Avenue of Betrayal

By Sandra Merville Hart

Description:

Betrayed by her brother and the man she loves…whom can she trust when tragedy strikes?
Soldiers are pouring into Washington City every day and have begun drilling in preparation for a battle with the Confederacy. Annie Swanson worries for her brother, whom she’s just discovered is a Confederate officer in his new home state of North Carolina. Even as Annie battles feelings of betrayal toward the big brother she’s always adored, her wealthy banker father swears her and her sister to secrecy about their brother’s actions. How could he forsake their mother’s abolitionist teachings?
Sergeant-Major John Finn camps within a mile of the Swansons’ mansion where his West Point pal once lived. Sweet Annie captured his heart at Will’s wedding last year and he looks forward to reestablishing their relationship—until he’s asked to spy on her father.
To prove her father’s loyalty to the Union, John agrees to spy on the Swanson family, though Annie must never know. Then the war strikes a blow that threatens to destroy them all—including the love that’s grown between them against all odds.

Book Takeaway:

Readers will see that, as happened during the Civil War, we may all find ourselves in situations not of our choosing. As for the spying, it depends on your viewpoint and location as to whether you’re a hero or traitor when the truth comes to light.

The Civil War ended about 155 years ago yet our country still carries deep scars from it. Though no one living today is responsible for anything that happened to cause it, because of slavery, the massive loss of life and property that occurred during the war, the dark days before and immediately following it, many today still need healing.

My goal is to shed light on what happened and bring healing.

Why the author wrote this book:

I wrote a series of articles for my blog about "Civil War Women." I was amazed by the number of spies on both sides. The courage it required for them to spy for one side while living in the midst of the opposing side inspired me to write this series.