Sophie Ford thought she was sleeping in the arms of her beloved husband, Jamie. However, she has woken to find herself in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 1863, without explanation as to how she got there, or where her husband is.
Is love timeless?
Does only one true love exist for each person?
Can the course of history be changed in order to save a future generation?
Sophie Ford, awaiting a heart transplant, thought she was sleeping in the arms of her beloved husband, Jamie, however, she has woken to find herself in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 1863, without explanation as to how she got there, or where her husband is.
She finds refuge with a doctor and his family, but develops a volatile relationship with their neighbor, Richard Madden. His expectations become difficult to ignore, and Sophie must figure out a way to hold off his advances.
When a soldier shows up looking identical to Jamie, but not knowing who she is, Sophie decides she must make him remember.
Will her love for him help him remember? Will they rediscover their love in the new century, or will Richard threaten their chance to reunite? Will Sophie survive the threat against her life and destiny?
Professional Reviews
Love on the Bookshelf
When I first read the summary of this book, I thought to myself, “Okay… how’s this going to work?” Time travel, Civil War battles, spouses reunited in another era… I was fascinated by the concept, but afraid it was all a gimmick. Luckily for me, Tracey Jane Jackson’s first novel in her Cival War Brides series delivers many more punches than just a time portal.
SUMMARY: When Sophie Ford wakes up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1863, leaving behind her life-threatening heart condition and her husband in 2007, her problems are only just beginning. Of course, it’s nice to be healthy again, but there are a lot of questions that need to be answered. How did she get there? Where is her beloved husband Jamie? And how does she get back?
A Civil War aficionado, Sophie takes some comfort in knowing she’s on the winning side of the war, but knows that tough times are coming for the Wades and Simmonds families she’s grown to love and the area in general. She finds refuge with them, fights off the aggressive advances of their neighbor, and holds out hope that Jamie will find her… somehow. Then a soldier shows up looking just like him, with no memory of his life before waking up in 1863. Helping him remember is a challenge, but they get there together.
Without revealing too much or spoiling it for potential readers, Jamie and Sophie’s story is a heart-warming tale of love overcoming challenges and even time. Their bond is strong and, although it is greatly tested in The Bride Price, it will renew your faith that love conquers all.
As far as everything else is concerned, Jackson’s knowledge of her chosen era is impressive. She demonstrates an intricate understanding of the roles of men and women, the clothing of the period, the customs of courting and decency, colloquial speech, and the nitty gritty of the War Between the States. It all provides a colorful and engaging backdrop for this love story, one that is sure to evoke a few little tears from you on occasion.
The Three R’s
Rating: PG. There’s talk of marital relations here and there, but Jackson keeps it mostly clean by “panning away” before things get too hot and heavy.
Recommendation: Absolutely. Lovers of history will enjoy it for its accuracy and creative spin on the traditional historical format. Lovers of books about love will adore it for all those sweet moments between our hero and heroine.
Re-read: Maybe. Although I’m eager to move forward in the series, I can see myself revisiting this when I’m feeling sentimental. First, though, I’m recommending it to my friends.
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