BOOK BLURB:
Two men, one war. Can love survive when each takes a different side?

Leaving his lover behind to support the abolitionist cause, Piet Van Leyden finds himself leading one of the first all-black Union troops into the heart of battle. Reuniting with free slave and former love Joss brings some comfort, but will his presence tempt Piet into forgetting the love waiting for him at home?

Sebastian Cane wonders how he's able to go on without Piet by his side. When a series of unfortunate events lands him a prisoner of the Union, Seb knows he must rely on his wits and his love for Piet to survive...and get home to him.

BOOK REVIEW:
Conflict continues the story of Joss, Pieter and Sebastian from the book Cane. But from the beginning of the story the three main characters are separated from each other. Pieter has joined the Union army one and a half years prior and has already become a Lieutenant. Joss has traveled to New York as a free man. He has worked there for some months but then decided to join the Militia. Sebastian is still on the Morning Star, his cane plantation, desperately trying to keep his business together with most of the workforce gone.

I really enjoyed this book. I'm no expert in this regard but I think the story is very well researched. It just feels authentic and is a pleasure to read. Stevie Woods also has created three very unique characters. Even though these characters have already been fully introduced in the first book Cane, she's able to develop all three of them further, each one in a unique way. And each one has it's own voice, too, as the story is told in turns from the perspective of all three characters.

There really isn't much that I didn't like with this book. But there must be a reason why I haven't given it the whole five stars, mustn't there? What struck me as a little bit odd was the fact that even though the story is told by three very different persons with different backgrounds, their voices were quite similar. It wasn't possible to deduce from the style of the storytelling which characters part one was reading.

Another slightly annoying thing had to do with the "erotic" aspect of the story. There is very little sex in this book, which is absolutely ok in my opinion. But Pieter and Sebastian each have a quite similar experience with another man and I couldn't help but think that seemed a little bit constructed.

But other than that Conflict is an incredible story and a very worthwhile read.

Review first posted at Rainbow Reviews.
PUBLISHER: Phaze Books
PURCHASE LINK: E-BOOK ( )