Then he said, "Burn it. Burn it down to the ground."

For two years, the War Between the States rages on. Just like so many women around her, Ella Coburg says goodbye to her childhood sweetheart, Robert. She believes all that is left for her is to marry Ethan Harris, the most eligible bachelor in York, Pennsylvania. But when the war comes knocking on her door, in the form of a tired soldier with news Robert is dying, she finds her escape—right into the aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg and into the arms of Lieutenant John Mathis.

John Mathis is escaping his own demons, abandoning his home in St. Albans, Vermont after a fateful night leaves his best friend dead, and joins the 118th Pennsylvania Volunteers. This choice leads him to his fate—Ella.

When John and Ella return to York with Robert’s belongings and the promises they made on his deathbed, they learn her betrothed, Ethan Harris, has threatened her father and Robert’s family, including his little sister, and claims he needs Ella to break a mysterious curse. John offers to send Ella and Robert’s sister, Katie, to St. Albans where they can be safe, far away from Ethan and the war.

But even nestled against the Green Mountains, war seems to follow her. Ella finds herself torn between the need to fulfill her promise to Robert—to care for and protect his sister—and falling in love with John. How can she do both? When John goes missing, and her past finds her during the northernmost conflict, the St. Albans Raid, her choices are made for her. But there is one choice she is determined to make herself—to protect herself and those she loves, at all costs.

This is Jennifer L. Strand's debut novel. A romance set during one of the little-known and northernmost conflicts of the American Civil War. Due to the events surrounding the plot, there are trigger warnings for high-stakes battle scenes and assault.