Mary Mackey The Notorious Mrs. Winston

The Notorious Mrs. Winston

Mary Mackey

Berkley, May 2007, $14.00

ISBN: 0425215121

In February 1861, the Civil War is two months away when Claire still on her honeymoon with much older portrait photographer Henry Winston sees the "angel" for the first time. She cannot believe how wanton she must be to desire Henry's nephew John Taylor when she just married. She does not love her spouse having said I do for financial security during troubled times.

Besides hiding her reaction the first time ever she saw John's face from him and his uncle, Claire also joins the abolitionist cause without telling her husband. When John, a true believer in the Confederate cause, goes off to battle as a member of Morgan's Raiders, she follows disguised as a young soldier. This enables her to see both sides of the fight especially after Morgan enlists her to his side.

THE NOTORIOUS MRS. WINSTON is a deep look at the Civil War from the viewpoint of a feisty independent female masquerading as a male. Readers see up close what happened at battles and other events through mostly Claire's perspective. Though there is a romantic subplot, Mary Mackey uses that in a support catalyst role as this is a strong engaging historical fiction starring a wonderful protagonist.

Harriet Klausner