My Review
This is the first book in the Hearts of Honor series. Taking place in West Virginia during the year 1863 it's the thick of the Civil War. Cristina Stiles has had her Confederate husband go off to war several years previously and she's responsible for the care of their 2 young children.
Now Civil War fiction is one of my favorite genres to read and this really fit the bill for what I was looking for in a book. It brought together many elements from tension and danger filled
days to peace and harmony, Out of obligation Union soldier Jack Fuller volunteers to deliver a letter to a rebel soldier's wife.
Now this woman is Cristina who has been harassed in the past by men at her home and when she sees Jack riding up she doesn't let him speak thinking he is there to do the same thing and shoots him.
Though she doesn't kill him he's badly wounded and she takes him in to care for him with the help of an older neighbor woman. She only does this because she feels and obligation to do so after she finds out the reason for his visit. Many men have fallen for their care givers during the Civil War , sparks just seem to fly and it doesn't matter if their Union or Confederate.
Is this what is happening in the case of the Union solider and the
woman he greatly admires, his rebel nurse? What will happen though when he reveals an unspoken secret, will love prosper in this cruel land or not be able to be sustained like the tumble weeds blowing across the desert?
It was heartwarming to see Cristina's spiritual journey come alive and her bringing her children to Christ as well. Highly recommended to lovers of westerns and civil war historical fiction . Looking forward to reading more books in this series and others by this author. This book was provided courtesy of the author, through Interviews & Reviews.
Amazon Buy Link
GoodReads Summary
Cristina Stiles is left to fend for herself and her two young children while her husband goes off to fight in the Confederate army. She also has to deal with two rogue Yankee soldiers who’ve beaten her, stolen her food, and keep coming back to cause more trouble.
Jack Fuller is a God-fearing Christian fighting for the Union. During a surprise encounter, he shoots and kills a Rebel soldier. In his final breaths, the Rebel asks Jack to deliver a letter to his wife—and he agrees. But when he arrives at Cristina’s small farm in West Virginia, she assumes Jack is one of the Yankee trouble-makers, trains her rifle on him, and fires.
As he lies on the ground bleeding, he explains the purpose of his visit, and out of a sense of obligation, she decides to nurse him back to health. What will happen when Cristina discovers Jack is the one who made her a widow? Will her rebel heart forgive him—or finish him off?
About The Author
Born
in The United States
August 26, 1948
Website
Genre
Christian Fiction, Romance
After 31 years of teaching second and fourth grades, Shar decided to say, "Bye-bye, Students!" and "Hello, Writing World!" and it's been an interesting, exciting, challenging, and inspiring adventure. One thing she knows for certain—God dropped a seed of passion for writing in her heart back in the summer of 2000, and He's been growing it ever since. She signed on with Whitaker House Publishers in early 2006 and in December of that same year released Through Every Storm, a general fiction title that finaled in the American Christian Fiction Writers Book-of-the-Year. Another general fiction title, Long Journey Home, hit shelves in 2008. (It is her pleasure to announce that both of these titles are also available in SPANISH.) Sharlene’s beloved, bestselling “Little Hickman Creek Series” released in 2007-08. This 3-book series set in 1895 KENTUCKY won the “Road to Romance” Reviewers’ Choice Award and a third place standing in the Inspirational Readers’ Choice Contest in 2008 and 2009. Also, in 2009, her historical series, “The Daughters of Jacob Kane”, began hitting bookshelves in stores countrywide. In late summer of 2010, Tender Vow, another general fiction stand-alone, will release, and following that, a 1920s 3-book set called “River of Hope”. The first in that series, River Song, should become available in the spring of 2011. Yep, you guessed it – Shar is BUSY!!! Shar has done numerous book-signings across the country, appeared on many national television and radio shows, and participated in countless interviews. She has been married to the love of her life since December of 1975, has two wonderful daughters and two handsome sons-in-law. The joys of her life, however, are her adorable grandchildren. Besides her involvement in music at her local church, Shar has been a speaker for the local MOPS organization, is involved in KIDS’ HOPE, USA, a mentoring program for at-risk children, counsels young women in the international APPLES OF GOLD program, and attends two bi-weekly Bible studies. She and her darling husband, Cecil, live in Spring Lake, Michigan with Peyton, their loveable collie, and Mocha, their big, lazy cat.
Thank you for visiting my blog today!