A fun Historical Read. Four stars…
The Breastplate: A Civil War Adventure was an interesting book, as well as a ‘wholesome’ read. I enjoyed reading about the era it was set in, and I especially liked that the author, Shirley McCracken, provided the reader with Abraham Lincoln interactions versus only using Civil War historical facts.
Per the book’s back cover, McCracken has always been interested in Civil War history. Needless to say, I’m certain that she was quite surprised when her husband found an actual Union breastplate on their farm. Personally, I think the breastplate came to be in her possession so that she could attempt to put its history into words.
Everything in life has a story – the only requirement to hearing said story is to ask one (or more) of the ‘proverbial’ questions: who, what, where, when, why or how. Being immediately intrigued by the Union breastplate, McCracken asked all of these questions; which in turn led her to write: The Breastplate: A Civil War Adventure.
In The Breastplate: A Civil War Adventure, Kitty Claiborne (the daughter of a very wealthy senator) falls head over heels in love with William Benson, attaché to President Lincoln. They married and embarked on a life together, but Kitty had zero inkling of what her life would be like once she and William exchanged those sacred vows. Alone in a remote cabin for weeks at a time, she was left to listen to murmurs about the mysterious ‘Phantom Warriors,’ while trying to deal with the effects of a war that everyone hoped would end sooner rather than later.
Yes, The Breastplate: A Civil War Adventure is a fictional tale; however, McCracken does a fantastic job of using historical fact to make this read very believable. Additionally, The Breastplate: A Civil War Adventure isn’t just about the Civil War. It does contain the appropriate danger and intrigue for that era and setting, but it also contains heartache, perseverance and love. While some aspects are a bit far-fetched, the book in its entirety was written with skill.
Summary: The Breastplate: A Civil War Adventure was a fun and fast-paced read. A great book for anyone who enjoys American Historical Fiction, or someone who just enjoys a good read. Lastly, The Breastplate: A Civil War Adventure is also appropriately written for readers of all ages.