Wedded to War [NOOK Book]

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Overview


Tending to the army's sick and wounded meant leading a life her mother does not understand and giving up a handsome and approved suitor. Yet Charlotte chooses a life of service over privilege, just as her childhood friend had done when he became a military doctor. She soon discovers that she's combatting more than just the rebellion by becoming a nurse. Will the two men who love her simply stand by and watch as she fights her own battles? Or ...

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Wedded to War

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More About This Book

Overview


Tending to the army's sick and wounded meant leading a life her mother does not understand and giving up a handsome and approved suitor. Yet Charlotte chooses a life of service over privilege, just as her childhood friend had done when he became a military doctor. She soon discovers that she's combatting more than just the rebellion by becoming a nurse. Will the two men who love her simply stand by and watch as she fights her own battles? Or will their desire for her wage war on her desire to serve God?

Wedded to War is a work of fiction,
but the story is inspired by the true life of Civil War nurse Georgeanna Woolsey.
Woolsey's letters and journals, written over 150 years ago, offer a thorough look of what pioneering nurses endured. This is the first in the series "Heroines Behind the Lines: Civil War," a collection of novels that highlights the crucial contributions made by women during times of war.


JOCELYN GREEN is an award-winning author, freelance writer and editor.
A former military wife, she authored, along with contributing writers, Faith
Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives (Moody 2008) and Faith Deployed
. . . Again: More Daily Encouragement for Military Wives (Moody 2011). Jocelyn is also co-author for Battlefields & Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq & Afghanistan (AMG Publishers 2009), which won the Gold
Medal from Military Writers Society of America in 2010. She maintains her own award-winning
Web site for military wives at faithdeployed.com.
She holds a B.A. in English from Taylor University, and is an active member of the
Evangelical Press Association, the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association and the Christian Authors Network. She and her husband have two children and reside in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

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Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Wow, what an amazing story based on real women in history. When I finished the last page of this book I was changed, much like how I felt after watching Dances with Wolves and Gone with the Wind. Both movies opened my eyes to things I never thought of before or knew existed and it changed how I viewed periods of American history. If only our history book in school was this exciting and memorable. Grin! This is a great book club pick as there is so much to talk about in it. This book is to be experienced and then shared with friends. I highly recommend it.
Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent The Book Club Network

"Fascinating, dramatic, and romantic, Wedded to War by Jocelyn Green sheds light on the harrowing world of Civil War nursing through the eyes of a delightful heroine. Detailed research and a powerful message about mercy make this story a keeper. This is the first in the Heroines Behind the Lines Civil War series, and I'm much anticipating the second book!" - Review by Sarah Sundin, SarahSundin.blogspot.com, 7/12/12

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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780802481382
  • Publisher: Moody Publishers
  • Publication date: 6/20/2012
  • Series: Heroines Behind the Lines Series , #1
  • Sold by: Barnes & Noble
  • Format: eBook
  • Edition description: New Edition
  • Pages: 400
  • Sales rank: 38,190
  • File size: 3 MB

Meet the Author


JOCELYN GREEN is an award-winning author, freelance writer and editor. A former military wife, she authored, along with contributing writers, Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives (Moody 2008) and Faith Deployed . . . Again: More Daily Encouragement for Military Wives (Moody 2011). Jocelyn is also co-author for Battlefields & Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq & Afghanistan (AMG Publishers 2009), which won the Gold Medal from Military Writers Society of America in 2010. She is the editor of WivesinBloom.com, the online magazine of Christian Military Wives, and maintains her own award-winning Web site for military wives at faithdeployed.com . She holds a B.A. in English from Taylor University, and is an active member of the Evangelical Press Association, the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association and the Christian Authors Network. She and her husband have two children and reside in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
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Read an Excerpt

Wedded to War

By JOCELYN GREEN

Moody Publishers

Copyright © 2012 Jocelyn Green
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-8024-0576-0

Chapter One

Monday, April 22, 1861 New York City

When Charlotte and Alice told their mother they were taking the omnibus down Broadway, they weren't lying. They just didn't tell her where they would be getting off. There was simply no time for an argument today.

Boarding at Fourteenth Street, the sisters paid the extra fare for their hoop skirts, as if they were separate passengers, and sat back on the long wooden bench for the ride.

"This is against my better judgment, you know." Alice's voice was barely audible above the clatter of wheels and hoof beats over the cobblestones.

