A Heart Divided

by J.M. Snyder

(Gay / Romance / Historical / American Civil War) Confederate Lieutenant Anderson Blanks has grown weary of the War Between the States. He is all too aware of the tenuous thread that ties him to this earth--as he writes a letter home to his sister, he realizes he may be among the dead by the time she receives the missive. His melancholy mood is shared by other soldiers in the campsite; in the cool Virginia night, the pickets claim to hear ghosts in the woods, and their own talk spooks them. Andy knows the 'ghost' is nothing more than a wounded soldier left on the battlefield, dying in the darkness. With compassion, Andy takes the picket's lantern and canteen in the hopes of easing the soldier's pain. After a tense confrontation with the soldier, Andy is shocked to discover none other than Samuel Talley, a young man Andy's father had chased from their plantation when the romantic relationship between the two boys came to light. The last time the two had seen each other, Sam had been heading west to seek his fortune, and had promised to send for Andy when he could. Then the war broke out, and Andy had enlisted in the Confederate Army to help ease the financial burden at home. Apparently Sam had similar ideas--he now wears the blue coat of a Union solider. Sam is severely wounded and infection has begun to set in. Andy can't sneak him into his own camp for treatment because all Union soldiers are taken prisoner. But Andy's Confederate uniform prevents him from seeking help from the nearby Union camp, as well. It's up to Andy to tend his lover's wound and get Sam the help he needs before it's too late...and before Andy's compatriots discover Sam's presence...

Genres: Historical, M M Romance, Romance, LGBT, Historical Fiction, Military Fiction, Novella

124 pages, Paperback

First published May 12, 2009

About the author

An author of gay erotic/romantic fiction, J.M. Snyder began in self-publishing and worked with Amber Allure, Aspen Mountain, eXcessica, and Torquere Presses.

Snyder's highly erotic short gay fiction has been published online at Amazon Shorts, Eros Monthly, Ruthie's Club, and Tit-Elation, as well as in anthologies by Alyson Books, Aspen Mountain, Cleis Press, eXcessica Publishing, Lethe Press, and Ravenous Romance.

In 2010, Snyder founded JMS Books LLC, a royalty-paying queer small press that publishes in both electronic and print format. For more information on newest releases and submission guidelines, please visit JMS Books LLC online.

Reviews

[Meags · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

This was a pleasing find indeed. Needing a story set during the civil war for a romance challenge I’m completing, I scoured book lists in search of a story that fit my specific wants – i.e. preferably M/M in genre, hopefully of a reasonable page count, and delivering a guaranteed HFN/HEA despite the themes of war. Thankfully, a good friend suggested I try this KU accessible story she’d hunted down for me, and lo and behold, it fit my specifications to a T! (My eternal thanks, R! xoxo)

The story is set in 1865, towards the tail end of the War Between the States. Anderson “Andy” Blanks is a lieutenant in the confederate army, fighting for a cause and trying to stay alive, while counting down the days until this cursed war ends and he can finally go in search of his lover Sam, who he has been separated from for the past three years due to extenuating circumstances.

One night, the regiments pickets – those men standing guard along the perimeter of camp – claim to hear a ghost moaning in the woods. Knowing it’s most likely an enemy solider dying out in the dark alone, Andy takes it upon himself to venture into the woods to provide comfort to the poor soul. Instead, he finds his lost lover Sam Talley, seriously injured and wearing a dark blue uniform of the Union soldiers. Andy’s shock is great, but his instincts kick in and his desperation to save Sam’s life becomes paramount.

Incapable of bringing Sam back to Andy’s own camp because of Sam’s allegiances and unable to seek out Sam’s Union regiment due to Andy’s own status, in desperation to save the love of his life, Andy commandeers the basic medical supplies needed and performs his own makeshift surgery (of sorts) in the woods to treat Sam’s injured leg.

Although the initial threat is cleared, infection soon sets in and Andy must now decide on an extreme and potentially fatal course of action in an attempt to gain the help required to save Sam’s life.

This story was quite a stressful little read, if I’m being honest. Following two soldiers on opposing sides of war, both alone in the woods and unable to seek proper medical assistance in a dire situation, made for very gripping and suspenseful reading. I had to suspend disbelief a time or two, though, mainly because the odds of Andy finding Sam in the first place were a bit much to comprehend – we’ll call it fate and be done with it.

I liked Andy and Sam very much and I enjoyed the small moments of reminiscing Andy did in regards to their past together as young lovers. Even though Andy and Sam had been forced apart years prior, their love and devotion never wavered. It was all very romantic and felt meant to be, which just made the stakes higher and added to my worry for their well-being and happiness. As I said earlier, though, there is a happy ending here, for which I’m eternally grateful.

This was my first time reading a story by J.M. Snyder and I certainly enjoyed it enough to consider trying more from her extensive backlog somewhere down the reading road.

[AngelFire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-Read: June 2024
Original Read: Nov 2022

This was so good! I can't believe how amazing this story was. WOW! Not only was it a really great second chance romance but I also loved how well the author incorporated the historical details of this time period and especially how she used the Civil War as the perfect opportunity to add more tension and emotion into the mix. But my favorite aspect was Andy and Sam's relationship. Their love for each other was amazing and that resulted in the story having everything I want in a romance. The only negative IMO was the author's unfortunate use of modern profanity throughout the book. The dialog was historically authentic for the most part but the frequent use of modern profanity was a distraction. But I love this story so much that I don't even care about that, which is highly unusual for me.

The story is novella length so the author had limited pages to work with and I really loved that the main focus was always on Sam and Andy. Their history is explained through frequent but brief references and discussions, which gave a really clear picture of how much their relationship means to them and how much they love each other, which is exactly what a novella needs.

I also loved that this wasn't a typical second chance romance setup. The two of them had been in a relationship for 4 years but Sam (a farmhand) was forced off Andy's family's farm in Mississippi when Andy's dad discovered their relationship. But even though Sam was forced to leave, both Andy and Sam are determined to reunite as soon as possible and they never stop working towards that goal, with Sam working odd jobs out west to save up enough money to buy Andy a train ticket and get them set up for their new lives.

Three years into their reunion mission, the war interrupts and I really liked how the author reflected Sam and Andy's personalities through their choices of which side of the war to support. For Andy, it's an issue of pride and fighting for the life he's always loved and wants to have with Sam. As for Sam, he had zero desire to join the fighting on either side but his on-going quest to raise as much money as possible results in him joining the Union army, despite Sam being a lifelong Southerner. Why? Because the army recruiter offered Sam a sizeable bonus for joining. I found that really funny and it fit with Sam's personality so well.

Even after they're reunited when Sam is injured on the battlefield and Andy is struggling to take care of him, Andy doesn't push aside those long term plans they'd both been working on. While Andy's initial instinct is just to desert the Confederate Army and take off with Sam, his logic quickly points out how dumb that would be. Sam can't walk, they're in Virginia so they're far from home, they'd only have a few supplies and both of them would be labeled as deserters and considered criminals. But if Andy stays in the army, he can get access to supplies (food/medicine/clothes) and he'll keep getting paid and if he waits until his enlistment is up, he won't be living on the run due to being a deserter. The way these two guys always prioritized their long term relationship, even if that required short term sacrifices was fantastic and it emphasized how much they loved each other and how badly they wanted to be together for the rest of their lives.

Another thing that made my romance-loving heart really happy was how Andy's priorities instantly changed when he realized the wounded Union soldier he'd found was Sam. Right then and there, Andy's desire to keep fighting in the war, support his fellow soldiers, fight for his Southern way of life and everything else flew out the window. Instead, taking care of Sam became the high priority and the author did a great job demonstrating how there was no room for negotiation in Andy's heart from that moment on. He lied to his fellow soldiers, he ignored his responsibilities (he was one of the few officers in their group), he bribed the doctor for medical supplies and at multiple points, I honestly thought Andy would outright threaten to shoot people who he demanded help from if they didn't help him. This single minded determination was intense and it emphasized how much Andy loved Sam and how much their relationship meant to him. This is exactly what I want in a romance!

I also loved how much hurt/comfort there was in this story. Andy finds Sam on the battlefield after Sam was shot and due to them technically being 'enemies', they can't go to either of their camps for help without risking the other person getting shot or imprisoned. Add in the additional complication that it's 1865 and they're gay lovers so they can't look to anybody else for understanding or sympathy and basically, these guys were in a very difficult situation. This forces Andy to take care of Sam by himself and it was heartbreaking seeing Sam be in pain and delirious from fever and also having Andy be badly effected by Sam's pain and his fear of Sam possibly getting worse and dying. But the copious amounts of pain in the story was beautifully balanced with huge doses of comfort, which was wonderful. The boys are very physically affectionate with each other and because they had never really 'broken up' despite their separation, they settled right back into being physically affectionate with each other and talking to each other as they had when they were together.

The story also had loads of incredible tension which made me really anxious for both Andy and Sam. Due to the impossible situation they find themselves in (ie not being able to go to either side for help and also having to hide their connection from both sides), there are constant twists and turns throughout the story. Right when Andy has solved one problem and things are looking up, the author threw in another problem and Andy's back to struggling. I really loved these moments of stress because they balanced really well with the sweet romantic moments between Andy and Sam.

I also loved how the author wrapped things up. The story is novella length and while I would have loved to read a full length version of this, the author did a great job picking the perfect resolution to Andy and Sam's current dilemma and their future plans. I really loved the pacing and structure of the entire story and I was completely satisfied with what we got, which is exactly the feeling I want when I finish a novella.

[NicoleR.M.M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stars. The story was good, but the constant use of ‘my lover’ instead of just ‘he’, or Sam’s name, got too annoying at one point. There were parts of the story that, to my idea, were not completely genuine for the time this story is set in, like having a wound dry to air, or become addicted to laudanum or morphine. But the writing was good, the story was interesting and for such a short one, the characters were developed well enough.

[Kade Boehme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap. All I can say is wow. So effing emotional. Alot of heart packed in this little package. I was misty through the whole damn thing. Brilliant. Just brilliant. I can't even ...

[Kassa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The blurb is very in depth about the plot of the story so you know what you’re getting with this historical. It’s heavily romantic and dramatic with a wounded Sam and Andy frantically trying to save his lover before Sam dies or either one of them is taken prisoner. The tension and angst run high within this story but romance lovers will adore the relationship between Sam and Andy while being satisfied with a happy ending worth the struggle and heart ache the men have been through. Once again, Snyder has penned a cleanly written story with engaging characters and a descriptive setting, injecting intensity and emotion into the prose. A little heavy on the star crossed lovers theme, but the opposing sides of the civil war make the tension and drama understandable.

The story is told in third person point of view from Andy’s perspective thus giving a more defined glimpse into his personality. Although it’s been three years since Sam was driven away from Andy’s home, Andy still grieves for his lost lover and dreams of the day they can be together. Within the time he’s been in the war, he has grown and matured, aged from the senseless violence and hardship of battle. Andy now simply wants to be with Sam and is willing to make sacrifices he wouldn’t have before to ensure their future.

Although Sam is technically the younger of the two men, he displays much more maturity and self confidence than Andy. As much of the drama in the story revolves around Andy’s frantic actions to save Sam, Sam’s personality is seen through Andy’s eyes colored by love and loyalty. Sam clearly has never given up his own dream of being with Andy and the impression is quite clear these two were buying time until they could afford to be with each other. Sam has hints of anger and bitterness given the past but wants to be with Andy so forgives past problems easily.

