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Beneath the Draper Moon
Author Julius Parker announces his debut novel — a breakout narrative that combines
young love, a nation’s secrets, and family mysteries for a truly inspiring historical novel.
Until 1861, Grace Henry lived a quaint and quiet life with her adopted family in Southern
Maryland despite being the child of an Iroquois man and an enslaved mother. Amid the
turbulent backdrop of the times, external forces have ripped her from everything she’s known
and delivered her onto a remote farm in Southwestern Virginia. Now oscillating
between hope and despair on a constant basis, Grace must become comfortable with
commanding her fierce independence if she’s ever to find peace again.
One hundred years later, Emmaline Foster is struggling to forge her way through the first
colored nursing program at the University of Virginia while the Civil Rights Movement
reaches a fervent pitch outside her door. When she stumbles upon a hidden portion of her
lineage, Emmaline’s life becomes intertwined with Grace Henry and a complicated past.
With the unlikely partnership of a basketball star and a passion for uncovering the truth,
Emmaline begins to unravel the threads of a war-torn, secret-ridden tapestry that spans
through generations of her family — and that of the very South.
Bridge the chasm of time with Emmaline and Grace as they become united in their quest for
identity, freedom, and enduring love.
Historical fiction fans will fall in love with both Emmaline and Grace. Written for readers
with a vested interest in romance and mysteries based in history, Beneath the Draper
Moon makes a great addition to the library of anyone who enjoys historical romantic
mysteries.
young love, a nation’s secrets, and family mysteries for a truly inspiring historical novel.
Until 1861, Grace Henry lived a quaint and quiet life with her adopted family in Southern
Maryland despite being the child of an Iroquois man and an enslaved mother. Amid the
turbulent backdrop of the times, external forces have ripped her from everything she’s known
and delivered her onto a remote farm in Southwestern Virginia. Now oscillating
between hope and despair on a constant basis, Grace must become comfortable with
commanding her fierce independence if she’s ever to find peace again.
One hundred years later, Emmaline Foster is struggling to forge her way through the first
colored nursing program at the University of Virginia while the Civil Rights Movement
reaches a fervent pitch outside her door. When she stumbles upon a hidden portion of her
lineage, Emmaline’s life becomes intertwined with Grace Henry and a complicated past.
With the unlikely partnership of a basketball star and a passion for uncovering the truth,
Emmaline begins to unravel the threads of a war-torn, secret-ridden tapestry that spans
through generations of her family — and that of the very South.
Bridge the chasm of time with Emmaline and Grace as they become united in their quest for
identity, freedom, and enduring love.
Historical fiction fans will fall in love with both Emmaline and Grace. Written for readers
with a vested interest in romance and mysteries based in history, Beneath the Draper
Moon makes a great addition to the library of anyone who enjoys historical romantic
mysteries.
512 pages, Hardcover
Published February 20, 2024
13 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 30, 2025
I couldn’t put this book down! I loved the different stories and how they became one in the end. This is a book full of true unconditional love, strength , courage, and history.
August 26, 2025
This book was a real page turner! I had to force myself to slow down and enjoy the prose instead of flying through the chapters to find out the next piece of the narrative puzzle. If you like history (and a good love story) this is the book for you!
January 8, 2025
Loved this book & couldn’t put it down.
July 14, 2024
Bravo!
What a wonderful intertwined story of historical fiction and romance! This book takes you into the lives of many characters that spans over 100 years while addressing some very difficult circumstances. The struggle for these characters was real and heart felt. It was great to see the perseverance, determination and ultimately the revenge for past generations. Well done!
What a wonderful intertwined story of historical fiction and romance! This book takes you into the lives of many characters that spans over 100 years while addressing some very difficult circumstances. The struggle for these characters was real and heart felt. It was great to see the perseverance, determination and ultimately the revenge for past generations. Well done!
January 13, 2025
I hope we all add this book to our library as the world strives to become even more human.
The author, Julius Parker, says he was inspired to write this novel “to uncover the truth of the African American journey to freedom….”.
Beyond the Draper Moon is a moving, historically accurate account of a period in the history of the USA that determines present-day racially derived understandings and behaviors. Parker speaks slowly and patiently, unraveling the realities of 40 acres of land and the long road to emancipation.
The story follows many paths that in the end intertwine in a beautiful statement of what we nowadays call reunification/ reparation etc.etc.
He has no chapters in the copy I have. He simply starts each event on a new page from the 1800’s to the present day. It is gripping, carrying you through a range of emotions as we read about the horrors of the Confederate battles or smile with Emmaline when Dr Martin Luther King is invited to speak. The Southeastern states of the USA have a history that all its children should know. Parker’s accuracy simply makes the romance more real, inevitable and warming.
