Review: A Civil War Story With a Serving of Sweet Romance
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 21, 2014
Once again I am thrilled beyond words to have had the pleasure of reading the latest book by Dutch author Marian Baay. This tale takes us back in time to 1864 where we meet up with the 10th Minnesota Infantry camped outside Nashville, Tennessee awaiting word of their next battle.Andrew Burns, Captain in the 10th Minnesota Infantry is a man that takes no nonsense from the men that serve under him. Most of his men respect him for helping fight this cause even though he was born in Canada but there are a few that give him trouble. One that troubles him in particular is Private Calvin Mitchell; there seems to be something different about that boy.Private Calvin Mitchell is not at all what "he" seems to be and "he" hopes that no one has to know the secret "he" is keeping under wraps! What's a girl supposed to do when all of her family has deserted her because of this horrible war?  When her youngest brother left her to join the fight, she decided to put on the facade of a young boy and charge into the face of the enemy too!  She hopes she can keep up this front; she is getting a lot of taunting from the other soldiers for her shyness, good thing they don't know the truth! Everything is going well until she is slightly wounded in battle.When Captain Burns confronts Calvin about refusing to remove his shirt for treatment, he just thought the youth was awkward and shy, never once did he imagine there was a beautiful girl under those baggy clothes! Calvin tells the Captain she is an officer's daughter, but she refuses to disclose her name or who her father is and she begs him to keep her secret. Reluctantly Captain Burns agrees, until the day Private Mitchell is sent on a simple errand with another soldier and doesn't come back. Could it be true that Private Mitchell is dead? Andrew has to find her...she can't be dead; not the beautiful nameless woman that has haunted his dreams since that fateful night when he discovered her secret!This is a story that easily wove its way into my heart; I found I couldn't put it down until I had devoured the last enthralling word. If you are looking for a truly engaging story then look no further, this is the one! Thanks Ms. Baay, for another story that has found a place in my heart!