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Heirs of Cahira O'Connor #3
The Velvet Shadow
THE HEIRS OF CAHIRA O’CONNOR SERIES - BOOK THREE It is said that as Cahira, daughter of the great Irish king Rory O’Connor, lay dying of a wound from a Norman blade, she lifted her hand toward heaven and beseeched God that others would follow…breaking forth from the courses to which they are bound to restore right in this murderous world…
To Kathleen O’Connor, Cahira’s story was nothing more than a legend–until research divulged that the tale was true. Stunned, Kathleen realizes she herself bears Cahira’s mark. Is she destined to continue the legacy? To find the truth, Kathleen must delve into the past to find the truth about The Heirs of Cahira O'Connor…
When Flanna O’Connor, a young medical student in Boston, is cut off from her family in Charleston at the start of the Civil War, she decides to disguise herself and move south with the Union Army. While in disguise, she must prove herself as a soldier and a doctor, both to her messmates and to Major Alden Haynes, brother to the man she has tentatively agreed to marry. But when Flanna and Alden are trapped between two armies, can Flanna trust God with her future…and with the love she has sought all her life?
To Kathleen O’Connor, Cahira’s story was nothing more than a legend–until research divulged that the tale was true. Stunned, Kathleen realizes she herself bears Cahira’s mark. Is she destined to continue the legacy? To find the truth, Kathleen must delve into the past to find the truth about The Heirs of Cahira O'Connor…
When Flanna O’Connor, a young medical student in Boston, is cut off from her family in Charleston at the start of the Civil War, she decides to disguise herself and move south with the Union Army. While in disguise, she must prove herself as a soldier and a doctor, both to her messmates and to Major Alden Haynes, brother to the man she has tentatively agreed to marry. But when Flanna and Alden are trapped between two armies, can Flanna trust God with her future…and with the love she has sought all her life?
416 pages, Paperback
First published February 16, 1999
26 people are currently reading
397 people want to read
About the author
Angela Elwell Hunt
271 books1,967 followersChristy-Award winner Angela Hunt writes for readers who have learned to expect the unexpected in novels from this versatile author. With nearly six million copies of her books sold worldwide, she is the best-selling author of more than 165 works ranging from picture books (The Tale of Three Trees) to novels.
Now that her two children are grown, Angie and her husband live in Florida with Very Big Dogs (a direct result of watching Turner and Hooch and Sandlot too many times). This affinity for mastiffs has not been without its rewards--one of their dogs was featured on Live with Regis and Kelly as the second-largest canine in America. Their dog received this dubious honor after an all-expenses-paid trip to Manhattan for the dog and the Hunts, complete with VIP air travel and a stretch limo in which they toured New York City.
Afterward, the dog gave out pawtographs at the airport.
Angela admits to being fascinated by animals, medicine, psychology, unexplained phenomena, and “just about everything” except sports. Books, she says, have always shaped her life— in the fifth grade she learned how to flirt from reading Gone with the Wind.
Her books have won the coveted Christy Award, several Angel Awards from Excellence in Media, and the Gold and Silver Medallions from Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year Award. In 2007, her novel The Note was featured as a Christmas movie on the Hallmark channel. Romantic Times Book Club presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006, and American Christian Fiction Writers bestowed the same award in 2019.
In 2006, Angela completed her Master of Biblical Studies in Theology degree and completed her second doctorate in 2015. When she’s not home reading or writing, Angie often travels to teach writing workshops at schools and writers’ conferences. And to talk about her dogs, of course.
Now that her two children are grown, Angie and her husband live in Florida with Very Big Dogs (a direct result of watching Turner and Hooch and Sandlot too many times). This affinity for mastiffs has not been without its rewards--one of their dogs was featured on Live with Regis and Kelly as the second-largest canine in America. Their dog received this dubious honor after an all-expenses-paid trip to Manhattan for the dog and the Hunts, complete with VIP air travel and a stretch limo in which they toured New York City.
Afterward, the dog gave out pawtographs at the airport.
