Disclosure: I received this book to review. Opinions shared are mine.
Set in the Civil War, A Thousand Shall Fall is a three-dimensional romance. Author Andrea Boeshaar gives both of her main characters a fully developed past, which makes them so realistic that you can almost imagine them as people in your social circle. It took me a while to really get into the book, probably due to the extensive details Boeshaar included to set the stage for the story. My knowledge of Civil War history is quite limited, so much of the historical detail was lost on me. What really captured my interest was the depth in which the characters developed relationships. From childhood friends, to family ties, each element of the story was steeped in character interaction. This made it a meaningful read, as I could see the way that the characters behaved and acted in different settings.
One element in the book that was so tough to muster — trust. From moment to moment, it was difficult to know who to trust. Carrie Ann had many adult decisions to make, making it hard for me to remember that she was just a young girl. Her brush with the war and grown-up situations required her character to grow up very quickly. She ended up taking great risks in order to save the people she loved. In one part, she has a discussion with Major Johnston about the nature of war. He takes a unique perspective on God’s ability to work good from evil. Likewise, Peyton’s character made a huge change from dark to light. The contrast between Carrie Ann and Peyton was as stark as that between the Union and Confederate armies. It was a wonderful way to build upon the story.
The search for her runaway sister goes awry when Carrie finds herself arrested during the Civil War for impersonating an officer in Andrea Boeshaar’s A Thousand Shall Fall. Soon, though, she finds herself drawn to the handsome, gallant colonel who arrested her. Carrie Ann discovers that her foe has become her ally—and more than that, someone she could love. Will she protect someone who has been like family or be loyal to this stranger to whom she wants to offer her heart? When her world is being torn apart around her, whom should she trust?
Her story sounds emotional and thought-provoking. I like that the characters are well-developed. That really makes you feel for them and care what happens. I’m afraid the historical information would be lost on me, too, but I can see where details could greatly impacted someone’s enjoyment if they studied that area.