The War Between the Hearts

by Nann Dunne

Intent on serving the Union Army as a spy, Sarah-Bren Coulter disguises herself as a man and becomes a courier-scout for the Confederate Army. Soon the savagery of war shakes her to the core. She... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1933113278
• ISBN13: 9781933113272
• Release Date: March 2005
• Publisher: Intaglio Publications
• Length: 296 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.6" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Great Read!

Historical setting for a very riveting book. I was drawn into the story and felt like I was a witness, instead of a reader. The characters are complex and well defined. The mark of a good writer is one who can compel the reader to become emotionally invested in the story and the characters. As with all of Nann Dunne's works, this book brings the setting to life and the characters become as real as someone you know. I highly recommend this book!

War is Hell!

This is the first book that I have read from Nann Dunne and I was not disappointed! I loved this book...and it really makes you think about how strong and couragous women are. The story is so believable and the characters are realistic. Sarah and Faith are amazing women. I was very touched by Ben, Faith's son and Lidsay,Sarah's siter-in-law. Lindsay is the support all of us want in our lives and Ben is the hope we want for our future. This book is so well writen and it does a good job taking the reader back to the 1800's. I hope that there will be a sequel to this great book! This a timeless classic and a very easy read! I look forward to reading more from Nann Dunne.

Suspense, Romance and Drama at its Best!

Sarah-Bren Coulter and Faith Pruitt, meet under the direst of circumstances. The country is at war - the North against the South - the Union against the Confederacy. Sarah, anxious to help the Union, disguises herself as a man and joins the fight. When she is injured, Sarah finds shelter with Faith and her son. Time passes while Sarah heals, and both women soon find themselves with feelings for the other - feelings that could prove dangerous. Suddenly Sarah is betrayed and her "identity" unmasked. Faith does nothing to intervene, convinced that once Sarah is discovered to be a woman, she would be safe and sent home. Instead Sarah is sent right into the middle of another kind of hell. Reinjured and filled with both hatred and a need for vengenance against her betrayer Sarah returns to her home and family. Unexpectedly, Faith shows up at Sarah's home as the fiancee of Phillip, a childhood friend of Sarah's. Both women are completely blindsided. Neither thought they would ever see the other again. Sarah wants little or nothing to do with Faith, convinced that she was the person who betrayed her. As for Faith, she soon finds herself torn between love and loyalty, even as she remains betrothed. When a near tragedy threatens to take the life of someone close to Sarah, she is forced to acknowledge that she still has feelings for Faith. Will she lose Faith to marriage with Phillip? Can she convince Faith, who is still somewhat bitter over Sarah's mistrust and blame, to give her a second chance? Or will circumstances and the mistrust that forced them apart prove to strong to overcome? Nann Dunne displays a unique talent in her telling of The War Between the Hearts. Her book is a dynamic story revolving around the lives of two women as events in history unfold. It is a truly intriguing tale of how war, hate, mistrust and deceit can cost you anything and everything - even the chance at love. Simply put - you may laugh, you will cry, and you might even cheer but you will be truly entertained.

This Southerner Couldn't Put It Down...

I read this book on a cold, rainy weekend day; and the story has been in the back of my mind all week. The tale is compelling, the characters are believable, and the love story is heart wrenching. Growing up with a twin brother, Sarah-Bren Coulter (aka Bren Cordell) learned how to ride and shoot like a man. She wants to support her Yankee countrymen in the Civil War effort, but as a woman she will have little impact. As a result, the determined woman disguises herself as a man and enlists as a scout. After a few years of dedicated service, Bren is shot. A southern woman, Faith Pruitt, and her son find themselves caring (and falling) for the injured soldier. Ok... that part you can get from the back cover... This is a great story that addresses women's rights (and how far we've come). It deals with aspects of coming out in a very unaccepting environment. It touches on the "brother vs. brother" aspect of the Civil War. But, best of all, it draws the reader in and keeps the reader pleasantly (or frustratingly)confused until the very end. Dunne successfully pulls together a myriad of tough topics into a wonderful romance. This one will stay on my shelf for many years to come.

Midwest Book Review, June 2005 Issue

It seems odd that well over one hundred years had to pass before verified information surfaced about women soldiers serving in the Civil War. Folklore and tall tales have often featured women soldiers disguised as men and working as spies, smugglers, and scouts, but interesting and documented books about the women in the military haven't come out until the last few years. Recent non-fiction books have found that at minimum, 700 women served - disguised as men - in the ranks of the Union and Confederate armies. Some say that number should be closer to a thousand. Scores of women died at Gettysburg, undiscovered until burial. Many nameless women probably served that the history books will never detail. So it seems timely that author Nann Dunne has created the fictional Sarah-Bren Coulter, a handsome southern woman who cannot resist the pull of the Civil War. Her twin brother stays behind to run the family foundry, and Sarah - disguised as Bren Cordell - becomes a courier-scout for the Confederate Army while spying for the Union. She finds the battles of war unlike anything she ever expected. She sees more blood and death than any person ever should. And then she herself is wounded. Instead of dying, fortune smiles upon her, sending her into the hands of Faith Pruitt, a woman with a young son who lives close to some of the fighting. But safety with Faith is not to last long. Sarah is trapped on the border of Union and Confederate forces-and which should she hold herself out as? From that point on, the plot turns more desperate as the danger Sarah has tried to escape catches up with her. Her strength, her mental and physical stability, and her ethics will be sorely tested as she deals with the damage that befalls her. Revenge, retribution, murder-and lost love-will weigh heavily on her mind. Will Sarah Coulter be strong enough to deal with her future? The author has done an excellent job researching the setting and time, while never inundating the reader with a history lesson. The drama of the story comes alive because of this. Once the novel is set up, the action is fast-paced with scenes ranging from hate-infused to anguished to terror-stricken, all of which are nicely balanced with scenes of strong friendship, camaraderie, and love. The characters in the book are full-bodied and complex and include sister-in-law Lindsay, whose ongoing support, even in face of her husband's condemnation of Sarah, is balm to Sarah's soul. Her friend Phillip is steadfast in his caring for Sarah in spite of multiple marriage rejections. There is humor and mutual respect between Sarah and her friend Leah, a "woman of ill repute" whose role in the story is central. Of course Faith, and her son Benjamin, are also critical to this "war between the hearts." Nann Dunne has created an unforgettable heroine, a woman before her time, standing at the crux of a new age. This fast-paced and gripping story will keep you up late at night. Highly recommended. Don't miss it! ~Lor