Love in the Midst of War: The Celebrate Lit Blog Tour and Giveaway of Her Rebel Heart

March 09, 2020

About the Book

Book: Her Rebel Heart
Author: Sharlene MacLaren
Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Cristina Stiles is left to fend for herself and her two young children while her husband goes off to fight in the Confederate army. She also has to deal with two rogue Yankee soldiers who’ve beaten her, stolen her food, and keep coming back to cause more trouble.

Jack Fuller is a God-fearing Christian fighting for the Union. During a surprise encounter, he shoots and kills a Rebel soldier. In his final breaths, the Rebel asks Jack to deliver a letter to his wife—and he agrees. But when he arrives at Cristina’s small farm in West Virginia, she assumes Jack is one of the Yankee trouble-makers, trains her rifle on him, and fires. As he lies on the ground bleeding, he explains the purpose of his visit, and out of a sense of obligation, she decides to nurse him back to health.

What will happen when Cristina discovers Jack is the one who made her a widow? Will her rebel heart forgive him—or finish him off?

Click here to get your copy.

Book Review

Even though I have read a lot of books, I have not read many during the Civil War. The time period never really interested me. But when I read the plot summary for Her Rebel Heart, I was intrigued.

As stated before, this book takes place during the Civil War era. Cristina is the main female character and she is sweet, kind, and just wants to protect her children. Jack is also kind, and a character I immediately fell in love with. He has such a good heart and a raw passion for Christ, it is almost impossible not to love him. Cristina’s son, Elias, is headstrong and protective of his family. He definitely seemed more mature than his actual age of 10. Catherina is sweet and adorable, following her big brother around wherever he goes. Clive is the villain of the story, a Union soldier who robs and loots and is quite disrespectful of women.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The plot was interesting, and I liked the characters. I wish, though, that the readers could have seen more of Cristina grieving the loss of her husband. It kind of irked me that she seemed to move on really quickly from the death of her husband. But, other than that, I did like the book and would recommend it.

I had received a copy of this book as part of the Celebrate Lit Blogging Team and was required to give an honest review.

About the Author

Born and raised in west Michigan, Sharlene MacLaren attended Spring Arbor University. Upon graduating with an education degree in 1971, she taught second grade for two years, then accepted an invitation to travel internationally for a year with a singing ensemble. After traveling for a year, she returned to her teaching job, then in 1975, she reunited with her childhood sweetheart, and they married that very December. They have raised two lovely daughters, both of whom are now happily married and enjoying their own families. Retired in 2003 after thirty-one years of teaching, Shar loves to read, sing, travel, and spend time with her family—in particular, her adorable grandchildren!

Shar has always enjoyed writing, and her high school classmates eagerly read and passed around her short stories. In the early 2000s, Shar felt God’s call upon her heart to take her writing pleasures a step further, so in 2006, she signed a contract with Whitaker House for her first faith-based novel, Through Every Storm, thereby launching her professional writing career. With more than twenty published novels now gracing store shelves and being sold online, Shar gives God all the glory.

Shar’s novels have won numerous awards. Most recently, Their Daring Hearts was named a 2018 Top Pick by Romantic Times and her last book, A Love to Behold, was voted “Book of the Year” in 2019 by Interviews & Reviews.

Shar has done numerous countrywide book signings and has participated in several interviews on television and radio. She loves to speak for community organizations, libraries, church groups, and women’s conferences. In her church, she is active in women’s ministries, regularly facilitating Bible studies and other events. Shar and her husband, Cecil, live in Spring Lake, Michigan, with their beautiful white collie, Peyton.

More from Sharlene

Dark-haired, independent, and tough to the bone, Christina cares for her two young children in a ramshackle cabin in Ripley, West Virginia. When the Yankee who killed her husband pays her a visit, she has to decide whether to forgive him—or finish him off. Will this tough Southern woman find grace in her rebel heart?