Review of Jocelyn Green's Wedded to War

Synopsis from Amazon:

It's April 1861, and the Union Army's Medical Department is a disaster, completely unprepared for the magnitude of war. A small group of New York City women, including 28-year-old Charlotte Waverly, decide to do something about it, and end up changing the course of the war, despite criticism, ridicule and social ostracism. Charlotte leaves a life of privilege, wealth-and confining expectations-to be one of the first female nurses for the Union Army. She quickly discovers that she's fighting more than just the Rebellion by working in the hospitals. Corruption, harassment, and opposition from Northern doctors threaten to push her out of her new role. At the same time, her sweetheart disapproves of her shocking strength and independence, forcing her to make an impossible decision: Will she choose love and marriage, or duty to a cause that seems to be losing? An Irish immigrant named Ruby O'Flannery, who turns to the unthinkable in the face of starvation, holds the secret that will unlock the door to Charlotte's future. But will the rich and poor confide in each other in time?

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.

Jocelyn Green's debut novel is endorsed by historians and professors for its historical accuracy and detail, by award-winning novelists for its spell-binding storytelling, and by entertainment journalists and book club leaders for its deep and complex content, perfect to share and discuss with others.

 

My Review:

 

This was an amazing story.  Jocelyn Green did amazing research because her depiction of the wounded soldiers was amazing.  It is the story of two different women from two different backgrounds, that are put together to help out the Union Army.  They come to find out they have a lot more in common than they thought.  Charlotte is a nurse for the Army.  She had to overcome a lot of obstacles to become a nurse and then she has to suffer a lot of degrading things when she gets to hospitals to help.  Ruby is a poor Irish immigrant whose husband joins the cause.  She has to fend for herself and is taken advantage of by the son of the woman she is working for.  This forces her to do things she swore she would never do.  When she finds herself pregnant, she goes to Dr. Blackwell, who trained and sent the nurses to the war.  Dr. Blackwell asks Charlotte to take Ruby to Washington with her.  The two strike up a close friendship.  When Charlotte’s suitor comes to the front lines to take her home to marry him, Ruby has to tell Charlotte and her family what really happened to her.  They follow what God would want them to do and extend her Grace.  Charlotte calls of the wedding, and goes back to the front lines to help.  There she finds her true love Caleb again, but also agrees to take a lucrative position.

This story was told with a lot of emotion.  Jocelyn did a really good job with the characters in this book and I felt their pain and agonies like they were my own.  Charlotte was a very strong character, and Ruby did what she had to do to survive.  I liked the faith element in this book.  I also liked how it played out in the end with the “villain” in this story.  Great job Jocelyn; I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes the era of the Civil War, and for anyone who wants a great read.  The only thing is this isn’t a lite read that you will read in a day or two; it is intense and may take a couple of days.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.

 

 

Bio

Award-winning author Jocelyn Green inspires faith and courage in her readers through both fiction and nonfiction. A former military wife herself, she offers encouragement and hope to military wives worldwide through her Faith Deployed ministry. Her novels, inspired by real heroines on America’s home front, are marked by their historical integrity and gritty inspiration.
Jocelyn graduated from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, with a B.A. in English, concentration in writing. She is an active member of the Evangelical Press Association, Christian Authors Network, the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, American Christian Fiction Writers, and the Military Writers Society of America.
She loves Mexican food, Broadway musicals, Toblerone chocolate bars, the color red, and reading on her patio. Jocelyn lives with her husband Rob and two small children in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Visit her at www.jocelyngreen.com.