Angela admits to being fascinated by animals, medicine, psychology, unexplained phenomena, and “just about everything” except sports. Books, she says, have always shaped her life— in the fifth grade she learned how to flirt from reading Gone with the Wind.
Her books have won the coveted Christy Award, several Angel Awards from Excellence in Media, and the Gold and Silver Medallions from Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year Award. In 2007, her novel The Note was featured as a Christmas movie on the Hallmark channel. Romantic Times Book Club presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006, and American Christian Fiction Writers bestowed the same award in 2019.
In 2006, Angela completed her Master of Biblical Studies in Theology degree and completed her second doctorate in 2015. When she’s not home reading or writing, Angie often travels to teach writing workshops at schools and writers’ conferences. And to talk about her dogs, of course.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
November 27, 2021
Book in a nutshell: don't start it unless you don't have anything else to do. Because you won't be doing anything else until the last page is finished.
Setting: Begins in December 1860, Boston. The book proper ends in September 1862, just after the Battle of Antietam, but the epilogue contains of jumble of afterwards and times up until the end of the 20th century. The middle includes a variety of locations in the eastern United States, North and South. The distinction between North and South, including the differing (and yet similar) viewpoints of political matters. The opening scene of the book actually bugged me to no end, partly because of the way I perceived the portrayal of Northerners and Southerners as a group. The grating personalities do gradually soften, and by the end I was very pleased with the balance of portrayal. Characters with all kinds of beliefs are represented, and the diversity is impressive.
Many historical facts are also included, such as battles, military strategy and structure, the beginning of the suffragette movement, and medical terms. I'm no expert on the medical advances of the decade, but Flanna's knowledge and beliefs are obviously ahead of the time, and I can't help but think it is portrayed unrealistically so (because no one wants the heroine to practice detrimental medical practices, no matter what what have happened historically).
Characters: The characters are generally well-written and well-developed, with smooth character arcs, at least for Flanna. She is the only one who can be called a "main" character. Alden, Roger, and Charity have their individual plot points, and Alden does have a character arc that's developed almost entirely off-page. They have unique and distinctive personalities and roles, but they don't have the grabbing captivation that I read in The Golden Cross. Dr. Gulick is a bit 2-dimensional, however realistic, and Wesley, for the significance he plays in the plot, is barely developed at all. I would have preferred his motivations be shown a bit more clearly. The various soldiers are also developed appropriately according to their roles, that is to say, they are distinct and unique, but none of them are so important to the story that they captured my heart.
Plot: If it wasn't clear in the character section, I'll say it here: this was nearly 100% a plot-driven novel. That's why, even though I wasn't particularly attached to the characters, I couldn't put the book down. Excellently written, scenes going seamlessly from one to another, motivations (for the most part) explained satisfactorily, and characters' actions not without consequences. I especially liked the plot aspect of Charity, as it's one that could easily be forgotten by the author, but adds a great depth to Flanna's character and the slavery issue as a whole. There's a great balance of romance, adventure, and biblical themes scattered throughout.
The ending plot events gradually get a bit more unrealistic and require a certain level of suspension of belief. Still, Hunt glosses over them enough in such a way that it was easy for me. And the way that the book ended ... yikes, it's great and horrible at the same time. Needless to say, that epilogue is necessary.
Faith Content: Flanna is a strong Christian, and develops a relationship with Christ throughout the whole book. Roger and Alden are likewise Christians, and have their own spiritual lessons they learn, although as I said, they're almost entirely off-page. The moral aspect of medicine is emphasized, and Old Testament scriptures are quoted regarding it. The moral issue of slavery is not really a main point, although the differing opinions are expressed, negative and positive portrayals to go around on both sides.
I daresay this novel might appeal to the modern Southern and Northern reader alike, provided they enjoy Christian romance with a heavy dose of Civil War intrigue.
Setting: Begins in December 1860, Boston. The book proper ends in September 1862, just after the Battle of Antietam, but the epilogue contains of jumble of afterwards and times up until the end of the 20th century. The middle includes a variety of locations in the eastern United States, North and South. The distinction between North and South, including the differing (and yet similar) viewpoints of political matters. The opening scene of the book actually bugged me to no end, partly because of the way I perceived the portrayal of Northerners and Southerners as a group. The grating personalities do gradually soften, and by the end I was very pleased with the balance of portrayal. Characters with all kinds of beliefs are represented, and the diversity is impressive.
