Recent Reads - The Rebel Bride

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The Rebel Bride by Shannon McNear - Union soldier Joshua Wheeler suffers a devastating injury at Chickamauga and is taken prisoner by the Confederates. Along with other wounded soldiers, he is billeted at a home nearby rather than being transported to Richmond. Pearl MacFarlane is loyal to the Confederacy despite her family's staunch opposition to holding slaves. She is still reeling with the news that all three of her older brothers lost their lives in battle when her cousin shows up with a wagonload of wounded Yankee prisoners and she is pressed into serving as a nurse. Soon the modest farmhouse she shares with her ailing father and younger brother has become a field hospital. Her initial reluctance and resentment at being forced to look after the enemy is tempered by her father's gentle admonition that the Good Book says they are to be kind to their enemy.

Pearl works hard to keep the soldiers fed and cared for with the meager resources they have, and finds herself spending extra effort looking after a couple of the men that have serious injuries. She patiently redresses Josh's amputation wound and does all that she can to help him recover. When he is finally on the mend and able to start getting up and around, Josh knows that his oath to the Union means that he should make every effort to rejoin his regiment, yet his conscience will not let him leave the brave Rebel girl without protection or help. And indeed there is more than just his conscience compelling him to stay near Pearl for as long as he can.

Joshua wins the trust of Pearl's younger brother, Clem, and the respect of her Pa; and as her defender and helper, he also wins Pearl's trust and friendship. Both question their loyalties and their perceptions of the enemy side, but as much as Josh wants to stay with Pearl, he knows their divided loyalties will prevent it. Is there any chance that she would consider him? Is there enough common ground that they could be together?

This compelling story explores the complexities of the loyalties on both sides of the War Between the States, and the characters are very realistic as a result. Pearl and her family are staunchly opposed to owning slaves, which sets them apart from many in their own community, yet they are fiercely loyal to the Confederate cause. Josh and many of the Yankees have misconceptions about the views of the Rebels, and Josh realizes that fighting to force an end to slavery will be a hollow victory if the freed slaves have nowhere to go in a society that won't accept them. Although a fictional story that focuses on the developing romantic relationship between the two lead characters, it also invites some deeper thought about the ordinary folk that found themselves caught up in this conflict that had so many facets.

From the publisher:

Can Love Form Amidst Tensions of War?

During the clash between Union and Confederacy, quiet Tennesseean Pearl MacFarlane is compelled to nurse both Rebel and Yankee wounded who seek refuge at her family's farm. She is determined to remain unmoved by the Yankee cause -- until she faces the silent struggle of Union soldier Joshua Wheeler, a recent amputee. The MacFarlane family fits no stereotype Joshua believed in; still he is desperate to regain his footing -- as a soldier, as a man, as a Christian -- in the aftermath of his debilitating injury. He will use his time behind enemy lines to gather useful intelligence for the Union -- if the courageous Rebel woman will stay out of the line of danger.

Join the adventure as the Daughters of the Mayflower series continues with The Rebel Bride by Shannon McNear.

Other books in this series: The Mayflower Bride, The Pirate Bride, The Captured Bride, The Patriot Bride, The Cumberland Bride, The Liberty Bride, The Alamo Bride, The Golden Bride, The Express Bride (Coming in 2020: The Blizzard Bride, The Chisholm Trail Bride)

Book Ten in the Daughters of the Mayflower series.

Visit Barbour Publishing for more info on where to buy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

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