My Thoughts and More on Loving Lydia by Susan Pope Sloan

 

About the Book

Book: Loving Lydia

Author: Susan Pope Sloan

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: April 25, 2023

Two Southerners thrown together by the Union army. He’s on a quest for vengeance. She’s determined to preserve her family.

Lydia Gibson’s life is overturned when the Union Army invades her hometown and burns down the cotton mill where she and her stepdaughter worked. Even worse, she and the other workers are arrested and sent to Marietta, where they wait for the army to send them north.

Confederate Sergeant Seth Morgan finally reaches Marietta to check on his family, but the last thing he expects is to meet a woman who sparks attraction he thought he’d never feel again. Unfortunately, she’s a Yankee prisoner and being sent north to Louisville, Kentucky.

Seth is forced to return to his unit in Virginia, and he never anticipated their next meeting would be when he’s taken to Louisville as a prisoner. While Seth searches the Confederate ranks for the man who murdered his wife, Lydia implores him to ask after her missing nephew. Neither one expects just how far the search will take them, or what they’ll discover along the way.

 

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My Thoughts:

During the Civil War, southern factory workers were captured and sent up North by the Union Army. They were treated as well as could be in a time of shortage and war. Lydia Gibson and her young pregnant stepdaughter are two such women who were trying to flee but could not. Lydia had worked at a cotton mill while her husband Cal went off to war. Now she doesn't know if Cal is alive or dead, and she is unsure where to turn next.

Seth Morgan is a Confederate Sergeant who has been working to get back home to check in with his family. He is also holding a vengeance in his heart at the man who is guilty of murdering his late wife and aims to make him pay. 

We get both Seth and Lydia's stories for a little while before they meet up. Then they do and Seth is nursed back to health by Lydia, and he begins to fall for her. However, they have much to get through and many truths to uncover before they could even think about being together. And there is a war going on that has upturned all of their lives.

This is the second in the series Rescued Hearts of the Civil War that is about a few tidbits of history I am unfamiliar with.

I was provided a copy of this novel by the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Born into a family of storytellers, Susan Pope Sloan published her first articles in high school and continued writing sporadically for decades. Retirement provided the time to focus on writing and indulge her avid interest in history. Her Civil War series begins (and ultimately ends) in her home state of Georgia with references to lesser-known events of that period. She and husband Ricky live near Columbus where she participates in Word Weavers, ACFW, and Toastmasters

 

More from Susan

As a “pantser” when it comes to writing, I never know how the story will develop or which characters will demand more “stage” time. Lydia Gibson was always destined to be a main character, but I had no idea who would be her leading man. When Seth Morgan appeared in Rescuing Rose, I saw him only as an object to create tension between Rose and Noah. Then I learned how his wife died and knew he had to be rescued from his grief and anger. At first, I thought he might match up with Celeste, but it made more sense for him to be drawn to Lydia, who was a war widow. He was a fun protagonist as he loudly proclaimed his lack of interest in marrying again but always went out of his way to assist the women he met. Seth liked to create the illusion of being a tough fighter, but what he really wanted was someone to love and share his life. As Lydia struggled to overcome her poor self-image, Seth discovered his strength in following the path of peace.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, April 19

Karen Baney Reviews, April 19

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 20

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 21

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, April 22 (Author Interview)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 22

Connie’s History Classroom, April 23

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 24

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 25

For Him and My Family, April 26

Betti Mace, April 27

Holly’s Book Corner, April 28

Blossoms and Blessings , April 29

Pause for Tales, April 30

Simple Harvest Reads, May 1

Cover Lover Book Review, May 2

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Susan is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/258b0/loving-lydia-celebration-tour-giveaway