemistry was amazing, and I love that they got to finally have their time together at the end of the book, it seemed fitting, too as Coop and Sophie lost so much during the course of the war, especially during the battle of Gettysburg, and that they had their person to lean on was an amazing thing.

So, with that said, the book mostly follows Sophie beginning in 1862 as the war really starts to kick into gear. She's a volunteer nurse through a Ladies Society out of her hometown of Gettysburg, PA. Because her hometown is Gettysburg, we know that we will get to the three day battle. But in getting there, Sophie meets Coop, gets confused that she is so attracted to who she believes is a man as she is firmly in the ladies-who-love-ladies camp, but can't help herself. Coop is just that compelling a person to her. As Coop moves in and out of her orbit, Sophie must also deal with the day to day uncertainty of living so close to the Mason Dixon line. She also eagerly follows the news of battles fought by Coop's Massachusetts 19th, and anxiously awaiting Coop's letters to know she's alive. I like this focus on the civilian side of the war. Coop gets her time, but it mostly is during the quiet hours of waiting for a battle to happen or marching to intercept it, where as Sophie, as the eldest daughter, and unofficial leader of her town feels the war in a different way. She has seen how bad it can get, and the town is aware they might have the war at their doors.

The last 1/3 of the book focuses on how Cooper and Sophie experience the battle of Gettysburg. When the battle actually hits, it hits hard, especially for Sophie. Her home becomes a field hospital due to her reputation earned as a medical volunteer. But it also gets ripped to shreds by cannon fire from both sides. Time has no meaning for Sophie, as she constantly moving. The quiet hours waffle between being a wary tension and tiredness. Coop's unit is part of the brutal action that occurs during the infamous Pickett's Charge. They're a backup unit, forced to wait while Union soldiers at the breastworks on Cemetery ridge are picked to pieces. When Pickett's soldiers finally breach, Cooper is forced into chaotic hand to hand combat as Union soldiers desperately fight to hold the line.

I loved reading through the battle, mostly because this was Frizzell at her best. She doesn't shy away from describing some of the carnage that the women see, but doesn't do it gratuitously. Cannon fire, especially, brutal. She also gives some quiet times, as Sophie helps comfort her younger siblings, or Coop and her friend, Tim, talk about their loved ones, and Tim encouraging Coop to pursue a relationship with Sophie. But it all meshes together, as the 3 days are essentially blended together. It really isn't until a couple weeks later, as Coop is recovering from a broken arm and Sophie works to rebuild the house, that the characters get true quiet. I loved that. There's a reason why Gettysburg is the battle that characterizes the US Civil War. And I think through the lenses of these two women, we see why.

I have gone on too long, so I'll say that historical fiction readers while love this. Yes it leans a little into the romance, but not as much as you'd think. I loved that Frizzle subtly gives nods to little talked about aspects (from certain lenses) of the war. I can tell that Frizzle cares about humanizing the people in the war, even the Confederate Soldiers. Because, while she made a point about how morally awful the Confederacy's ideology is, she still gave the soldiers their humanity. Though I found some of the pacing a little slow, I thought this book was well written, that doesn't shy away from the carnage. The ending is open ended, as the War still has about a year and a half to go, which is fine with me. If we get to see the rest of Sophie's and Coop's story, I'd be happy. If not, the kernel of hope that it gives is fine enough for me.

If I could give this book half stars, this one would be 4 1/2 stars. I thought it was so good! I've never been to Gettysburg, but I've always wanted to go and take in the history. I felt like by reading this book, it was as close as I've ever come to really feeling immersed in that time period.

I've also heard stories of women who fought during the Civil War incognito, and always found it fascinating. The character Cooper/Catherine was brilliant and I was really terrified for her. Both in the fighting sequences, but also for her to be found out and what those repercussions would be.

Sophie and the whole Bauer family was equally likable. I enjoyed the fact that Sophie knew she preferred women and was internally trying to figure out how the rest of her life would look as a "spinster" or just a woman with another woman as her "companion". Would she have to leave the farm and her family who she loved very much? Then once she met Cooper, she was so confused by her feelings which was very honest but also hilarious as a reader knowing the true identity of Cooper. I wanted to tell her, don't worry so much!!

