Reviews for Shades of Gray, a January release by Patriot Press, are starting to come in.

Kristen Pace's of bookpleasures.com, says, "the intense sorrow, frustration, and ultimately love, seem to transcend the pages to settle in the very marrow of the reader’s bones. Jessica James has produced a tremendous and wonderful saga about love, loyalty and honor for which she must lauded."

The review from the Historical Novel Society has also been posted. It is one of the few reviews that comments on the role the media plays in distorting history.

"Shades of Gray offers a more balanced and nuanced explanation of the Confederate cause that transcends the overly simplified view presented by today’s mass media."

She later says, "The novel will appeal to romance readers and Civil War buffs, especially those sympathetic to the Southern side." 

The reviewer also points out the efforts the author took to make Shades of Gray read like a 19th-century novel, saying, "The style of writing reflects the Civil War era as much as the content of the story."

The reviewer concludes, "This is not a contemporary retelling of the Civil War as much as it is a sympathetic and loving portrait. Interpersonal conflict as well as battlefield conflict make the book a page-turner and quick read."

More information about Shades of Gray can be found at jessicajamesbooks.blogspot.com.