Review: The Rebel Bride by Shannon McNear

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Can Love Form Amidst Tensions of War?

During the clash between Union and Confederacy, quiet Tennessean 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.

My Thoughts:

This is another Civil War story that was so atmospheric it felt like I was there with the characters. This is the story of a southern woman who has been thrust into the war to take care of prisoners of war. This is also the story of one of those said prisoners, an amputee, who is only trying to serve his country.

I felt very emotional reading this story. I just finished teaching a course on the Civil War so this war has been very much on my mind. Pearl is a woman who has suffered much lost, losing her mother and losing all her older brothers has taken a toll on her. She does not understand why countrymen will pick up arms against their countrymen and invade them, the political atmosphere of that day was brutal. When she is told to care for these Yankee prisoners she understandably does not want to. However, she does do it if only to do it for the Lord. 

Joshua is a soldier that has seen the torture and destruction of war first hand. He is taken prisoner and has been dealt with a grievous wound. He must find the strength to pull through and to live again. He also wants to very much still help out in the war effort that so many northerners have sacrificed their all for.

Both of these characters' anguish and pain, both physical and emotional were palpable. But like them, we are not left anguishing. There is hope and for these two especially a chance at love, from enemies to lovers.

This is the second novel I have read by author McNear and she has become an automatic read/buy.

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