The Burning Land, Book 2 of the Overstreet Saga brings the reader
back to the Civil War and its aftermath, when Americans fought to
determine what the nation would become--a time of excitement,
opportunity, and agonizing loss, when history played havoc with the
lives of ordinary people like Henry Overstreet and Katie Nash.
In 1861, Henry and Katie have found love on the rugged Maine coast. He
builds boats. She wants to teach school whenever her family duties
relent. Their hearts are light and the future looks bright. Then America
explodes in civil war.
At first surprised by Katie's anti-slavery feelings, then persuaded,
Henry enlists in the 20th Maine Infantry, fated to become a legendary
regiment in the Union Army. Staggering through a dozen brutal battles,
including the desperate defense of Little Round Top at Gettysburg, he
rises to sergeant. Katie, working on short-term teaching contracts,
organizes neighbor women to make warm items for Maine's men in uniform.
Quiet letters between Henry in army camps and Katie at home strengthen
their love. Finally receiving a brief furlough, he hurries home for a
rushed wedding and precious hours as man and wife.
But history's grip is fierce.
A ghastly battlefield wound ends Henry's war. Katie nurses him through a
long recuperation, but they cannot agree--should they return to Maine or
join America's mad flight westward? Ultimately transplanted to booming
Chicago, little goes right for them in that overnight metropolis, which
will test their strength and commitment as never before.
