This story of a Confederate Army nurse who believes that due to her role as a triage nurse she is responsible for the deaths of many young men and for the pain and suffering of many others who did not survive. Haunted by the smells, sights and sounds she is convinced that she has no right to continue to live nor to have any happiness in her life. She is driven by the need to deliver the last words, in person, to the families of 21 of the dead. During her journey to accomplish this task, she encounters a widower from Texas who has come searching for his son who was in the army. Haunted by his past and the way in which is wife died and his son left home, he too believes he cannot have happiness in his life.
A great tale of love, compassion and empathy which rings as true today as it did in 1865.
This was a new author to me but I will read her other works as she fully captures human nature and all of its faults and failings.

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During the Civil War, Confederate nurse Laurel Covey nursed and comforted the injured and dying. She kept a journal of the soldiers names and last words as they died, promising to deliver these messages after the war. Creede Forester has traveled from Texas to Virginia to find word of his 16-year-old son. When he stumbles across Laurel during her journey, it pains her to tell of his son's death, knowing that he blames himself for driving his son away. Since Laurel is delivering her sad news to families all through the south, Creede decides to accompany her on her journey.

This was a very unique story. Laurel is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after seeing the results of the war in the form of dead and suffering soldiers. She believes that she should have been able to save more of the injured soldiers. Creede is trying to come to grips with his wife's and son's deaths. Together they are both hurting in different ways, but drawn to each other as well. My rating: 4.5 Stars.

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The struggle of the hero and heroine through their own sorrows and guilt to find love with each other touched my heart.

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Civil War Nurse Laurel Covey is a poster child for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. From reading this book, it is easy to understand why so many doctors committed suicide and/or became terminal drunks after the Civil War. Through Maureen McKades words, the reader can feel Laurel Coveys anguish.

Although not physically injured in the war, Laurel Covey carries terrific grief; she was a triage nurse for the Confederacy (triage nurses decide who can be saved and who is too far gone). She suffers because she feels that she has been forced to act as God and determine the fates of the men who come to her hospital.

Laurel still suffers for her beliefs; her Massachusetts parents disowned her for marrying a Virginia man, who died at Gettysburg. Laurel's husband (Roberts) family wants nothing to do with her. As a way to cope with the constant death around her, Laurel writes down the final words of the soldiers in her care. She promises to deliver their final words (and mementos) to their loved ones.

After the war ends, Laurel begins her solitary travels to share the notes in her journal to the bereaved family members. Along the way, two starving Confederate ex-soldiers accost her and threaten to rob and assault her. While they are pulling her from her wagon, an ex-bounty hunter, Creede Forrester comes upon the scene and saves her.

He received notice that his son had been wounded in the war and has ridden from Texas to take his son back home. While in Virginia, he finds that his son died and the last one to talk with him was Laurel Covey. He has been looking for her to find out what she knows.

Forrester thinks he has nothing to live for because both his wife and son are dead. When he talks with Laurel, he realizes that this spunky nurse could meet trouble again and decides to join her. Laurel thinks she has nothing to live for because neither family wants her and she is alone.

The varying responses to Laurels information are so surprising, but appropriate to the people and the difficult time in the South after the war. Laurel is often staggered by the anger some families vent on her. Although she was angry with Forrester for joining her, she begins to rely on his reliability and concern for her.

The author captures the emotional turmoil Laurel and Creede are feeling. This is an emotional story that will stay with me for a long time.

Forrester Brothers
1. A Reason to Live (2006)
2. A Reason to Believe (2007)
3. A Reason to Sin (2008)

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