Hearts Persuaded
Joanne Sundell
Five Star, Oct 6 2010, $25.95
ISBN: 9781594148835
In 1862 in Loudoun County, Virginia, pacificist Quakers Levi Clement and Comfort Clarke wed in a loveless marriage. He wed her out of deference to his heartbroken father who disowned his oldest son for joining the Northern army. Making matters more difficult to accept by Levi is he ignores his heart shouting at him that he loves Willa Mae Tyler, who left. Levi fears for her life and her soul as he knows she will put back on the Confederate uniform to fight the Yankees who brutally killed her family. She left with a secret that she carries inside her womb, a secret that has given her the will to live for the first since her brothers were massacred.
While Willa Mae misses the advice of her best friend escaped slave Surry Lion; Willa Mae prays for her pal to safely achieve freedom fearing how dangerous the Underground Railroad must be. Surry rides the “Rails” north but blames herself for the capture of two of her siblings, but continues her trek in Maryland accompanied by her little sister Penny. Two slave hunters catch them until the two females prove they can write; something slaves cannot do. Still Surry knows in her heart that freeman conductor Lucas Minor is her love though he insists she go to Canada immediately.
The second Quaker and the Confederate (see Hearts Divided) is a super Civil War drama that rotates lead between the key players as each struggles with their conscience and survival; which can be in dangerous conflict. Although Joanne Sundell does a great job of weaving the key elements of the past tale into the story line, the experience will be more satisfying if historical fiction fan reads Hearts Divided first to understand motives better. Character driven, readers will relish this deep look at what happens to good people caught up in the fickle chaotic winds of war
Harriet Klausner
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