Customer Reviews

My Dearest Cecelia: A Novel of the Southern Belle Who Stole General Sherman's Heart

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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

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.

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.

It is Spring of 1837, and due to dispute at home, Southern belle Cecelia Stovall is sent with her 2 brothers to visit her oldest brother Marcellus who is attending West Point Academy. While attending the Commencement Ball Cecelia meets Northerner William T. Sherman, roomate of Marcellus. They are both captivated with each other and find reasons to see each other during the days to follow (against the approval of her brothers). During one of these times they pledge their love to each other. Marcellus discovers that there are sparks between the two. Cecelia is swept away by her brothers and adventually off to Europe by her father, against her will, with Marcellus to avoid communication between her and William. The Stovall family is a wealthy, starch, southern family that will have no northerner as a part of it. Failing attempts are made to send correspondence to William of her love. While in Europe, Cecelia is introduced to wealthy cotton planter Charles Shelman from Georgia. Since the family business is in financial need, marriage between Cecelia and Charles is that much more important as well as the prestige it would have for the family name. Cecelia and Marcellus finally return home to Georgia, with Charles determined to make her his trophy wife. To earn favor with his father, Marcellus sees that attempts made between William and Cecelia to write or see each other are void. Cecelia is able to avoid marriage to Charles wondering why William hasn't come after her, while William is sent false word that Cecelia has forgotten him and moved on with her life. Days, months, and then years go by. Both eventually end up married to others (though their hearts belong to each other only) only to find each other again and discover that each still truly love each other. The marriages are rocky from beginning to end. Civil War breaks out. Over time William becomes a noted General for the North while Cecelia works with the Underground Railroad helping to get slaves out of the South and a spy for the North. Their paths cross several times only to realize those vows that were taken such a long time ago were for life.

It is a wonderful book. Very well written. My heart went out to Cecelia and William-to see others control their futures was just heart breaking. I highly recommend it!!!

See the PS at the end of this- I've rationed myself and got through Chapter 4, trying to make this last as long as I can, but I had to go ahead and write. Diane Haeger has outdone herself. OK, I'm prejudiced. I have never enjoyed an author's works as much as hers, and I have not found another author of her caliber. I didn't think she could do any better than THE SECRET WIFE OF KING GEORGE IV, but this has already set itself up as such. The love story (based on a true story)between Cecilia and William is already so heartwrenching- to find a love so strong, so quickly, so true....and to be told by the world it would be destined to fail. These characters from the very beginning are so believeable and so realistic, you can close your eyes and envision them standing in front of you having their conversations. If you aren't familiar with Diane Haeger's works, RUN, don't walk, to your nearest bookstore. One quick warning- she sets the bar so high, you will be hard pressed to find another author that can come close to appeasing you until she sends us another book!

PS- I've finished and I can't begin to praise this book enough. One thing I enjoyed about this book that has been different from other Civil War era books is that you are not drowned in a history lesson along with the story. The author tells you enough to acclimate you to what is going on without going too far into details of the war and battles. As with all her books, you don't ever want them to end and find you have a hard time finding anything else to read that will appease you after this.

This is the 2nd book of hers I have read, and I loved it just as much as the first. She is an amazing writer and is now my favorite! I would recommend (and do) this book and any others by Diane Haeger to anyone.

I am a devoted fan of good historical fiction, but this book is deeply flawed. I enjoyed the characters, setting, and plot development. The writing style seems more appropriate for a high school-level reader. Some authors paint complex pictures of their characters and this author limits herself to pretty descriptions of Southern scenery.

This is a poorly written dribbling book of emotion that lacks all the class that is so evident of the Shelman / Stovall families! The author read several romanticized versions of " Sherman's saving of Cecilia's / Charles's home", and built a fictional life (lie) that didn't include anything of their 9 children and NOTHING real of her husband, Charles. I don't know authors like this can get away with taking the lives of real people then slanderously attributing infidelity and other such fictional uck.

A warped and really poor account of history all around. Had she really done her history, she would have found so much more interesting texture. The book is certainly NOT about Cecilia, and certainly NOT about Charles and what is missing is anything of the rich lives that underlies Etowah Heights, the settling of the Cherokee lands, the early settlement of Georgia, or the Civil War.

I really enjoyed this book. A very good historical romance that touched my heart.

I was intrigued by the summary on the book jacket. Once engaged, I found the writing to be closer to a romance novel than the historical fiction feel I was looking for. The style was full of cliches and I found it unbelievable that a character could hold a candle for as long as these two did, when there was so little contact between them for such long periods of time. I prefered the style and writing of The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory.