Anyone that has an interest in the history of the United States and particularly in the Civil War should take the time to read this novel. I highly recommend reading the "Historical Note" provided by the author at the end of the novel. Clarification details important elements in the quality of presentation tucked between the covers of this book that is now preserved for generations to come and the fiction created by the author's imagination that combine for a page-turning reading experience.

This is not merely a historical fiction story of a young woman trying to please her widowed father as she attempts to navigate the future in the midst of the Civil War after an "arranged" engagement ends due to the death of her fiancé. The story in the setting of Natchez, Mississippi, delves into the differences "above" and "below" hill in Natchez and Jewish families trying to be true to their religious beliefs in the midst of a nearby Union encampment and food shortages created by blockades. It also highlights the decisions made by enslaved men and women who wanted to escape their owners and those that were living in one of the contraband camps with their children.

One of the reasons I enjoy reading historical fiction is that I am immersed in a different time period and setting and each author illuminates history's untold stories. Through the characters we feel the complexity of the issues in a personal way. With each author's research and their own creativity multiple perspectives are created for different time periods and/or events.

I found this story to present different aspects of the Civil War for which I had no knowledge. It captured my attention and I'll remember this story for a long time to come. I highly recommend this novel. ( )