The Windy City Saga Veiled in Smoke, Book 1, (Paperback)

The historic Chicago Fire that I have heard about all of my life comes alive in Veiled in Smoke, as author Jocelyn Green describes the blazing inferno, the feelings of desperation as people tried to escape, and the overwhelming efforts to rebuild the city. Green also relates the personal family drama centered around Civil War veteran Stephen Townsend and his two daughters Meg and Sylvie, as they suffer property loss and become separated during their rush to escape. This intriguing story includes an insane asylum, a charge of murder, and the sister's efforts to clear their accused father's name. Reporter Nate Pierce and the nephew of the murdered man also play important roles in the Townsends' story. Will this Civil War veteran be acquitted? Is there a conspiracy to be uncovered? Can the city of Chicago ever fully recover from this horrendous event? This book is labeled as historical fiction and the historical detail that Green has included is amazing; I appreciate that she shares many of these details in her Author's Notes at the end of this book. It is apparent that she has devoted endless hours to researching the Great Chicago Fire but it is her ability to inject the human element that makes this such a remarkable read. She doesn't just talk about the Chicago Fire that destroyed Chicago in 1871. She made me feel the fear and the helplessness trying to flee the fire, not to mention the hopelessness when it was over. She shines a light on the Civil War that had just ended six years earlier and the scars that were left behind. Stephen Townsend never fully recovered from his experiences in a prison camp and, what people then considered as mental illness, we today recognize as the debilitating condition PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). She also shows the emotions of two young women devoted to their father and experiencing the uncertainties that life was throwing at them. If you enjoy historical fiction, sweet romance, a mystery to solve, and a wonderful story of faith and perseverance, you will want to read this book. Veiled in Smoke is a story that you won't soon forget! I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts in this review.

This novel takes us to the Great Chicago fire, to give us an inside view of other stories happening at the same time. The eye opening experience of soldiers suffering from PTSD or "Soldier's Heart", was really sad, but also so educational. You live through the trauma of the fire with the characters, see what they saw, and live it. The trauma from the fire, also demonstrates a great example of PTSD from a traumatic event as well. The book is well written, well researched and highly enjoyable. It has one of the most beautiful covers ever as well. This author takes her time on research, and while some of her books have a small romance thread, this is a historical novel, not a romance. It would appeal to both men and women, in my opinion. I obtained this book from the publisher. The opinions contained herein are my own.