This American Civil War romance does
much that genre readers will expect of it. I was introduced to
The central romance runs the course
of hope, challenge, new hope, further challenge, etc. But it does it well, with
some fairly detailed history of the times it presents. I suspect US readers
will find it more familiar, since it’s a part of their history. For me, as a
Brit, there were odd references that were obscure, and some geographical
aspects that had little meaning. But these didn’t detract from the story and
didn’t interrupt the flow. Pacing is good, as is the use of language.
The characters, always a vital
aspect of any story for me, are well drawn. They have their faults and their
positive qualities, and none is a caricature or stereotype. The different
attitudes of both sides in the war are well expressed, and, as should be
expected in our more enlightened times, the evils of slavery are depicted in
subtle but definite ways. Certainly, the right wing, greedy, and abusive way of
life of those in the Confederacy are demonstrated, but these are not thrust
down the reader’s throat.
The story moves well, slowing for
the romance, speeding up for the action. There is a good deal of tension
between both family members and the main protagonists. Evil and good are well
represented as are loyalty and betrayal. Love, of course, is given a good ride
and drives much of the action in the story, as it should. The author has
managed to get inside the contemporary religious hang-ups of the age,
describing the mistaken guilt and hypocritical judgment that would have been
common at the time.
In spite of a slightly slow start,
the story develops a good pace as the action progresses and conflicts rise to
the surface. This is a good read and one of the better examples of the romance
genre. I enjoyed it and found I was eager to reach the denouement and the
satisfactory conclusion. Recommended.
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