What do you think?
Rate this book
Shadowcreek Chronicles #4
Strength and Glory
The fall of 1864 finds Mosby’s Rangers in a violent clash with Sheridan’s Cavalry in the Shenandoah Valley…
The nature of the fighting between the Confederacy and the Union has changed drastically from a once “gentlemanly conflict” to an all-out war of brutal treachery. Measured in terms of human life, the costly battles, lightning-quick raids, and secret missions effect the beginning of the end of the War Between the States, as President Lincoln finally finds a commander in Ulysses S. Grant who will fight Robert E. Lee without mercy.
Homecoming at her family’s estate is nothing like what Salina Rose Hastings Barnes had ever imagined it could be. She returns to her native Virginia as a young wife and expectant mother, only to find that the place she holds so dear has been razed by order of Yankee major John Barnes. Corrupted by a festering decades-old vendetta, Barnes has sworn to annihilate not only the entire Hastings family, but also Salina’s husband, Captain Jeremy Barnes. The love Jeremy and Salina have for each other, combined with their faith in the Almighty, supplies them with the strength needed to endure trials that imperil their very lives.
Unable to participate as actively as she once did in the Remnant, a civilian spy ring organized by her late father, Salina limits her war effort to nursing in a Richmond hospital and knitting socks for Southern soldiers. As belief in the Cause crumbles and notions of glorious victory elude the struggling Confederacy, Salina dreams of life with Jeremy beyond the war, and hopes to solve a painful mystery by discovering the identity of Jeremy’s true father. When all is said and done, Jeremy and Salina can testify that all things work together for God’s people, and that He alone is worthy of the glory and honor for the great things He has done.
STRENGTH AND GLORY depicts the joys and woes of the Hastings family and their struggle to overcome the upheaval induced by America’s Civil War. Irrevocably changed, they all must come to terms with applying the lessons history has imposed upon them.
The nature of the fighting between the Confederacy and the Union has changed drastically from a once “gentlemanly conflict” to an all-out war of brutal treachery. Measured in terms of human life, the costly battles, lightning-quick raids, and secret missions effect the beginning of the end of the War Between the States, as President Lincoln finally finds a commander in Ulysses S. Grant who will fight Robert E. Lee without mercy.
Homecoming at her family’s estate is nothing like what Salina Rose Hastings Barnes had ever imagined it could be. She returns to her native Virginia as a young wife and expectant mother, only to find that the place she holds so dear has been razed by order of Yankee major John Barnes. Corrupted by a festering decades-old vendetta, Barnes has sworn to annihilate not only the entire Hastings family, but also Salina’s husband, Captain Jeremy Barnes. The love Jeremy and Salina have for each other, combined with their faith in the Almighty, supplies them with the strength needed to endure trials that imperil their very lives.
Unable to participate as actively as she once did in the Remnant, a civilian spy ring organized by her late father, Salina limits her war effort to nursing in a Richmond hospital and knitting socks for Southern soldiers. As belief in the Cause crumbles and notions of glorious victory elude the struggling Confederacy, Salina dreams of life with Jeremy beyond the war, and hopes to solve a painful mystery by discovering the identity of Jeremy’s true father. When all is said and done, Jeremy and Salina can testify that all things work together for God’s people, and that He alone is worthy of the glory and honor for the great things He has done.
STRENGTH AND GLORY depicts the joys and woes of the Hastings family and their struggle to overcome the upheaval induced by America’s Civil War. Irrevocably changed, they all must come to terms with applying the lessons history has imposed upon them.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2000
3 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
T. Elizabeth Renich
7 books31 followersT. Elizabeth Renich is the author of the Shadowcreek Chronicles, a series of four historical novels set against the backdrop of the American Civil War. Ms. Renich’s research repeatedly brought her to the East Coast while digging for accurate historical background information for her novels. These research trips indirectly led to her decision to move from her native California to Charlotte, North Carolina, following a five-season stint (1992-1997) as Secretary to the Head Coach of the San Diego Chargers.
In addition to her interest in the Civil War, her favorite pastimes include reading, writing, photography, football, and horseback riding, the last of which resulted from her studies of the Southern cavalry. While writing, Ms. Renich often listens to movie soundtracks such as Last of the Mohicans, Gettysburg, and Braveheart; and music from Civil War period or traditional Scottish tunes. Although she inherited her love of books and reading from her father, the greatest influence on her writing career came from her Senior Composition teacher in high school.
The Shadowcreek Chronicles (Word of Honor, Matter of Trust, Not Without Courage, and Strength and Glory) are Ms. Renich’s first published effort. Future projects may eventually lead her into non-fiction writing.
One of her long-range goals is to visit all fifty states prior to her fiftieth birthday. She has traveled to Alaska and only has Hawaii and twelve other states left to go. Ms. Renich first visited Winchester in the summer of 1998, and since became enamored of the Lower Shenandoah Valley. She hopes to realize her dream of residing there some day. In the meantime, she enjoys conducting research in the Winchester environs, whenever she gets the chance.
In addition to her interest in the Civil War, her favorite pastimes include reading, writing, photography, football, and horseback riding, the last of which resulted from her studies of the Southern cavalry. While writing, Ms. Renich often listens to movie soundtracks such as Last of the Mohicans, Gettysburg, and Braveheart; and music from Civil War period or traditional Scottish tunes. Although she inherited her love of books and reading from her father, the greatest influence on her writing career came from her Senior Composition teacher in high school.
The Shadowcreek Chronicles (Word of Honor, Matter of Trust, Not Without Courage, and Strength and Glory) are Ms. Renich’s first published effort. Future projects may eventually lead her into non-fiction writing.
One of her long-range goals is to visit all fifty states prior to her fiftieth birthday. She has traveled to Alaska and only has Hawaii and twelve other states left to go. Ms. Renich first visited Winchester in the summer of 1998, and since became enamored of the Lower Shenandoah Valley. She hopes to realize her dream of residing there some day. In the meantime, she enjoys conducting research in the Winchester environs, whenever she gets the chance.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 19, 2019
This series really gave me a different perspective on the Civil War and the strife families had being divided in loyalty. Enjoyed learig the war from a more personal standpoint, in the context of Salina's family.
January 17, 2010
By the time I got to the final book I was of course hooked to the drama of the family, and felt like I enjoyed the saga of the Hastings family and all their connections. It definitely was exciting to read about battles so close to home and near the area in which I live. I have a better understanding of the Civil War, (though I'm not done craving more)! I won't say that I was satisfied by how the series ended because how can any war book end on a completely happy note. There were tragedies left unsolved and families torn apart, lives altered forever. There was a sense of loss and a sense of difficulty to rebuild, a desire to start over and yet still go back to what can never be... so I give it good marks for leaving me feeling the same way the people of that time would have felt at the end of the war.
March 17, 2015
This book series is so good! I've read them all more than once and would recommend it to anyone and everyone over 13. While there is some graphic scenes created, it is the truth about the war, it was ugly, mean, and harsh. Anyone who is squeamish may not like it but it's true. I LOVED THIS BOOK SERIES!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews