Love Beyond Limits: A Southern Love Story

Among the Fair Magnolias

by Elizabeth Musser

The war is over, but Emily faces a battle in following her heart.

Emily has a secret: she's in love with one of the freedmen on her family's plantation. Meanwhile, another man declares his love for her. Emily realizes some things are not as they seem and secrets must be kept in order to keep those she loves safe.

Genres: Historical, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Christian Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Audiobook, Christian

98 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 4, 2015

About the author

ELIZABETH MUSSER writes ‘entertainment with a soul’ from her writing chalet—tool shed—outside Lyon, France. Elizabeth’s award winning, best-selling novel, The Swan House, was named one of Amazon’s Top Christian Books of the Year, one of Georgia’s Top Ten Novels of the Past 100 Years and was awarded the Gold Illumination Book Award 2021 for Enduring Light Fiction. All of Elizabeth’s novels have been translated into multiple languages and have been international bestsellers. Two Destinies, the final novel in The Secrets of the Cross trilogy, was a finalist for the 2013 Christy Award. The Long Highway Home was a finalist for the 2018 Carol Award. The Promised Land won second place in Literary Fiction at the 2021 Georgia Author of the Year Awards and won the 2021 Carol Award for Contemporary Fiction. Elizabeth’s most recent novel, By Way of the Moonlight, is a Publisher’s Weekly Top Ten Pick in Religion and Spirituality for Fall Releases in 2022 and Parable and ECPA bestseller and was a finalist for the 2023 Christy Award.

For over thirty-five years, Elizabeth and her husband, Paul, have been involved in missions’ work in Europe with One Collective, formerly International Teams. The Mussers have two sons, two daughters-in-law and five grandchildren.

Find more about Elizabeth’s novels on her website and on Facebook, Instagram, Bookbub, and Pinterest.

Sign up for her email list https://6231db35.sibforms.com/serve/M....

Reviews

[Christina DeVane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short story set in GA after the Civil War. It’s sad to hear of the KKK and the destruction caused after such an awful war. The story itself had a great twist to make for a cute story.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good story that takes you completely by surprise!

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't have been more surprised by the outcome of this book. It headed in every other direction possible. Excellent novella with suspense and mystery and a soft romance. Facing adversity head on!!!

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The research and setting were well done, but there was absolutely zero chemistry between the characters and the conflict was poorly handled. Fun as a distraction but sadly didn't live up to its potential.

[Tori (Book Chick) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really much of a romance. It was more history of the south after the Civil War. It was interesting and sad...and not really well-written, in my opinion.

[Wilani Wahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A picture of the South after the Civil War. Not a pretty picture at times. I loved how the romance developed even in the darkness of the history.

[annabeth ☼ · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5

This story really was great, the fact that it spoke about the true realities of that time rather than just saying that slaves had been freed, so therefore it must’ve been all sunflowers and rainbows, was really a breath of fresh air, especially in a Christian historical fiction short story. I really did not expect that at all. The love part of it, though, is where I’m conflicted. I always feel like these stories are never long enough to do what was done in a seamless way, and this one is no different. I won’t spoil, but the way the love part of the story progressed seemed normal at first and then really sudden at the end of it. I really think this story would be one of my favorite Christian fictions if it were a longer, more drawn out thing, because then it wouldn’t have been rushed and sudden and out of left field, which is what ultimately made me drop the rating so far.

[Ana Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a new to me author and I have to say that I did really like her book.
The only thing was that because of the book description I thought that the storyline of the book was going to go a different route so I was disappointed that it didn't.
The description makes you believe that Emily, a white girl who is in love with Leroy one of the freedmen from her family's plantation, were going to have a different relationship at the end of the book.
The love mentioned in the title is more of a Christian brethren kind of love which I did like because it really showcases how we are really supposed to love people with no limits of race.
I really did like Emily's character and how she truly loved and defended those around her, I also liked how she never thought of herself as better than the people of color despite how she was raised.

[Joleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 1868
Wilkes County, Georgia

Emily was pursued by Thomas, her childhood friend. She just thought of him as a friend because because he didn’t hold her convictions that slavery was wrong, and that the freedmen were equal to their former owners.

She couldn’t abide marriage with a man like this. But both her parents wished her to marry Thomas.

Her heart belonged to a former slave, the preacher in his black community, but marriage with him was illegal, and he could be lynched if they even talked about it.

At first, I didn’t like the direction the story seemed to be going. But Ms. Musser is a master at surprising the reader.

Absolutely loved what she did with it.

[Ann Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much of a romance reader but I like Elizabeth Musser. I read hers completely and got a real "feel" for the reconstruction period in our nation when racial prejudice still faced the Klan.
I just skimmed the other 3 stories, Pawley Island locale, farmland outside of Nashville, Tn & Texas, near San Antonio. Those were so predictable to me it was easy to scan much of the stories.

[Jennifer K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Civil War fiction book was an interesting listen. Melba Sibrel narrates with different character voices. Her pacing is pleasant and she reflects the action of the story well. The novella is very well written and has some interesting perspectives as things in our country are suppose to be changing. I won a copy of this audio book. All opinions are my own.

[Heidi McGill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth Musser has an excellent grasp of life in Georgia after the Civil War and portrays it beautifully in this tale. The novella moved quickly and did not delve deep into the feelings of the characters, but the Christian tone and spiritual aspects of the story redeemed this. I look forward to reading other full-length novels by this author.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Beyond Limits by Elizabeth Musser – Oh it made my heart hurt! I would love to say that human beings have learned from their hatred, but we haven’t. This story is full of courage and hope, and I hope it inspires you too! Happy Reading!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review on whole compilation.

[LaGail Lenoir · Rating 5 out of 5]

bought the audiobook verion. Due to slavery it was hard to listen it, but the story was good.

[Bonnie Olive · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading about the freedman

Always love reading Elizabeth Mussers books
This book is about the freedman getting to vote
For their freedoms in Geogia

[Rebekah Gyger · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Love Beyond Limits is less of a romance and more of a snapshot of history told through the eyes of fictional characters. The story was heartbreaking and bittersweet, if not really romantic in anyway. I think this is a story I would have enjoyed far more if it had been a full length novel, as there was so much more I would have liked to have seen with these characters.


I received this book through Litfuse in exchange for an honest review.

[writer... · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plight of the freedmen vs political opposition was strongly represented and well researched. I also learned much about plantation owner farming situations and murders at the hands of KKK actions. Thankfully, a satisfying conclusion to this insightful story. And a delight to read a story by an expat living in Lyon France for our #ParisinJuly theme for this month.

[Strawberry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Both this story and Dorthy Love's story read like it was originally longer and several chapters were just omitted to make it fit this compilation. I "liked"(3 Stars) the first part, but then there was a noticeable gap after the heroine's ride to meet Thomas. The story seem to abruptly skip to the end. Brushing over exactly what she told the parents. It rushed to end.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good quick read. I read it in one day. It was just right for a novella. Good complete story and characters in a short version. I liked the surprise Emily gets in the end and there is good history in the book too.

[Karen Vogel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really nice novella, but I like Elizabeth's longer books since her character depth is so wonderful, you don't want her books to end.

[Heather Costa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved these stories. Happy endings, shallow page turning reading. Perfect.

[Cheryl-Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars interesting post civil war story