Magnolia Creek

Jill Marie Landis has been one of my favorite authors for many years. Any time I can read one of her books, I count myself lucky. “Magnolia Creek” is such a book. Any story based on Civil War characters is usually a favorite of mine. Sara Collier Talbot has returned to Magnolia Creek, Kentucky as a young war widow who was duped by a Yankee officer, left town with him and became pregnant. He left her then, unmarried with a child. She decides to go home. The Collier family is a rough and tumble bunch, making their living during the war selling moonshine. Sara’s father was not welcoming to his daughter and hit her when she tried to see her family, called her a slut and told her to leave. She has no choice at this point, but to go to the home of her dead husband and hope that his sister Louzanna will take pity on her and her child.

Dr. Dru Talbot has been declared killed in battle, but in reality he is still alive and making his way to Magnolia Creek too. He has no idea of the trouble Sara has had and only looks forward to a loving reunion with her. When he finds out about the baby, which is not his, he spurns her, not forgiving her and telling her he no longer loves her.

The whole town of Magnolia Creek turns their back on Sara, not even acknowledging her presence nor that of her little girl. When yellow fever makes its appearance in the town, Dr. Talbot needs help taking care of his patients. Since Sara has had the disease, she volunteers unselfishly to help the townspeople. Even then, someone is out to kill her. She is attacked and left for dead. Will she ever be reunited with Dru as husband and wife and live the life they started before the war? You will have to read this book to find out.

Once again Ms. Landis has written a wonderful love story, a fine historical romance. I’m looking forward to more from her.

I downloaded a free Kindle copy from NetGalley.com in return for my honest review.

Magnolia Creek is only my second Ms. Landis book. She truly has the gift of writing about humanity’s true grit. She writes and shares of hurt and healing, longing and love, hatred and forgiveness, suffering and acceptance, getting right to the heart of who we are a humans. In this truly poignant story of love lost and found, the setting of this heart rending story includes flashbacks of events that occurred prior to and during the civil war that lead to current day following the civil war. As we know from history, that time period was of brother against brother. Although that is not what Magnolia Creek includes, it does have townspeople with strong prejudices and disagreements.

Charming, sweet, naive Sara Collier and handsome Dru Talbot fell in love instantly, although not marrying until he completed medical school. He leaves the morning following their wedding. You read about their meeting and quick courtship through the flashbacks. Ms. Landis makes sure you as the reader see how very much they were in love, which makes their coming together years later all the more difficult. Sara and Lou, Dru’s sister, had been told he was dead, shot during a skirmish from an eyewitness. Thinking Dru long dead, Sara, now with a child of a Yankee who only used her, and Dru, who saved himself physically for her, come back together and need to try to find a way to live with what each of them did and saw during the war or get a divorce.

Through it all, they still truly love each other, but both now have deep wounds. The people of Magnolia Creek, including Sara’s own family, are not any help at all. Then, when someone begins to try to run Sara off, including an attempt on her life, the situation only gets worse from there. Sara’s grandfather is a strong influence in her life and has done a great job of arming her for the difficulties that ‘attack’ Sara and Dru as they decide whether or not to rebuild their relationship.

You will love the real life situations Ms. Landis includes in the amazing book. I am more of a ‘listener’ to books through ‘text to speech’ and that is not available in 4th generation Kindles with any of Ms. Landis’s books. But, if you are an avid reader and enjoy history and romance combined, this is a perfect book for you to pick up or download to your e-reader.

Set in the aftermath of the Civil War, a historical romance with characters that have suffered and seen too much, but still have to face more death and destruction.
A doctor trying to pick up his life after the ravages of war and a determined woman with a little daughter are the leading characters in this story with plenty of heroism and collective and individual drama.

It had been 5 years since Sara Collier Talbot left Magnolia Creek, Kentucky, as a fallen woman who ran off with a Yankee lieutenant only a year after finding out that her husband, Dru, had been killed in the Civil War. With no alternative, Sara swallows her pride and returns to Magnolia Creek with a love child in tow, and to the disapproval of the townspeople, Dru’s sister Louzanna, “Lou”, takes in Sara and her daughter. How much more can Sara take? Is her life in danger?

After 6 long years the war is over, and Dr. Dru Talbot, finally released from a prisoner of war camp, is going home to his wife of one day. Their whirlwind courtship and marriage were fast, but having that one night as husband and wife before he went off to war is what kept him alive. His hopes of starting a family with Sara and opening a quiet practice are just what he needs to help forget the horrors of war. Can he forgive Sara for what she’s done?

This is a digital reprint of Ms. Landis’ first edition print book which came out in 2002. As a long-time fan of Ms. Landis, I chose to review a tried and true novel that I knew would be a pleasure to read. She did not disappoint. The determination and strength of Sara’s character and the conflict of emotions between Sara and Dru are well written and brought a tear or two to my eyes. It is by no means a “mushy romance”, but a unique historical storyline that keeps you engaged and wondering how it will all play out. A great read for those who like historical romances set during the Civil War.

Another great book by Jill Marie Landis. Set in the aftermath of the Civil War, one of my favorite time periods to read about. She weaves a very compelling story. A lot of research went into this book. Definitely one to pick up if you are looking for a great read.

Another winner by Jill Marie Landis...She is an amazing author...love her style of writing...and story telling talent. Enjoy this masterpiece.