"Don't you mean Jacob's ?" Charlotte cast a sidelong glance at her sister.

Alice twirled a ringlet of her honey-blonde hair around her finger —a nervous childhood habit she never outgrew—but said nothing.

She didn't have to. Ever since she had married the wealthy businessman a few months ago, she had been even more pampered—and sheltered—than she had been growing up. Heaven help her when they reached their destination.

"I'll have you home by teatime and none the worse for wear." Charlotte's voice was softened by just a hint of guilt. "I promise."

The omnibus wheels jolted over a broken cobblestone, bouncing the passengers on their benches. Releasing her grip from the edge of the bench, Alice raised an eyebrow at her sister. "Just tell me why I let you talk me into coming."

Charlotte grinned. "I've got an idea."

"Why do I have the feeling it isn't a good one?" Alice planted her palms on the bench beside her again, bracing herself against the jarring ride.

"Whatever you do you mean?"

"Do you remember your idea to adopt that lame squirrel we found?"

"I did let it go." And there were more important things on Charlotte's mind. She squinted at the front page of The New York Times held up by the man seated across from her. Washington Still Isolated—New York Seventh Regiment Arrives in Annapolis by Steam—

"Only after it chewed through five of Mother's best doilies and made a nest in the velvet armchair."

Charlotte turned from reading headlines to face her sister. "I was ten!"

"And I was eight, and still old enough to know better. There were other times, too, like when you chose that outrageous reading on the value of a woman's education to recite for our class at finishing school. Completely at odds with the context of the school."

Charlotte chuckled. "Exactly why it was so perfect! But today's idea is even better. I've found a way to actually do something for the war effort."

"And what do you call knitting socks for the troops? Rolling bandages? Doesn't that mean anything?"

"Of course it does. But I mean something else. Something more."

Alice's eyes narrowed, but she let it rest as the omnibus slowed to a halt and more passengers squeezed beside the sisters. Any further conversation would soon be drowned out by the cacophony of Broadway.

The avenue throbbed with life, like all artery coursing down the island of Manhattan. Ten days into the war, recruiting offices for the Union army had already cropped up along the avenue, their entrances clogged with eager young men. Between Canal Street and Houston, the street teemed with gentlemen in spats and ladies in silks, their musk colognes and lavender perfumes cloying on the warm breeze. The white marble facade of St. Nicholas Hotel between Broome and Spring Streets dominated the west side of Broadway. In front of The Marble Palace facing Canal Street, porters in their brass-buttoned, blue uniforms opened carriage doors and escorted their elite customers inside, where they would no doubt spend staggering sums on the latest Parisian fashions.

But Charlotte and Alice did not get off at any of these places. At least not today. For just a few blocks south of The Marble House, and just a few blocks east of the German-Jewish secondhand clothing shops on lower Broadway, the steady pulse of polished society gave way to the erratic beat of Five Points, the world's most notorious slum.

Alice squeezed her sister's hand so tightly Charlotte couldn't tell if it was motivated by anxiety or anger for bringing her here.

If Broadway was Manhattan's artery, Five Points was its abscess: swollen with people, infected with pestilence, inflamed with vice and crime. Groggeries, brothels, and dance halls put private sin on public display. Although the neighborhood seemed fairly self-contained, more fortunate New Yorkers were terrified of Five Points erupting, spreading its contagion to the rest of them.

This was where the Waverly sisters got off.

Competing emotions of fear and excitement tugged at Charlotte's heart as she hoisted the skirt of her amber-colored day dress above her ankles and began heading toward Worth Street. "Come on, Alice," she whispered, cocking her head at her dumbstruck sister. A foul-smelling breeze teased strands of hair from their coifs, crept into their noses, and coated their throats. Charlotte had forgotten how the smell of poverty would stick to her skin. Swallowing her distaste, she vowed to scrub herself with sugar and lemon-infused olive oil as soon as she returned home.

Pressing a violet-scented handkerchief to her nose, Alice held her parasol low over her head, blocking out as much of the view as possible as she began walking. "Where are we going?" Her words were muffled, but her discomfort was not.

A disheveled drunk leered at the sisters from a rotting doorway, raising the hair on Charlotte's neck. "The House of Industry. It's just up ahead."

With her parasol in one hand and a fistful of skirts in the other, Charlotte set a brisk pace. As they turned onto Worth Street's littered sidewalk, Alice skirted a child leaning against a lamppost, hawking apples from a broken crate. Charlotte stopped short.

"Maggie?" She reached out and touched the girl's soot-smudged cheek while Alice gawked from five feet away. "It's me, Miss Waverly! I used to teach your mother sewing. How is she?"

Maggie peered up with eyes too big for her face, too old for her nine years. "About the same as usual—only there's not enough sewing to go around, she says—so Jack sweeps the streets and here I am. Say, wouldn't you and the miss over there like a nice red apple?"

"Of course!" Charlotte reached into her dress pocket and traded several coins for two small, bruised apples smelling of fermentation.

"Charlotte!" Alice gasped while Maggie's dirty face brightened. It was far too much money to spend on apples—especially rotting ones.

"Go on now, Maggie. Give your mother my best."

With "Bless you Miss!" ringing in her ears, Charlotte joined Mice with both apples in one hand, skirt now dragging on the sidewalk.

"Can we hustle, please?" Mice's voice was still muted behind her handkerchief. Charlotte was eager to comply. Virtually every tipsy wooden building on this block—including Crown's Grocery—housed a brothel, and none of them bothered hiding the fact. Bareheaded and bare-chested women stood in doorways quoting their rates to passersby, even in broad daylight—which was a dirty yellow, like a fevered complexion. By the time they stepped into the slanted shadow of the six-story House of Industry, Charlotte noticed she had been holding her breath. The vapors in this area could truly make one sick.

"Ah, there you are!" Mr. Lewis Pease, founder of the charity, had been waiting for them in the shade of the brick building, and now waved the sisters inside, away from the seedy, star-shaped intersection for which Five Points was named, half a block away. "And who is this lovely young woman ?"

"Forgive me, this is my younger sister Alice—Mrs. Jacob Carlisle." Charlotte and Mice entered the building ahead of Mr. Pease, who closed the door behind them. "She's in town visiting for a spell while her husband is away on business." She set the apples down on the hall stand and wiped her gloves on her skirt.

Pease bowed slightly. "A pleasure to meet you, madam. Mr. Dorsheimer is already here," he added in a whisper just as the visitor's barrel chest entered the room ahead of him. "Ah, Mr. Treasurer. Allow me to make the introductions. Miss Waverly, Mrs. Carlisle, this is Mr. Phillip Dorsheimer, Treasurer of the State of New York and the New York State Military Board. He's here all the way from Buffalo, and we're so fortunate he's making time to meet with us." Mr. Dorsheimer ignored Charlotte's outstretched hand, fading both her smile and her confidence.

Mr. Pease continued. "Mr. Treasurer, Miss Waverly here was the one who suggested we make a bid for the contract. She used to be a sewing instructor here."

Without even the slightest acknowledgment, Mr. Dorsheimer frowned at his pocket watch. "Can we get on with it?" His jowls quivered as he spoke. Charlotte took a deep breath and squeezed her parasol handle. So far, this was not going as she had hoped it would.

A thin smile tipped Mr. Pease's lips. "Yes, quite. I'd like to give you a tour of the facility before discussing the terms of the uniform contract. Unless you've been here before?"

Mr. Dorsheimer cleared his throat. "Oh, I've been to the Points before, but not here in this building." Of course. Well-to-do New Yorkers often came down to see Five Points for themselves to satisfy a macabre curiosity. "Well, allow us to show you around," said Mr. Pease, leading the way. "This is a fairly new headquarters for us, and we're rather proud of it. This corridor leads to the workshops where neighborhood teens and adults learn several trades. At first we taught only basic sewing, but now we also teach baking, shoemaking, corset making, basket weaving, and millinery. Go ahead, look around."

Mr. Dorsheimer tossed cursory glances into a few of the workshops.

"We have more than five hundred workers currently. Five hundred!" Mr. Pease beamed. "I pay the workers according to what they produce. Sewers can earn up to $2.50 a week—now I know that doesn't sound like much to you and me, Mr. Treasurer, but it's a lot more than needlewomen normally earn. We've also opened a day school for the children so they are educated, fed, and even clothed while the parents work at their trades here."

They walked a little farther and turned into a large open room. "This is the chapel where we hold religious services," Mr. Pease continued. "Of course there is also the Five Points Mission just across the street, whose primary objective is to feed the souls and point them to new life in Christ. The House of Industry began as a branch of the Mission, because I found they had a hard time hearing the Bible when their stomachs were growling. And what better way to feed the multitudes than to teach them a trade so they can feed themselves ?"

