Madam’s Creek by Betsy Reeder
Shaped by their mountain landscape, as well as each other, imaginative Maylene Farley and Marcus Lilly grow up as close as twin fawns in the mid-nineteenth century. Soon after the threat of a competitor for Maylene’s affection is resolved, their friendship turns to romance. However, Marcus is conscripted by the Confederacy and drawn into the Civil War. On the home front, turmoil reigns as West Virginia succeeds in breaking away from Virginia, turning Confederate turf into a new Union state.
Three years later, picking up where they left off proves far more difficult than either anticipates. The couple soon learns that the biggest threat to their relationship is not the separation and anxiety imposed by the national conflict; it is something much harder to face head-on… until a remark from a “well-meaning” gossip tears open their shrouded wounds. It is then that a crucial secret is unveiled, and it comes from a source neither Maylene nor Marcus ever considered.
About the author: Betsy Reeder grew up in then-rural Maryland and later found her way to Central Appalachia, where she works as a writer and biologist. Her avocations include walking, birding, haphazard gardening, creative writing, political activism, volunteerism, spiritual exploration, natural history, local history, captivating novels, music, animals (both wild and tame), and every second spent with family and friends. She is especially grateful to have realized her long-held dream of a home in the mountains.