Many historical facts are also included, such as battles, military strategy and structure, the beginning of the suffragette movement, and medical terms. I'm no expert on the medical advances of the decade, but Flanna's knowledge and beliefs are obviously ahead of the time, and I can't help but think it is portrayed unrealistically so (because no one wants the heroine to practice detrimental medical practices, no matter what what have happened historically).
Characters: The characters are generally well-written and well-developed, with smooth character arcs, at least for Flanna. She is the only one who can be called a "main" character. Alden, Roger, and Charity have their individual plot points, and Alden does have a character arc that's developed almost entirely off-page. They have unique and distinctive personalities and roles, but they don't have the grabbing captivation that I read in The Golden Cross. Dr. Gulick is a bit 2-dimensional, however realistic, and Wesley, for the significance he plays in the plot, is barely developed at all. I would have preferred his motivations be shown a bit more clearly. The various soldiers are also developed appropriately according to their roles, that is to say, they are distinct and unique, but none of them are so important to the story that they captured my heart.
Plot: If it wasn't clear in the character section, I'll say it here: this was nearly 100% a plot-driven novel. That's why, even though I wasn't particularly attached to the characters, I couldn't put the book down. Excellently written, scenes going seamlessly from one to another, motivations (for the most part) explained satisfactorily, and characters' actions not without consequences. I especially liked the plot aspect of Charity, as it's one that could easily be forgotten by the author, but adds a great depth to Flanna's character and the slavery issue as a whole. There's a great balance of romance, adventure, and biblical themes scattered throughout.
The ending plot events gradually get a bit more unrealistic and require a certain level of suspension of belief. Still, Hunt glosses over them enough in such a way that it was easy for me. And the way that the book ended ... yikes, it's great and horrible at the same time. Needless to say, that epilogue is necessary.
Faith Content: Flanna is a strong Christian, and develops a relationship with Christ throughout the whole book. Roger and Alden are likewise Christians, and have their own spiritual lessons they learn, although as I said, they're almost entirely off-page. The moral aspect of medicine is emphasized, and Old Testament scriptures are quoted regarding it. The moral issue of slavery is not really a main point, although the differing opinions are expressed, negative and positive portrayals to go around on both sides.
I daresay this novel might appeal to the modern Southern and Northern reader alike, provided they enjoy Christian romance with a heavy dose of Civil War intrigue.
July 13, 2016
Although my husband guessed who would marry who from what I told him about the beginning of the book, the history was very good. It has 3 settings, Boston before the Civil War, Ball's Bluff starting in August of 1861, & Richmond starting December of 1861.
In the Prologue, Kathleen & Taylor Morgan hadn't seen each other for months. She hadn't thought of Cahira O'Conner because thinking of her reminded her of him. She was surprised when she found Taylor sitting on the steps to her apartment one afternoon. Taylor came to give her news of Professor Howard, & she responded with sarcasm. When Taylor told her that the Professor was dead, she was shocked. She finally invited him into her apartment & carried her groceries to the kitchen. She thought Taylor's cheek was wet. The envelope that he gave her had been found in the professor's hand & was bulging. Was he still checking on Cahira O'Connor for her? She had stopped researching because she was tired of it. If she had known he only had a few more months, would she have done differently? The enclosed letter encouraged her to use the spiritual strength of Anika of Prague and Aidan O'Connor's creative joy. Flanna O'Connor's journal was enclosed. She wished she had tried to stay closer to the professor. He had been concerned for her once he learned how the heirs of Cahira O'Conner were linked, with her seeming to be the next. Taylor Morgan also seemed to be concerned with her future. He told her that Professor Howard wanted her to be prepared for whatever might happen to her. She began reading the Journal, the first entry dated December 24, 1860.
