Rulon Owen loves two things more than
life---his country and Mary Hilbrands.
When Virginia secedes from the Union, Rulon enlists, and finds himself
fighting foes both in battle and in his own camp. He struggles to stay
alive against all odds, with a knife-wielding tent-mate and a Union
army that seems impossible to defeat. It will take every ounce of
vigilance he has to survive and, with a little luck, he might make it
home to his wife and the son he's never seen.
Forced to live with her parents for the duration, Mary faces a battle
for independence. With a mother whispering that her husband won't come
home to her and a son who needs her to be both father and mother, Mary
has to dig deep for strength to overcome her overwhelming loneliness
and the unknown future ahead.
Separated by war and circumstance, Rulon and Mary discover that not
all enemies wear the Union blue.
MY REVIEW:
There is so much to love about "Gone For A Soldier" that it is difficult to know where to start. I found the novel to be riveting on many levels. I enjoyed this portion of the Owens family saga as the Owens men made preparations to fight for their "new country" (the South), their God, their women, and their children. It was refreshing to read about men who honored their women. The men fought valiantly in battle and the women on the home front, each person having to find the courage to do what they used to think is impossible.
The story mostly revolves around 3 couples, the heads of the Owens' clan: Rod and Julia, as well as 2 of their sons and their wives: Rulon and Mary (and their son: Roddy) and Ben and Ella Ruth. War changes each of them in many ways, but it also gives each of them purpose to get through the day, not wanting to disappoint their loved ones that they are away from.
Marsha Ward has a gift for writing well-rounded characters that you can't help but root for. You may want to shake them at times (as in the case of Ella Ruth), but you always want them to achieve their goals and dreams. I was reminded while reading "Gone For A Soldier" that some of the perceptions that people used to have about their bodies and the bodies of others has changed in a good way, but more so, I found myself wishing that people living today honored themselves and others the way the Owens were taught. A lot of society's ills could be mended if people felt more responsibility for those around them and accountable to maintain their own personal integrity.
I write realistic fiction of a stalwart, contemporary farm family, so reading about the Owens family resonated with me deeply. (I also have an Owens family in my series--though they start out the bad guys in my story. (Maybe my Owens' are a branch of the contemporary black sheep family tree of Marsha's Owens'?) Probably not. :)
At any rate. I enjoyed Gone For a Soldier. I laughed (not so much after the war started), I cried (more than I care to admit--but hey--it's war time and bad things happen), and most of all, I rooted for each and every one of the characters--except Von Garth--he's a mean piece of vermin.
Purchase links and a Rafflecopter can be found at the end of the post.
Laugh lots ... Love much ... Write on! ;)
SAMPLE SCENE 1
Rulon saw the bend in the road ahead where lay the turnoff
to a lane that he could find on the
darkest of nights. At the end of the lane, his family would
be going about their daily tasks,
perhaps thinking about him, perhaps not. He cleared the bend
in the road and reined the horse
into the wide path. He had to be quick. Harrisonburg wasn’t
far away, as the crow flies, but he
would need most of the time left of the day to make the trip
on horseback.
Julianna saw him first when she turned from feeding the
hogs. “Rulon!” his younger sister
shouted, then dropped her pails and ran toward him, braids
flying, spindly legs showing beneath
her swirling skirt, skinny arms outstretched to him.
He dismounted before she reached him and caught her in his
arms, noting the tears streaking her
face.
“Why are you goin’ to fight?” The anxiety in her voice
caused it to come out high and thin, and
he hugged her tighter than before.
“Our country needs me,” he answered, muffling his answer
against her sunbonnet.
“What if you die?” she wailed.
He couldn’t reply. When he raised his head to take a last
look around the place, Ma was there
with Marie beside her, their grave faces bringing a lump to
his already tight throat.
Then Albert, the mischievous scamp, came running down the
lane, with Pa and the rest of the
boys walking behind him. Ben was the only one missing. They
had made their farewells in town.
He had to hug them all, even Pa. Then Ma began a prayer, and
they quit their hats, joined hands
right there in the lane, and listened to her heartfelt plea
for a short war and safety for the troops.
As Ma spoke the “amen” and the family joined in, Rulon was
reminded that he hadn’t left Mary
with a prayer. Mayhap he should have, instead of bedding her
one last time. Devotion to God
should be in their marriage, as it was in his parents’
union, he reminded himself. As he climbed
on the horse, he pledged that he would be a better husband
when he got the chance. If I get the
chance.
Gone For A Soldier Tour:
October
11 http://stephaniesaysso.blogspot.com/
AND/OR http://stephaniereadthat.blogspot.com/
AUTHOR BIO
Marsha Ward was born in the sleepy little town of Phoenix,
Arizona, in the southwestern United States; and grew up with chickens, citrus
trees, and lots of room to roam. She became a storyteller at an early age,
regaling her neighborhood friends with her fanciful tales during after-school
snacks. Her love of the 19th Century Western era was reinforced by visits to
her cousins on their ranch, and listening to her father's stories of
homesteading in Old Mexico and in the southern part of Arizona.
Over the years, Marsha became an award-winning poet, writer
and editor, with over 900 pieces of published work, including her acclaimed
novel series featuring the Owen family. She is the founder of American Night
Writers Association, and a member of Western Writers of America and Women
Writing the West. A workshop presenter and writing teacher, Marsha makes her
home in a tiny forest hamlet in Arizona. When she is not writing, she loves to
spoil her grandchildren, travel, give talks, meet readers, and sign books.
Visit her at either her website or one of her blogs!
marshaward.com
http://charactersinmarshashead.blogspot.com/
Buy links:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Angela Muse was born in California to a military family. This meant that she got used to being the "new kid" in school every couple of years. It was hard trying to make new friends, but Angela discovered she had a knack for writing. In high school Angela began writing poetry and song lyrics. Expressing herself through writing seemed very natural. After becoming a Mom in 2003, Angela continued her storytelling to her own children. In 2009 she wrote and published her first rhyming children's book aimed at toddlers. Since then she has released several more children's picture books and released books in her first young adult romance series, The Alpha Girls, in 2013/2014. Her husband, Ben Muse writes suspense/thriller books that can also be found on Amazon.
Prize: One winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card or PayPal cash (winner's choice) Contest closes: November 23, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open to: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the Angela Muse and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews.
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