Scars of Sand and Soil is the debut novel of Jean K. Kravitz and I must say that she did a tremendous job at telling the story. I will admit there are some topics in here that not everyone will see eye to eye to but overall this brilliant piece of work left a deep impression on me. The setting and the characters were played out so well that I could almost feel what the characters were feeling. The details of the cruelties of the civil war felt so real I feel like reading this book made me feel like a different person and I haven't felt like since I read Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.
Our story starts during the Civil War where we meet Gabriel Cooper who is a solider who was brough in by the Prison. Now he was wrongfully accused of a crime he didn't commit. After saving the nephew of his General he is granted a pardon from his sentence. He travels to New Orleans to inform the parents of one of his fellow soldiers of his passing. From there he stays and he is then introduced to the lovely Simone Livingston.
When we meet Simone she is a timid woman who has faced the cruelties of life. Her mother died as a young girl and her father shipped her off to an Aunt and Uncle however that ended up not working out and she returned home. Her father made her life miserable and after his death she gets the opportunity to find happiness and that happiness is with Gabriel.
However, this newfound happiness is soon diminished with Gabriel's unsavory job in which he hides the details from his wife. Simone eventually finds purpose in wanting to help others which seems to get her out of her depression. However, in the case of Gabriel with each passing job he has starts to have a horrible affect on him and by the time he knows he's in too deep it is almost too late to stop.
Like I said earlier I was much impressed with this novel. Although Gabriel and Simone's relationship was very rocky they truly did care for each other. Had Gabriel not gotten involved in such an unsavory career they could have been truly happy just living a simple modest life.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.