Historical Fiction Review

Shades of Gray
by Jessica James
ISBN-10: 0979600006
Review by Heather Froeschl



There was a divide among the states, among brothers, families, and friends. There was a common ground, in honor. Jessica James’ book, “Shades of Gray,” is a novel about the Civil War in Virginia, but it is more about the honor and dedication, beliefs and convictions of both sides, than about the battles themselves.

Captain Hunter, a Confederate cavalry officer, is a fierce and worthy opponent to the Union. His determination and cunning is respected and feared. He’d never met an equal on the field, until a Union spy came face to face with him at a river crossing. Sinclair, with an imposing beast of a black horse, was a legend, escaping the grips of death again and again. These two foes would hunt each other, evade each other, and eventually, save each other’s lives. Sinclair holds more secrets than the future plans of the southern forces; Sinclair is a woman in scout’s disguise. Known only to her cousin’s husband, Colonel Jordan, she is sent on missions to deliver messages, bring back information, and try to stay alive. Her desire to fight for her beliefs leads her to much more; going up against the famed Hunter becomes a challenge she cannot stop herself from pursuing. What she ends up allowing herself to do is well beyond what is expected, or accepted in the days of the Civil War.

Capturing the reader’s attention from the start, Jessica James offers a different sort of historical fiction. While the conflicts and skirmishes are detailed and enthralling, the feeling within the soldier is what is so important here. The passion and depth of convictions is clear, respectfully portrayed on both sides, to a point. The plot is intricate with southern nuances, northern straightforwardness and the inner and outer battles of war. The humanity of feelings we cannot control is an outreach that will hit home. Life does go on, even in the middle of hell on earth.

Well written and expertly executed, this novel is sure to be embraced by readers of many genres. Surely, anyone interested in history, the War Between the States, or Virginia herself, will love it. Jessica James brings readers into the very minds of those who were there; you cannot leave this book unchanged in your understanding of the souls of the Civil War.

Non-Fiction Historical Collection Review

Franklin County True Stories: Letters and Recipes from the Grapevine
by Edith McGhee Sigmon and Beverly Merritt
Review by Heather Froeschl

Sadly, the days of family history being passed down from generation to generation are being lost. Gathering what you can of your grandparent’s stories is always a good idea. The newspapers don’t report everything that goes on and even if they did, the stories that pertain to your personal family might not be known to you. Discovering what has gone on in your community might be a considerable and exciting treat, and I encourage everyone to talk to their neighbors and elder residents to see what might be known. For Franklin County residents, two thoughtful authors have put down some of the verbal history for us. “Franklin County True Stories: Letters and Recipes from the Grapevine,” by Edith McGhee Sigmon and Beverly Merritt is a delightful step back in time.

Reminiscent of tales told to children at grandma’s knee or over hot tea at the kitchen table, this little book is full of this and that and some other things too. It’s an eclectic collection shared with delight and disparage of Franklin County’s history. From rumors of witchcraft to the biggest feud in this area (involving a State Senator as killer no less!), and from moonshine to squirrel stew, this collection is certainly colorful. Ghost tales, murder mysteries, and family memories are accompanied by descriptions of long forgotten cemeteries, letters sent home from the front of the Civil War, and interesting tidbits from the county courthouse records. My favorite was a collection of old sayings and their meanings and the descriptions of preserving foods back in the day.

Reading this book made me realize that there is an abundance of history right under our noses, literally, right under our feet, and going by the wayside. I had no idea that George Washington had been out to Franklin County, and I find it extremely interesting to learn that officially, “If you are well bred, you will not gulp your soup so audibly that you can be heard across the room, nor sop up the sauce in your plate with bits of bread.” Darn!

While there are typos and (true to source) misspellings to be found in this book, one can overlook them with admiration at the charm it exudes. The authors have done a fantastic job of compiling a bit of history to share before it is long forgotten. I would be remiss to not mention Beverly Merritt’s other publication, “Civil War Records of Franklin County, Virginia 1861-1865.” This is a compilation of articles regarding the Civil War and its affects on Franklin County, including newspaper clippings, the National Park Service records, letters sent home to family, battle dates and battlefield names, and the extensive list of records of the individual soldiers and sailors from Franklin County. Interestingly enough, an article about the dedication of the Confederate Monument at Rocky Mount (which recently was destroyed in a vehicle accident) is also included. This examination of 1861-1865, which was a monumental time in America, is a fine tribute to those who were so deeply affected. Both books are available for purchase from the authors: $25, includes postage, mail check to Edith Sigmon, 11625 Franklin Street, Ferrum, Va 24088. Beverly’s Civil War collection - $45, includes postage, mail check to Beverly Merritt, 675 Carver Lee Road, Ferrum, Va 24088. For questions on both books, email at beverlym@swva.net.

Non-Fiction Ghost Story Review

Ghosts? I think so!
by Sue Sereno
ISBN-10: 1424117968
Review by Heather Froeschl

Virginia has its fair share of ghosts roaming around. A lot has happened here! I’ve always loved a good ghost story; Hans Holzer is one of my favorite paranormal authors. Sue Sereno authored “Ghosts? I think so!” to share the story of her own haunted home.

Over 30 years of living in a house can bring you pretty close to it. You get to know every little inch of your home, and also every little thing that doesn’t seem quite right. Sue began to notice things right away though. The small house in southern Virginia has a bit of history that Sue discovered along the way, with property deeds going back to 1873. Some history had other ways of making itself known to her. Sue tells of things happening from bodiless footsteps, whispers in the woods, phantom cars crunching gravel in the drive, to EVP’s, cold drafts, and even ghostly scents of baked goods. There seems to be a female presence that tucks visitors into bed, and a male presence in the woods that likes to play tricks. Sue and her husband just live with the spirits around them and so have many stories to tell of their interactions. Their visitors in human form tend to have more stories than they care to. Her book is an open door to experience some of those things along with them.

The writing is honest and friendly and feels like you are sitting down with a friend over coffee. It is a fast read, made all the more so by such fascinating events. This non-fiction title would make an excellent addition to a ghost story collector, and an even more perfect book to curl up with for Halloween.