My Heart Belongs in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Author Murray Pura writes a wonderfully researched book of Civil War Gettysburg. If you enjoy historical fiction, give this one a read! The dialogue between Clarissa and the men in her life did feel a bit wordy at times, but speech was different at that time and I understand that.

Often the heroine made me shake my head. So bold for a woman of that era but we know they existed. They did indeed work on the Underground Railroad and even put on men’s uniforms to do what had to be accomplished for freedom’s cause. And Clarissa was a spit fire! I think you’ll love her.

Full of historical facts, the book was not dull. Pura wove those facts into an intriguing story with well-developed characters. He also described Gettysburg so well that even though I’ve never been there I can see it in my mind. It’s a great way to travel!

There are, of course, battle scenes with thorough descriptions but never gratuitous gore. They were written with care, you can tell.

I will say that while I expected some romance, I got a bit more than I bargained for. Nothing bad, just a head strong maiden who couldn’t make up her mind and wasn’t afraid to kiss a man. More than one man, in fact. Goodness, what will this woman do next? Read it and find out!

MHB in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania: Clarissa’s Conflict (2018) by Murray Pura is the latest novel in the My Heart Belongs series published by Barbour Books. This novel comes in all forms including eBook, and is 256 pages in length. With a full-time job and a very lively six-year old, this book took me three days to read. I received a review copy of this novel in paperback form from the publisher, Barbour Books. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. I give MHB in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania: Clarissa’s Conflict 4 STARS. This novel is a Historical Christian Romance.

Overall, I have really enjoyed the novels that I’ve read in the My Heart Belongs series, and I do highly recommend them. Clarissa’s Conflict is a good read, too. I found the writing to be very well done, and the research impeccable. Pura does an excellent job of drawing the reader into the narrative, and creating a story line that forces pages to fly by! There are some moments in this novel where I refused to put the book down because I absolutely had to find out what happened next. If you are a fan of Civil War novels, this book is definitely for you!

Pura does a FANTASTIC job illustrating what it was like to be a conductor on the Underground Railroad and a soldier during the Civil War in America. These moments were some of the best and most terrifying in the story. My favorite aspect is seeing the portrayal of such brave and courageous men and women. Regardless of what could happen to them, many men and women sacrificed their own safety to make sure slaves were freed from slavery. I love the dedication to doing the right thing no matter the consequences. I was terrified for Clarissa the whole time, but I thought her admirable. And, the depiction of the Battle of Gettysburg is incredibly well done. I felt like I was right there on the battlefield with Clarissa and Kyle as they fought against the Confederate soldiers. I could smell the loamy dirt, the blood, the gunpowder. I could hear the horses neighing, the soldiers screaming, the guns firing, the cannons exploding. It felt so realistic reading those parts.

While I did very much enjoy the story, I struggled a little with Clarissa’s character. I found her rather annoying. She is bombastic, self-centered, and bratty. Sometimes, it feels like she is channeling Katherine Hepburn’s sauciness, and sometimes it feels like she is a Blanche Devereaux in nature. I love Katherine Hepburn, and I adore the Golden Girls, but it just didn’t work for me in this book. Clarissa doesn’t feel like a 19 year-old woman from the 1860s; rather, she reminds me of my teenagers today in my 12th grade English class. Her actions and her personality are SO 2018. I know teens are teens no matter the era, but American society in 1860 had certain standards for their women that I see in every female character in this book EXCEPT Clarissa. My biggest issue with Clarissa is how she views fighting for what is right. I love her hatred of slavery. I even agree with her hatred of slavery. But Clarissa believes if a person doesn’t fight for a cause like she fights for a cause then the person is weak and worthless. I detest this line of immature thinking. And, because she thinks like this, there is a moment where Clarissa treats someone abominably. This moment in the story completely ruined Clarissa for me. It made me realize that if Clarissa were a real person today, I would not want to be around her.

Please don’t be discouraged away from this book because of how I feel about the main character. It could be that I deal with teens EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE, so I’m a little jaded! The depictions of the Underground Railroad and the Civil War battles are SO well written that they make this book an awesome read. I actually re-read passages because they were so good — the hold-your-breath and sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat kind of good. It is clear that solid research went into this novel. Overall, I do recommend this novel. Like I said above, Pura really knows how to tell a great War story.

