What an amazing job for a debut novel! I went into this novel completely blind, captivated by the synopsis and always a sucker for a debut and I was pleasantly surprised.

I have a few things to be honest about...American History is not my thing. Give me some English aristocracy and I am all in. (Dukes get me!) But Scars of Sand and Soil is set in the time of the Civil War, embedded in the South (I'm a 100% Florida girl) and very raw and real.

Our MMC Gabriel Cooper, sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit, choses to join the Confederate Army in an attempt to reduce his sentence. Our FMC Simone Livingston, is living a horrible existence in New Orleans. Fate brings the two of them together but will love and shared pain be enough to keep them together?

Scars of Sand and Soil is as I mentioned, truly raw and descriptive and gut wrenching. The author does not shy away from the horrors and such of the times.

Thank you to Net Galley and Jean K. Kravitz for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Scars of Sand and Soil" by Jean Kravitz is a sweeping Historical Fiction novel that takes place during the time of the American Civil War and continues into the troubled time following the war. This story starts with Gabriel Cooper who is in prison for a crime he did not commit. He is consigned to serve in the Confederate Army, as many prisoners were during this time. Simone Livingston is a young woman of the South, trying to support herself as best she can after a very difficult childhood. These two meet, and the story continues to move through many injustices, much violence, poverty, battles, blood, and disasters. The author is very descriptive, and tells this story boldly. The horrors of war, revenge, discrimination, prostitution, death and injury are woven into this story to give the reader a true picture of this period.

However, "Scars of Sand and Soil" is also a story of personal strength, love, passion, determination, understanding. and hope. This is a fascinating book that draws you right into the story. The reader won't want to put it down. 5 Stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Acorn Publishing for the ARC of this book. My opinions are my own.

I've really been enjoying historical fiction during the Civil War period, so appreciated this story and the detailed descriptions of the time period. Great writing and complex characters. The battlefields, injuries, battles are described in detail so that was a little much at times.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

Being framed and innocent, Gabriel was offered freedom if he fought in the Civil War. He meets Simone in New Orleans, fighting for her own freedom. A wonderful story.

Thank you so much, Jean Kravitz, Acorn Publishing, and NetGalley for this ARC!

Jean is an excellent writer for plot-driven stories. The story was fast-paced and the prose flowed well. It could include more details about the settings and character growth. I couldn’t connect with the characters as much I would’ve liked or felt transported to the historical time periods. The narrative style leaned more toward clinical than lyrical and the spice felt slightly out of place with the overall tone of the book. An interesting and quick (250-page) read!

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.