Unwilling Warrior by Andrea Boeshaar

Synopsis from Goodreads:  Amid the dangers of the Civil War, Valerie Fontaine longs to know she is loved and safe. Her father, however, is cold and withdrawn. And their Christian houseguest, the photographer Benjamin McCabe, seems arrogant and judgmental. When Valerie commits her own life to Christ she finds herself drawn to Ben. But her father, against her wishes, is prepared to sell her into a loveless marriage with someone else. Will Valerie be forced to abandon her newfound love? Or will she and Ben, against the backdrop of this country's most ruthless war, become in their own way, unwilling warriors?

My thoughts: Unwilling Warrior is the first in the Seasons of Redemption series written and Andrea Boeshaar.    This is another Historical Christian Romance, a genre that is still fairly new to me.  I like the genre because it seems to focus on the relationship development and the setting.  This story was no exception.  Andrea takes a setting that might not appeal to readers who aren't history buffs and makes it appealing.  I loved the descriptions she uses about the lavish home that Valerie lives in as well as the fashion of the period.  I can't say that I'd want to spend too much time in those dresses though, they seem like they are rather bulky.


The attraction between Valerie and Ben is undeniable the instant they are in each other's presence.  It almost felt electric.  I truly believed that it was a struggle for them to follow the courtship rules of society.  It is because of this that I had difficulty believing some other parts of the story.  I don't want to ruin it for you.  At times it did feel a little bit preachy. Now that I think about it, that might be because the characters needed that extra reinforcement of their faith to temper the electricity that they felt between them. 

If the genre appeals to you at all, this one is worth picking up.  I'll be forwarding my copy to my grandmother soon.  If you like a bit of steam with your romance, this one probably isn't for you, but I'm sure I have some other recommendations for you.

Book Two in the Seasons of Redemption Series will be coming out in October of 2010.  

You may visit Andrea Boeshaar at http://www.andreaboeshaar.com/


Disclosure:  I received my copy of Unwilling Warrior from Glass Road Public Relations to participate in this blog tour.  Receipt of my copy did not affect my review in any way, these are my honest opinions of the book.