From outrunning and outwitting cruel slave hunters and leading escaped slaves through a wintery wilderness to safety along the Underground Railroad, to putting on a Union uniform and riding in the Battle of Gettysburg, Clarissa is determined to set every person in the United States free. Her biggest enemy might not be slave hunters or the Civil War—it might be her heart.
Is war worth the cost? The alternative is to leave the nation divided and broken, and four million in slavery.
“It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honored dead, we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom.” Abraham Lincoln.
Author Murray Pura engages his flawless historical research, deep Christian values, and knowledge of people to put bones on the American Civil War. “Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Clarissa’s Conflict” is an enduring epic tale with real characters, an absorbing sense of place, and all flavors of defeat and victory, despair and hope.

I was really looking forward to this story, because reading about the Civil War is one of my favorite time periods to read in, but I wound up utterly disappointed by this story!

The timeline seemed to jump around a lot, within the first half of the 1860s time period, though I am grateful that it did so in a linear fashion. The jumping around wound up being more of a confusing factor to the story rather than an enhancement.

The characterization seemed exaggerated, and there were a few places where I found my head spinning with how Clarissa kept changing her mood and feelings! I really began to hate her for it, and I couldn’t connect to Kyle or Liberty too much either. I also really hated the love triangle that seemed to be set up between the two men, especially with the later revelations in the book.

I was not impressed with this story or author, and while it is worth reading as part of the larger My Heart Belongs in.. series, I feel it is not worth owning or re-reading.

Murray Pura continues the My Heart Belongs series, all stand-alone novels, with the story of Clarissa in the mid-180s, during the time period surrounding the Civil War. With tales of the Underground Railroad and the battle of Gettysburg, this novel is full of edge-of-the-seat scenes, courageous and heroic characters, and of course, romance. The author has done a great job of drawing the reader into the characters’ lives and emotions, expressing the heartfelt fears and anguish of family and friends at home praying for and awaiting news about their loved ones. And illustrating the battles of a war that ended up on their streets, on their doorsteps and eventually changed everything, churches and schools turned into hospitals, the town reduced to burial plots and memorials and even changing the names of favorite landmarks. The book is rich in great historical detail, danger, battles, love, family, and friends and threaded throughout faith in God who can bring strength and comfort through the difficult times of war. It is another engaging addition to the My Heart Belongs series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Slaves–Underground Railroad–Conductors–Secret identities. All of these are featured in the beginning pages of this story and the adventure and intrigue never stop. My Heart Belongs in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania begins in 1860 when Clarissa Ross is a nineteen year old woman secretly involved in helping to lead slaves to freedom via the Underground Railroad. As her story continus over the next three years, we watch as she struggles with romantic feelings for two very different men and also frets and worries that war may eventually come to her beloved Gettysburg and change it forever.

Clarissa was a complicated young lady and I sometimes found myself irritated by her actions. Her red hair was often the excuse that she used for both her impulsiveness and her quick temper but there was also a positive side to her fiery nature. She strongly believed that all men are equal and none should be considered inferior and she never stopped trying to convince others. There aren’t many fair maidens who would choose to dress like a man, chew tobacco and go into battle but Clarissa had no reservations in fighting for her beliefs or for the safety of the man that she loved.

It is very apparent that author Murray Pura thoroughly researched this part of our United States history and he has been able to weave the facts into a fascinating story. I never realized that the Amish, Mennonites and Quakers often aided the slaves in their journeys to freedom and I had forgotten that those who helped the slaves escape were referred to as conductors and that Moses was the code name for Harriet Tubman, the chief conductor of the Underground Railroad. I love history and this book has offered me a whole new understanding of the many causes that contributed to the Civil War and I’ve also been given a new insight into the intense suffering of those involved. I have gained a better concept of the Gettysburg Address that President Abraham Lincoln delivered in November 1863 and a deeper appreciation for those stirring words that I memorized many, many years ago!

I thoroughly enjoyed My Heart Belongs in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and Christian romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Heart Belongs in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania by Murray Pura is a book about the Underground Railroad during the Civil War and the battle of Gettysburg.

I was pleased to see a book about Gettysburg, since it is close to where my father was born and we visited several times while on vacation. I loved reading about the Lutherans in the town and the Seminary since my husband’s ancestor was a student there.

However, I was not pleased with Clarissa Avery Ross at all. She was petulant and too outspoken for the times, when young ladies were taught to be demure. She was like Scarlet O’Hara on steroids. I could not see her being trusted as a conducter on the Underground Railroad because of her immaturity and rashness.
By the time the war got to Gettysburg and Clarissa was thrown into the aftermath of the battle, nursing the wounded, I felt like she had finally grown up. She went about her tasks as it was her Christian Duty, not caring which solders were Rebels and which were Union. Then she actually saw battle and that’s where her stubbornness served her well.

Mr. Pura does an exceptional job of describing the battle at Gettysburg. And the scene with Abraham Lincoln dedicating the cemetery was very moving. I remember that memorizing the Gettysburg Address was a requirement in my Junior High days. I wish everyone would be able to recite it. It is important to remember.
Thankyou Mr. Pura for bringing this part of our National History to life.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own. *

Didn’t finish the book after about the first 100 pages. I don’t care for the heroine and couldn’t get past her personality & attitude. She was spoiled, brash, prickly, way too negative, much too forward for a lady of that era, got furious at the drop of a hat and most of her inner dialogue I felt was unnecessary; I skipped way too many paragraphs to be an enjoyable read. Don’t get me wrong, while I don’t mind a strong female lead, I just felt Clarissa was a little over the top for my taste. Sad too, since I love historical fiction about the Underground Railroad and have thoroughly enjoyed all the “My Heart Belongs In series” books. I also don’t like love triangles, so that was another strike against it. I’ve read some well-written ones and I’ve read some horrible ones; and have come to the conclusion they aren’t my forte and avoid them altogether.

Sorry, but this just didn’t do it for me. I rarely, if ever, put a book down without finishing it, but I just couldn’t stand to read any more of it. If you are a fan of historical & like stories about the Underground Railroad, you will most likely enjoy this one.

*I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. *

The title of this book does not do it justice. I have read the whole series of “My Heart Belongs In…” They have all been sweet, uplifting stories and I enjoyed each one, but when I got to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania this series went to a whole new level.
I was riveted to this story from page one as the heroine, Clarissa, was introduced. She was spoiled, feisty, opinionated, courageous and enchanting. The rich history of Gettysburg was not sacrificed for the sake of a novel as the characters faced the dangers of secreting people away in the Underground Railroad and later faced the conflict at Gettysburg with its staggering death toll.
As the story closed, the portrayal of time following the battle at Gettysburg was masterfully done.
A quote from the book that sticks with me is, “…God remains in Heaven. The poor choices men make will not force Him out of office.”

Thank you, Murray Pura for a very well written book.

I received an ARC copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley.

This book had several elements to it. Clarissa is a lover of her home town of Gettysburg, a believer in freedom for everyone and at times a secret conductor on the Underground Railroad. She amazed me with her strength and courage. Kyle, a seminary student, also believes in freedom but to Clarissa’s dismay refuses to enlist when the conflict between the north and the south heats up. Liberty, a hooded conductor on the Underground Railroad, also gets under her skin but she admires his convictions and his courage. They were both doing very dangerous work that could get them killed if caught. As a parent myself I cannot imagine letting my nineteen year old daughter do such risky actions but her parents seemed to fully support her. The cause of helping slaves get to a safe location was much more important.
The civil war is also brought to the front and to Clarissa’s home town. The author did a very good job of describing the conflict and the atrocities of the war. I could almost feel the musket balls whizzing over my head.
The emotions were real, the descriptions of the town spot on and a big surprise is unleashed among the pages. And yes, there is romance for those of us that need it to make a story complete. History comes to life in the works of fiction within this novel. I love learning history in a fun and “entertaining manner”!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.