If Mr. Dorsheimer felt anything, he hid it well in those doughy folds of skin. The palms of Charlotte's gloves began to dampen with sweat.

"One last thing I'd like to show you." Climbing a set of stairs brought them to a well-ventilated floor with spacious dormitories, each with iron beds that termites couldn't penetrate. "We started out housing our worker women, so they wouldn't need to go back to the brothels at night. But now we also shelter dozens of abused, neglected, and homeless children who are waiting for adoptive parents."

Mr. Dorsheimer, winded from the exertion of the climb, did not look impressed.

"These rooms are humble enough, indeed" Charlotte added, "but when you consider many of these people are used to sleeping on the bare floor of a room with no windows and laid out like sardines in a can, you can understand the charm of a bed and some—air, can't you?" Calling it "fresh air" would have been a lie. With human waste collecting in trenches behind most Five Points tenements, no air had been fresh here for decades. At least windows allowed circulation.

Dorsheimer glanced at his pocket watch again, a scowl sagging on his face. "This is all very well and good" he huffed, "but can we get to the bottom line ? How much would it cost to give you the contract? I need twelve thousand uniforms, and I need them as quickly as possible."

Mr. Pease turned to Charlotte. "Yes, of course," she said. "We propose a payment from the state's Military Board of thirteen cents per shirt, so that would be a total of $1,560.00. Total." She bit her lip.

"Fifteen hundred dollars?"

Charlotte stole a glance at Mr. Pease. Was that a lot? Or not very much?

"Fifteen hundred sixty dollars, sir. To be precise. Plus, you'd supply the flannel and buttons" she said.

"I need more than just shirts, miss." Dorsheimer's tone was sharp, biting. "I need trousers, jackets, and overcoats, too, and I need it all in three weeks. Twelve thousand sets. And you provide the material. Not me. Do I look like I'm in the garment business?"

Alice's eyes widened into large pools of cornflower blue. Charlotte's narrowed into slits.

"Twelve thousand complete uniforms in three weeks. I wish I could say we could do that, Mr. Dorsheimer, but you're asking for a huge sum on an extremely short deadline. Not only can we not perform miracles, but I doubt any single company in New York could do a satisfactory job under your specifications."

"I'm sure if we joined together with a few other sewing organizations, we could do it," said Charlotte, swiveling between Mr. Pease and Mr. Dorsheimer. "But we need a little more time to make the arrangements. This contract would mean a great deal to the House of Industry and to the workers in a financial sense, but it would also be a perfect way they could serve their country and their fighting men at war. You could be guaranteed of fine quality products made by conscientious workers."

"Not possible. The boys are going to war, and they need to be clothed."

"Mr. Dorsheimer, please. Consider the greater value of giving a charity the contract. The House of Industry has made a profound impact on Five Points, rescuing people from poverty—and the immorality that sometimes goes with it—and helping them walk a better road."

Mr. Dorsheimer raised a hand to stop her, but she didn't slow down.

"I'm sure you know President Lincoln came to Five Points just last year, just before his Cooper Union speech that launched him toward the presidency. And what did he choose to see in Five Points ? Not the brothels or groggeries, but the House of Industry."

"Miss—" He tried again, but she couldn't stop.

"Maggie's mother, and dozens like her, needed this contract. Sir, the good work we do here inside these walls is becoming even more famous than the degradation outside of them. Invest in the House of Industry with this uniform contract, Mr. Dorsheimer, and you'll be getting the products you want and doing society a favor at the same time."

At the end of her speech now, Charlotte caught her breath; Alice stared at her in disbelief. No one said a word until Mr. Dorsheimer jabbed a stubby finger at Charlotte.

"My responsibility, young woman, is to the State of New York, not to your pet project here in the slums."

Charlotte's face burned as she, Alice, and Mr. Pease watched Mr. Dorsheimer trudge out of the building, taking her hope with her.

"It was worth a try, Miss Waverly," Mr. Pease said.

Alice leveled her gaze at Charlotte. "Another good idea, right Charlotte ?"

Frustration swelled in Charlotte's chest. "Why? Why would you say such a thing? It was a brilliant idea! It made so much sense!"

"Charlotte, when will you ever realize that not everyone sees the world as you do? You act so surprised when others disagree with you, when you are the one stepping out of the range of normal."

Charlotte crossed her arms tightly across her waist. "You used to look up to me." Her throat grew tight with the unshed tears of bitter disappointment. "You used to believe in me."

