My Dearest Cecelia [Paperback]

Diane Haeger (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press, New York (2003)
• ASIN: B000O6G874
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars engagingly deep romantic historical fiction, March 1, 2003

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Dearest Cecelia: A Novel of the Southern Belle Who Stole General Sherman's Heart (Hardcover)

In 1837 at a West Point ball, Cadet William Sherman sees the sister of a peer on the dance floor with one of the recent graduates. He intercedes over the anger of her partner to claim the remainder of the dance with Cecilia Stovall, a beautiful southern belle. The two hit it off, but William is not good enough as far as the aristocratic Stovall brood is concerned. Her parents whisk her off to Europe though she continues her correspondence with dear William. However, ultimately they force her to marry a wealthy planter and he eventually takes a wife.

During the Civil War, they meet and realize the passion and love still remains strong between them. However, will his love for her prove stronger than his military march to cut the south in half by avoiding her home and her city? Or will he butcher one more place when he brings the horrors of war to the populace?

MY DEAREST CECILIA is an engagingly deep romantic historical fiction novel based on the true star crossed love between General Sherman and Southern belle Cecilia Stovall. The story line provides insight into Sherman turning him into a full person and not just a war hero or "Butcher" depending on your perspective. Diane Haeger uses real persona and events to anchor her fictionalized account of the two-wannabe lovers. Fans receive a strong tale that will send much of the audience seeking THE SECRET LIFE OF KING GEORGE IV; another romantic historical novel that along with this book shows Ms. Haeger has carved out a unique niche for herself.

Harriet Klausner

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My Dearest Cecelia: another facet to the Civil War, June 7, 2005

By 

danielle (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Dearest Cecelia: A Novel of the Southern Belle Who Stole General Sherman's Heart (Hardcover)

My Dearest Cecelia begins in 1891, years after the American Civil War, but the novel transports the readers back to 1837 at the dazzling West Point ball bristling with many handsome soldiers and beautiful women. One of the ladies there is Southern belle Cecelia Stovall of Augusta, Georgia, with her brothers, and she is saved from an unwanted man by none other than William Tecumseh Sherman. In the years to come, he will become the South's greatest enemy, but for now, he is a quiet young soldier who becomes drawn to Cecelia's beauty and character. After their first dance, Cecelia and William quickly fall in love with each other, but in the years to come, people like her Southern gentleman of a brother pry the couple apart. Cecelia is sent to London before going back to Augusta, but she and William never stop thinking about each other.

I am really surprised, but warmed, at the chemistry between the two. They barely know each other, yet they both spend years upon years pining for each other. Sometimes, their love appears a bit shallow (hence four stars), but the offense can be pardonable. Cecelia risks her life and country to try to communicate with William, but for years, there is very, very little contact. Even after they are destined to marry other people, and even after William's Union is pitted against Ceceila's Georgia, their love never dies. This is a classic tale of undying romance, and there is some history in the background. Diane Haeger makes the Southerners sound believable with their truncating of the r's in words like "for" and "your" - all the better for the imagination. My Dearest Cecelia can, I hope, satisfy the romantic, the historian, and the Southerner.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good love story, January 10, 2006

By 

Ria (PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Dearest Cecelia: A Novel of the Southern Belle Who Stole General Sherman's Heart (Paperback)

Cecilia Stovall goes to West Point along with her brothers to visit Marcellus, her oldest brother, freshman at West Point. At the Commencement Ball, she meets one of Marcellus's classmates, William Tecumseh Sherman, and she feels an instant connection to him. She spends the next few weeks with him as much as possible.

When Marcellus finds out, he immediately leaves West Point and takes Cecilia with him on a trip through Europe. The only reason that the two aren't allowed to be with each other is because she is Southern and William is Northern. While that doesn't matter to them, the Stovall family is against it for the very beginning.

During their time apart, Cecilia and William attempt to communicate through letters, yet find themselves more and more distanced. Finally, Cecilia ends up marrying a rich Southerner who helps finance her father's plantation. William ends up marrying a childhood friend.

As the war approaches, the tension is high. Cecilia questions the beliefs of the South and ends up risking her life for what she believes is right. But the love between William and Cecilia is what saves her home and her life.

I was surprised at how much I really liked the book. Usually, fictional books that I have read about the Civil War are more educational that enjoyable. This was the first true book that focused as much on the story as the facts themselves. The love story was really beautiful. I'm really glad I picked this one up. I'd recommend this book to loves of historical fiction and I look forward to reading more books by Diane Haeger.