This week I’m reviewing a book I wrote an endorsement for: Eternity Between Us by Stephenia H. McGee. Here’s the back cover copy and then my thoughts:
Two hearts. Two sides..and a gulf between them as deep and wide as eternity.
After being forced to use a pistol against invaders, Evelyn Mapleton is no longer the timid girl her extended family expects. The more her aunt and cousin resent her new independence, the more Evelyn is determined she’ll make her missing father proud by taking up his cause and aiding Confederate soldiers—even if she has to outmaneuver the Yankees guarding her home to do it.
Samuel Flynn’s life is consumed with two priorities: learning to become a proper guardian for the young orphans he’s adopted and obtaining his physician’s license. When his final testing sends him to a Federal Army field hospital, the last thing he expects is to be entranced by a mysterious woman. But when Evelyn’s misguided exploits put her life in danger, will he risk everything he’s worked for to save a woman he thinks is his enemy?
My thoughts:
This book grabbed me from the first page. I could literally feel the rumble of wagons and hear the drumbeat as the Union army advanced on Martinsburg, Virginia. And then the heroine, Evelyn Mapleton, shoots a drunken Union soldier when she fears he will attack her cousin. Evelyn is no shrinking violet and her impulsiveness gets her into trouble sometimes.
From there, the scene switches to Samuel Flynn as he tends to wounded soldiers and two orphans who are about to be separated. My heart hurts for those two children who had already been through so much. I cheered when this bachelor doctor took them in, which causes more problems for Samuel. When the Union doctor and Southern sympathizer meet, sparks fly.
I loved watching their journey as they puzzled out the complexities of the war and their parts in it. It is a thoughtful love story that examines both sides of the War.
You can pre-order Eternity Between Us on Amazon and B&N.
Question for the drawing for a book from my library: Evelyn Mapleton’s impulsiveness got her into trouble on more than one occasion. Has impulsiveness ever gotten you into trouble?
[tweet_box design=”default” float=”none”]A Union doctor and a Southern sympathizer…can love overcome their barriers? #bookdrawing[/tweet_box]
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Comments 32
You do write good book reviews & this sounds fascinating. Impulsiveness has gotten me into trouble more times than I can count–I’m working on that a little.
Author
Delores, loved this book. Having a hero a Union physician and the heroine a dyed-in-the-wool southern sympathizer gave really good conflict between the two.
I only tend to be an impulsive spender, which does occasionally get me into some trouble, lol!
Author
Ah, Linda, I’m afraid I might have to join you. My latest impulsive buy was a car…Thanks for stopping by!
No impulsivity causing trouble. Just procrastination 😉
Yes! I impulsively acccepted my boyfriend’s proposal. I had no idea what marriage to a military man would be like, but I ended up moving 25 times, spending a lot of time alone, and having to look for a teaching job in 11 different states. I don’t regret it, though, because now we are both retired. And we have been married 45 years.
Author
What a sweet story, Vickie! Forty-five years is AWESOME!
Yes, buying, mostly books. Stephanie McGee’s new book sounds very interesting. My husband and I love to research that period of history
Author
See above, Phyllis! I love buying books…now if I could just read them all! Thanks for stopping by!
Yes, I am afraid sometimes I speak before I think or as others-buy without thinking it through sometimes, especially books, yarn, nail polish, purses and more books. I am trying to do better.
Author
That “Buy with one Click” has certainly gotten me in trouble, Gloria. lol Thanks for stopping by!
Yup!!!
Author
😉
Yes, being impulsive has gotten me in trouble a time or two.
Author
I think it probably has all of us, Perrianne! Thanks for dropping by and commenting.
Sounds like a great book! I guess my impulsiveness is when I buy a book that I could have checked out from Library!
Author
But, Jackie, think of all those authors you’ve helped! 😉 Thanks for stopping by.
No, I’m not an impulsive person. I usually am the exact opposite.
Author
Oh, wow, Faith. I wish I were more like you! Most of the time I’m the one asking for forgiveness instead of permission. Thanks for stopping by!
I learned something by reading your review. Since I first heard of Martinsburg, it has been in West Virginia. I did not know it was still part of Virginia at the time of the Civil War. I can’t count the times when talking with people that they have confused my hometown of Martinsville, VA, with Martinsburg, WV. Martinsville is midway of the southern border of Virginia, while Martinsburg is just north of the northernmost tip of Virginia. Regarding your question, I have seen many times that I could have gotten into trouble for doing or saying something impulsively. Fortunately, I usually think thinks through before doing or saying anything. I have probably gotten into trouble more for taking too long to respond.
Author
I’m glad that got cleared up, Edward. 🙂 I’m afraid I’ve never been accused of taking too long to respond. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
I don’t tend to be an impulsive person, probably more like too cautious! I have said things without thinking sometimes, however. Not often, thank goodness.
Didn’t this book just come out? I just saw the cover reveal a couple of days ago. I haven’t read any of Stephenia’s books. I think I need to remedy that 🙂 Thanks for your reviews Patricia, I’ve added many of them to my want-to-read list!
That Anonymous is me, it didn’t save my information again!
Author
Actually Trixi, Eternity Between Us hasn’t released yet–that’ll be October 9. You can pre-order it now. 🙂 I’m much better about thinking before I blurt something out now. 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
I’m usually not impulsive but a few times I have been and regretted it.
Author
Lucy, I can’t remember a time that I was impulsive and it turned out well. lol Thanks for dropping by and commenting!
I impulsively buy books as many of the above people have said. I also speak without thinking it through, too. That includes some comments I have left on some author’s sites. I am trying to work on that. I read a devotional book by Karen Ehman tied to her book “Keep It Shut”. Since then I have tried to be more thoughtful when speaking or writing. Being human, I often fail. At least, I recognize it more now and repent.
Author
Sue, I definitely need to get that devotion! I read a prayer once: Lord, keep your arm around my shoulder and Your hand over my mouth… 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
Impulsiveness has been a problem for me more than once, I am afraid. I have learned as I have gotten older and must say I don’t stumble in that area nearly as often as I used to.
Author
Same with me, Diane. Age seems to have tempered me a little. 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
Wonderful review, Pat! I’m not an impulsive person. It would go against my nature to do so.
Author
Hi Caryl! I wish I were more like you! My impulsiveness has gotten me into trouble more than once! Thanks for dropping by.