Alice laid a tentative hand on Charlotte's arm. "I believe your intentions are good. But once again, you spoke too boldly. Perhaps if you had not been so vehement with your outburst, Mr. Dorsheimer would at least have considered giving you the contract." Alice sighed, resignation in her eyes. "You must—you must—know your place, dear sister, or one of these days, you will stand to lose much more than a sewing contract."

Charlotte opened her mouth to deny it, but could make no reply.

(Continues...)


Excerpted from Wedded to War by JOCELYN GREEN Copyright © 2012 by Jocelyn Green. Excerpted by permission of Moody Publishers. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
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Table of Contents

Contents

A Note on the Sanitary Commission....................9
Act One: The Call....................11
Act Two: Changing Times....................83
Act Three: Working Heartily....................137
Act Four: Eyes and Hands....................219
Act Five: Home at Last....................319
The History behind the Story....................385
Selected Bibliography....................388
Discussion Guide....................391
Acknowledgments....................395
About the Author....................397
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 72 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(55)

4 Star

(11)

3 Star

(1)

2 Star

(1)

1 Star

(4)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 72 Customer Reviews

  • Posted June 27, 2012

    Captivating historical fiction!

    I have just finished reading my copy of Wedded to War by Jocelyn Green, and I must say that I actually had to force myself to lay it aside in order to get some other necessary things accomplished in my day! I love the accurate historical details about the realities of life back in the days of the Civil War. The descriptions of the scenes are so true that the reader can seemingly see and, yes, even smell what the characters are experiencing, and the characters in the story are brought to life so well that we actually love and root for them, or detest them and pray that they will quickly get their just reward! I happen to have one of our country's first female doctors as an ancestor, so I am enjoying learning about things that she may very well have experienced during her own lifetime. Jocelyn Green has crafted a wonderful historical romance novel while gently and skillfully weaving the powerful tenants of our Christian heritage into the storyline.

    10 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted June 27, 2012

    Brilliant, meticulously researched historical fiction.

    This is one of the most exquisite works of historical fiction I've ever read. Based on the letters of an educated, wealthy young woman from New York City, Georgianna Woolsey, Jocelyn Green has created a cast of extraordinary characters, several others of which are also based on real people.

    At the heart of the novel is the foundation of the United States Sanitary Commission and the advent of women becoming nurses at the beginning of the Civil War. The first American woman to graduate from Yale Medical School and become a physician, Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, was the primary force behind the radical notion that women could make effective nurses. As Dr. Blackwell expected, the male medical establishment was not supportive of her ideas, to say the least.

    Ms. Green does a phenomenal job of character development. Originally researching the subject for a historical non-fiction project, she decided to incorporate her research into a work of fiction. I am certainly glad that she did! The characters and the story were immersive and I learned quite a lot. I had no idea that a person whose life & works have always fascinated me, Frederick Law Olmsted, was the first Executive Secretary of the United States Sanitary Commission. His character was fleshed out extremely well. I could really feel his frustration as he fought to get the supplies, medicines and staffing he needed from the government.

    I loved the portrayal of strong, intelligent women who were fighting to do what they could to help the soldiers while meeting fierce resistance along the way. There was also a completely despicable villain - don't worry, no spoilers here! - and several moderately despicable villains.

    I will admit to some trepidation after reading "Praise for Wedded to War" at the beginning of the book. The genre of Christian Fiction is generally not my cup of tea. I'm so glad I didn't let that put me off. I felt that the religious discussions between the characters were completely appropriate.

    It was a wonderful read, and I'm sure I'll be thinking of the characters in the book for a long time to come.

    5 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted July 28, 2012

    This is for the SAMPLER only (and says nothing about the actual

    This is for the SAMPLER only (and says nothing about the actual book)!! I do not care for samplers and usually will NOT get them....but if get the first book for free and love it, I usually buy books 2, 3 and so on.

    4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted July 7, 2012

    I've always loved fiction and it's ability to draw me into the s

    I've always loved fiction and it's ability to draw me into the story and forget all else about me. But what really gets my attention is when fiction can not only entertain,but also teach. Wedded to War by Jocelyn Green definitely caught my attention.

    As a purely fictional story, the characters and action never failed to invite me into the events. I laughed, cried, cheered and suppressed the urge to thrash a man or two. I love Charlotte's outspokenness. Most of my favorite lines from the book were her speaking. The gentleness of Alice, the sweetness of Ruby, and the gradual growth of all the characters who refused to let the men who braved the battle of the American Civil War fight disease alone combined to endear them all to me.

