Carnton Novella
Christmas at Carnton
Franklin, Tennessee
The novella that introduced the Carnton series and the beloved characters within it.
A Series by Tamera Alexander
Carnton Novels
Franklin, Tennessee · Civil War
Carnton Novels · Novella
Christmas at Carnton
Carnton Novels · Book 1
With This Pledge
Carnton Novels · Book 2
Colors of Truth
Coming 2026Carnton Novels · Book 3
Coming 2026 | Title TBD
The Carnton Novels transport readers to Franklin, Tennessee, during and after the devastating Civil War. Set in and around the historic Carnton—which served as the largest Confederate field hospital during the Battle of Franklin—these Carnton books weave fictional love stories with the true history of one of America's most hallowed sites. Each novel explores themes of sacrifice, duty, faith, and the enduring power of love in the face of unimaginable loss.
If you love Civil War fiction set in Franklin, TN, you'll find yourself immersed in the blood-stained floors of Carnton and the rolling hills of Williamson County, where Tamera Alexander brings to vivid life the men and women who lived, loved, and fought on this sacred ground. Her meticulous research and deep personal connection to these sites—she has walked the halls of Carnton countless times—infuse every page with authenticity and reverence.
Dear Reader, while each novel in Tamera's series stands completely on its own—with a full, satisfying story from beginning to end—reading the series in order will give you the richest, most rewarding experience. All series books are numbered to help guide you. Enjoy!
The Carnton Novels
Book 1
With This Pledge
Franklin, Tennessee
From the pages of history and accounts of those who endured the Battle of Franklin, Tamera Alexander weaves real-life love letters into a story of unlikely romance first kindled amid the shadows of the Civil War. Elizabeth "Lizzie" Clouston's quietly held principles oppose those of the Southern Cause—but when forty thousand soldiers converge on the fields of Franklin, Tennessee, the war demands an answer. The Carnton home, where she is governess, is converted into a Confederate field hospital, and Lizzie is called upon to assist the military doctor with surgeries that determine life or death. Faced with the unimaginable, she must summon fortitude, even as she fears for the life of Towny, her fiancé and lifelong friend. As a young soldier lies dying in Lizzie's arms, she vows to relay his final words to his mother, but knows little more than the boy's first name. That same night, decorated Mississippi sharpshooter Captain Roland Ward Jones extracts a different promise from Lizzie: that she intervene should the surgeon decide to amputate his leg. Lizzie is nothing if not a woman of her word, earning the soldiers' respect as she tends to the wounded within Carnton's walls. None is more admiring than Captain Jones, who doesn't realize she is pledged to another. But as Lizzie's heart softens toward the Confederate captain, she discovers that his moral ground is at odds with her own. Now torn between love, principles, and pledges made, she struggles to be true to her own heart while standing for what she knows is right—no matter the cost.
Book 2
Colors of Truth
Franklin, Tennessee
In a town battered and bruised by war, one woman embarks upon an impossible search—and one man must face the past in the very place that almost destroyed him. Tennessee, 1866. Irish immigrant Catriona O'Toole leaves behind the lush green of their Irish homeland to search for her twin brother Ryan, a conscripted Confederate soldier last known to be headed to Franklin, Tennessee for the Battle of Franklin. Now the sole provider for her seven-year-old spitfire sister, Nora, Catriona hopes to reunite the only surviving members of their devastated family. Wade Cunningham is a former Federal soldier now working for the newly formed United States Secret Service, trying to uncover counterfeiting rings in the postwar South. When Wade meets Catriona he is immediately intrigued by her—but the cash in her possession turns out to be some of the most convincing counterfeit money he has ever seen. Soon the object of his affection is also the suspect in a major crime—one he is expected to prosecute. <strong>With rich historical detail and multifaceted prose, USA Today bestselling author Tamera Alexander tells a riveting tale of truth, betrayal, and unlikely romance that unveils the many shades of God's perfect redemption.</strong>
Coming 2026This is a temporary announcement cover. The final cover may be different.
Carnton Novels · Book 3
Carnton Novel 3 (title TBD)
Coming 2026
The third and final Carnton novel is finally coming later this year. Your patience is so appreciated as other projects have taken precedence over this one. That doesn't mean I love this one any less—contracted deadlines simply pushed it further down the calendar. I can hardly wait to share this story (title TBD) about the little red-haired scamp of a sister pictured on Colors of Truth—Nora O'Toole, all grown up!
In this last novel in the Carnton trilogy, Nora more than meets her romantic match as we wrap up the cherished Carnton history and walk the familiar halls and rooms of that beloved house together one last time. If you haven't visited Carnton yet, I invite you to join me on a virtual tour.
Much love from Nashville,
A Note from Tamera
Visit Historic Carnton
When I first visited Carnton in Franklin—a suburb 20 minutes south of Nashville—many years ago, I knew I wanted to incorporate the stories of the people who had lived and worked at Carnton and who fought in the Civil War at the Battle of Franklin, both the Union and Confederate Armies. These amazing real men and women—including the men, women, and children who were enslaved at Carnton—shaped their war-torn country in lasting and powerful ways.
If you ever get to Nashville, please set aside 2-3 hours to visit Carnton, an important site rich in American history with issues still so pertinent in today's culture. Let's learn from history, not cover it up or try to hide from it. God is a redeemer and a restorer, and the ground at the foot of the cross is level. Only through Christ will we all be truly reconciled.
Behind the Story
Historical Context
Carnton, built in 1826, stands as one of the most important Civil War sites in America. On November 30, 1864, the Battle of Franklin claimed nearly 10,000 casualties in just five hours—one of the bloodiest engagements of the entire war. The McGavock family opened their home as a hospital, and the carnage was so great that blood stains remain visible on the floors today. Adjacent to the house, the McGavock Confederate Cemetery holds the remains of nearly 1,500 soldiers. The McGavock Cemetery is the largest private Civil War cemetery in the United States. Today, Carnton is operated by the Battle of Franklin Trust and is open to the public for tours. Visit the Carnton website for more. They eagerly await your visit!
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