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Ladies of Covington #9
A Blue and Gray Christmas
When a rusty old tin box is unearthed at the Covington Homestead, longtime housemates Grace, Amelia, and Hannah discover that it contains letters and diaries written by two Civil War soldiers, one Union and one Confederate.
The friends are captivated by the drama revealed. The soldiers were found dying on a nearby battlefield by an old woman. She nursed them back to health, hiding them from bounty hunters seeking deserters. At the end of the war, the men chose to stay in Covington, caring for their rescuer as she grew frail. But while their lives were rich, they still felt homesick and guilty for never contacting the families they'd left behind.
Christmas is coming, and the letters inspire Amelia with a generous impulse. What if she and her friends were to find the two soldiers' descendants and invite them to Covington to meet? What better holiday gift could there be than the truth about these two heroic men and their dramatic shared fate? With little time left, the ladies spring into action to track down the men's families in Connecticut and the Carolinas and to make preparations in Covington for their most memorable, most historic Christmas yet.
The friends are captivated by the drama revealed. The soldiers were found dying on a nearby battlefield by an old woman. She nursed them back to health, hiding them from bounty hunters seeking deserters. At the end of the war, the men chose to stay in Covington, caring for their rescuer as she grew frail. But while their lives were rich, they still felt homesick and guilty for never contacting the families they'd left behind.
Christmas is coming, and the letters inspire Amelia with a generous impulse. What if she and her friends were to find the two soldiers' descendants and invite them to Covington to meet? What better holiday gift could there be than the truth about these two heroic men and their dramatic shared fate? With little time left, the ladies spring into action to track down the men's families in Connecticut and the Carolinas and to make preparations in Covington for their most memorable, most historic Christmas yet.
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First published January 1, 2009
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About the author
Joan Medlicott
24 books77 followersJoan Medlicott lives with her husband in Barnardsville, North Carolina, where she conducts the popular Tea on the Porch workshops.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
July 6, 2016
I don't mean to be such a complainer this year, but I can't control how I feel.
The basic concept of this story is what drew me in. I loved the idea of these women finding these lost "letters" of Civil War soldiers. I even liked the idea that they were planning on getting the descendants of the soldiers together. I liked those things.
Then I read the book. I have a lot of issues with this one:
1. I did NOT expect it to be such fluff
2. I had NO interest in the Denny-Sarina (was that her name? - I really can't remember!) relationship
3. I didn't have all that much interest in the lives of the people that were the main characters in the story
4. I actually didn't have all that much interest in the two soldiers
5. I didn't like the way the letters were written - some of it seemed like a history lesson
6. Speaking of history lessons, I was irritated at the fact that these women had conversations with one another about the war as if they were in a classroom discussing it for the first time
Now, those were the main problems. There are others that I am not going to bother pointing out. But please let me elaborate further with my unhappiness with #5 and #6 on my list. I am very familiar with the American Civil War. VERY familiar. So, I became easily annoyed at having to have bits and pieces of it explained to me (i.e. what hardtack is!). Now, I am willing to accept the fact that this book may have been read by many people who aren't as familiar with the war as I am. So, many things would probably have to be written in there so the reader could "understand" more about what they are talking about. Yet, at the same time, it could've been written in a more realistic fashion. As I stated above, it was like a lesson from a beginner's history class. And that was kind of hard for me to put up with.
The thing that keeps me from giving this one star is the fact that SOME of the letters were OK. And I still like the concept of the story. But all-in-all, the book was VERY unenjoyable to read. At least for me it was.
By the way, as I have stated with many books lately, there were a few editing mistakes. Are all of the people in the publishing companies asleep nowadays? That is getting pretty tiresome.
The basic concept of this story is what drew me in. I loved the idea of these women finding these lost "letters" of Civil War soldiers. I even liked the idea that they were planning on getting the descendants of the soldiers together. I liked those things.
Then I read the book. I have a lot of issues with this one:
1. I did NOT expect it to be such fluff
2. I had NO interest in the Denny-Sarina (was that her name? - I really can't remember!) relationship
3. I didn't have all that much interest in the lives of the people that were the main characters in the story
4. I actually didn't have all that much interest in the two soldiers
5. I didn't like the way the letters were written - some of it seemed like a history lesson
6. Speaking of history lessons, I was irritated at the fact that these women had conversations with one another about the war as if they were in a classroom discussing it for the first time
Now, those were the main problems. There are others that I am not going to bother pointing out. But please let me elaborate further with my unhappiness with #5 and #6 on my list. I am very familiar with the American Civil War. VERY familiar. So, I became easily annoyed at having to have bits and pieces of it explained to me (i.e. what hardtack is!). Now, I am willing to accept the fact that this book may have been read by many people who aren't as familiar with the war as I am. So, many things would probably have to be written in there so the reader could "understand" more about what they are talking about. Yet, at the same time, it could've been written in a more realistic fashion. As I stated above, it was like a lesson from a beginner's history class. And that was kind of hard for me to put up with.