    But more than just a story, I learned so much! I've read Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell's story before, but seeing the women rise to the occasion of becoming the first female nurses in spite of the odds of war and the opinions of the men who thought them too soft was heartening. After reading a fictionalized version, I cannot imagine being in their shoes and handling it all as gracefully as they did. They are heros to be cheered and placed before our girls as examples of dedication, perseverance and steadfastness.

    Bible verses were sprinkled throughout, all well-placed and appropriate to the storyline without seeming forced. It was obvious which relied on God to get them through the difficulties of the War and how critical a key phrase from Scripture would help them refocus on the task at hand. I particularly liked the struggle of the Chaplain as he wrestled with God's goodness as he lived amongst the realities of battle.

    This may be Mrs. Green's debut fiction novel but it is an incredible book. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves historical romance or Civil War history.

    4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted June 28, 2012

    “We will be feeling these days for the rest of our lives



    “We will be feeling these days for the rest of our lives, perhaps-but now is our one moment to do. To act.” Wedded to War, by Jocelyn Green

    As a young woman of refined society in 1861 New York, Charlotte Waverly already was pushing the bounds of societal expectations and her mother’s anxiousness by volunteering in the notorious Five Points section of New York. But as the country descends into Civil War, a call for women to serve as nurses to the military reveals to Charlotte a drive in her heart even she seems to have never truly suspected. Despite her young age, which does not meet the commission’s qualifications, Charlotte manages to secure a place in the training program for Union Army nurses.

    What follows is an adventure involving not only Charlotte, but a cast of engaging characters that one cannot help but become deeply involved with as the story grows and develops with each chapter. With incredible accuracy and historical research, Jocelyn has created a picture of the Civil War era which leaps off the page. Very quickly, you will find yourself choosing sides, cheering for some characters while despising others. The mesmerizing story absolutely pulls you in.

    Not only is this an incredibly enjoyable read, it is also a story of encouragement and hope revolving around the themes of grace, redemption and what one can do when you listen to the voice of your heart and your God, instead of the surrounding culture. For a story that will enthrall and encourage, read Jocelyn Green’s Wedded to War.

    4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 9, 2012

    This book is amazing

    The characters in this book just come to life. The way the story flew of the pages was incredable. I love how true she stayed to the actual people. I cant wait to read the next book in the series. Anyone who is a fan of civil war, or a sticler for historical accuracy must read this book, the details given wer splendid.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 21, 2013

    Historical drama inspired on the battlefield at Gettysburg Thoug

    Historical drama inspired on the battlefield at Gettysburg
    Though raised in privilege and properly schooled in how to assume her place in New York society, Charlotte "Charlie" Waverly was nevertheless innately endowed with the character, determination, and piety of earlier generations of America's pioneer stock. Through richly descriptive narration,  author Jocelyn Green passionately weaves the conflicting tensions of her characters through the many stations and venues of discrimination and heartache during the early stages of the Civil War. Blessed--or perhaps cursed with a driven spirit and sharp tongue, Charlotte threw off the social trappings and broadened the accepted Call to Arms for Victorian-era females with her desire to do God's will with an equal measure of God's grace. This book entices the reader with an accurate historical  perspective of a woman in that time--generations ahead of her time. 

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 24, 2012

    Could not get into the story

    I tried many times to read this book. For months I kept it on my Nook and would go back to it but the story did not capture me.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted August 1, 2012

    more from this reviewer

    Excellent fiction debut!

    Fascinating, dramatic, and romantic. Wedded to War by Jocelyn Green sheds light on the harrowing world of Civil War nursing through the eyes of a delightful heroine. Detailed research and a powerful message about mercy make this story a keeper.

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted July 30, 2012

    Beautifully researched and written historical fiction about nurses in the Civil War

    I have been telling all my friends to read this. It was taken from correspondence of a real woman from the North. You will learn much and enjoy every bit. It describes the war and the society of the time.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 30, 2012

    Highly recommend it

    I know it is fiction, but it is a very good historical fiction book. At the end of sections Jocelyn Green has put parts of a diary of a real Civil War Nurse. It was hard to put the book down.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted July 29, 2012

    highly recommend

    The book revealed the struggles that women had in getting into nursing during the Civil War. It was well written and helped me to appreciate the hard times that these brave women went through to break into the field of nursing the wounded and dying during that time and for furture generations. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted July 13, 2012

    Historically Fascinating and Emotionally Raw

    I fell in love with this novel! I found myself completely enveloped in the historical references to life during the Civil War. The main character's pioneering venture into the field of nursing held so many unexpected challenges and frustrations. It was inspiring to discover the great lengths women went to during this era to serve both God and their country. Green also takes the reader through several significant prevailing questions in life including: What is God’s calling for me and how does He want me to serve Him? How will I respond when trial and tribulation fall on me? What role will love and marriage have in my life? It is no small feat to weave together a gripping historical account of life during the Civil War and still manage to effortlessly covey a beautiful love story. I found myself emotionally attached to the characters and sad to leave them when the story ended. You will not only enjoy this novel, but you will be waiting on the edge of your seat for the next!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted July 10, 2012

    I enjoy Christian Fiction - contemporary, historical, super-natu

    I enjoy Christian Fiction - contemporary, historical, super-natural, suspense... Really most there is to offer in the Christian Fiction arena - I enjoy it because it is safe to read and reading is my favorite "me-time" activity.

    There are parts of Christian Fiction I'm not such a fan of though - witnessing through the characters, giving a salvation message, "preaching" as an addition to the storyline when it's really unnecessary. Wedded to War left that part of the genre out - Thank you Jocelyn Green! The characters' faith was portrayed in interesting, uplifting and relevant ways.

    This is not the typical "war + love + history" book either. There is so much more history than many other books of this style - being a history lover, it was very interesting to see real stories, documents, etc. throughout the pages - it really brought "history to life" Thank you, Jocelyn Green, for your intense research, for enlightening me on some of the "darker" sides of what could seem an idyllic time, and your intriguing story. I will try to wait patiently for the next book in the series.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted July 9, 2012

    Loved it!

    I thoroughly enjoyed Wedded to War. As soon as I put my one year old down for nap or bedtime, I would start reading. Within minutes I would be transported back to the Civil War. I could identify with many of the characters: some I loved, some I loathed. I loved that the the story was inspired by the life of Civil War nurse Georgeanna Woolsey. I am a nurse so it was interesting to learn how difficult it was in the beginning for female nurses. I am looking forward to reading the rest of Heroines Behind the Lines series

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 4, 2012

    Great book

    I loved this book! I have never read any book from the union side of the civil war before or from the nurses side like this

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 30, 2012

    Execellent Read

    This was an excellent read! Once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 27, 2012

    Love it

    It very sad you need to get it

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 8, 2013

    more from this reviewer

    Wedded to War by Jocelyn Green is the first book in a series tit

    Wedded to War by Jocelyn Green is the first book in a series titled: Heroines Behind the Lines: Civil War. This book was “inspired by one Sanitary Commission nurse, Georgeanna Woolsey, whose letters and journals, written 150 years ago, offer a thorough look of what pioneering women nurses endured during these turbulent times.” Reading books based on good research helps to put readers right into the life and times of the characters. Jocelyn Green is a gifted writer who created characters that show the difficulties of living during Civil War times. One can only imagine the struggles these women faced…not just with the casualties of war, but with the attitudes of the men serving in the army hospitals, believing that women should not be allowed in these situations.

    Charlotte Waverly is a woman of privilege who makes the decision to serve the Union Army by caring for the sick and wounded. Throughout the entire trauma of war, two men want Charlotte to be a part of their life. One is Phineas Hastings, a man of privilege, with secrets and behaviors that the reader knows about, but Charlotte does not. The other is Caleb Lansing, Charlotte’s childhood friend, who became a military doctor. The tension between characters and events keeps readers turning pages and “pulling for” Charlotte…wanting her to be happy after all that she has given up to serve others via her support of the war efforts.

    Readers who appreciate well-researched historical fiction, Civil War stories, women’s rights, early medical history, and romance will all enjoy Wedded to War by Jocelyn Green. I, for one, certainly enjoy learning about aspects of our country’s history through the eyes of such compelling characters. Thank you, Jocelyn Green, for your great efforts to share this story with your readers.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 2, 2013

    This was a wonderful book to read, I had a hard time putting it

    This was a wonderful book to read, I had a hard time putting it down. I love the author's use of descriptive words and am amazed at all of the research that must have been done. The story kept me engaged, waiting to find out how everything would come out in the end. Great book!

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