A Beautiful, Glittering Lie by J.D.R. Hawkins

In the spring of 1861, a country once united is fractured by war. Half of America fights for the Confederate cause; the other, for unification. Rebel forces have already seized Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines, a new Confederate president has been elected, and the Constitution has been revised. In north Alabama, a farmer and father of three decides to enlist. For Hiram Summers, it is the end of everything he has ever known.

After Hiram travels to Virginia with the Fourth Alabama Infantry Regiment, he is quickly thrust into combat. His son, David, who must stay behind, searches for adventure at home by traipsing to Huntsville with his best friend, Jake Kimball, to scrutinize invading Yankees. Meanwhile, Caroline – Hiram’s wife and David’s mother – struggles to keep up with the farm as her world revolves around the letters she receives from her husband, whom she misses dearly. As Hiram and his son discover the true meaning of war, they soon realize that their choices have torn their family apart.

In this historical tale, the naïveté of a young country is tested, a father sacrifices everything to defend his home, and a young man longs for adventure – regardless of the perilous cost.

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Review
I know very little about the American Civil War and so it was with much gusto that I picked up this series. I hoped to get a glance into the era as well as the hopes and struggles of the people who lived through it. Hiram Summers is a farmer and father of three who decides to enlist and soon travels with his regiment into the thick of the battle. Hiram’s wife Caroline and his son David is left behind to take care of the farm and their home. But war isn’t easy; it is hard and gruesome and the Summers family soon realize the toll it can take on a family like theirs.


The author has done a great job in capturing the timeline and the hardships of the people. While reading, I felt like I was there with David and Caroline as they struggled through their lives. I cannot vouch for the events described in the book and while I am sure that this book is a work of fiction based on certain events, I wouldn’t be surprised if they were real for someone in those times. Summers family could be just one of many families caught up in the war. Absolutely amazing book and a must read for historical fiction lovers.

J.D.R. Hawkins is an award-winning author who has written for newspapers, magazines, newsletters, e-zines, and blogs. She is one of a few female Civil War authors, uniquely describing the front lines from a Confederate perspective.
Her Renegade Series includes A Beautiful Glittering Lie, A Beckoning Hellfire, and A Rebel Among Us. All three novels are award winners, and tell the story of a family from north Alabama who experience immeasurable pain when their lives are dramatically changed by the war. Ms. Hawkins is a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the International Women’s Writing Guild, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, and Pikes Peak Writers. She is also an artist and singer/songwriter. Ms. Hawkins is currently working on a nonfiction book about the War Between the States, as well as another sequel to her series.
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