The thing that keeps me from giving this one star is the fact that SOME of the letters were OK. And I still like the concept of the story. But all-in-all, the book was VERY unenjoyable to read. At least for me it was.
By the way, as I have stated with many books lately, there were a few editing mistakes. Are all of the people in the publishing companies asleep nowadays? That is getting pretty tiresome.
December 11, 2013
As my 2013 Christmas fiction, A Blue and Gray Christmas was ok, but the story was rather predictable. The writing seemed to divert from the story at hand, with multiple side "topics" being introduced, that seemed to go no where. That being said, the readings from the found letters and diaries of the soldiers were interesting and told a good story on their own.
Unfortunately, I find it difficult to recommend this book, unless you want a quick read of a Christmas story.
Unfortunately, I find it difficult to recommend this book, unless you want a quick read of a Christmas story.
December 20, 2019
A wonderful Christmas story set in the Civil War! Loved it --I love Civil War era novels!!
October 27, 2010
I joined a color reading challenge this year, one in which you have to read books with colors in the title. I searched the library catalog for "blue" and came up with this book. Since it had two colors in the title, I thought I had hit the jackpot.
When I opened the book at home, I realized that I have read the first few books in this series. I should have recognized the author's name. The other books were okay, but not ones that I would read repeatedly.
This book felt like it was rushed to print in order to be a holiday release. The plot was interesting. The writing was okay, though I was frustrated by the unrealistic letters penned by Civil War soldiers. People don't write letters to family members the same way an author would share historical details with the reader. I wish I had marked an example in the book, but I don't care enough to go back and find one.
All in all, I would have given the book three stars but for the last couple of chapters. This book needs a serious edit. The last few chapters were missing quotation marks, had misplaced punctuation, and a very curious detail confused in the setting. Chapter 30 starts with, "one evening soon after Christmas..." Then chapter 31 says that "copies of the diaries and letters... would be presented to them on Christmas Day after the luncheon at the church." Which is it? Are these events taking place on Christmas or after Christmas? It wasn't a flashback but an editing mistake.
At least I've completed one book with a color in its title...
When I opened the book at home, I realized that I have read the first few books in this series. I should have recognized the author's name. The other books were okay, but not ones that I would read repeatedly.
This book felt like it was rushed to print in order to be a holiday release. The plot was interesting. The writing was okay, though I was frustrated by the unrealistic letters penned by Civil War soldiers. People don't write letters to family members the same way an author would share historical details with the reader. I wish I had marked an example in the book, but I don't care enough to go back and find one.
All in all, I would have given the book three stars but for the last couple of chapters. This book needs a serious edit. The last few chapters were missing quotation marks, had misplaced punctuation, and a very curious detail confused in the setting. Chapter 30 starts with, "one evening soon after Christmas..." Then chapter 31 says that "copies of the diaries and letters... would be presented to them on Christmas Day after the luncheon at the church." Which is it? Are these events taking place on Christmas or after Christmas? It wasn't a flashback but an editing mistake.
At least I've completed one book with a color in its title...
January 8, 2010
3 1/2 stars, really.
It's hard for me to really know what to say about this book. On the one hand, the premise was wonderful and the story itself was intriguing and engaging. I found myself wrapped up in the lives of the Ladies of Covington as the read through the old Civil War letters and discovered new things about themselves and the world in the process.
The letters themselves were extremely well-written, and I really felt as if I was reading things from the points of view of these two Civil War soldiers - one a confederate soldier, one a Union soldier. Joan Medlicott did a great job of giving them separate, distinct voices.
On the other hand, there was something about this book that was only so-so for me. The writing and ideas all seemed kind-of scattered, and there were a couple back stories going on that seemed to have NOTHING to do with the main story. This could have been okay, but to me it felt unnecessary, as if she was just trying to make the book longer. It's entirely possible, though, that this is because I haven't read any of the other Covington Ladies novels, so I sort-of came into the middle of it all. That aside, it also seemed like nothing ever actually happened, and when the occasional thing did happen, we heard about it several times from several different people.