Any additional problems of being homosexual during the time period and so on are ignored in favor of the conflict created by the war and situation. While this may be slightly unrealistic, the focus on the characters, their relationship, and the war time setting work well in giving a romantic, satisfying love story with just enough tension and conflict. Just as some coincidences were slightly too easy and convenient for the men, though I found I didn’t mind such details. The characters and their plight are engaging and appealing, allowing you to root for their success and end up happy certain coincidences occurred in their favor.

Surprisingly enough there are no sex scenes, which I actually didn’t realize until I started writing the review due to the high level of intimacy and emotion between the men. There are memories about their time together but no explicit scenes which would have taken away from the heavy romantic tone of the book. Despite being a historical, the theme and prose will appeal to a wide variety of romance fans with a good amount of angst and conflict but never exaggerated or overwhelming. Andy describes his love affair with Sam the best when saying:

“'I mean love,' Andy replied. 'I mean someone who sets your heart on fire and consumes your soul. I mean someone you’d not only die for, but someone you can’t live without. That kind of love. Do you know it?'”

If you enjoy reading about that kind of love, be sure to pick up this story. You won’t be disappointed.

[Erastes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The opening of A Heart Divided is absolutely wonderful. Lieutenant Anderson Blanks is writing a letter to his sister and then shortly afterward moves through the camp of his Confederate regiment. To those pundits who say that you should start with action and ignore things like description, I say pooh. This is the sort of beginning to a book that I really like, and the sort of thing that grips me.

It really drips with atmosphere; a heavy, hot Virginian night. Insects sounding the night, men spooked for no good reason, and a man who doesn’t know if he’ll live through the night, let alone the week.

When he finds Sam, injured, and in a bad way, the atmosphere becomes even more tense and claustrophobic, which was very impressive. If I have any criticism at the stage it is that perhaps the reunited lovers were more concerned with kissing and talking than worried about Sam’s injury, but who knows how we would really act under those circumstances?

As someone who appreciates the touch of gritty reality in their reading material, the part regarding Sam’s injury pleased me, but those reader who don’t want grim realism in their books might want to skip that section.

I was slightly confused by the top of every page said “Wicked Comes the Beast” – I assumed that it was a chapter name, but now I see it’s a typographical error on behalf of Amber Quill. I hope that’s been fixed now.

I was a little concerned by Andy’s lenghty absence from his regiment – he was gone all night, which I’d say he could have got away with. But then he was missing at dawn, and the regiment moved to bury the dead on the battlefield, he would have had men under his command, he would have been missed, by noon. I was pleased when he was finally called on this — but it was almost a day later. I think I would have preferred if some reason had been given for his able to go off on his own for this protracted time, perhaps if he’d been officially on the sick roster or something.

Although I wasn’t convinced by Snyder’s All Shook Up, A Heart Divided is a much stronger book, showing the same skills of prose as did ASU, and the short story No Apologies, which I enjoyed a lot. It relies a lot on coincidence, but where would we be without them? Sometimes it got a little too romantic for my taste (considering the danger and the injury) with Sam sulking and pouting – and with kisses while walking with a badly injured leg, and phrases like “verdant eyes” and “green gaze” but all in all, it was engrossing and I really cared about these people and wanted them to make it. Snyder is unashamedly romantic, but when there’s good writing to back it up, it becomes more believable.

Well worth a read.

[Gerry Burnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gerry B's Book Reviews

Five bees

One of my favourite genre settings is the American Civil War. In reality it was a brutal conflict with unimaginable bloodshed and death, but it also had a strong element of gallantry and romance as represented by the young men, the ‘flower of manhood,’ who participated in it because of principles they were willing to die for. This is the sense I found in J.M. Synder’s period novel A Heart Divided [CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, July 27, 2011].

The story begins in March, 1865,just one month before Lee’s surrender at Appomattox on April 9th, 1865, and at the opening we find Confederate Lieutenant Anderson Blanks writing to his sister with the pathetic notion that he could well be de dead by the time she receives his letter. It is a powerful opening, and true, for death was always just one breath away in this conflict.

Snyder also does quite a fine job of capturing the tense environment of the encampment, frequently in sight of the enemies picket fires, and surrounded by the yet-to-be-retrieved wounded and dead. His men fear the voices of ghosts when they hear an enemy soldier crying out for water, but Blanks recognizes it as such and takes a lantern and a canteen in search of him.

This scenario struck a familiar chord, for I remembered reading about Sergeant Richard Rowland Kirkland, the so-called “Angel of Marye’s Heights,” and his heroic deeds.

The story goes that on hearing the cries of wounded Union soldiers: “Kirkland gathered all the canteens he could carry, filled them with water, then ventured out onto the battlefield. He ventured back and forth several times, giving the wounded Union soldiers water, warm clothing, and blankets. Soldiers from both the Union and Confederate armies watched as he performed his task, but no one fired a shot. General [Joseph B.] Kershaw later stated that he observed Kirkland for more than an hour and a half. At first, it was thought that the Union would open fire, which would result in the Confederacy returning fire, resulting in Kirkland being caught in a crossfire. However, within a very short time, it became obvious to both sides as to what Kirkland was doing, and according to Kershaw cries for water erupted all over the battlefield from wounded soldiers. Kirkland did not stop until he had helped every wounded soldier (Confederate and Federal) on the Confederate end of the battlefield. Sergeant Kirkland’s actions remain a legend in Fredericksburg to this day.” Wikipedia.

Whether or not Snyder was aware of this story is immaterial. What is relevant is that it makes a most powerful device by which to reunite Blanks with his tragically lost love, Samuel Talley.

The rest of the story pits the two of them against the ideological divisions of “north” and “south,” and the severity of Samuel’s wound. I won’t elaborate beyond saying that the tension is balanced with romance, and the writing is strong.

My quibbles are almost too trivial to mention, but at times I felt the coincidences were just a bit convenient.

Altogether, it is a true romance with an authentic core. Five bees.

[Estarianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute story. Historically and medically it has some issues, though.

Opiate addiction was poorly understood during the Civil War and wasn't considered a major issue. Laudinum was available readily without medical supervision and morphine was relatively new as a common medication. So, the idea that they would be panicking about addiction while a patient writhes in pain is unlikely.

Of course, the importance of pain management was also not well understood, but the whole idea that it is better for a patient to be in agonizing pain than to have ready access to opiates is a 20th century medical misconception, not a 19th century (or 21st century) one. I think this author mixed her time periods. It's one authors frequently exhibit, however,

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read set during the civil war. A confederate soldier realizes the wounded union soldier he just found is the love he had thought moved west. It is a story of desperation and love with a much needed happy ending. 3.5 stars.

[J.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my book so I'm not going to write a review.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written historical set during the Civil War.

[Ryoma Gartre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was absolutely beautiful, read it when you going through one of those phases when you think the world is full of shit and need something to believe again.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written love story.

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an emotional story! There were a few moments I had to stop because I was so afraid of what was going to happen. Heartstopping moments. Andy and Sam's devotion to each other was so moving and heartwrenching at times. This is a must read for those who believe love still conquers all.

A few favorite lines:
"It would be just like mending a shirt. A bloody shirt that would feel each prick of the needle, each tug of the thread."
" 'I used to close my eyes and feel you touching me, your hands, your lips...like phantoms on my skin.' "
" 'You're his boy.' "
" 'Actually,...I'm a little late.' "

[Averly Wilke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good

I would have given it 5 stars if she didn’t use ‘his lover’ for every instance she could have used he in regards to Sam. It got trite and bothersome after a while

[Adam Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hurt/Comfort the short book! This was fun. I enjoyed the main characters.

[Simsala · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stars