Teresa Mathews Reviews Widow of Gettysburg by Jocelyn Green

Widow of Gettysburg

Widow of Gettysburg
By Jocelyn Green

Moody Publishers

5 Stars*****

Reviewed by Teresa Mathews

A Magnificent Tale of Strength in the Midst of War

In this heartrending story of the Battle of Gettysburg Jocelyn Green gives us a look into the lives of several of the many women that struggled to survive the horrors of war. 

Liberty Holloway, our nineteen year old heroine has been a widow for almost two years since her young husband Levi died in the Battle of Bull Run. Since a young age Liberty was taught by her cruel aunt she wasn’t worth anything and that she would never make anything of her life. That’s why her mother gave her away. So now Liberty lives all alone on her farm still in her Widow’s Weeds. Will she forever be known as the Widow of Gettysburg representing all the women who’ve lost so much? Will she ever feel she has made something of her life?

The day a stranger rode up to the farm and asked for something to eat was the day things began to change for Liberty. She has no clue he is Silas Ford, the handsome young man that tried to befriend her when her aunt would belittle her as a child. Once upon a time Silas had been a student at the Lutheran Seminary in Gettysburg until an outrageous chain of events forever changed his life. When Silas mentions to Liberty that she should start living again, at first she is upset but after he leaves she thinks about it and decides he is right so she puts away her mourning clothes. Will Liberty ever see this handsome stranger again?

Bella Jamison, a freed slave that works for some of the ladies of Gettysburg, remembers the feel of a whip slicing her back apart. She remembers every atrocity done to her at the hand of an evil master and because of an unspeakable act Bella has to keep a secret that could destroy the live of someone she holds dear if it ever comes to light.

On July 1^st 1863 the first sounds of battle were heard and Liberty had no clue that in a very few hours her house would be used as a field hospital for hundreds of wounded and dying Confederate soldiers. When the doctor asks Liberty to help hold a light for him to perform amputations she tells him she cannot do it.  Will Liberty find a strength that can only come from God to help these men whose cause took the life of her husband? Will she follow God’s leading and realize she can make her life count by helping those who cannot help themselves?

My simple words cannot begin to describe the depth of this novel. From the very beginning I found myself drawn in the story, it was as if I could close my eyes and hear the sounds of battle—the cannons firing, the sounds of the wounded in agony.  Then I think of all that was lost during that time—the young men who only a few years before were babies on their momma’s laps, the men who died that day because of their love for this country who left behind wives and children. Ms. Green did a superb job bringing to light the strength of the women that were left to clean up the carnage this war left behind. Ms. Green has actual statements from women that survived this horrific time, it was so enthralling to read in their own words how they felt about what was happening. This book is not for the faint of heart because there are scenes that will disturb you. Even though I found myself in tears at one point from the descriptions I feel my life is so much more enriched after reading this and I know you will feel the same. Thank you Ms. Green, for creating this masterpiece.

You may purchase this book and Wedded to War at Amazon, CBD, Books a Million and other stores. 

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