So, as you can see, I'm torn. I loved it, but at the time time, I only sort-of liked it. It's heasy to say, though, that it was a quick, enjoyable, easy read.
It's hard for me to really know what to say about this book. On the one hand, the premise was wonderful and the story itself was intriguing and engaging. I found myself wrapped up in the lives of the Ladies of Covington as the read through the old Civil War letters and discovered new things about themselves and the world in the process.
The letters themselves were extremely well-written, and I really felt as if I was reading things from the points of view of these two Civil War soldiers - one a confederate soldier, one a Union soldier. Joan Medlicott did a great job of giving them separate, distinct voices.
On the other hand, there was something about this book that was only so-so for me. The writing and ideas all seemed kind-of scattered, and there were a couple back stories going on that seemed to have NOTHING to do with the main story. This could have been okay, but to me it felt unnecessary, as if she was just trying to make the book longer. It's entirely possible, though, that this is because I haven't read any of the other Covington Ladies novels, so I sort-of came into the middle of it all. That aside, it also seemed like nothing ever actually happened, and when the occasional thing did happen, we heard about it several times from several different people.
So, as you can see, I'm torn. I loved it, but at the time time, I only sort-of liked it. It's heasy to say, though, that it was a quick, enjoyable, easy read.
December 27, 2012
I really liked this book for 2 reasons. First, I am a genealogy addict and second I was a history minor in college and found the civil war ties in this story fascinating. An old tin box is found on the property of three older ladies who live together. In it are diaries and letters of 2 civil war soldiers, one for the north and one from the south. Through their letters and diaries and with the help of genealogical digging, these ladies trace their ancestors and descendents. A great ending as the ladies bring together these two previously unknown families and the relatives find out the true story of their civil war ancestor.
November 26, 2012
Eh. Typical fluff series read. Might have been better if I had read others but don't think I could have stuck with them. Liked the genealogy search. Really liked the insight into the Civil War through the well written letters. Wasn't Velma hurt in the car crash? She is never mentioned again. Maybe she died!
July 28, 2015
Three ladies discover buried letters from the pov of a confederate and union solider during the Civil War and make plans to reunite their descendants for Christmas. This book had the potential to be really interesting but fell flat. The ending was disappointing.
November 9, 2021
A Blue and Gray Christmas(Ladies of Covington #9) by Joan Medlicott
Have read the rest of the series and hadn't known about this book. What a treasure.
The women live at the farmhouse, and the worker in the orchard found an old box buried and brought it to them.
Letters from soldiers: one from south and one from north. They read and figure out the soldiers did not return home after being rescued and taken care of. They worked on the woman's farm and took care of her.
They each had married and started a family, one had a family back home but he just wanted them to forget about him and never wrote to them. The letters they had written were not mailed.
The women put the pieces together and with help from Milo they trace back to the ancestors and decide they need to hae a celebration at Christmas with all the families there.
They track them down and what an extravanganza it is. Love catching up with medical things with the women, their careers and their love lfies as only 2 live at the farmhouse but the women see each other very often.
Story also follows the paster who wants to marry a young woman and her child. She is getting a divorce form her husband who lives in Inda and she must explain to her family.
Feel like I hit the jackpot with this book because there are two stories in the same town being told.
I will now track down other works by this author to be sure i've not missed any more of her works.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Have read the rest of the series and hadn't known about this book. What a treasure.
The women live at the farmhouse, and the worker in the orchard found an old box buried and brought it to them.
Letters from soldiers: one from south and one from north. They read and figure out the soldiers did not return home after being rescued and taken care of. They worked on the woman's farm and took care of her.
They each had married and started a family, one had a family back home but he just wanted them to forget about him and never wrote to them. The letters they had written were not mailed.
The women put the pieces together and with help from Milo they trace back to the ancestors and decide they need to hae a celebration at Christmas with all the families there.
They track them down and what an extravanganza it is. Love catching up with medical things with the women, their careers and their love lfies as only 2 live at the farmhouse but the women see each other very often.
Story also follows the paster who wants to marry a young woman and her child. She is getting a divorce form her husband who lives in Inda and she must explain to her family.
Feel like I hit the jackpot with this book because there are two stories in the same town being told.
I will now track down other works by this author to be sure i've not missed any more of her works.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
December 16, 2021
This is one of several "Covington" books that Joan Medlicot has written. This one happens to be set right around Christmas, but it is really a book that could be read without the holiday being included. The holiday makes it more mindful and meaningful.
The three main characters are 3 housemates...Grace Singleton, Amelia Declose, and Hannah Parrish Maxwell. Hannah's husband, Max, has found a box while working on digging a foundation for one of his historic restorations. After being broken open they found several leather-bound diaries and bundled letters addressed to people in Connecticut and South Carolina. They find the letters to be over a hundred years old.
The ladies find out that the letters were from 2 different men, each fighting on the opposite side of the other during the Civil War. After reading some of the diaries and letters, they decide that maybe they can find the relatives that these papers really belong to, and get them all together at Christmas. And so the story goes......
The three main characters are 3 housemates...Grace Singleton, Amelia Declose, and Hannah Parrish Maxwell. Hannah's husband, Max, has found a box while working on digging a foundation for one of his historic restorations. After being broken open they found several leather-bound diaries and bundled letters addressed to people in Connecticut and South Carolina. They find the letters to be over a hundred years old.
The ladies find out that the letters were from 2 different men, each fighting on the opposite side of the other during the Civil War. After reading some of the diaries and letters, they decide that maybe they can find the relatives that these papers really belong to, and get them all together at Christmas. And so the story goes......
November 11, 2025
A Blue-and-Gray Christmas by Joan Medlicott is book 9 of the Ladies of Covington series set in contemporary Virginia. A tin box buried on their property has letters (never sent) from a Union and a Confederate soldier. each wounded and left for dead on a battlefield. Hannah, Grace and Amelia learn from the letters that an elderly woman who came to bury her grandson found the wounded soldiers, cared for them until they healed, then hid them until the war was over. They vow to find the soldiers' families, let them know what happened, and all celebrate Christmas together.
They make amazing progress on their goal, despite unexpected obstacles. Best part: plenty of the book is devoted to the letters themselves, describing the harsh reality faced by the soldiers.
They make amazing progress on their goal, despite unexpected obstacles. Best part: plenty of the book is devoted to the letters themselves, describing the harsh reality faced by the soldiers.
December 9, 2019
This was my first book by this author. I don't typically read books that are in a series unless I start at the beginning. Most other books that are in a series are hard to get into if you don't read from book one, but this book was easy to begin and follow.
I very much enjoyed the letters of Tom and John. It was as though I was creating scenes of how life was for them during the civil war and at their new home. I wish it had gone into Tom and John's lives after creating their own families.
I liked that the chapters were short, clean, and even decorative. Now I am going to have to get the first book and start my journey through the lives of these three women.
I very much enjoyed the letters of Tom and John. It was as though I was creating scenes of how life was for them during the civil war and at their new home. I wish it had gone into Tom and John's lives after creating their own families.
I liked that the chapters were short, clean, and even decorative. Now I am going to have to get the first book and start my journey through the lives of these three women.
December 6, 2023
I really enjoyed the historical genealogical portion of this book. A storyline I was not interested in was the Denny and Serena love story that had nothing to do with the main storyline of the Civil War soldiers. I realize that the insertion of the Denny and Serena love story Could serve as an important part of the books downstream in the series from this one. However, As a stand-alone book, the storyline didn’t garner my attention. I realized partway through the book that this was part of a series, so to be fair, I’m giving the benefit of the doubt, recognizing that the storyline included could have served for future character development of the next books in the series.
I do wish there was more development of the characters of the Civil War soldiers, and more about their descendants. But you have to realize that this desire comes from a genealogist.
Overall, enjoyable. But not enough for me to desire to want to read the rest of the books in the series.
I do wish there was more development of the characters of the Civil War soldiers, and more about their descendants. But you have to realize that this desire comes from a genealogist.
Overall, enjoyable. But not enough for me to desire to want to read the rest of the books in the series.
December 20, 2019
Focus on Civil War History
I love the ladies & their stories from the previous books in the series, but this book shifted the focus to two Civil War soldiers and their stories. The history seemed to be incredibly well done, but I had a hard time identifying with the urgent need to find & honor their present day relatives. The ladies' stories and fun descriptions of settings were included, but paled in the context of the tragic history being told.
I love the ladies & their stories from the previous books in the series, but this book shifted the focus to two Civil War soldiers and their stories. The history seemed to be incredibly well done, but I had a hard time identifying with the urgent need to find & honor their present day relatives. The ladies' stories and fun descriptions of settings were included, but paled in the context of the tragic history being told.
