When I first received this book, I tried to recall why I had asked for it. Once again I was delving into the second volume of a series with which I was not familiar, having not read the first. And my prime interest in the Civil War consisted of knowing enough to pass history classes in school. So I was pleased when this book turned out to be a fun and simple read, and a delightful diversion from the realities of life that haunted me while I read it.

The story is set during the Civil War and mainly revolves around the families of twin brothers, one a wealthy iron magnate in Boston, the other married to a plantation heiress in Charleston. The wife in the family in Boston has a married sister in New Orleans. The relationships of these and other families intertwine through love and courtship, marriage and war, to provide a colorful backdrop for the conflict the rest of the country is facing, the slavery issue.

As this part of the story begins, Anne, a daughter of the family from Boston, has secretly enlisted in the Union Army and is providing stories to her editor for newspaper publication. A member of her company keeps her true identity quiet until the end, when circumstances no longer allow it. About that same time, her family has learned that she is not working at the newspaper itself, and the editor, not knowing if Anne is still alive, has some grand explaining to do.

Meanwhile, the family in Charleston is trying to keep neighbors from noticing that slaves keep disappearing from the plantation. It turns out that the attitude of this southern part of the family toward slavery is not as it appears, lending both misunderstanding and suspense to the divided family. Several relationships turn to love, with the attendant problems of courting by long distance and sometimes stealth. And the war continues.

Beginning with volume two, I jumped into the middle of the story, and at the end I was left with the unsatisfying feeling of wanting to know what happens next. But the trip along the way was simple and pleasant.

The book is well-written. The narrative is easy to follow. Allen's style of writing is quick and precise, complete with a subtle sense of humor. The pace moves briskly along where needed, only slowing briefly as the situation or mood suggests. The characters are developed, but not overly so. Their thoughts and motivations are revealed in a real and believable way.

Sometime during his speech she had stopped breathing. Charlotte now sucked in her breath and let it out again on a shuddering sigh. It wasn't fair that he should ask for the one thing she swore she would never give. Her intimacies, her heart, were hers alone, and she had guarded them selfishly as a married woman. The walls around her were thick and solid, and she didn't want the one man who had helped put them there to ask her to tear them down for him. [170]

The descriptions are thorough, yet written so that they do not interfere with the story. The language flows naturally, almost as if the author was reading aloud, telling the tale herself. Although the threads are numerous, the plot is quite simple.

As the story is told from the point of view of the various participants, it moves from person to person in an interesting way. Allen has written the changes into a pattern that is very comfortable. As one character reveals concerns and thoughts of another, the point of view moves to that person. While there are so many in the story, the change is always natural, in a smooth transition, predictable, and not in the least bit jarring. One's question is answered by the next, as the pace of the story marches on.

Each chapter is headed with a short quote lifted directly from the era. Many are from seasoned veterans on both sides of the war, and while some are blunt, they have the uncanny effect of making greater-than-life historical characters human.

"It is called the Army of the Potomac but it is only McClellan's bodyguard. . . . If McClellan is not using the army, I should like to borrow it for awhile." -- Abraham Lincoln [109]

The Civil War provides a backdrop for the stories. A historian would find the depth of history lacking, yet what is presented appears to have been well-researched and accurate. For the reader more worried about the lives of the participants, the historical backdrop provides an unobtrusive tapestry into which is woven the tale of those involved, enough to solidly anchor the story without bogging it down. I believe Allen has shown some real balancing skills in this area.

Younger adults would most enjoy this book. Its players are concerned with life-changing decisions regarding relationships with others, service to country, and conflict that would not readily be understood by a teen. More mature readers would relate to a few threads in the book from having traversed most of the challenges of the time. It is a love story in a Civil War setting. The Mormon connection comes from Ben, the oldest son of the Charleston family, who left home after joining the Church and has now enlisted in support of the Union cause.

I was surprised to find a four-page excerpt from another book in the back of this one. Other than that, the manufacture of the book is excellent. The cover is designed well. It includes what I would term a traditional photo of a civil war army encampment, rifles leaning in a circle with bayonnets touching and pointed upward. Faintly in the background of the nearly colorless photograph, under the title, are the colored flags of both the Union and the Confederacy. Reproduced on the front and back flyleaf are two maps from the Library of Congress, the Battle of Shiloh and the Battle of Antietam, both fought in 1862. The storyline runs from January of that year through June of 1863.

I noticed no typographical or editorial errors in the book. The produced text was excellent. Whether Allen's writing skills were even better than I thought, or she was the beneficiary of an excellent proofing of the text, I found the lack of errors to be quite refreshing and professional.

Unexpected events of the real world tumbled in on me as I read this book. Normally, it would not have taken me this long to read it. There were several extended periods of time when I had to lay the book aside. I noticed, though, that when I returned to it, I was quickly caught up again in the story, and the vividness and clarity of the writing style made it so that I did not have to turn back the pages to remember what had happened before.

During one of these times, my young single adult daughter picked up the book and followed one of the storylines through. At the end she said, "I sure wish I knew what happened to Anne." When I replied, "You'll just have to get the next book." She said, "I think I will."

So there you have it. Two recommendations for the price of one. A simple read for me. A love story for her. No surprises there.

Larry Jackson
lajackson@juno.com
July 7, 2003