What a gift this read is, a story told by your great-grandmother, wow!
As a young girl, she came to the US from Germany and settled in Charleston SC, and we follower her as she crosses the ocean, not once but twice.
We are there with Anna as the Civil War starts, and all the losses, but she is not an ordinary person, she follows her heart and faith. Yes, she does get in trouble, but how it is handled is sure different and inspirational!
This page turning read and I looked at the authors web site, https://www.rcduffy.com/, and enjoyed all the bonus information.
I did enjoy this very quick read true story!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher American Legacy Media, and was not required to give a positive review.

A wonderful read that’s written by the subject’s great-granddaughter. A work of tribute to family and love, Anna lived an incredible life, brought to us as a story by this author. She did so much research to make it as authentic as possible and it’s quite an exciting tale.

I give this a 5 star rating. The intrique of new emmigrants to the US, their struggles, leaving, & coming back years later shows a true version of what most go through. The intensity of the war, added with an upcoming birth, andded with a husband sent to a war zone truely made for intense moments. The details of what went on in Anna's daily life and her determination to help out anyone, no matter of what ethnic or politial background is very touching, I hope we can get this message out to the world, not just the United States. We have such contensions and hate, but aren't we all the same: people who just want to live their lives in peace and let their children bask in peace and harmony with all people.
I love the Notes and sources at the end of the book, very well researched. Thank you!

The extensive research done to flesh out this personal narrative puts the reader at the center of the action, and being based on the life of the author’s own ancestor adds heart to the story. From the challenges of being an immigrant, to a war widow, to the risks involved in sticking to one’s values, the story line draws readers in from all types of experiences.. Anna’s faith and fortitude ring true and are genuinely inspiring. Her experiences will leave the readers on the edge of their seats, rooting for her every step of the way.

I love a good historical fiction book to read and this is definitely one of the better ones.
This is the sory of Anna Paula Itgen a German immigrant who settle in Charleston,SC . She was a good Christian woman as was her husband. She was pregnant when her husband became a soldier in the Confederate army.. When her husband was killed Anna had to deal with her loss. She did not really believe in slavery and often had to pretend as most of her neighbors supported the war. She lived close to the building where Union soldiers were imprisoned and knew they were badly treated. When some would escape Anna had to make a decision. Help them and risk arrest and execution as a traitor or let them be caught and returned.
I did not realize at first when I started reading this is based on a true story. A bit long in places but well worth the read. Absolutely recommend to lovers of history and history.

Thank you to Net Galley and American Legacy Media for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this book. It was short, but very good. This story is based on the author's great grandmother, Anna Itgen. She lived during the Civil War. Even though she was living in the south, she also smuggled bread into the northern prisons. She helped soldiers on both sides of the war. I also liked the research done by the author, and all of the resources listed at the end. Highly recommend if you like stories about brave women.

Harboring the Enemy by R.C. Duffy offers a fascinating look into the opening days of the Civil War in Charleston, SC. Through a narrative deeply inspired by her own genealogy, the author weaves the story of war and the life of Anna Itgen, an ancestor of the author. Anna's story was passed down through generations but is also documented in a newspaper article that came into the hands of the author. The author’s dedication to research and Anna's own words provide a unique, first-hand account of the early days of the Civil War. Anna is a character with great courage you can't help but cheer for.
Reading this book has inspired me to look deeper into my own genealogy to uncover the stories waiting to be told.
Highly recommend for historical fiction fans and genealogists alike.

I loved this novel and couldn’t put it down once I started reading it. I enjoy historical fiction and there was just enough historical facts to bring the characters alive and their challenges more interesting. I felt as though I was on a journey with Anna and knowing that she was real made the journey even more intriguing. The author’s descriptions created wonderful imagery and I was sad to say goodbye to my new found friend.

A captivating narrative of the challenges of being an immigrant in America, of striving to fit into a new world. Well documented, this book set in Charleston during the Civil War provides a fresh glimpse of the scene set in trying times. When things don’t go as planned, Anna discovers her true self with courage and hope. She evolves through the hard times that challenge her beliefs. A triumphant, compelling read. I love this book!

Harboring the Enemy The Civil War Heroine History Forgot is a fascinating story about a young woman, Anna Pauls who immigrated with her German family in the 1840s. By the time the Civil War breaks out, Anna is married and pregnant with her first child, and her husband Fred joins the Confederate army under intense pressure from the native-born population. After Fred is killed in battle, Anna’s sympathies with the young men fighting on both sides lead her to the brave decision to assist captured Union soldiers who escape from a nearby prison camp, providing them with food and a place to hide. Her inspiring story takes place in Charleston 1861, at the height of the beginnings of the Civil War. It is told as a narrative nonfiction. Duffy's research is extensive, captivating the reader from the start to the finish.

This narrative from the author's perspective is unique. We don't have a lot of women's points of view from the Civil War time as males were very dominant in that era.

I love that her parents instilled in her to follow her conviction to treat others with kindness. She was able to share her resources with prisoners in a charitable way. I like that she was brave enough to share her reason, "I would hope that if my husband were a prisoner that he would be treated with respect and kindness."

I think her parents also instilled in her the desire to do what's right. I love that their experience in Germany was able to prepare them for unknown issues in America.

This book is also unique in the fact that the words of the characters were creations from the author. There isn't dialogue from her historical records, so she generated that herself. I really liked how her husband respected her and loved her.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy.