Celebrate Lit / December 16, 2024

Seeking Simon

About the Book Seeking Simon

Book: Seeking Simon

Author: Susan Pope Sloan

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: November 26, 2024

When a mysterious stranger claims to be her fiancé, the fight to save her land turns into a battle for her heart.

Daviana Spalding dreams of leaving Georgia in search of a place where she can prove her worth as more than a claim to land. And when a handsome and kind stranger wanders onto the farm in need of help, she can’t help but see him in those dreams too. Yet those are only daydreams…until the Freedmen’s Bureau shows up threatening to take their land, and her guest steps forward claiming to be her betrothed.

Simon McNeil is a man haunted by his past and his time in a Confederate prison, seeking redemption and a fresh start back in Alabama. But his journey home is delayed when a bout of malaria keeps him bedridden, depending on strangers for help. As Daviana nurses him back to health, Simon is drawn to her strength and beauty, and when her home is threatened, he steps in to help.

When their fake engagement becomes real, Simon and Daviana must confront their feelings for one another as they face escalating threats that could tear them apart. And when a long-lost friend returns, all their plans could come crashing down.

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My Thoughts on Seeking Simon

Seeking Simon is a fun historical fiction romance novel. It’s also part of an ongoing series that you’re going to want to binge-read! I’ve had the pleasure of reading the entire series to this point and could not love it more! This book brings back in some minor characters from other books. So while you technically could read this as a stand-alone title you aren’t going to want to. Because who can resist reading more books instead of less? Not me! I might have a book problem.

This book follows Dottie/Daviana as she tries to hold onto her land. She is only a woman after all. And that is the whole problem. She wants to have rights and be able to do what she wants without a man. But that’s not really in her cards. Because society says it’s not.

She’s compassionate though. And because of that she nurses a man back to help. What she doesn’t know is that he is going to be her salvation in parts. Because when they come calling to take her land he claims to be her betrothed. And from there it just keeps going!

And just like that she’s engaged!

This is a good novel. It takes place just after the Civil War ends while the rest of the series is during the war. The setting is the Georgia/Alabama line. There are some hard topics that come up so you’re aware of them. There are former slaves with children from assault. And then there is an attempted assault. Plus there is a kidnapping and a suicide. I don’t want to give away the plot but I do want everyone to be aware of some of the hard topics.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

About the Author of Seeking Simon

Born into a family of storytellers, Susan Pope Sloan published her first articles in high school and continued writing sporadically for decades. Retirement provided the time to focus on writing and indulge her avid interest in history. Her Civil War series begins (and ultimately ends) in her home state of Georgia with references to lesser-known events of that period. She and her husband Ricky live near Columbus where she participates in Word Weavers, ACFW, and Toastmasters.

More from Susan

When I started the series, I thought it would stop with the end of the war, but I became intrigued with the McNeil family who lived near the Alabama-Georgia line. (My family also is scattered on both sides of that state line, but farther south.)

Troy McNeil and his brothers had fought on opposing sides, which could lead to some tense moments.

Simon became the prodigal son longing to go home after a long separation.

This book delves into the relationships within the McNeil family and also with their former slaves. As a Southerner who grew up in the 1960’s, I’m well aware of the cultural distinctions that existed during that time, but I also know that relationships between individuals can emerge despite those distinctions.

I believe the same could have happened in the previous century.

Seeking Simon also let me bring back that rascally Rufus Spalding from Loving Lydia. Rufus was a fun character to write, but I hadn’t paid much attention to his daughter, who was destined to become Simon’s love interest. Dottie/Daviana Spalding represents many women of the Civil War, who struggled within the confines of the old socio-economic system and longed for personal significance, symbolized here by the change in her name.

I pray that reading this book will encourage those who feel insignificant and long to matter in their world and also those who are praying for a prodigal to return. My favorite line from the book is “Every prodigal runs out of road sooner or later.”

Thank you for taking a look at Seeking Simon.