VEILED IN SMOKE book review

Veiled in Smoke
(The Windy City Saga #1)
by Jocelyn Green

Book Description:
Meg and Sylvie Townsend manage the family bookshop and care for their father, Stephen, a veteran still suffering in mind and spirit from his time as a POW during the Civil War. But when the Great Fire sweeps through Chicago's business district, they lose much more than just their store.

The sisters become separated from their father, and after Meg burns her hands in an attempt to save a family heirloom, they make a harrowing escape from the flames with the help of Chicago Tribune reporter Nate Pierce. Once the smoke clears away, they reunite with Stephen, only to learn soon after that their family friend not only died during the fire--he was murdered. Even more shocking, Stephen is charged with the crime and committed to the Cook County Insane Asylum.

Though homeless, injured, and suddenly unemployed, Meg must not only gather the pieces of her shattered life, but prove her father's innocence before the asylum truly drives him mad.

MY BOOK REVIEW:
5 Stars: 5/5 Star Rating
        I was blown away with emotions as I read this book!   It was that good!  I could feel the raw emotions of Meg and Sylvie and the deep pain and grief they were experiencing over their father, Hiram, their home, their bookstore, and their city! Meg had even more to grieve after burning her hands and suffering permanent scars.  How will they ever recover ?  Will they ever be able to get their father out of the Insane Asylum?  So many unknowns loom for the young sisters and yet, they fight on bravely and with great courage.  
         I love historical fiction and this book really brought the horrors of the Great Fire of Chicago alive.  It also highlighted "soldier's heart" of the POWs of the Civil War which we now refer to as PTSD.  Many were committed to the insane asylum for life due to the horrors they experienced in the war when there were acceptable treatments available.  The inhumane treatments of patients at the time will leave chills on readers.
        I received a digital ARC of this book from netgalley and Bethany House Publishers.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

About the Author:


Jocelyn Green is a former journalist who puts her investigative skills to work in writing both nonfiction and historical fiction to inspire faith and courage.

The honors her books have received include the Christy Award in historical fiction, and gold medals from the Military Writers Society of America and the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.

Complex and nuanced characters, rich historical detail and twisting plots make her novels immersive experiences. Her fiction has been praised by Historical Novel Society, Romantic Times, Library Journal, historians specializing in her novels' time periods, as well as popular and acclaimed authors Laura Frantz, Lori Benton, Jody Hedlund, Sarah Sundin, Joanne Bischof, Julie Lessman, and more.

Jocelyn loves Broadway musicals, the color red, strawberry-rhubarb pie, Mexican food, and well-done documentaries. She lives in Iowa with her husband, two children, and two cats she should have named Catticus Finch and Purrman Meowville.

Visit her at jocelyngreen.com.