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LILA’S VOW
Diane Wylie
ISBN 10: 0981989608
ISBN 13:  978-0981989600
June 30, 2009
Vintage Romance Publishing
Historical Romance (Civil War)

The Civil War is in full force when schoolteacher Lila Sutton and her mother are bombarded with wounded Union soldiers – turning their humble farm into a military hospital when the battle of Gettysburg raged on around them.  It was during this tumultuous time that cavalryman Captain Jack Montgomery rode into Lila’s life, proud and beaming as his eyes met hers when the soldiers marched through town.  It wouldn’t be long until Lila saw him again; brought in on a stretcher bleeding from a shoulder wound. 

Lila and Jack’s mutual admiration soon turned to love and before Jack left to rejoin his command they were married.  Soon afterward word reached Lila that Jack had been killed when in fact he had been captured and sent to Andersonville prison.  During the next horrendous year the only thing that kept Jack alive were the thoughts of someday reuniting with Lila, his one true love.

***   Ms. Wylie has written another romantic interlude set within the confines of the Civil war, a period in history for which she has set some wonderfully researched stories on.  Lila’s Vow is connected to her previous novel, My Enemy, My Love,  however, both are completely stand alone. 

In Lila’s Vow the story continues of a man and woman whose quest for love, honor, and revenge leads to spying, kidnapping and suspense.  Hearing that her husband was killed in the battle of Mine Run, Lila was left with nothing but rage and revenge on the Confederacy for taking away her one true love.   Devastated over Jack’s purported death Lila was enlisted by the Pinkerton agency to pose as a southern belle and spy on the enemy.

The author whose research into this period of history is second to none, tells the story from both sides as to Jack’s trials and tribulations in the hell-hole of Andersonville prison, to Lila’s careful and dangerous infiltration into the higher echelon of the Confederacy in order to help the Union bring a quick end to this shameful war which pitted brothers against brothers.

With her superb writing skills and exhaustive research, Ms. Wiley sets the stage with vivid imagery of the battles, the pain and the blood, and have you ducking from the cannonballs of the major and minor battles.  You’ll see and smell the horror and stench of the confederate prison; and see and feel the joy of a jubilant reunion between two lovers.  However, Wylie doesn’t let it end there and continues to up the bar with more edge of the seat adventure. 

Bottom line:  Ms. Wylie writes a powerhouse of a novel that describes a love like no other and the brave men and women who gave their all for a happy ending.  Excellent reading and highly recommended.

Reviewed By:

I started reviewing books many years ago - but my love of reading began as soon as I could read and that’s a long time! From my very first library card, I would spend my summers at the local library rather than outside playing. My tastes ran from every horse book I could find, to dog books, then gothic romances, and now historical romances with the Regency period having a very close spot in my heart. [Many of my friends, who really know me, say I was born in the wrong era - they’re probably right.] Now that I am retired, and busier than ever, I read almost all genres with the exception of hard core erotica, horror and anything involving more than one sex partner! I am loyal to my tried and true favorite auto-buy authors but love discovering the newer authors as well. I was once a very impatient person, but now retired, and with a book, an audio, or my Kindle by my side - I am the epitome of infinite patience to sit and wait for whatever comes next be it for the light to change, a doctor’s appointment, or a commercial break on the television!

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