Scars of Sand and Soil

by Jean K. Kravitz

What’s left of a man’s soul when everything he loves is taken from him?

It’s 1864, and Gabriel Cooper couldn’t care less about the civil war raging around him. Framed for crimes he didn’t commit, he’s been sentenced to a Confederate chain gang, where swampland justice rules and alligators prey on the unwary.

So when Colonel Robert Tremont rides into camp offering freedom in exchange for fighting on the front lines, Gabriel jumps at the opportunity. He thrives as a soldier, but the end of the war leaves him adrift.

Gabriel ends up in New Orleans, where he meets Simone Livingston, a fiercely independent woman with hidden scars of her own. Kept on a tight rein by her overbearing father, Simone only wants freedom—and the enigmatic Gabriel.

But Gabriel has unfinished business and a mind for vengeance. Will he be able to create a peaceful life with Simone? Or will his greed and thirst for retribution keep them trapped in a dangerous web of deceit—a web Gabriel fears can only be untangled with murder?

Genres: Historical, Historical Fiction

392 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 24, 2025

Reviews

[Courtney Pityer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scars of Sand and Soil is the debut novel of Jean K. Kravitz and I must say that she did a tremendous job at telling the story. I will admit there are some topics in here that not everyone will see eye to eye to but overall this brilliant piece of work left a deep impression on me. The setting and the characters were played out so well that I could almost feel what the characters were feeling. The details of the cruelties of the civil war felt so real I feel like reading this book made me feel like a different person and I haven't felt like since I read Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.
Our story starts during the Civil War where we meet Gabriel Cooper who is a solider who was brough in by the Prison. Now he was wrongfully accused of a crime he didn't commit. After saving the nephew of his General he is granted a pardon from his sentence. He travels to New Orleans to inform the parents of one of his fellow soliders of his passibg. From there he stays and he is then introduced to the lovely Simone Livingston.
When we meet Simone she is a timid woman who has faced the cruelties of life. Her mother died as a young girl and her father shipped her off to an Aunt and Uncle however thay ended up not working out and she returned home. Her father made her life miserable and after his death she gets the opportunity to find happiness and that happiness is with Gabriel.
However, this newfound happiness is soon diminished with Gabriel's unsavory job in which he hides the details from his wife. Simone eventually finds purpose in wanting to help others which seems to get her out of her depression. However, in the case of Gabriel with each passing job he has starts to have a horrible affect on him and by the time he knows he's in too deep it is almost too late to stop.
Like I said earlier I was much impressed with this novel. Although Gabriel and Simone's relationship was very rocky they truly did care for each other. Had Gabriel not gotten involved in such an unsavory career they could have been truly happy just living a simple modest life.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.

[Kat Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweeping tale of love and betrayal that spans the final months of the Civil War through the tumultuous decades that follow, this book is nigh impossible to put down. The plot gallops along and the characters are all vividly drawn. I loved Simone, who pushes back against the rigid strictures placed on woman of her time and class, and especially the complex character of soldier-turned-mercenary Gabriel. Without giving away too much, I can only say that Kravitz does not flinch at depicting the darkness in the human heart, but she also redeems it with a deft touch. I look forward to more by this author!

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this complicated and emotionally intense historical fiction novel, readers follow Gabriel Cooper as he deals with his sentencing to work on a Confederate chain gang for crimes he did not commit in 1864. Offered freedom in exchange for fighting on the front lines, Gabriel thrives as a soldier, so the end of the war means freedom but no purpose for him. Ending up in New Orleans, Gabriel meets the independent Simone Livingston, who hides her scars and secrets and does her best to meet her demanding father’s expectations. As they try to work towards a shared future, Gabriel must decide if he will let his desire for revenge and personal greed get in the way of his relationship with Simone. Intense and dramatic, this novel is well-written and packed with details, especially when it comes to Gabriel and Simone’s backstories. Their dynamic is interesting to follow as it develops over the course of the novel, and the added tension from Gabriel’s decisions really does a lot for the conflicts and opportunities for character growth in the novel. Detailed, intense, and emotional, historical fiction readers will enjoy and be moved by this powerful new historical fiction novel from Jean Kravitz.

Thanks to NetGalley and Acorn Publishing for the advance copy.

[Desiree Mosley - A Love Affair With Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

What an amazing job for a debut novel! I went into this novel completely blind, captivated by the synopsis and always a sucker for a debut and I was pleasantly surprised.

I have a few things to be honest about...American History is not my thing. Give me some English aristocracy and I am all in. (Dukes get me!) But Scars of Sand and Soil is set in the time of the Civil War, embedded in the South (I'm a 100% Florida girl) and very raw and real.

Our MMC Gabriel Cooper, sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit, choses to join the Confederate Army in an attempt to reduce his sentence. Our FMC Simone Livingston, is living a horrible existence in New Orleans. Fate brings the two of them together but will love and shared pain be enough to keep them together?

Scars of Sand and Soil is as I mentioned, truly raw and descriptive and gut wrenching. The author does not shy away from the horrors and such of the times.

Thank you to Net Galley and Jean K. Kravitz for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in one day! I just couldn't stop. The plot twists (one of them made me gasp out loud) surprised me and kept coming. An imaginative story, covering time and place, beautifully written, and filled with emotion. But most importantly, the book questions our life choices - the reasons we make those choices, and how we live with them. Bravo Jean Kravitz!

[Tamara]

*Thanks to Acorn Publishing and NetGalley; the opinions are my own.*

Because of the high rating on GoodReads, I pushed myself to keep reading past my personal 10% requirement even though I had already lost interest in the book. I’ve made it to 28%, and I’m still not into it, so I’m going to abandon this one.

I just don’t like Gabriel at all. He’s a cruel man who takes delight in the opportunity war gives him to kill. Sure, he does some good things, but I never felt like those made up for the wrong he did. You can’t measure a man by the way he treats those he likes but by how he treats those he doesn’t. And Gabriel is an absolute monster to those people.

Aside from that, I just can’t keep my interest in the story, which is quite likely related to my inability to like the main character. I’m a very character-driven reader. Get me attached to the characters, and I’ll keep reading even if the plot is weak.

Obviously, there are other readers who do not share my opinions, and that’s fine. I can appreciate how the author doesn’t shy away from the brutality and aftermath of the Civil War. But I have rarely (perhaps only once) enjoyed a book by the end if I wasn’t already into it by 10%.

Up till 28% . . .
Language: Yes, including f words
Alcohol & drugs: Maybe some drinking
Violence: Yes, including some graphic descriptions of war violence and torture
Physical intimacy: No (at least not to this point)

[Ngolana · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the last few battles of the Civil War Gabriel becomes a killing machine to earn freedom from his unjust incarceration. He finds revenge very sweet, but at a high cost to his relationship with his beloved Simone. She also is in a diffiicult situation as a motherless girl whose father still mourns his loss. She fights against the constraints of her rigid father and the “correct” place for a woman in those times. Ultimately her ability to help others gives her a reason for living while no longer depending on men. We cheer her on as she develops independence. Altogether a well-told tale!

The complex plot sweeps along at a great rate, while both external and internal conflicts develop believable characters who fight for differing goals. The action is enfolded in a background of accurately portrayed daily life of post-Civil War in the South and North, so the reader can imagine the scenes clearly. To be honest, I do not always enjoy romances and was afraid it would be a bodice-ripper, but although the sex is explicit, it is not over the top. My favorite theme is revenge (The Count of Monte Cristo, anyone?). Consequently I really enjoyed Gabriel’s character the most.

Lovers of historical fiction/romance will enjoy this excellent read.

[Rita Baumann · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Scars of Sand and Soil by Jean Kravitz is a sweeping Historical Fiction novel that takes place during the time of the American Civil War, and continues into the troubled time following the war. This story starts with Gabriel Cooper who is in prison for a crime he did not commit. He is consigned to serve in the Confederate Army, as many prisoners were during this time. Simone Livingston is a young woman of the South, who is trying to support herself as best she can after a very difficult childhood. These two meet, and the Story continues to move through many injustices, much violence, poverty, battles, blood and disasters. The author is very descriptive, and tells this story boldly. the horrors of war, revenge, discrimination, prostitution, death and injury are woven into this story to give the reader a true picture of this period.

However, "Scars of Sand and Soil" is also a story of personal strength, love, passion, determination, understanding and hope. This is a fascinating book that draws you right into the story. The reader won't want to put it down. 5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Acorn Publishing for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

[C. Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are many threads woven in the wonderful story of revenge, friendship, loss and perseverance.

Gabriel battles so much internally while trying to just live. His motives are clear, but man sometimes I just wish he would take a step back and not let his mind be clouded.

Characters are rich and complex, divided loyalties, drama and hope, which are all things that make for a great read.

We are pulled back in time effortlessly by the author and her descriptions of the time and the authenticy.

This one gave me way more than I bargained for in the best way. I was so completely captivated in Gabriel and Simone and I think often times in stories like this while you understand their why, you just also are left saying but why? If that even makes sense.

[Samantha Turley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story was authentic and full of history. The characters were carefully drawn.

Gabriel's story was touching, and you felt his frustrations and anger and motivations clearly throughout the read.

The pacing was perfect, and the unfolding of his experience in servitude plus his budding relationship with Simone were both well done.

The precipice of this really came at you and threw me for a loop. Kravitz does a great job of melding together multiple genres, leaning on the drama and history and really giving us a little of everything while ultimately just creating a fascinating and captivating read. Is revenge worth losing the good that has come into your life?

[The Balcony Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much, Jean Kravitz, Acorn Publishing, and NetGalley for this ARC!

Jean is an excellent writer for plot-driven stories. The story was fast-paced and the prose flowed well. It could include more details about the settings and character growth. I couldn’t connect with the characters as much I would’ve liked or felt transported to the historical time periods. The narrative style leaned more toward clinical than lyrical and the spice felt slightly out of place with the overall tone of the book. An interesting and quick (250-page) read!

[Gina Stamper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delightful story with a glorious cast of characters.

The research alone is mind boggling….so well thought out in it's entirety. I loved the historical elements, her attention to detail takes you back to that time, you can picture it.

I found this to be well written with several characters involved, all of who were well developed and fun to follow.

I love that this is not a cookie cutter happy type read. It deals with deeper themes of revenge and really adds a mysterious element to the drama.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This debut novel by Jean Kravitz is captivating. This is a well paced and detailed story of relationships, vengeance, redemption and forgiveness that takes place around the Civil War and the decades that follow. The characters are well developed as Jean describes the challenges they’ve endured and the demons they still battle. Filled with authentic period dialogue and dialects along with descriptive prose and stellar storytelling, the novel is engrossing. This book is hard to put down. I can see this as a great movie. Can’t wait for more from this author.

[R.K. Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hats off to author Jean K. Kravitz for her novel, "Scars of Sand and Soil," which involves the reader in a different view of war, and the aftermath.

It is a credit to author Karvitz's writing skill that while most of her tale follows the known history but she has an introduction of the characters and story that are just as convincing and compelling.

The novel makes for pleasant reading and offers several flights of suspense, drama, history and more.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've really been enjoying historical fiction during the Civil War period, so appreciated this story and the detailed descriptions of the time period. Great writing and complex characters. The battlefields, injuries, battles are described in detail so that was a little much at times.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

[Rhonda Collis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t put this book down, so entertaining . Don’t know if I was more captured by the excellent historical research, interesting characters or the unpredictable storylines. Three people in my family have now read it and we all agree, a true 5 star book!

[Carol Pottak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best book I've read in a long time. I could hardly put it down!!!