The Widow’s WarA Post–Civil War Romance of Healing, Hope, and Second Chances
When the war takes everything, courage becomes a woman’s only refuge.
1870, Montana Territory. Rachel Morgan arrives in Bitterroot Valley with nothing but a land deed, her six-year-old daughter, and the grit of a Union widow determined to start again. But the valley is a tinderbox of old loyalties, and many—including local rancher Silas Vance—see her as an unwelcome reminder of their defeat.
Caleb Ransom, a former Confederate soldier haunted by guilt, is hired to drive Rachel off her land. Instead, he finds a woman fighting for her future with a quiet bravery he can’t ignore. When Caleb defends her against Vance’s escalating threats, he loses his place in the community—but discovers a renewed purpose, and a hope he thought long buried.
As Rachel and Caleb’s connection deepens, tensions in the valley rise. When Vance’s eight-year-old son Emmett seeks refuge with Rachel, their fragile peace shatters, pushing the conflict toward a dangerous breaking point. Rachel must decide whether to protect the boy at any cost—and Caleb must choose whether to cling to the past or stand with the woman he’s come to love.
The Widow’s War is a sweeping historical romance about the scars of the Civil War, the healing power of compassion, and the courage it takes to build a new life in the harsh beauty of the Montana frontier.
Perfect for readers who love:
When the war takes everything, courage becomes a woman’s only refuge.
1870, Montana Territory. Rachel Morgan arrives in Bitterroot Valley with nothing but a land deed, her six-year-old daughter, and the grit of a Union widow determined to start again. But the valley is a tinderbox of old loyalties, and many—including local rancher Silas Vance—see her as an unwelcome reminder of their defeat.
Caleb Ransom, a former Confederate soldier haunted by guilt, is hired to drive Rachel off her land. Instead, he finds a woman fighting for her future with a quiet bravery he can’t ignore. When Caleb defends her against Vance’s escalating threats, he loses his place in the community—but discovers a renewed purpose, and a hope he thought long buried.
As Rachel and Caleb’s connection deepens, tensions in the valley rise. When Vance’s eight-year-old son Emmett seeks refuge with Rachel, their fragile peace shatters, pushing the conflict toward a dangerous breaking point. Rachel must decide whether to protect the boy at any cost—and Caleb must choose whether to cling to the past or stand with the woman he’s come to love.
The Widow’s War is a sweeping historical romance about the scars of the Civil War, the healing power of compassion, and the courage it takes to build a new life in the harsh beauty of the Montana frontier.
Perfect for readers who love:
- Post–Civil War historical romance
Enemies-to-lovers and slow-burn tension
Strong, resilient heroines
Found family and community healing
Western settings with sweeping landscapes
Themes of redemption, forgiveness, and hope
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Used availability for Susan Leigh Carlton's The Widow's War