The story begins with Miss O'Connor taking time from her studies to have Christmas dinner with a family in Boston. Mrs. Haynes assumed that everyone in South Carolina held slaves since the gentlemen in Congress supported slavery. Her son, Roger, explained that Flanna & her physician father were from Charleston where there were no plantations to use slaves. Flanna had been in Boston for two years and she wanted to explain the situation to the Boston lady. Flanna's maid, Charity, had been hired from Charleston's free brown population. When the first course arrived, Mrs. Haynes was too busy asking questions to notice. Flanna's brother had bought slaves. She had another point to bring up. Since the slaves had been born & lived dependent on their owners for everything, wouldn't they find freedom terrifying? Flanna wasn't sure where Mrs. Haynes would go with the conversation. She didn't want to be involved in an argument about slavery. Mrs. Haynes congratulated her on becoming a doctor. Flanna planned on helping her father, but was able to treat anyone. The discussion turned to women voting, & Flanna felt that women did influence the vote through their husbands. Mrs Haynes was incredulous. When they prayed, Roger asked that the rest of the conversation would be more amiable.
After she left, Flanna felt that Roger's mother disliked her. She made sure that Charity was safely seated before getting in the carriage that reminded her of her father. Flanna allowed Roger to cover her skirts with the carriage blanket. On the way, Roger expressed his desire to marry her, & she could be a doctor to the ladies of Boston. Flanna wasn't certain that Mrs. Haynes would accept her as her physician. Roger explained that their marriage would show others that differences could be put aside to work together. Flanna couldn't understand what differences he was talking about, since he never contradicted her. Flanna was not interested in marriage, she had other commitments that she needed to take care of. Roger encouraged her to finish school & go work with her father while he built his constituency to be Governor, but he's wait to marry her. She wanted to keep their friendship, but not get married. Roger wanted to know if it was because he was a lawyer. She wanted to be with her family, but Roger insisted that once they were married, he'd be her family. She told him of part of her family history. She wanted to be a physician so no woman would have to suffer because they didn't want to go to a male physician. She wanted to go to Charleston because she had promised her father that after she became a doctor she'd work with him. Flanna insisted that Roger contact her father, perhaps if he'd still want her after separation, he really did love her. The housemother, Mrs. Davis, was waiting for the girl's return from their night out. Roger would not only have to gain her father's approval, but his mother would have to approve of her also. She refused to kiss him because a lady didn't kiss a man until the wedding band was on her finger.
Flanna announced herself to Mrs. Davis when they entered the house. The woman asked if he would be writing a letter to her father soon. Flanna answered that Roger understood that she needed to finish school & return to Charleston. Flanna asked to read the newspaper that announced that South Carolina had seceded from the Union. Mrs. Davis was sure that this would bring trouble between her & Roger Haynes. Flanna ran up the stairs!
Flanna's heart was pounding when she reached her room. Flanna explained to Charity that Charleston & South Carolina were not part of the United States any longer. She read that calls for secession had started as soon as the news that Lincoln had been elected arrived in Charleston. How would this effect her? Charity was concerned about her parents. Flanna thought this was terrible news. Charity felt they should go home. Flanna had 4 weeks until her medical exam, leaving now would mean she had wasted two years of education. She decided to stay a few more weeks, especially since her father probably wouldn't want them traveling during the turmoil. Flanna would tell Roger that the letter to her father would have to wait until South Carolina came to it's senses.
In the "Author's Note & References" she explains that the American Civil War still influences us. In her writing she did not contradict the facts of the battles of Ball's Bluff, Fair Oaks, & Antietam, but Alden's Twenty-fifth Massachusetts & it's officers are fictional. "All other references to specific regiments and commanders are taken from the historical record." There is a list of 17 references listed.
In the Prologue, Kathleen & Taylor Morgan hadn't seen each other for months. She hadn't thought of Cahira O'Conner because thinking of her reminded her of him. She was surprised when she found Taylor sitting on the steps to her apartment one afternoon. Taylor came to give her news of Professor Howard, & she responded with sarcasm. When Taylor told her that the Professor was dead, she was shocked. She finally invited him into her apartment & carried her groceries to the kitchen. She thought Taylor's cheek was wet. The envelope that he gave her had been found in the professor's hand & was bulging. Was he still checking on Cahira O'Connor for her? She had stopped researching because she was tired of it. If she had known he only had a few more months, would she have done differently? The enclosed letter encouraged her to use the spiritual strength of Anika of Prague and Aidan O'Connor's creative joy. Flanna O'Connor's journal was enclosed. She wished she had tried to stay closer to the professor. He had been concerned for her once he learned how the heirs of Cahira O'Conner were linked, with her seeming to be the next. Taylor Morgan also seemed to be concerned with her future. He told her that Professor Howard wanted her to be prepared for whatever might happen to her. She began reading the Journal, the first entry dated December 24, 1860.
The story begins with Miss O'Connor taking time from her studies to have Christmas dinner with a family in Boston. Mrs. Haynes assumed that everyone in South Carolina held slaves since the gentlemen in Congress supported slavery. Her son, Roger, explained that Flanna & her physician father were from Charleston where there were no plantations to use slaves. Flanna had been in Boston for two years and she wanted to explain the situation to the Boston lady. Flanna's maid, Charity, had been hired from Charleston's free brown population. When the first course arrived, Mrs. Haynes was too busy asking questions to notice. Flanna's brother had bought slaves. She had another point to bring up. Since the slaves had been born & lived dependent on their owners for everything, wouldn't they find freedom terrifying? Flanna wasn't sure where Mrs. Haynes would go with the conversation. She didn't want to be involved in an argument about slavery. Mrs. Haynes congratulated her on becoming a doctor. Flanna planned on helping her father, but was able to treat anyone. The discussion turned to women voting, & Flanna felt that women did influence the vote through their husbands. Mrs Haynes was incredulous. When they prayed, Roger asked that the rest of the conversation would be more amiable.
After she left, Flanna felt that Roger's mother disliked her. She made sure that Charity was safely seated before getting in the carriage that reminded her of her father. Flanna allowed Roger to cover her skirts with the carriage blanket. On the way, Roger expressed his desire to marry her, & she could be a doctor to the ladies of Boston. Flanna wasn't certain that Mrs. Haynes would accept her as her physician. Roger explained that their marriage would show others that differences could be put aside to work together. Flanna couldn't understand what differences he was talking about, since he never contradicted her. Flanna was not interested in marriage, she had other commitments that she needed to take care of. Roger encouraged her to finish school & go work with her father while he built his constituency to be Governor, but he's wait to marry her. She wanted to keep their friendship, but not get married. Roger wanted to know if it was because he was a lawyer. She wanted to be with her family, but Roger insisted that once they were married, he'd be her family. She told him of part of her family history. She wanted to be a physician so no woman would have to suffer because they didn't want to go to a male physician. She wanted to go to Charleston because she had promised her father that after she became a doctor she'd work with him. Flanna insisted that Roger contact her father, perhaps if he'd still want her after separation, he really did love her. The housemother, Mrs. Davis, was waiting for the girl's return from their night out. Roger would not only have to gain her father's approval, but his mother would have to approve of her also. She refused to kiss him because a lady didn't kiss a man until the wedding band was on her finger.
Flanna announced herself to Mrs. Davis when they entered the house. The woman asked if he would be writing a letter to her father soon. Flanna answered that Roger understood that she needed to finish school & return to Charleston. Flanna asked to read the newspaper that announced that South Carolina had seceded from the Union. Mrs. Davis was sure that this would bring trouble between her & Roger Haynes. Flanna ran up the stairs!
Flanna's heart was pounding when she reached her room. Flanna explained to Charity that Charleston & South Carolina were not part of the United States any longer. She read that calls for secession had started as soon as the news that Lincoln had been elected arrived in Charleston. How would this effect her? Charity was concerned about her parents. Flanna thought this was terrible news. Charity felt they should go home. Flanna had 4 weeks until her medical exam, leaving now would mean she had wasted two years of education. She decided to stay a few more weeks, especially since her father probably wouldn't want them traveling during the turmoil. Flanna would tell Roger that the letter to her father would have to wait until South Carolina came to it's senses.
In the "Author's Note & References" she explains that the American Civil War still influences us. In her writing she did not contradict the facts of the battles of Ball's Bluff, Fair Oaks, & Antietam, but Alden's Twenty-fifth Massachusetts & it's officers are fictional. "All other references to specific regiments and commanders are taken from the historical record." There is a list of 17 references listed.
August 9, 2019
Kathleen continues with the research on the O'Connor women after the professor dies suddenly. This time the story is about Flanna O'Connor, a SC woman finishing medical school in Boston just prior to the outbreak of the Civil War. Roger Haynes is a prominent Boston attorney with political aspirations and he decides Flanna should be his wife. Flanna is absorbed in passing her medical exams so she can set up a women's practice with his father in Charleston, SC.
When the war comes, she's stranded in Boston. Finished with medical school, she tries to help, but is suspect because she's from SC. She finally enlists as a man in Roger's brother Alden's MA regiment as a means to head south. She survives and thrives, but still tries to do some medicine for her comrades. She becomes known as the velvet shadow for her night time care of the sick and wounded. She and Alden finally get together and both survive the war. Their decendent is Taylor Morgan, the professor's assistant. Well done, clean read.
When the war comes, she's stranded in Boston. Finished with medical school, she tries to help, but is suspect because she's from SC. She finally enlists as a man in Roger's brother Alden's MA regiment as a means to head south. She survives and thrives, but still tries to do some medicine for her comrades. She becomes known as the velvet shadow for her night time care of the sick and wounded. She and Alden finally get together and both survive the war. Their decendent is Taylor Morgan, the professor's assistant. Well done, clean read.
December 3, 2022
How Does a Victorian, Female Doctor Find a Lifetime 💞, by Being her Truest Self?
Angela Hunt's 📗, "The Velvet Shadow" is the 3rd Story in "The Heirs of Cahira O'Connor" Series.
You have a South Carolina lady, stuck in Boston, Massachusetts when the Civil War breaks out. She urgently wants to get home to her Family in Charleston. ⭐What does she do out of desperately? Then throw in two⭐ Boston Brothers in 💗 with this lady. How do all three of them take part in the Civil War?
Why does the Heroine say the following to the Hero? "God holds my life, and he has seen fit to make me a part of this company, at home with these men. I will not leave them unless I have a clear indication that God wants me to depart. I will not go simply because I fear death. I don’t.”⭐
I Highly Recommend You 📖 This Incredible, Poignant, Engrossing, 💎, of a Christian, Historical, War Romantic Suspense 📗, to find the answers! ❤d 📖ing! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Angela Hunt's 📗, "The Velvet Shadow" is the 3rd Story in "The Heirs of Cahira O'Connor" Series.
You have a South Carolina lady, stuck in Boston, Massachusetts when the Civil War breaks out. She urgently wants to get home to her Family in Charleston. ⭐What does she do out of desperately? Then throw in two⭐ Boston Brothers in 💗 with this lady. How do all three of them take part in the Civil War?
Why does the Heroine say the following to the Hero? "God holds my life, and he has seen fit to make me a part of this company, at home with these men. I will not leave them unless I have a clear indication that God wants me to depart. I will not go simply because I fear death. I don’t.”⭐
I Highly Recommend You 📖 This Incredible, Poignant, Engrossing, 💎, of a Christian, Historical, War Romantic Suspense 📗, to find the answers! ❤d 📖ing! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
June 23, 2023
Rating = 3.5/5. This was written well, but...[spoilers head] the main character was the first in this series who honestly drove me crazy. She kept stringing two men along at the same time, making it a love triangle, and kept insisting on making a saint of Roger, when he just a pushy idiot. Secondly, this was probably the most morbid book in the series, because the many different ways a soldier can die are described in detail. By this point, I'm used to Angela Elwell Hunt killing off just about every character except her main two, but that doesn't make me like it any better. It gets old after a while. I liked 3/4 of this book then I was glad to get it over with, particularly the last 1/4 which seemed to drag. The romance was lacking in my opinion, since I couldn't really understand why two 'enemies' like this could fall in love with each so soon. It didn't make sense. In conclusion, the story was interesting but I'm ready to move to something a bit more light-hearted.
March 14, 2022
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book. As I read, I appreciated the research Hunt put into the work. She presented both the South and North fairly.
Flanna is fiery and headstrong but held back by societies expectations. Alden, confident and caring, encourages her to step out and be whom God created her to be. Roger is a gentleman but he didn't appreciate Flanna's aspirations to be a doctor. The love triangle between Flanna and the brothers was done well. It is interesting that women actually did disguise themselves to fight in the war. The author did leave a note explaining what was fact from fiction. The story did end abruptly but that just made the sparks between Kathleen and Taylor fly all the more. I'm looking forward to reading the final installment.
Recommened for fans of Civil War, love triangles between brothers, and strong female characters.
Flanna is fiery and headstrong but held back by societies expectations. Alden, confident and caring, encourages her to step out and be whom God created her to be. Roger is a gentleman but he didn't appreciate Flanna's aspirations to be a doctor. The love triangle between Flanna and the brothers was done well. It is interesting that women actually did disguise themselves to fight in the war. The author did leave a note explaining what was fact from fiction. The story did end abruptly but that just made the sparks between Kathleen and Taylor fly all the more. I'm looking forward to reading the final installment.
Recommened for fans of Civil War, love triangles between brothers, and strong female characters.
June 10, 2022
What a surprising story! I've totally fallen in love with the theme of The Heirs of Cahira O'Connor. But rats, I purchased book 3 and 4 at a library used book sale, not knowing I've missed out on two previous stories in this series. I'd actually allowed a few years to go by before picking up either of these to read and am so pleasantly delighted in #3 that I am deeply contemplating picking up books #1 and #2 somewhere to read before reading #4. This unique story about this young doctor having to follow a totally different plan as she graduates with her doctorate, join the army disguised as a man with her maid--an astounding but quite intriguing story of an innate drive to get back home, but the draw of love changes her entire course. A must read for Christian Historical Fiction fans. I so enjoy learning what I slept through in school through whole new eyes!
July 10, 2021
Of the three books so far in the series, I like this one the best. The rendering of Civil War times seemed very accurate. Medical practices at the time were horrific by modern standards. A lady doctor was extremely unheard of at the time. No wonder the soldiers did not want to be treated by Flanna O’Connor.
The author portrayed the brothers in a very interesting light. Roger, the politician, was Silvertongue and persuasive. Alden, the officer, was a leader who brought out the best in his men. Both kept this story interesting.
The author portrayed the brothers in a very interesting light. Roger, the politician, was Silvertongue and persuasive. Alden, the officer, was a leader who brought out the best in his men. Both kept this story interesting.
March 25, 2024
I really enjoyed this book! I think the author did an excellent job of presenting both sides of the Civil War and also how some people warred within themselves what to believe. The story and plot were well executed and contrary to her first books, I really connected to this character. I think the fact that she was American helped, but the author really made her and the people around her come alive. I also appreciated that the author didn't immediately kill off everyone who knew she was woman in disguise.
October 15, 2019
The historical inaccuracies with this series again caused me some annoyance. (Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell was NOT from Charleston, SC!) I did like that the main characters seem to be embracing egalitarianism...until page 300 when “it has always given me great pleasure to submit to your loving leadership” clearly pointed out that the author was not trying to say that with her strong female characters. Why does complementarianism always have to be put forth as the biblical choice that every godly woman needs to embrace?!
September 21, 2021
great historical fiction
Again Angela Hunt does not disappoint. She doesn’t hesitate to share the grit with the glory. She is able to weave a lot of true human anguish in the struggles of being loved by one and being in love with another. Her descriptions and details make it impossible to tell the difference in her fictional and historical characters from the researched historical events and her fiction
Again Angela Hunt does not disappoint. She doesn’t hesitate to share the grit with the glory. She is able to weave a lot of true human anguish in the struggles of being loved by one and being in love with another. Her descriptions and details make it impossible to tell the difference in her fictional and historical characters from the researched historical events and her fiction
September 12, 2025
I enjoyed this novel a lot! The series is so exciting! Yes it follows different women and each time they pretend to be men to accomplish their goals but it is so fun to read! The suspense of wondering how long it will take others to discover them and their grit and determination to endure challenging situations is inspiring. I am Canadian and I don't know much about the different battles mentioned but it was an interesting read and makes you want to learn more about American history.
December 7, 2022
I loved how the protagonist was from the south and the perspective she had. Also appreciated the messages about equality, freedom, and pursuing God-given gifts.
Didn't love the writing itself. But it got the story across okay.
Didn't love the writing itself. But it got the story across okay.
June 25, 2022
I liked this series, but this was my least favorite of the 4 books.
September 10, 2023
Great read
November 4, 2023
Enjoyable story that helps the reader visualize what went on during Civil War. Several early instances where the heroine almost unbelievably escapes discovery were a bit disappointing, however.
March 5, 2017
The Velvet Shadow is a gripping historical novel about a young, South Carolina woman studying to be a doctor in Boston, at the time of the outbreak of the Civil War. Desperate to get home to her family, she disguises herself as a male and joins the Union Army. Told in three voices--a frame story, the protagonists journal, and a close third person narrative, I found the story fascinating and the perspective of an educated, non-slave holding southern woman most intriguing. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction set in the U.S.
March 2, 2012
The concept of stepping outside typical gender roles has been seen in media for centuries. Although there have been plenty of female empowerment tales coming down the line in recent years, Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" is a centuries-old example. Usually, the protagonists in such stories are female; the only exceptions I can think of are the ridiculous Arnold Schwarzenegger comedy Junior and the hilarious-yet-unrealistic Eddie Murphy/Jeff Garlin film Daddy Day Care. The Velvet Shadow like the previous two novels in The Heirs of Cahira O'Connor involves a woman from the past disguising herself as a man in order to work in male-only professions; this time, it's a physician. The story is engaging, the writing good, and the detail wonderful, as is common for Ms. Hunt's historical fiction. One complaint I do have: The wide-margined format for some parts of the book wasted quite a bit of space. I get that the typesetting needed to be different for diary entries and letters, but it seemed a bit much. Bad formatting doesn't ruin a book, though; this is still worth checking out, although the beginning might stymie you if you haven't read the previous two volumes.
February 19, 2009
This book is the third in the series and it is the best one of the three. The other two were good but Angela Hunt finally hit her stride with this volume. She does an excellent job of tying women's expected roles in society in the 19th century to what probably actually occurred with women fighting on the battlefield and others trying to become accepted as doctors and medical experts also. There is the expected tilt to the romantics but it was unexpected to have it with the brothers on the same side of the war!
August 4, 2017
I read this book long ago and enjoyed it then. However, after the immense disappointment of the first book in the series, as well as another book by this same author, I have chosen not to waste time on reading the remainder of the series.
This book did not survive the second round of the purge from my personal collection.
This book did not survive the second round of the purge from my personal collection.
September 6, 2011
Once again, Angela Hunt does a nice job of putting fictional characters in a true and difficult setting; the Civil War. This was a good read. I would recommend it to anyone who likes to get into a romantic story set in a true situation.
September 12, 2014
Not a book to read at bedtime as the story draws in the reader making it hard to find a stopping spot. Even though this is the third of a series, the connection between the three is tenuous and each could be read independently. Every single book is very well-written.
February 10, 2008
good good good!
February 13, 2010
I liked this one a little better than the first two.
September 25, 2010
I loved the characters, the plot set during the Civil War and the relationship between the soldiers. The ending seemed to drag on though.
December 29, 2010
loved it!
September 21, 2012
I enjoyed the book very much. It is worth the read.
July 19, 2013
Really enjoyed this book about a woman who steps outside of her role in society and makes a difference during the Civil War. Very well written and engaging
October 31, 2015
Love Angela's historical fiction, never disappoints
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