Instead of good to the last drop like some coffees, this book was good to the last word! This is incredible historical romance! The author did such an astonishing job of incorporating Civil War history into her novel that you didnt even realize you were being entertained and getting a history lesson too! I have learned many things I did not know in Civil War novels I have read and this one added a whole boatload more!

Merely 19 years old, Carrie Ann Bell found herself in the middle of the war, with her father gone, working at a horrid job to help support her mother (who for some reason despises her), and a two sisters, yet never forgetting her dream of becoming a journalist. When her younger sister runs off with a peddler, it is up to her to try to find her and bring her home. Her confederate friends have told her about the wicked Yankees. This does not deter her in the least. She comes up with a plan to disguise herself as a Union soldier, walk through the enemy territory where there is active battle ensuing and into the area she thinks her sister has gone. Carrie Ann has no doubt it will go off without a hitch, but it doesnt. She is captured by the Union army and taken to their camp.

There she meets the handsome, military hero, Colonel Peyton Collier. He becomes her friend and protector. She finds that the Yankees are not the demons she has heard about, but good, brave men. She begins to help at their make shift hospital caring for the many wounded. To protect her and enable her to continue to search for her sister, he moves her to live with his widowed aunt as a companion. She learns those she thought were enemies were her friends and that friends from her past may very well be her enemies.

I love Carries courage and tenacity in dealing with whatever was thrown at her. I attributed to the strength of youth but also her outstanding character. The story is filled with faith, humor, romance, suspense, and surprises. The practice of Civil War medicine was an exhausting gruesome job. Not only with the sheer numbers of severely injured men but also the lack of supplies and proper conditions in which to care for them. The author brings this to life vividly. It was a war not where the soldiers went off and fought, but it was staged right where people lived. Who could you trust? What would happen next in your city or home? Would you or someone you loved become a fatality of the war? These questions and more haunted every American during this time. Through this novel I experienced the tension, hardship, insecurity, and uncertainty of this horrendous time. I applaud you Ms. Boeshaar a job well done and anxiously await your next book!

I received a copy of this book free from Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

First, let me tell you there is a sequel due to be released in November 2016 entitled, Too Deep For Words. Second, at least for me, waiting for the next installment to read is going to be hard! I absolutely appreciate the resources listed by the author, the map where the story takes place and the Authors Note before even beginning her tale. Normally, the Authors Note is at the end of a story to aid readers in separating fact from fiction and to let them know where literary license was applied.

One can easily locate and read the story summary online so I wont repeat that information here in my review. I would like to share with you my thoughts about the novel set in a time period that really is beyond description in our nations history. The author writes a very compelling, tension-filled and accurate portrayal of a couple of the battle scenes in the book. While I am not an expert in this time frame, it is a hobby I enjoy learning about with all of the events, people and other information about the War Between the States.

Prepare yourself for an action-filled, budding romance as well as a thriller that had me hoping those who dared to help others regardless of the color of their uniform would be successful in saving lives. Scenes include where food was scarce, clothing was worn till it almost was transparent and compassion from a couple characters while others spewed hatred. The work of fiction isnt one where I have ventured before with other authors so please dont expect its just a repeat of the same old thing. No, this is new and captivating.

The book will draw the audience in heart, mind and soul. I found it interesting how some of the female characters were aware of the others support for one side or the other, but for propriety sake kept each others secrets. I simply adored the tale and more so the faith themes woven throughout A Thousand Shall Fall from beginning to end! After you read it, you might consider sharing it with someone you know who enjoys historical fiction or get a copy for them to enjoy.

While I enjoy historical novels, I don't know much about history when it comes to wars. Andrea has obviously done her research to write this story rich in historical detail. I learned a lot about the Civil War while reading this book. The characters show how hard to was to know who to trust during this turbulent time in the United States. I really enjoyed this sweet romance and would recommend reading it. I was provided a complimentary review copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255.

I found the title A Thousand Shall Fall to be very ominous (it still gives me shivers), and why shouldnt it be? This book takes place during the darkest part of the history of the USA, the Civil War.

It starts off when Carrie Ann Bell, a sassy, independent barmaid/aspiring journalist receives a letter from her younger sister Sarah Jane informing her that she has run off with a peddler. Sarah Jane is only fifteen, and Carrie Ann is determined to find her and bring her back home before she completely soils her reputation forever. That resolve is strengthened when her emotionally and mentally unstable mother tells her that she cannot return home until she brings Sarah Jane back. Disguised as a Union Soldier she sets out across Shenandoah Valley to find her sister.

Enter, Colonel Peyton Collier, a Union officer whose arm Carrie Ann once sutured when no one else would help a Yankee soldier. Peyton is a kind, gallant young man, and once he learns what Carrie Ann is up to he arrests her so she that she cannot follow through with her crazy plan of tramping across Confederate controlled land dressed as a Union officer and consequently getting herself killed. However, since he cannot very well keep her at the Union camp against her wishes without actually filing charges against her, he sends her to stay with his Aunt Ruth as a hired companion hoping that perhaps Aunt Ruth will be able to keep her out of trouble... boy was he wrong

I must admit that I found the first one hundred and thirty pages of this book to be rather slow; but, after you get past that, the story certainly picks up. I couldnt put the book down, and read almost the entire second half of this book in one afternoon. Whew! Then I went back and reread the ending twice, just cause I liked it.

My thanks go to The Book Club Network, Inc. for providing me with a copy for an honest review. The opinions are my own.

A THOUSAND SHALL FALL is Civil War Novel about hope, trust, faith and so much more.

Carrie Ann Bell, 19 year old feisty eldest daughter of three, whom has the weight of the world on her shoulders. Papa, also a journalist is off getting stories of the war between the Union soldiers and the Confederate Army, leaving her behind to take care of her family: mom, whom is mentally unstable at times, as well as two younger sisters and on top of that in charge of the Bell Tower, local paper, papa's reason for living.

The family farm has burned down, and Carrie and her family have moved into the local inn to help out in exchange for room and board. On top of all this, Sarah Jane, her youngest sister has run off with the peddler and it is up to her to go out, find her and bring her home. In fact, if she can't return with her, then her mom tells her not to come home either.

She is not only feisty but very creative and borrows a dress, and covers up the uniform left behind at the inn, as she heads off in search of her sister. She gets caught in the middle of the armies fighting, and ends stuck up in a tree where she is found by the enemy, Colonel Peyton Collier and his men, of the Union cavalry division.

She has heard much about the enemy, especially from childhood friend Joshua Blevins, a Major in the Confederate Army and now as she faced this group of men, the fear grew. She is taken into custody and when they discover that she is not some young innocent male youth, but in fact a young lady, thinks take an interesting turn.

While in their custody she is forced to watch at they burn what left after a battle, haystacks, wheat fields, barns and mills.

"Carrie looked at the heavens. Why did God allow war? Why didn't He put an end to it?

As if in reply, a single raindrop fell and struck Carrie on the cheek. Perhaps God's heart was breaking as much as hers." pg. 84

This is an excellent, well written, fact based novel that will leave you wanting to read more. But it is more than that and to find out just what that is, you will have to pick it up and read it. Once you start, you will not be able to put it down. Yes, it is that good!!

Thank you to bookfun.org for the opportunity to read this wonderful novel in exchange for an honest review.