Book Review ~ Widow of Gettysburg

Book: Widow of Gettysburg
Author: Jocelyn Green
Publisher: Moody Publishing
Publication Date: May 1, 2013

Type of Book: Civil War; Gettysburg

I received this book free through www.netgalley.com from the publisher for an honest review.


My interest in this book is: I love how Jocelyn supports Military families and so thought I'd try her fiction series--this is the 2nd of her series Heroines Behind the Lines. 

Ideas expressed/message/plot: The resilience of the women who were caught in the midst of Gettysburg, life beyond the battle and the tensions that played out. "We do not know until tried what we are capable of." ~ Sara Broadhead

Favorite Characters, quotes, lines: The reader is immediately drawn to the likablity of both Leads. "There's so much more to life than death, you know. Sure would hate for you to miss out."

When I finished the book I felt: complete. This was a completely satisfying, well-written history of Gettysburg that was told in a way that enabled me to feel the history. Seriously, Jocelyn, I could not have hoped for a better ending! I loved how Chapter 21 ends when Liberty is asked "How much will you charge?" Yeah, her whole speech made me smile and take a satisfying sigh like I had just finished an incredible meal and now was stuffed full to the brim. Yes, that's the perfect ending; yes, that's exactly what Liberty would do. 

Overall: This is a must read for Jr. High/High-school classrooms & anyone learning about the Civil War. The detail and historical accuracy is amazing PLUS you get the bonus of an amazingly well-written story that weaves an emotional element that makes this battle-encompassed town real to the reader. This is a story you wont soon forget.

I really enjoyed the tension that kicks off right from the beginning of the story and remains throughout. I give this book 4 stars. It probably deserves 5 because it has every element of a well written book--I found nothing lacking--so perhaps it's just my biased personal taste for the style of books I like to read. 

Other books to read by this author or theme:  Another author who tells history with the thread of fiction like Jocelyn Green is Michael K. Reynolds. His book Flight of the Earls is another historical read that teaches you a lot about the times.  I might also recommend to readers who like this type of story-telling to try Elizabeth Camden. She tells stories in a similar fashion but with a little less history but her historical fictions are incredibly well told and the characters are unforgettable.