A River Between Us by Jocelyn Green
Stand-alone Novel
Publisher: Credo House Publishers, October 3, 2023
REVIEW BY JOAN HALL
I’ve enjoyed several of Jocelyn Green’s Civil War-era novels in the past, so I was eager to read A River Between Us.
Cora Mae Stewart lost her father and brother to the ravages of war. She’s doing her best to take care of her ailing mother and June, a young girl who has been left in her charge. When the Union Army marches into Georgia, destroying the cotton mill where she works, Cora Mae is accused of treason.
Union Sergent Ethan Howard believes he won’t survive the war. Years of working in coal mines lead him to believe he has the same disease that took his father’s life—black lung. He’s determined to make his short life count for something. Even though he doesn’t agree with all of Sherman’s orders, Ethan arrests Cora Mae, tearing her from her home and family.
Faced with a choice of being sent north or swearing allegiance to the union and becoming a nurse, Cora Mae decides the latter, but that’s not the end of her troubles. Even though she doesn’t want to forgive Ethan, she has a growing fondness for him. Eventually, Cora Mae and June end up in Ethan’s hometown in Indiana.
The book could be classified as romance, but it’s so much more. It’s a story of hope, reconciliation, and forgiveness. There are prejudices within both the North and the South. Even though the book is fiction, there are lessons we can learn from it that are relevant today.
“There’s a river between us, and I don’t just mean the Ohio.”
“The good Lord says we are to love our enemies and pray for those who bring us pain.”
Jocelyn Green, A River Between Us
Originally a novella published in a now out-of-print book, Ms. Green purchased the rights to have the story back and expanded it to a full-length novel. I proudly give A River Between Us five fish.
I read A River Between Us through Kindle Unlimited.
The Well Read Fish 
Oh, I bet A River Between Us makes readers cry. How could it not when it takes place in such an emotional, turbulent time in our history? Green picked wonderful characters names. My grandmother’s name was Cora, and I’ve always loved the names June and Ethan. Great review, Joan!
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I love those names as well, Priscilla, especially Cora and Ethan. You are right, Priscilla, that was a turbulent time in our history.
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Another excellent review, Joan! Thank you for sharing a wide range of authors and topics. You’ve piqued my interest based on your review, and there’s also a powerful lesson here for writers who take a second look at their work and create something even better.
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Excellent point, Grant. I’m glad this author was able to “finish” the work she began.
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Wonderful review, Joan. I’m intrigued by the polarities and the hope that drives the story forward. Thank you for introducing Green to me. It sounds like a story relevant to our time.
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A country divided for sure, Gwen. I’ve read several of Jocelyn’s Civil War era books and they never disappoint me.
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I’m glad she got her rights back and did what she wanted with the story. Sounds like it was meant to be this way. Thanks, Joan.
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I agree, Staci. I’m happy she was able to “finish” the story so to speak.
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I love the setting / time period. It sounds like quite an inspirational read, Joan. Great review!
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I love Civil War era stories, Mae. This one was particularly enjoyable.
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War times are almost impossible to describe. I read the stories to try to get a feeling what it is like to live in that world. This sounds excellent.
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I can’t imagine what life was like in those days, Jacqui. I enjoy visited old cemeteries and when I look at graves that are a century or more old, I always try to imagine what their lives were like.
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I love reading books from this time period and this one sounds like an excellent read. Thank you, Joan, for sharing!
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I do to, Jan. I really enjoyed this book. Thanks for stopping by today.
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i absolutely enjoy civil war era stories. Okay, anything set in a bygone era. Period dramas ar always a go to. Thanks for the.share. 🙏
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I’m the same way. I’ve always been fascinated with the Civil War era.
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This story sounds intriguing. I’ve never read Jocelyn Green but my book club is reading The Metropolitan Affair next month. Thanks for sharing this book with us.
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I’ve read a few of her Civil War stories. Also read the Metropolitan Affair last year. I enjoyed it, but the Civil War era is a favorite time period for me.
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