About the Book

Book: Beyond These War-Torn Lands

Author: Cynthia Roemer

Genre: Historical Romance

Release date: August 3, 2021

The war brought them together – Would it also tear them apart?

While en route to aid Confederate soldiers injured in battle near her home, Southerner Caroline Dunbar stumbles across a wounded Union sergeant. Unable to ignore his plea for help, she tends his injuries and, against her better judgement, hides him away, only to find her attachment to him deepen with each passing day. But when her secret is discovered, Caroline incurs her father’s wrath and, in turn, unlocks a dark secret from the past which she is determined to unravel.

After being forced to flee his place of refuge, Sergeant Andrew Gallagher fears he’s seen the last of Caroline. Resolved not to let that happen, when the war ends, he seeks her out, only to discover she’s been sent away on his account. When word reaches him that President Lincoln has been shot, Drew is assigned the task of tracking down the assassin. A chance encounter with Caroline revives his hopes, until he learns she may be involved in a plot to aid the assassin.

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About the Author

Cynthia Roemer is an inspirational, award-winning author with a heart for scattering seeds of hope into the hearts of readers. Raised in the cornfields of rural Illinois, Cynthia enjoys spinning tales set in the backdrop of the mid-1800’s prairie and Civil War era. Her Prairie Sky Series consists of Amazon bestseller, Under This Same Sky, Under Prairie Skies, and Under Moonlit Skies, a 2020 Selah Award winner.

Cynthia writes from her family farm in central Illinois where she resides with her husband of twenty-seven years. They have two grown sons. When she isn’t writing or researching, Cynthia can be found hiking, biking, gardening, reading, or riding sidesaddle with her husband in the combine or on their motorcycle. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.

More from Cynthia

Let me start by saying, I absolutely love novel research and learning about the past. But, when I set out to write a Civil War novel, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. LOL!

My first three novels (Prairie Sky Series) were set on the Illinois prairie (my home state) in the mid to late 1850’s with only moderate research of the time period necessary. The majority of my characters and plot stemmed from my imagination. With this fourth novel, Beyond These War-Torn Lands, I ventured into the very heart of the Civil War conflict in Maryland and Virginia.

Though my hero and heroine are fictional, many of those they encounter along the way are based on actual people and much of the plot revolves around actual events. I soon found out that’s a whole different ballgame when it comes to research. But, I enjoyed throwing in a few historical “surprises” along the way.

I’m a stickler for accuracy, so I found myself steeped in researching minute historical details—everything from the specifics of certain battles to the layout of war campsites to the weather on certain dates to the correct type of salutes to General Grant’s mannerisms and the name of his horse.

While the extensive research slowed the writing process, I loved every minute of it. Over a year and a half in the writing, Beyond These War-Torn Lands is a tale of honor versus deception, good versus evil, and God’s transforming power versus bitterness.

Theme verse:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.

But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”

(Matthew 5:43-44)

I hope you’ll be blessed by Drew and Caroline’s story and that you enjoy the hidden bits of history tucked within the pages of the novel.

MY REVIEW

I am always fascinated about historical facts and especially the Civil War. The author has done extensive research to make this story accurate in details. Although there are a few fictional characters, the main story plot displays what it was like during this war that found neighbor fighting against neighbor. It was a war that had many casualties that brought sorrow to a nation.

I really liked Caroline and her heart that wanted to help others. When she helps an injured soldier from the opposite side, she risked the wrath of her father. Now I enjoyed reading how Caroline helped this soldier but I knew somehow this act would come back to harm her someday. Following God’s direction she k ew she couldn’t turn her back on a person who needed help.

Drew is someone that I immediately liked. He had a way about him that made you feel at ease. His gratitude to Caroline for nursing him back to health was genuine and he somehow knew that she was special to him. When he has to leave from Caroline’s care, I wondered how the author would reconnect them. I enjoyed traveling with Drew as he fought beside his men and showed strength and compassion for them.

Here is the part of the story where I want to stay with for a bit. Caroline’s father has shunned her and made her leave home. Somewhere buried deep within him holds resentment toward Caroline. This part of the story was exceptionally written and reminded me of my own father. Like Caroline, I was not wanted by my father. He reminded me everyday how much he hated me but I never understood. Of course his words hurt and I knew exactly how Caroline felt. How do you forgive someone who has rejected you? I won’t give anything away about this part of the story because it is significant to understand how powerful forgiving is.

The author does give us a few surprise characters that were part of this historical period. I was intrigued by President Lincoln and the actions that were taken to assassinate him. It is a part of history that will never be forgotten. The account of this part of history was well written and helped me understand how hatred can cause someone to go against God.

I loved how the author included scriptures in the story and showed how making decisions to not take revenge, decide to forgive and showing unconditional love can turn what was meant for evil to good. At the end the author has included some great discussion questions that I enjoyed reading . I look forward to the next book in the story .

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.