In the commencement speech (2016) UVA, Lucas says “This story is about history, struggles, and the interaction of human beings who love and support each other for no other reason than that is their heart’s desire”. Maybe that is why the story is so gripping. Parker takes no sides. He simply tells us about the lives of a group of people in the South.
His attention to detail brings to story alive. “it was little things like the tiny yellow butterflies floating above his head and the bees buzzing in and out of the clover and dandelions at his feet. It was the sweet smell of the wet leaves and the smoke coming from the wood stove”. Or the 1948 Chevy Fleetline! I could just see it. Definitely a Must-Read.
The author, Julius Parker, says he was inspired to write this novel “to uncover the truth of the African American journey to freedom….”.
Beyond the Draper Moon is a moving, historically accurate account of a period in the history of the USA that determines present-day racially derived understandings and behaviors. Parker speaks slowly and patiently, unraveling the realities of 40 acres of land and the long road to emancipation.
The story follows many paths that in the end intertwine in a beautiful statement of what we nowadays call reunification/ reparation etc.etc.
He has no chapters in the copy I have. He simply starts each event on a new page from the 1800’s to the present day. It is gripping, carrying you through a range of emotions as we read about the horrors of the Confederate battles or smile with Emmaline when Dr Martin Luther King is invited to speak. The Southeastern states of the USA have a history that all its children should know. Parker’s accuracy simply makes the romance more real, inevitable and warming.
In the commencement speech (2016) UVA, Lucas says “This story is about history, struggles, and the interaction of human beings who love and support each other for no other reason than that is their heart’s desire”. Maybe that is why the story is so gripping. Parker takes no sides. He simply tells us about the lives of a group of people in the South.
His attention to detail brings to story alive. “it was little things like the tiny yellow butterflies floating above his head and the bees buzzing in and out of the clover and dandelions at his feet. It was the sweet smell of the wet leaves and the smoke coming from the wood stove”. Or the 1948 Chevy Fleetline! I could just see it. Definitely a Must-Read.
December 20, 2025
Beneath the Draper Moon is a masterful, emotionally gripping historical novel that bridges generations and uncovers the rich, often painful, tapestry of African American history. Julius Parker’s attention to detail makes every scene vivid — from the struggles of Grace Henry on a remote Virginia plantation to Emmaline Foster’s journey through the first colored nursing program at UVA during the Civil Rights Movement.
The novel’s strength lies not only in its historical accuracy but also in the depth of its characters and the seamless intertwining of their stories. Parker’s prose brings the past alive: the tiny yellow butterflies, the buzzing bees, the smell of wet leaves, the 1948 Chevy Fleetline — each detail enriches the narrative and makes the romance and resilience feel inevitable and deeply moving.
This is a must-read for anyone who wants a story about history, identity, love, and the enduring human spirit. It’s enlightening, heart-wrenching, and ultimately uplifting — a novel that deserves a permanent spot on your bookshelf
The novel’s strength lies not only in its historical accuracy but also in the depth of its characters and the seamless intertwining of their stories. Parker’s prose brings the past alive: the tiny yellow butterflies, the buzzing bees, the smell of wet leaves, the 1948 Chevy Fleetline — each detail enriches the narrative and makes the romance and resilience feel inevitable and deeply moving.
This is a must-read for anyone who wants a story about history, identity, love, and the enduring human spirit. It’s enlightening, heart-wrenching, and ultimately uplifting — a novel that deserves a permanent spot on your bookshelf
May 2, 2024
Mr Parker spins his readers through two tales somewhat similar but a hundred years apart in the southern state of Virginia, one during and after the civil war with the second during the Jim Crow area through civil rights. Through his telling of the struggles caused by the same deep seeded racism in both time periods he both sheds light on the ugly side of our history while telling a wonderful tale as well as challenge us to not glorify these periods or suggest times were better. This should be a must read both for its elegant prose as well as the very large mirror it holds up to our society today
May 24, 2024
Best book I read in years! I could not put it down. Every chapter makes you want to read the next chapter to find out what’s gonna happen. It is written so well and I can’t wait for Parker’s next book.
January 8, 2025
This set the bar so high….. First book of the year and I’m not sure how anything else I read will top this. I have a feeling this will be in my top 5 favorite books of 2025. Please read this. You will not regret it!🙏🏼
January 15, 2025
Wow! The author went beyond what I imagined with this one! Highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews