About the Book
Book: Loyalty’s Pursuit
Author: Shannon McNear
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: October 13, 2026
She needs a husband to survive. Right now, a wife is the last thing he wants.
August 1780. After the Battle of Camden leaves British camp follower Bess Eaton widowed, expecting a child, and stranded in enemy territory, she faces two impossible choices: a return to an England that offers her nothing…or marriage to a stranger before the army marches on without her.
Backcountry loyalist Rob MacFarlane has already buried a wife and son and has no intention of marrying again at this moment. But he can’t ignore the vulnerable widow in his path. What begins as an act of duty quickly becomes something far more complicated when he offers Bess protection—and a name.
As war rages and the British cause begins to crumble, their fragile alliance is tested at every turn. Loyalties fracture. Faith is questioned. And the lines between enemy and neighbor blur. To survive, Rob must decide what allegiance truly costs—and Bess must choose whether she can trust not only the man she married…but the God she’s never fully known.
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I can't say the book disappointed me because I never look to see what a book that I have to read for review is about because I don't want to have any preconceived ideals. And yes, if there are more books coming in this series I will be reading them because I really like the ending. I could feel a little of the characters sorrow when reading this book and I think the author shows that she has done research before writing the book. I thought the author's notes at the end of the book was interesting as well.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.
About the Author
Transplanted to the far north after more than two decades in the Deep South, Shannon McNear loves losing herself in local history. She’s the author of twenty-one novels and novellas, not all of them in print, but her favorite roles are retired military wife, pastor’s wife, mom-of-many, mother-in-law, and grammie. When not cooking, researching, or leaking story from her fingertips, she enjoys being outdoors, hanging out with her grandbabies and basking in the beauty of the northern prairies.
More from Shannon
I’m so honored to be part of yet another Celebrate Lit tour! This story especially is near and dear to my heart, because it was my very first long historical after writing fantasy for decades, the book I still had in process when I submitted the proposal for my first novella, Defending Truth, and the one which gave me the courage to try that story (and genre) to begin with.
The first draft of this story took five years to complete, in between other projects and real life. It was a hard sell to start with, I knew, being set within the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution but from the British and Loyalist viewpoint. Still, it eventually netted me both of my agents (Defending Truth’s RITA® nomination didn’t hurt there, either) while garnering interest from various editors—but didn’t actually sell until last summer. That means this story languished for more than 10 years—and then the Lord Himself practically dropped this contract in my lap.
The first story of how the concept came to me can be found here:
https://colonialquills.blogspot.com/2014/07/dispelling-colonial-myths-reenactor.html
It was on my heart from the beginning to portray the romance, such as it is, in a rather unconventional way—something closer to what I imagine real life must have been for such a situation. And I deliberately steered away from the usual flowery declarations of love between my main couple, while hoping to present them in such a way that the reader has no doubt by the end of the story that they do absolutely care for each other. My dear editor with Wild Heart Books helped me shape and refine the characters and story from what might have been a more straightforward historical fiction read into more of what a historical romance reader might expect. I hope those expectations are now met, but also that my readers also come away with a fresh appreciation for how our country came to be.
Blog Stops
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 27
Holly’s Book Corner, October 28
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 28
Inkwell Inspirations, October 29
Betti Mace, October 30
Locks, Hooks and Books, October 30
Texas Book-aholic, October 31
For Him and My Family, November 1
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 2
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 3
Pause for Tales, November 4
Devoted To Hope, November 4
Jeanette’s Thoughts , November 5
Maureen’s Musings, November 6
Books You Can Feel Good About, November 7
Lyssa Loves Books, November 8
Simple Harvest Reads, November 8 (Guest Review from Donna)
Cover Lover Book Review, November 9
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Shannon is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://gleam.io/AJy7n/loyaltys-pursuit-celebration-tour-giveaway
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