Wedded to War

Heroines Behind the Lines

By: Jocelyn Green

Narrated by: Laura E. Richcreek

Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

A 2013 Christy Award finalist (historical fiction and first novel categories)

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.

©2012 Jocelyn Green (P)2019 Jocelyn Green

Excellent!

You can’t go wrong with a Jocelyn Green book! She puts so much detail into her books. I love how the storylines of each the characters weaves together. There is just so much depth to this story. I loved it! I think the narrator did a great job reading this.


*I was given a free review copy of the audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.*

Gripping Civil War Story

This was an excellent book! Being the first book I've listened to on here I wasn't sure what to expect. The characters were well done and distinguishable.

The writing in this story had me glued to each word. I loved the character of Charlotte. She was a feisty woman for her time and I appreciated her strength. Phineas was ghastly and may be one of my most hated villains thanks to the author's skill with her pen.

Then there was Caleb who I was rooting for, but always seemed to be like a ship passing in the night with a Charlotte. If there hadn't been a Caleb I definitely would have been cheering for Edward.

And lady, but not least was poor, sweet Ruby. Pulling for her to catch a break while watching her struggle over and over again. She was the character that pulled the most on my heartstrings.

A wonderful series!

I have read and loved this series, so I was eager to listen to it. The story itself is wonderful. Being able to listen to this was an added bonus.

An immersive experience

Writing historical fiction without making the narrative sound like a textbook is hard enough, but merging the lives of so many characters from vastly different backgrounds and situations into one cohesive, engaging story seems nearly impossible! Jocelyn Green has done the impossible! As a lover of good fiction and amateur historian of the Civil War, I can't recommend this enough! The author has done her research admirably and I found myself nodded in agreement to all the snippets of historical accuracy she threw into the story. These characters came alive, flying off the page, and I felt as if I were reading the memoires of these people who braved the trials and struggles of being a woman in the mid-19th century. The flow of the story is excellent, the dialogue engaging, and the narration for all the variety of accents and tones were spot-on, which made it all the easier to follow. Every character's motivation, grief, and joy was believable to the fullest extent. This was the first of Green's work that I've "digested" and it certainly won't be the last!

Amazing

The horrors of the civil war, but the amazing people that stepped forward are brought to life in the story. Even though fiction, several people and instances are based on real history. The narrator’s voice was perfect with so much feeling and emotion which drove the story

Cant wait to listen to the rest of the series!

This novel checked all the boxes for me! 1) A strong, intelligent female lead who has more to offer than just her looks. 2) The story offers fascinating historical details without being dry. 3) The plot kept me guessing. I didn't have it all figured out before the end of the story. 4) The romance was important, but certainly not the entire story. 5) The narrator did a phenomenal job pf voicing the characters.
I finished this book in record time and immediately purchased the second novel in the series!

Well-researched story with heart and soul

Ms. Green’s research and strong characters shine in this first book of the Heroines Behind the Lines series. It’s an excellent tribute to the nurses who fought to save soldiers on both sides of the fight.

A riveting story of the Civil War!

Wedded to War is a fascinating, layered, and quite serious look at the front lines of women's foray into nursing during the beginning of the Civil War. Jocelyn Green has written an epic story that encompasses many true-life historical figures and accurate events that serve as characters in themselves as heroines Charlotte Waverly, Ruby O'Flannery, and others work as part of the Sanitary Commission to aid, nurse, and manage the ghastly aftermath of war in their very own country. As Charlotte finds her purpose in showing compassion and grace to everyone around her, she also matures over the timeline of the story into a capable woman of character. The hint of a romance between Charlotte and the hero was happily fitting and complimentary to her role, and I was delighted to learn that the couple is based on a real historical couple! Ruby, too, is a compelling heroine. I wondered, at times, how the twisting and sad threads of her story were going to work into the whole, but like the theme of the novel, all of it works toward the surprising good and satisfying end to the story.

The audio presentation of this novel, in particular, is well-told and riveting.

THANK YOU to the author for the audiobook version of this novel for the purpose of a review. This is my honest review.

Very Engaging

Jocelyn Green does a wonderful job weaving her historical research into an engaging story using both historical and fictional characters. The Civil War is a time when many women had to leave or give up the socially acceptable way of life and venture into new territory. Charlotte Waverly is a fine example of what women, during that age, had to go through when one chose to step outside the social norm.

The narration is superb. Laura Richcreek does a wonderful job giving each character their own voice. The narration is crisp, clear and filled with emotion at appropriate times. I very much enjoyed listening to this narration.

American History brought to life in the best way possible!

I had the privilege of listening to book 2 of this series (Widow of Gettysburg) for review earlier this year, and I so excited to have the opportunity to listen to book 1, Wedded to War!

Jocelyn Green has worked her way into my list of top favorite authors and will hold that spot forever I am sure. Her attention to detail and in depth exploration of the history surrounding her stories make them stand out from the crowd. And Wedded to War was no exception! I was in turn fascinated, appalled, and touched by the vivid pictures of the Civil War and the birth of nursing as we know it. My mother-in-law is a nurse, so hearing about how women had to fight to establish themselves as nurses was especially interesting and moving to me.

The narrator of this book (the same one for Widow of Gettysburg) is one of the best I’ve heard. She makes the stories come to life in an engrossing and non-confusing way. She does all the characters’ voices—which I love!

If you love history, the Civil War era, or nursing, you would LOVE this book, whether in audio or traditional format. 5/5 stars!!

**I received a free copy of this audiobook for review from the author but was not required to give a favorable review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.