Author: Shirley McCracken
Publisher: Outskirts Press, Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-4327-8569-7

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him” is from Psalms 37:7. In Shirley McCracken’s novel, The Breastplate – A Civil War Adventure, this Biblical statement is considered during the raging American Civil War by a heroine named Kitty Benson who has to wait patiently during wartime.

This two hundred and sixty three page paperback book has a photograph of a gold breastplate or round shape coin-looking item that has an American eagle embellished on it. With no profanity but few references to sex, rape, beatings, death and war, it would be targeted to pre-teen and above age. Although the author states “the events and characters described herein are imaginary and are not intended to refer to specific places or living persons,” the story is very liberal relating direct connections to being close friends and assisting with war decisions of President Abraham Lincoln. There are some punctuation errors and overuse of the exclamation point.

This historical fiction covers almost three generations involving Kitty Claiborne Benson, an only child of parents John and Kathleen. Having profited greatly from the Gold Rush, loner John settles in Saint Louis and reconnects with the woman of his dreams, Kathleen, who had fled from her employer who had ulterior sexual motives. After they marry, have a coddled daughter named Kitty, and John becomes Senator, the family moves closer to the White House, befriending President Lincoln. During the Civil War, they turn their home into a hospital and take in the wounded on both sides of the war and help Lincoln solve political problems. Now a young woman, Kitty marries Lincoln’s attaché Will Benson, who, unknown to everyone, is sent back to Tennessee as a Union spy in the South, causing havoc and disruption on the Confederate Army with his rogue band of soldiers named the “Phantom Warriors.” The ever-perfect and always-getting-her-way Kitty singularly takes care of homestead, animals and wayward or injured men while her husband is gone for months at a time. When Will is injured near the end of the war, she nurtures him back to health and they head for Texas to start new lives.

Besides having a plethora of characters and predictable scenarios, it is an intricate read because the heroine and her parents never make any mistakes and effortlessly solve every issue involving themselves and others. With all the mayhem and war around Kitty, she simplistically steps up and takes charge, even of those around her, accomplishing everything perfectly. However, one never knows what happens to her mother’s employer who becomes impoverished and seeks revenge when Kitty inherits his wife’s fortunes or why the breastplate that protected Will was buried in Tennessee and not taken to Texas.

This book may be enjoyed by the naïve, young teen who wants to know about the Civil War and adventure but would need to be informed this is truly fiction, not fact, in regard to the relationships with Lincoln and the supposed Phantom Warriors.

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