January 9, 2021
This book was disappointing at the beginning I thought it had potential but it fell flat. Its a story of three women who live together and they find these old letters from two civil war soldiers one from the north and one from the south. They put together a plan to find their families and get them together at Christmas which they succeeded in. The storyline was weak and I would not recommend this.
November 25, 2022
I was very disappointed in this book. I was looking forward to reading it and it seemed so outdated with racist undertones. The portrayal of Sarina and her beliefs/ethnicity was shocking to me. I kept looking at the year this book was written and was expecting it to be from the 1980s or before that. It also seemed to be written for a much older audience... talking about casseroles and luncheons. I would have liked to see more about the soldiers and less about the other characters.
May 9, 2017
This may be the dumbest book I've ever read. The only reason I read it in the first place was because my town, Newtown, CT is featured. It is a wonder of hat books like this can get published. I think the only people who would enjoy the Covington series are old ladies who like to gossip. They will find common ground with the annoying characters.
December 15, 2017
This book started out wonderfully but then the author seemed to not be able to decide between telling the story of the 2 men in the letters and diaries or the 3 women who are reading the Civil War stash of letters and diaries
She doesn't do justice to either and I was disappointed with the story line. It could have been so much more.
She doesn't do justice to either and I was disappointed with the story line. It could have been so much more.
December 14, 2019
Intriguing Christmas reading as the protagonists find a mystery--a box with correspondence never sent from two soldiers from opposing sides of the Civil War, and determine to find out the consequences of these men's odd choices, then invite their unwitting families' descendants to spend Christmas together. Heartwarming and fun reading, though not super gripping.
December 7, 2021
Unfortunately what drew me to this book, the letters of the Civil War soldiers just didn’t seem to live up to what I had hoped. There was a lot more going on in the story that didn’t seem relevant to the letter storyline, but that may be because it’s a book in a series which I didn’t realize going into this.
This just wasn’t for me.
This just wasn’t for me.
April 29, 2023
When a old tin box is unearthed at Bella’s Park, it’s given to the ladies to go through the contents. They find letters and diaries from two men, one a Union soldier and one a Confederate soldier, who tell about their lives. The ladies begin a mission to locate their long lower relatives and get her them at Christmas time for a family reunion and to present copies of the diaries to the relatives.
April 4, 2020
Did not enjoy this book. It is an afternoon book that should take about 2 hours to read. This book was boring too many characters the story line kept drifting all over the place. The story didn’t stay on topic of what it was suppose to be about it. I almost gave up on this book 3 times.
October 5, 2023
I was a little disappointed in this last book of the series. I wish I knew why and can pinpoint what I found lacking in this book, but I can't say. I suggest that if you are a Joan Medlicott fan and like the Covington Ladies Series you read this book and make up your own mind.
May 11, 2025
Listened on Audible (Included).
I enjoyed the story more at the beginning than at the end. I think this series is supposed to be like Jan Karon’s At Home in Mitford series, but focusing on four retirement age ladies who share a house. This book was free to listen so I thought I’d sample the series. I think if I knew the series and was invested in each characters story, I would’ve enjoyed it more. Because I didn’t know their individual stories, some characteristics seemed tedious or confusing at times. I do think it might be a good series, but I think no book will ever really compete in the same class with At Home in Mitford.
I enjoyed the story more at the beginning than at the end. I think this series is supposed to be like Jan Karon’s At Home in Mitford series, but focusing on four retirement age ladies who share a house. This book was free to listen so I thought I’d sample the series. I think if I knew the series and was invested in each characters story, I would’ve enjoyed it more. Because I didn’t know their individual stories, some characteristics seemed tedious or confusing at times. I do think it might be a good series, but I think no book will ever really compete in the same class with At Home in Mitford.
January 10, 2018
I was very intrigued in the beginning. I thought it was going to be a really good book, but as I got further in the book, I started to lose interest in it.
December 7, 2019
Such a sweet Christmas story. It was easy to read. I enjoyed it. I was so captivated by the old letters and diaries of the soldiers that I found myself wanting to hear more about their lives.
September 26, 2020
Mediocre Christmas story....much like reading something from a Guidepost book series- just not the quality. Multiple storylines were not cohesive , overall? Disconnected fluff.
January 29, 2021
Great story idea but way to many side stories
April 21, 2022
I've enjoyed following the Covington Ladies.
December 8, 2022
I liked the story line of the 2 men from the Civil War. But, the present-day characters didn't draw me in enough to cause me to want to read this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews