This book was so much better than the first novel! When I wrote my review for "Wedded to War", I said that the storyline was disrupted with too much factual detail but, at the same time, there wasn't enough passages about Charlotte's nursing endeavours. The opposite could be said about "Widow of Gettysburg".

Although, just as well researched, the plot flowed from page one and I was invested in Lottie's circumstances from the start. When her farm was turned into a makeshift Confederate field hospital after the Battle of Gettysburg, Lottie was definitely thrown in the deep-end as the reader followed her journey as she struggled to help the hundreds of wounded enemy soldiers that were in her house. The conditions that she, the doctors and the soldiers faced were horrifying. Through Lottie's eyes the reader witnesses the devastation of dwindling medical supplies and food, the fatigue, the heat and the cold, the mud, the putrid smells and the rising death toll in the aftermath of war.

Full of interesting characters, a strong plot and seeped in historical detail, "Widow of Gettysburg" was a compelling read. ( )

The research in this novel is exquisite, the plot full of exciting twists, and the characters drawn out with life-like emotions.
This is the first book I read by Jocelyn Green, and now I want to read her first in the series. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a thread of romance. Especially those interested in the plight of slaves and women during the Civil War. ( )

A good book, woven with the horrors of the Civil War and the beauty of forgiveness and redemption in God's hands. ( )

The Widow of Gettysburg is historical fiction at its best. Jocelyn Green manages to bring the reader right into the action in this novel set just prior to the battle of Gettysburg through the horrific battle and into the days following the battle that changed the course of the war and the civilians and the military that lived through it. The first person accounts by women of the town of Gettysburg (many of the letters and diary entries introduce chapters) give the novel authenticity. Although it is the second book in a series set during the American Civil War, it is easily read as a standalone novel.

Liberty Holloway is a young woman who never felt she was worth anything. Those feelings were instilled in her from a young age by the aunt who raised her. Now widowed and without family of any kind and faced with an imminent battle and difficult choice, Liberty must decide just who she is — a woman with her own convictions and passions or the iconic figure dubbed by the townspeople as the Widow of Gettysburg.

The Widow of Gettysburg‘s core strength is its characterization. Green manages to make all of the characters — Liberty, former slave Bella, Confederate conscript Silas and reporter Harrison Caldwell — real in their motivations, fears, and hopes and dreams. I became very invested in each of their stores. The real women of Gettysburg are also integral to this story. As stated on page 113, “The women the men had been fighting to protect were the ones picking up the pieces in the aftermath of battle.” Green also brings to life the horrors of battle, especially the aftermath of critically injured soldiers. Much of the novel is set in Liberty’s home which quickly becomes a field hospital for the Rebels. The amputation scenes are very real, but never feel overly graphic. The overarching themes of freedom and truth of who one is in God are naturally presented. The spiritual truths speak without being preachy in any way.

If you enjoy historical fiction and want a novel that is well-writen and authentic in its portrayal of events, then pick up The Widow of Gettysburg. Great companion reading for Killer Angels.

Highly Recommended.

(Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )

From Amazon: "When a horrific battle rips through Gettysburg, the farm of Union widow Liberty Holloway is disfigured into a Confederate field hospital, bringing her face to face with unspeakable suffering--and a Rebel scout who awakens her long dormant heart. While Liberty's future crumbles as her home is destroyed, the past comes rushing back to Bella, a former slave and Liberty's hired help, when she finds herself surrounded by Southern soldiers, one of whom knows the secret that would place Liberty in danger if revealed. In the wake of shattered homes and bodies, Liberty and Bella struggle to pick up the pieces the battle has left behind. Will Liberty be defined by the tragedy in her life, or will she find a way to triumph over it? Widow of Gettysburg is inspired by first-person accounts from women who lived in Gettysburg during the battle and its aftermath."

This is one of the few books I've read on the Civil War---and the only one like it I've come across. I was really moved by the strength and willingness to serve that the women in this story showed. Though the "mystery" of the story was pretty much a given from the beginning, and I wasn't super impressed with the quality of writing; (lots of overly-dramatic dialogue and "perfectly-executed" lines) after finishing it, I do believe that these things were overshadowed by the author's notes at the end that explain just how much of this story was based on historical record. The story was obviously very well-researched and I'll take facts over above-average writing skills any day. ( )