About the Book

Book: Loving Lydia

Author: Susan Pope Sloan

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: April 25, 2023

Two Southerners thrown together by the Union army. He’s on a quest for vengeance. She’s determined to preserve her family.

Lydia Gibson’s life is overturned when the Union Army invades her hometown and burns down the cotton mill where she and her stepdaughter worked. Even worse, she and the other workers are arrested and sent to Marietta, where they wait for the army to send them north.

Confederate Sergeant Seth Morgan finally reaches Marietta to check on his family, but the last thing he expects is to meet a woman who sparks attraction he thought he’d never feel again. Unfortunately, she’s a Yankee prisoner and being sent north to Louisville, Kentucky.

Seth is forced to return to his unit in Virginia, and he never anticipated their next meeting would be when he’s taken to Louisville as a prisoner. While Seth searches the Confederate ranks for the man who murdered his wife, Lydia implores him to ask after her missing nephew. Neither one expects just how far the search will take them, or what they’ll discover along the way.

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About the Author

Born into a family of storytellers, Susan Pope Sloan published her first articles in high school and continued writing sporadically for decades. Retirement provided the time to focus on writing and indulge her avid interest in history. Her Civil War series begins (and ultimately ends) in her home state of Georgia with references to lesser-known events of that period. She and husband Ricky live near Columbus where she participates in Word Weavers, ACFW, and Toastmasters

More from Susan

As a “pantser” when it comes to writing, I never know how the story will develop or which characters will demand more “stage” time. Lydia Gibson was always destined to be a main character, but I had no idea who would be her leading man. When Seth Morgan appeared in Rescuing Rose, I saw him only as an object to create tension between Rose and Noah. Then I learned how his wife died and knew he had to be rescued from his grief and anger. At first, I thought he might match up with Celeste, but it made more sense for him to be drawn to Lydia, who was a war widow. He was a fun protagonist as he loudly proclaimed his lack of interest in marrying again but always went out of his way to assist the women he met. Seth liked to create the illusion of being a tough fighter, but what he really wanted was someone to love and share his life. As Lydia struggled to overcome her poor self-image, Seth discovered his strength in following the path of peace.

My Thoughts

Loving Lydia is written by Susan Pope Sloan. This is book two in the rescued hearts in the Civil War. I have read the first book, but they can be read as a stand alone. The author does a fantastic job transporting us back to the Civil War Time period. Her historic details allows the story to come alive through the pages.

Lydia Gibson and her step daughter work in a cotton mill. Until the Union Army comes in and burns it down. She becomes a prisoner along with her fellow workers and await the trip north. Confederate Sergeant Seth Morgan does not expect to find what he does when he gets to Marietta. He has made it there to check on his family. He is drawn to Lydia - however she is a prisoner of war. When their paths cross again in the Louisville prison, She tends to his wounds. This starts the beginning of their relationship growing. The author writes a great reminder of forgiveness and second chances into this story.

The story is well written, the plot will draw you in within the first chapter. I love this series. The author has been doing a great job with it. Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.