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Civil War Romance #2

A Rebel in My House

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Sarah Hubbard makes her living as a seamstress in her solitary home beside Willoughby Run, a creek near Gettysburg. Her loyalties are firmly on the side of the North so when Confederate soldier, Jesse Mitchell, seeks refuge at her home she cautiously agrees to help him.

Jesse promised his sister-in-law to bring her husband, Jonas, home safely. With all the death he's witnessed fighting for "The Cause," protecting Jonas has become a matter of honor. He is prepared to die for his brother and his country. He appreciates his luck in finding a caring woman behind enemy lines.

When Union soldiers spill onto their property, Sarah's compassionate decision to conceal Jesse's presence in her home leads to more hardships than she can imagine.

More than borders separate the couple. Can a Southern soldier and a Northern seamstress overcome the bitterness of loss and find the love amidst the horrors of war?

262 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 15, 2017

178 people are currently reading
297 people want to read

About the author

Sandra Merville Hart

24 books348 followers
Award-Winning and Amazon Bestselling Author Sandra Merville Hart is thrilled that her next Civil War series “Spies of the Civil War” will release in 2022! Book 1 of the series, Avenue of Betrayal, is set in Washington DC in 1861. Boulevard of Confusion and Byway to Danger (Books 2 & 3) are set in Richmond, Virginia, in 1862. Actual historical spies will influence the lives of fictional characters where everyone has secrets.

Her novella, Trail’s End, in “Smitten Novella Collection: The Cowboys” is set in the wild cattle town of Abilene, Kansas, in 1870. He’d been unable to save his own brother. How could he hope to save Abby’s?

Not This Year in “Christmas Fiction Off the Beaten Path,” is a heartwarming, nostalgic story of a hardworking family man facing difficult times at Christmas.

Her Civil War Romance, A Musket in My Hands, is 2019 Serious Writer Medal Fiction Winner and a 2019 Selah Awards Finalist. Two sisters have no choice but to join the men they love and muster into the Confederate army and in the fall of 1864—in time for things to go very badly for Southerners at the Battle of Franklin.

Her second Civil War romance novel, A Rebel in My House, 2018 Illumination Silver Award, released on July 15, 2017. A wounded Confederate soldier on the first day of battle leaves a Gettysburg seamstress with a heart-wrenching decision. Both have made promises. Some promises are impossible to keep.

Her debut book, A Stranger On My Land, IRCA Second Place 2015 and Christian Small Publishing Book of the Year 2016 Finalist, is the first book in a Civil War Romance series published by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. Should she turn her back on the wounded Union soldier?

Her novella, Surprised by Love in “From the Lake to the River” is set during the 1913 flood in Troy, Ohio. Unlikely heroes often rise up during tragedy.

Sandra is on the Planning Committee for Faith & Fellowship Book Festival. She served in the past as Executive Editor for DevoKids.com where she also contributed many historical articles. She teaches writer workshops.

Connect with Sandra on her blog, Historical Nibbles, https://sandramervillehart.wordpress.... where readers find posts relating to historical food/recipes, book reviews, and American history.

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5 stars
133 (54%)
4 stars
65 (26%)
3 stars
32 (13%)
2 stars
8 (3%)
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6 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
6,175 reviews
August 2, 2017
A Rebel in My House is a great read. It is full of historical details and it shows how much the author did her research. I highly highly recommend this book.
10 stars.
Profile Image for Pegg.
Author 28 books620 followers
July 15, 2017
Set during the battle at Gettysburg, "A Rebel in My House" tells the story of a woman swept up in an event that changed the course of a war. If you've never thought about the how the war and the battles impacted civilian lives, this story will open your eyes. Full of rich details of the time period, Sandra Merville Hart also explores the differences between North and South in a realistic, not stereotypical way. Amid those details, she weaves a story of love and trust. Well worth reading.
Profile Image for Catherine Castle.
Author 5 books67 followers
August 14, 2017
Recently I had the pleasure of reading a new Civil War novel by Sandra Merville Hart, A Rebel in My House. This historical romance gives the reader a unique view of the battle woven from two different perspectives: Confederate soldier Jesse Mitchell and a Gettysburg civilian Sarah Hubbard.

When the cannons roar beside Sarah Hubbard’s home outside of Gettysburg, she despairs of escaping the war that’s come to Pennsylvania. A wounded Confederate soldier on her doorstep leaves her with a heart-wrenching decision.

Separated from his unit and with a bullet in his back, Jesse Mitchell needs help. He seeks refuge at a house beside Willoughby Run. His future lies in the hands of a woman whose sympathies lay with the North.

Jesse has promised his sister-in-law he’d bring his brother home from the war. Sarah has promised her sister that she’d stay clear of the enemy. Can the two keep their promises amid a war bent on tearing their country apart?

Let me give you a hint—they have a lot of trouble keeping those promises.

Sandra deftly led me through the battlefield on Cemetery Ridge where fear and fighting surrounded the men, then marched right down into the streets of Gettysburg where civilians hid in cellars as artillery shells landed around them. The author’s descriptions of the battle made me feel like I was in the middle of the fighting at times.

But this isn’t a story just about the struggle that tore the country apart. The human aspect of the story touched me in several ways. Sarah shows the sort of kindness that could heal the war’s wounds, and how the couple developed a love that created a relationship which, despite the odds, had a chance of survival in a war-torn society. Sandra portrayed the anguish of people on both sides of the fight, writing a story that brought me to tears at one point.

If you like Civil War history, and sweet romance, then don’t miss A Rebel in My House by Sandra Merville Hart. Five stars to this author.

I was given an advanced copy of this book, but was under no obligation to review it. All opinions are my honest and my own.
Profile Image for Angie Arndt.
79 reviews89 followers
August 23, 2017
Like Sandra Merville Hart's first book, "A Stranger on My Land," her latest book, "A Rebel in My House," transports me back to the Civil War, but this time, the setting is Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Hart's heroine, Sarah Hubbard, is a strong heroine, a businesswoman (seamstress) in a time when women were expected to marry and have children. Anything more was frowned upon. And her sister does most of the frowning. But sewing isn't all that Sarah that she can do: she can nurse, calm animals and fall in love with the enemy. For Sarah lives in Gettysburg and she's loyal to the Union.

Jesse Mitchell is a rebel soldier, wounded and seeking shelter during the first day of the three-day battle. Against her better judgment, Sarah agrees to tend to his wound but makes the mistake of looking into his eyes. Can three days of shells and artillery drown out the sound of two hearts falling in love?
Profile Image for Shelia Hall.
78 reviews22 followers
August 19, 2017
Great story

I really enjoyed reading about the story of Sarah and Jesse! Could almost see the battle as it took place! Great story Sandra!
Profile Image for Martin Wiles.
54 reviews2 followers
August 5, 2017
A Can't-Put-Down Read

This book was as riveting and dramatic as its predecessor: A Stranger on My Land. A wonderful love story filled with suspense that will keep you turning the pages.
Profile Image for Linda Matchett.
62 reviews3 followers
July 17, 2017
A Rebel in My House is the first book by Sandra M. Hart that I’ve read, and I was absolutely enthralled. Starting it over a weekend, I was able to finish it in two sittings. I fell in love with Jesse Mitchell, a handsome, gracious, integrity-filled Southern man (perhaps because he reminded me of my own Southern gentleman husband!). I also liked Sarah. She is gentle and brave. It upset me when her sister was cruel and belittling to her. I wanted Sarah to fight back, but that was not her way. When I read historical fiction, I like to learn something new, and even though I am well-versed about the Battle of Gettysburg, A Rebel in My House gave me a fresh perspective about what civilians endured. I didn’t realize portions of the battle literally took place down Main Street. The book put a face on the situation and made it personal. I cried when one of the characters who I had grown to like died, and I laughed during one of hospital scenes when the men try to make light of their circumstances. Ms. Hart’s writing is vivid, and I was able to smell, hear, and see the activity happening in each scene. She effectively presents the message of God’s presence in our lives without being preachy. Sarah’s prayer touched me when she said, “God, show me the way. Jesse doesn’t believe you can hear above the noise of war, but I believe you hear best when things are at their worst.” Because this book is about war, there is some violence during the battles and graphic descriptions in the hospital scenes, but in neither case it is gratuitous. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction, especially readers interested in the Civil War era.

I received this book for free from the author. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Marjorie Hill.
96 reviews12 followers
July 30, 2017
Sandra Merville Hart did a fantastic job with her wonderful research of pulling me into the story, A Rebel in My House. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is supposed to be a sleepy little town but with the sound of battle, Sarah Hubbard makes a choice. As she tends the wounds of Jessie Mitchell, a Rebel soldier, her life is changed forever. A great read. I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Cindy.
Author 23 books145 followers
December 22, 2017
Books that center on a war are not usually my choice, but like the author I had also visited Gettysburg and was struck by the stories of the townspeople who had to deal with that horrible battle. I think the strength of this novel lies in the historical detail. Hart does a wonderful job with everything from medical details to the geography. Anyone who enjoys historical novels for the historical details will enjoy this one. The romance helps to lighten the heavy subject matter, and I love stories like this that offer hope and happiness despite the tragic times they are set in.
2,237 reviews3 followers
July 26, 2017
Free Ebook

She's a single woman living alone in Gettysburg during the Civil War. She helps a Rebel soldier and then has to worry about being declared a traitor. They fall in love
Profile Image for Starr Ayers.
31 reviews15 followers
July 30, 2018
I’ve never been a reader of Civil War romances but after reading Sandra Merville Hart’s captivating novella, A Stranger on my Land, I was anxious to read her novel, A Rebel in My House. It did not disappoint. This realistic and gripping story set within the Battle of Gettysburg was hard to put down. Hart’s skillful and poignant portrayal of this tumultuous time in our nation’s history not only opens the eyes of the reader to the valor, strength, and sacrifice of soldiers in the crushing heat of battle but awakens us to the unthinkable horrors the townspeople faced as their stately homes became makeshift hospitals and their lives and livelihoods were put in jeopardy.

Amidst the blare of cannons in a war that threatens to tear a country apart, the pounding and drawing together of two hearts becomes a welcome reprieve. Sarah Hubbard, a northern seamstress finds herself falling in love with Jesse Mitchell, a wounded Confederate soldier. If her sympathies for the enemy and love for Jesse are discovered, she risks arrest for treason and the demise of her relationship with the sister she’s tried so hard to please.

Hart’s sensitive style combined with colorful and relatable characters, and her meticulous attention to detail make this book a must read.
Profile Image for BrendaLee .
432 reviews19 followers
November 25, 2018
A great Civil War story that is well written. An audiobook. The narrator did a great job distinguishing the voices and making the story come alive. Hiding the enemy and being behind enemy lines were hard for both sides. Intensified scenes with a soldier trying to stay out of prison by play acting as if he was sicker than the enemy thought. Sarah’s and Jonas’s faith and Jessie’s stubbornness helps them in War time. Sarah falling for the enemy was terrible to her sister Martha and Sarah was always worrying what her sister might think of this or that. This book showed both sides of the war and could make me be a sympathizer on both sides.
If you like to read about the Civil War, with a little romance and want to be intrigued read this book.
I won this book from a FB rafflecopter and all opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Leslie.
215 reviews
April 1, 2018
Strong Heroine

Good book with a sweet story and strong female heroine. Makes you think about how hard war times have been on all sides and from multiple angles. Although I enjoyed the ending it did feel like the last chapter ended the story a bit abruptly.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews130 followers
Want to read
May 30, 2018
💝FREE on Amazon today (5/30/2018)!💝

Blurb:
Sarah Hubbard makes her living as a seamstress in her solitary home beside Willoughby Run, a creek near Gettysburg. Her loyalties are firmly on the side of the North so when Confederate soldier, Jesse Mitchell, seeks refuge at her home she cautiously agrees to help him.

Jesse promised his sister-in-law to bring her husband, Jonas, home safely. With all the death he's witnessed fighting for "The Cause," protecting Jonas has become a matter of honor. He is prepared to die for his brother and his country. He appreciates his luck in finding a caring woman behind enemy lines.

When Union soldiers spill onto their property, Sarah's compassionate decision to conceal Jesse's presence in her home leads to more hardships than she can imagine.

More than borders separate the couple. Can a Southern soldier and a Northern seamstress overcome the bitterness of loss and find the love amidst the horrors of war?
Profile Image for Shauna Williams.
Author 2 books4 followers
September 1, 2017
A novel that resonates with hope in the midst of hopeless with a heroine who reminds us that acts of heartfelt-kindness and self-sacrifice can truly break through seemingly impenetrable defenses. Even though the heart-wrenching effects of war are tastefully touched upon, this novel reminds us that God can use even the worst of circumstances for His glory. Hart did an amazing job of transporting the reader back to a war-torn Gettysburg and its surrounding areas while helping bring to light the sentiments of both sides of the once divided nation.
9 reviews1 follower
October 21, 2017
Worth reading

Several times I almost gave up on this book it just seemed to move so slow. I kept pushing through hoping it would pick up. After finishing I realized it had to move so slow so that I could relate to how those few days felt like to those who lived through them. I left with a new application for the citizens and soldiers involved in this time. Thank you for giving me this insight
Profile Image for Deb.
555 reviews32 followers
January 16, 2018
This made the “behind the scenes” story of Gettysburg come to life. While it touched on the battle, it focused on some of the residences of Gettysburg. I had MANY relatives that fought at Gettysburg (on both sides). I pictured the battle scene, but never pictured if they were in the town at any point. This book opened my eyes to the fact that SO much more was going on during those hell filled days. Thank you Sandra Merville Hart. I cannot wait until your next book.
16 reviews
August 27, 2017
A Rebel ing House

I really enjoyed this book. My husband and I visited Gettesburg in one of our travels and this story brought back our visit. Sandra certainly did a great job on her facts. I would recommend this book to my friends.
Profile Image for Barbara Sheffer.
20 reviews
September 14, 2017
Fantastic, I live about 30 minutes from Gettysburg and I learned some new local history. I believe that divisions in families as well as loyalty was portrayed wonderfully. Very clean romance. Can't wait to read more by this author.
12 reviews2 followers
November 11, 2017
Awesome book!

I greatly enjoyed reading this book, I read late into the night to see what happened next, very rewarding to learn more history of the civil war that has always peeked my interest, anxious to see if there might be a sequel to this book,
Profile Image for Anita Rohn.
1,972 reviews9 followers
November 19, 2017
Excellent

An emotional heart rending story that so clearly defines all of the emotions of hatred and love and patriotism that so define the history of Gettysburg and a war that had so many meanings to individuals involved. Well done !
Profile Image for Joy Lobel.
118 reviews2 followers
February 6, 2018
INTERESTING

Interesting but it seemed a politically correct book. There was wrong actions on both sides. The best part was one brother giving up his life so the other could be saved. Read it if you have nothing else to read . Try to understand both the North and South.
9 reviews
November 22, 2017
An interesting read

After reading this book I feel the urge to visit Gettysburg for a vacation. To vivid the museums in the town.
9 reviews
June 10, 2018
Once I start a book, I like to finish it no matter what. There have been very few times that I have ever put a book down to pick up another one. However, A Rebel in My House got me to do just that! I was in the middle of another very good book when I came across A Rebel in My House. When I reached a lull in the current book I was reading I decided to start A Rebel in My House just to get me out of the slump of the other book and to see if I'd even be interested in it. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down!
Sarah Hubbard is one of the most courageous characters I've ever encountered! There are many facets to her character and I loved getting to know every one of them! And just when you really get to know Sarah, you're introduced to Jesse, a Southern soldier in Sarah's Gettysburg home. The events that lead up to this chance encounter are intriguing. Even more fascinating are the events that occur after their meeting during the battle of Gettysburg and how it affects them individually and jointly.
This book is more than just a historical romance, it's a remind that no matter the circumstances, there are good people in the world but sometimes, that good person has to be us. Fingers crossed for a sequel!
Profile Image for J.E. Grace.
Author 23 books142 followers
January 9, 2020
A Rebel in My House is an on the edge of your seat, emotional read. It bases the storyline on the three days in Gettysburg and the days following, which gives the reader a glimpse into a fictional yet historical view of the events seen through the eyes of the main characters.

The characters are well-developed and I connected with them immediately. I felt their pain as the terror of war-affected every fiber of their being.

It was clear throughout the book, that the author did extensive research. Her descriptions of the battlefield and condition of the town during the war became very real.

A Rebel in My House is a wonderful fictional tale with well-written historical aspects woven throughout. I also was happy to see the spiritual content woven into her characters. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Susan Sloan.
185 reviews16 followers
November 23, 2021

This story does a deep dive into the battle of Gettysburg, showing us the disarray and the prejudice on both sides. Sarah Hubbard, a Unionist, is caught in the crossfire as she give aid to an injured Confederate soldier who shows up at her house. In the short time at Sarah’s house, Jesse Mitchell comes to admire her, but he takes seriously his vow to keep his brother safe.
If you enjoy getting “into the weeds” of an event, this book succeeds with flying colors. It’s almost like an hour-by-hour account of movements by both sides of the battle. The horrors of war are portrayed with honesty but sensitivity–not for the flair of gratuitous violence. The characters are well drawn, with all their faults and fears, so that we can understand their actions and empathize with their feelings. This book is one in a series about the Civil War, a common time period for this author.
Profile Image for Lori.
1,892 reviews134 followers
November 8, 2021
This story was just too good to out down! I finished this book a little while ago.
The author has done a wonderful job in showing how both sides of the War really is.
I felt sorry for the ones who were caught in the middle like Sarah and her family.
In some ways I got my wish for visiting Gettysburg but I really want to enjoy it for myself. I love love history
84 reviews
July 21, 2018
Civil war romance and some history

Most of the plot could have been completed in three chapters. I jumped ahead to chapter 25 just to rap up the expected ending. Overall, okay read.UH
Profile Image for Anita.
304 reviews
December 19, 2019
A very heart warming story placed in a real setting. A definite Good Read!
Profile Image for Gina Gingrich.
133 reviews
March 29, 2020
Loved it. Can't remember crying so much during a book. Wonderfully written.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews

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