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Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Readers' Favorite
Stolen: Civil War Series Volume I by Rosemary Nichols is a compelling human drama that will wring a kaleidoscope of emotions from you. A family is at the heart of this gripping saga, which highlights different facets of the Civil War. The author's expertise in the era shines through, bringing history to life in an authentic way, and slavery to the forefront in a creative, powerful way. It's one thing to know history, but it's quite another to be able to weave it into an immersive story that sets you in the middle of a time period, and Nichols does this well. You feel you are in good hands and can trust her research and details as she lays out this powerfully moving story of Hannah and Carl as their trip to college is disrupted when they are kidnapped and are to be sold into slavery come January of 1861. Their family is left with only one option: Rescue them.
With such a heartrending plotline, you hope the author delivers, and Nichols doesn't disappoint. You will read of familiar events and people like President Lincoln, the looming Civil War, etc., but it doesn't feel like you are reading a history lesson at all. You are engaged in this family drama and care about the characters, especially Carl and Hannah. Preventing them from being sold into slavery sounds like an impossible task. It was a routine occurrence--business as usual. But don't underestimate the love, determination, and bravery of their family. I like how the author grounds the reader into the family in the very beginning, helping us to learn about them so that we will be more invested as the story unfolds. Most chapters end on a note of suspense, which holds your interest till the end, with an unexpected twist in one of my favorite characters, Amaranda. Thanks to the author's exquisite use of details, historical references, and dialogue, you will become familiar with the politics, culture, mindset, and mood of the day. If you enjoy novels based in the Civil War era, you will love Stolen: Civil War Series Volume I by Rosemary Nichols.