Overall, I was highly engrossed in this book and thought the author did an EXCELLENT job reading up on the history of the time & battles, and bringing them to life. Major kudos there, because I could tell how many hours/days/weeks that must have taken to get right.

Definitely a buy for me.

This is a historical fiction slash romance with very graphic details of the civil war. Its well written and researched. Its so realistic that as you read, you picture yourself standing there watching the scenes play out. The main characters are fully developed, sweet, strong and likable. I thoroughly enjoyed this book along with the history lesson. I strongly recommend.
4.5 stars


Thank you Bold Stokes Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Measure of Devotion is a historical romance, set in the American Civil War, featuring a lesbian love story. The main positive for me in this book was the character development. The main characters, especially Coop, were charismatic and you wanted to know more about them and their story. Even the more minor characters, like Coop's best friend Tim, were developed characters, not just plot devices or empty suits. I rooted for the characters throughout.

Unfortunately, for me, the setting is what ultimately killed the book for me. It was well-researched and did a good job of describing the horrors of battles of the Civil War, including the deaths. Honestly, it was much too good a description for me. If that isn't a problem for you, you'll love this book.

This was a brilliant book backed by a realistic tale, held up by history, written by a talented author.

History has proven that many women did indeed pose as men throughout the years, so I had no trouble believing in Coop and Sophie. I appreciated the author's dedication to research and getting the story right, and even though the battles, destruction and death were hard to read about, I knew that my discomfort was nothing compared to what real people felt during those skirmishes. Despite my best intentions, I read this in three sittings...the last half of the book was a marathon I couldn't have quit even if I'd wanted to. Which I did not. I HAD to keep reading!

I connected with these characters, even Tim. Their struggles, their defeats and accomplishments and victories became my own and at many points, I thought I could hear the cannon fire and feel the dust as it rained down. To say this tale was gripping and immersive does not do it justice. To call it atmospheric does not go far enough to describe the absolute hold it had on my senses.
This was my first exposure to C.F. Frizzell, but it will not be my last.

Measure of Devotion is a magnificent example of what lesbian historical fiction can be and should be recommended reading for every author who casts an eye toward historical fiction.

I am honored to offer up this honest review in exchange for an ARC of this wonderful novel. Many thanks to C.F Frizzell, Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley.

As a lover of historical lesfic I quite enjoyed this book. There was great character development and such detailed scene descriptions you could hear and smell it sometimes. It is longer than most which I appreciate. I wish there was more closure in the end since the war wasn't really finished and the longer term plans weren't made. Maybe there is a chance for a sequel? I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! I have so many wonderful things to say about Measure of Devotion by C.F. Frizzell that I don’t even know where to begin. Since historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, and I’m also a former middle school history teacher, I knew I was going to enjoy this novel. I just didn’t realize how much I would love it.

This is the fictional story of Catherine Samson who takes on her dead brother’s identity and becomes Private Cooper Samson of the 19th Massachusetts Volunteers. As she and her fellow soldiers fight the Confederate Army in some of the war’s deadliest battles, she meets and becomes friends with Sophie Bauer. Sophie is a member of the Lady’s Aid Society which is helping the wounded soldiers just behind the battle lines. Even after Sophie leaves for her home in Gettysburg the two stay in touch through letters until those fateful days of July 1-3, 1863, when Sophie’s family home becomes the focus point of the deadliest battle of the Civil War, The Battle of Gettysburg.

The most brilliant aspect of this novel is how real the author makes the story. “Cooper”, Sophie, and their immediate family and friends are fictional. Sophie’s family farm is fictional as well, though what happened inside the farmhouse in this story did happen in real life to several farms located in the real battlefield. Other than the tale of Cooper and Sophie, the rest of this story is true. The battles are real in all their deadly, gory detail. Some of the secondary characters are authentic historical figures. The sights and sounds of the battles, the soldiers’ everyday lives, smells and scenes around the medical tents…all are factual. The author even has the characters using the correct speech pattern of the time. You can especially see this in the letters Cooper and Sophie write to each other.

Ms. Frizzell created an amazing story of war with all the courage, patriotism, horror, loss, and destruction you expect from such a tale. Layered in between all that is one of the sweetest love stories I’ve read in a while.
I won’t be surprised if this novel wins an award or two in the coming year. In fact, I’ll be disappointed if it doesn’t. It shot to the very top of my favorites list, and has my highest recommendation.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.