The Woman Behind the Letters

Title: The Woman Behind the Letters
Author: Laura Lee McKellips
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: March 18, 2014
Dates Read: 3/8/2020-3/10/2020
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

You have to stay positive until there isn't a reason to.

**Cursed Soldier spoilers ahead**

Kathryn Alexander thought she had everything. The man she loved had just proposed to her, and wedding preparations were underway. Then that fateful day in 1861 happened, a date that would change Kathryn's world forever. She learned that war was breaking out between the states, and, to her horror, Benjamin, the man she loves with all of her heart, has decided to go fight. He asks her to marry him before he leaves, but she turns him down. She is adamant about waiting so that, if something were to happen to him, she would not become a widow.

She can't help but worry over Benjamin. His letters reassure her that he is ok, but each letter takes months to reach her. She listens with bated breath as the lists of dead and wounded are read, praying that Benjamin's name is never read. Miraculously, her prayers are answered. One day, however, she receives a letter that will change her. After the Battle of Gettysburg, she can sense a change in Benjamin's tone.

Thankfully, Thaddeus Morgan, the local banker, is there to offer her support during this trying time. He offers Kathryn a position at his bank to keep her occupied during the war and to help her feel like she is supporting the cause.

Soon, Kathryn's world comes crashing down, and she isn't sure if she will survive it, or even if she will stay brokenhearted fever. She is faced with tough decisions as the Civil War concludes, ones that will either change her life for better or worse.

I thoroughly enjoyed McKellips's Cursed Soldier, and I was excited to dive back into the world and see Kathryn's point of view. This book is not so much a sequel as it is a prequel or parallel to Cursed Soldier. I loved being able to read Kathryn's point of view and learn more about what was happening during this time in their lives.

One voice can make a difference, but it can also be lost in a sea of voices.

Diamond Dirt

Title: Diamond Dirt
Author: Laura Lee McKellips
Genre: Sports; Romance
Release Date: April 9, 2020
Dates Read: 3/1/2020-3/8/2020
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It's her senior year, and Shelby Cannon is one of, if not THE best softball pitchers in the nation. She, along with her best friend and catcher Kieron and their team, have their sights set on Oklahoma City. They've fallen short the last three years, but they will stop at nothing less to play on the red dirt of ASA Hall of Fame Stadium. Nothing on the field may be able to stop them, but something off the field may.

Shelby is an excellent student, in areas that she likes. British History, however, is not one of these areas. She just can't seem to keep the royals straight. Enter Winston Booth, the senior who is incredibly smart and who just happens to be majoring in British History. To his dismay, he is asked to be Shelby's tutor. He is her only hope if she wants to stay on the team and fulfill her dreams of playing in Oklahoma City. 

He begins to question if she really cares enough to put in the effort it will take to save her grade. Winston question her passion, but Shelby isn't one to not rise to a challenge. She tells him to come see her passion, and it gives him a whole new idea of how to tutor her. Will it be enough to save her grade? Can Shelby somehow juggle her studies and her game without crumbling under the pressure?

This is the third of Laura Lee's books that I have read, the first being Slay the Demon, and the second being Cursed Soldier. I really enjoyed the first two, and this certainly lived up to my expectations. I was able to read an advance copy of it. It is set to be published on April 9, 2020. I definitely recommend picking up a copy!

Cursed Soldier

Title: Cursed Soldier
Author: Laura Lee McKellips
Genre: Romance
Release Date: August 27, 2013
Dates Read: 11/3/18-11/5/18
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Have you ever thought if you would have been married you might not have been cursed?

This was one of my most anticipated reads of this year. I have been in a terrible slump for the past two months, but I devoured this book in three short days. This was something that I had never read before, and I absolutely loved it.

Benjamin fought at the battle of Gettysburg. He has a comfortable life planned for him, assuming he survives this war. His world is soon rocked beyond what he could even imagine. One fateful decision leads to a curse that, even after 150 years, he still has not figured out how to break. 

Alexandria is the youngest tour guide at Gettysburg. Despite her young age, her knowledge far surpasses that of her more experienced colleagues. She discovers what would be any history buff's dream, three storage buildings full of artifacts from the battle. The problem, she has only three short months to get it all sorted out, just in time for the 150th anniversary.

Her help comes in the form of Ben. This job helps him search for answers about his curse, but can he get past all the memories that resurface from finding things from his past? Soon, he finds himself drawn to Alex and her love and fire for history, but knows that a relationship of any kind would be unimaginable. He must decide if she is worth the risk, or if he will keep his secret quiet and not get close to her.

This is my second novel by Laura Lee, and I highly enjoyed it. I was unable to guess the ending, which is always a plus for me. This will be loved by and history buff who wants more than your typical history book.