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.
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I absolutely loved this book! Watching Flanna find herself, discover her strengths and convictions was awe inspiring. So much of the freedoms we have as women today began in the hearts of women like this character and all those real women who actually lived her story. ( )