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Seven Aprils
2020 Laramie Award Grand Prize Winner. In April 1860, Dr. Ryder Cole returns home from his studies, sure of his abilities and on fire to serve his country and preserve the Union. A panther attack threatens to cut his life short until a young woman with a rife and a sure-shot eye appears out of the mist. Then she disappears, re-turning as Tom Boyde, his comrade throughout America’s Civil War, and as Diana, met in a Washington D.C. whore house. The seven Aprils from 1860 to 1866 tell their tale of love and war, sex and friendship. And the price of crossing gender lines.
Editorial Reviews “Eileen Charbonneau pens an emotion-filled tale. Through her story of love, comradeship and struggle through the Civil War, Seven Aprils illuminates women's hidden role in history by a mas-ter at bringing the past to life. Not to be missed!” – Joanne Pence, USA Today bestselling author "This epic story offers a tale of love and hope, forged and tempered by the fury of the American Civil War. Seven Aprils is certain to enthrall readers." —Jenna Kernan Publishers Weekly Bestselling author of Winter Woman
“Eileen Charbonneau's latest novel, Seven Aprils, moves with the subtle sweep of her best fiction and confirms her place in the literary tradition of Willa Cather.” -- Robert Crooke, author of American Family and The Chastened Heart
Editorial Reviews “Eileen Charbonneau pens an emotion-filled tale. Through her story of love, comradeship and struggle through the Civil War, Seven Aprils illuminates women's hidden role in history by a mas-ter at bringing the past to life. Not to be missed!” – Joanne Pence, USA Today bestselling author "This epic story offers a tale of love and hope, forged and tempered by the fury of the American Civil War. Seven Aprils is certain to enthrall readers." —Jenna Kernan Publishers Weekly Bestselling author of Winter Woman
“Eileen Charbonneau's latest novel, Seven Aprils, moves with the subtle sweep of her best fiction and confirms her place in the literary tradition of Willa Cather.” -- Robert Crooke, author of American Family and The Chastened Heart
356 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 7, 2019
10 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Eileen Charbonneau
33 books57 followersEileen Charbonneau is the author of award-winning historical novels for adults and young people. Her stories explore America through eyes of her immigrants, her native peoples, her women. Eileen’s books have been praised by Kirkus, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist and many others. She runs a small bed and breakfast inn with her husband in the brave little state of Vermont, where the world appears on their doorstep to see the leaves go glorious evey autumn. Eileen is addicted to maple creemies, period dramas and American roots music.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 11, 2020
Everyone Should Read This
In the opening scene, we meet a troubled young woman named Tess. She’s wading in a creek, enjoying a rare moment alone. Her solitude is interrupted by a commotion across a stone wall. A panther attack brought a man and his horse to the ground and was moving in for the kill. Fortunately for the man, Tess and her Springfield rifle came to the rescue. The panther was known in the area as Old Pitch. The man, a young doctor, named Ryder Cole, and the woman Tess couldn’t be more different, as this quote indicates, “He covered her work roughened hand with his fine-boned one.”
Tess’s family depends on her hunting skills, and since the death of her mother five years earlier, her family also depends on her to do all the cooking and cleaning as well. It’s not clear what value her father and her two brothers serve. Despite their dependence on Tess, her father negotiates a marriage between Tess and a villainous storekeeper named Mr. Strong. Tess is not willing to marry Mr. Strong.
A desperate escape leads Tess to adopt some surprising disguises. Most significantly, she ends up dressing as a man and living as Tom so that she can serve in the military as an assistant to the doctor. It feels like Tess’s identities will be discovered at almost every turn. There is never a dull moment in this book.
Seven Aprils is very engaging, from its strong opening, through its complex middle, and all the way to its last pages. During the Civil War, seven years seems like a lifetime. Every plot twist is interesting and exciting. The scenes are richly portrayed. The conflict and angst are just right, ever present and never over emphasized. The premise is fantastic. My favorite part of the book is the strength of the character development, from the main characters to the lesser ones, not the least of which is Harriet Tubman. I especially liked meeting the tinker named Maude O’Neil.
This book is not just for fans of Civil War books, historical fiction, or romance fiction. This expertly written book is so good, I think everyone should read it.
In the opening scene, we meet a troubled young woman named Tess. She’s wading in a creek, enjoying a rare moment alone. Her solitude is interrupted by a commotion across a stone wall. A panther attack brought a man and his horse to the ground and was moving in for the kill. Fortunately for the man, Tess and her Springfield rifle came to the rescue. The panther was known in the area as Old Pitch. The man, a young doctor, named Ryder Cole, and the woman Tess couldn’t be more different, as this quote indicates, “He covered her work roughened hand with his fine-boned one.”
Tess’s family depends on her hunting skills, and since the death of her mother five years earlier, her family also depends on her to do all the cooking and cleaning as well. It’s not clear what value her father and her two brothers serve. Despite their dependence on Tess, her father negotiates a marriage between Tess and a villainous storekeeper named Mr. Strong. Tess is not willing to marry Mr. Strong.
A desperate escape leads Tess to adopt some surprising disguises. Most significantly, she ends up dressing as a man and living as Tom so that she can serve in the military as an assistant to the doctor. It feels like Tess’s identities will be discovered at almost every turn. There is never a dull moment in this book.
Seven Aprils is very engaging, from its strong opening, through its complex middle, and all the way to its last pages. During the Civil War, seven years seems like a lifetime. Every plot twist is interesting and exciting. The scenes are richly portrayed. The conflict and angst are just right, ever present and never over emphasized. The premise is fantastic. My favorite part of the book is the strength of the character development, from the main characters to the lesser ones, not the least of which is Harriet Tubman. I especially liked meeting the tinker named Maude O’Neil.
This book is not just for fans of Civil War books, historical fiction, or romance fiction. This expertly written book is so good, I think everyone should read it.
May 27, 2019
Good read, Well written characters set against the action of the civil war
March 12, 2022
This author has never disappointed me. I love period pieces with historically correct settings and Ms.Charbonneau nailed it. It was easy to get emotionally involved with some of the characters, especially with what they had to deal with during the Civil War. How things culminated towards the end actually brought tears to my eyes.
Looking forward to the next adventure from this very talented author.
Looking forward to the next adventure from this very talented author.
August 3, 2025
Highly recommended readers of literary historical fiction, Civil War narratives, LGBTQ+ historical stories, and anyone who appreciates courageous characters caught in the crucible of change.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews