A Heartbeat Away
June 6th, 2013. Filed under: This & That.A Heartbeat Away
By S. Dionne Moore
When a band of runaway slaves brings Union-loyal Beth Bumgartner a wounded Confederate soldier named Joe, it is the catalyst that pushes her to defy her pacifist parents and become a nurse during the Battle of Antietam.
Her mother’s mysterious goodbye gift is filled with quilt blocks that bring comfort to Beth during the hard days and lonely nights, but as she sews each block, she realizes there is a hidden message of faith within the pattern that encourages and sustains her. Reunited with Joe, Beth learns his secret and puts the quilt’s message to its greatest test—but can betrayal be forgiven?
ISLAND BREEZES
There was nothing civil about the civil war. Beth found that out as she helped her grandmother nurse wounded soldiers.
The blood, the pain, the stench all worked to discourage her as she worked tirelessly. Joe, her first patient, was able to provide a bit of a balance.
Beth and Joe’s friendship strengthened, but could she actually let her feeling grow for a southerner?
Then there’s the injury which left her with a permanent limp. It was enough for a man to turn away from her and now she’s locked away all hope for a life with a husband and children.
Joe is also struggling with his life threatening injury, as well. He is determined to find out why his brother Ben was murdered.
Throughout this book S. Dionne Moore gives us an authentic view of the inside of the civil war. I’m looking forward to more books by her.
***A special thank you to litfuse for providing a review copy.***
Dionne Moore is a historical romance author who resides in South Central PA with her family, surrounded by the beautiful Cumberland Valley and lots of fun, historically rich locations. She is a weekly contributor to “The Borrowed Book”, a blog for book-lovers and “Cozy Mystery Magazine”, for all things cozy mystery.