Celebrate Lit / May 25, 2025

When Heaven Thunders

About the Book When Heaven Thunders

Book: When Heaven Thunders (West Virginia: Born of Rebellion’s Storm #2)

Author: Kendy Pearson

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release date: October 1, 2024

**When the devil wears Blue and grey,**

Doing the right thing can be a thorny matter.

His family is missing. Bushwhackers are sleeping in his bed. This war just got a heap more personal for Union Sergeant Fin Dabney.

Fighting guerrillas in your own neck of the woods comes at a high price. Neighbours, kin, and even Fin’s best friend are on the wrong end of a rifle. But not all battles are fought amid smoke and blood. When Fin faces a murderer from his past, flesh and spirit collide, but only one can prevail.

Melinda Jane has waited a lifetime for Fin to declare his intentions. But now she has moved on to other interests—with disastrous results. Her choices have cost her Fin’s love and possibly her life.

Why was it he could draw down on the enemy and look death in the eye, but he could not bring himself to deal plainly with Melinda Jane?

He never told her how he felt. Now he may never get the chance.

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My Thoughts on When Heaven Thunders

When Heaven Thunders is a wonderful historical fiction novel about the Civil War. It’s a great take on the brother vs brother dynamic. As someone who lives in the Midwest states, and a border state, plus a state that was big in guerrilla warfare(it’s Missouri if you didn’t know), this book was wonderful. I have grown up with tales of fighting and people being shot in their fields while ploughing. It’s real. It’s true. And it’s even more than what fiction is.

Fun note. The author’s last name is Pearson. My maiden name is Pierson. Growing up, there was a boy next door with the last name of Pearson, his first name was Erik. Image Erin and Eric with the same but different last names, and only months apart from each other. Yes, everyone thought we were siblings or even twins. Crazy!

Okay, back to the story.
One, this is part of a series. You should definitely read the whole series and read it in order. Don’t just start with this book. I mean, you could but you’d miss out on a lot of things that would help it make more sense.

Fin and Melinda Jane are the main characters. For years, Fin has grown up with Melinda Jane like a sister to him. It’s like she’s part of the family. But his feelings have changed, and he definitely does not view her as a sister anymore. But can he tell her? And how? Does she feel the same?

And of course, the war is raging on around them, so it’s not like it’s just a sweet romance either. Well, it is a sweet romance, but there is more than just romance.

This book takes a deeper look at the brother-against-brother part of the war. It truly was a hard time in our history, and no matter which side you were on, you were going to be on the losing side when it came to death and destruction, because no one was immune to that.

You’re going to love the romance. And I have a feeling you’ll love watching the characters deepen in their knowledge of God and His love throughout the novel as well.

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,w 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 When Heaven Thunders

Kendy Pearson is a worship leader, Bluegrass fiddler, and Civil War reenactment enthusiast. As a veteran high school teacher, she loves to discover a pocket of American history missing from the schoolbooks and turn that pocket inside out. Her novels lead fictitious characters through historical events and settings, engaging with period personalities. And she always includes a romantic thread to warm the heart. Every story is a journey through tragedy, secrets, regrets, and God’s undeniable grace.

She has received multiple lit awards and enjoys public speaking and teaching writing workshops. When she’s not clicking away on the computer or scaling mountains of research, she relishes ice cream, snowy days, fireplaces, and maple trees. Kendy is the mother of four grown children and lives with her sweet hubby and two amusing miniature dachshunds.

More from Kendy

Research and writing are so much fun! I always have some kind of theme in mind for every book I write. In keeping with my brand, Heart of History, I am turning two history pockets inside out with this second story of the “West Virginia: Born of Rebellion’s Storm” series. When Heaven Thunders is the eldest Dabney sibling’s story and brings two factors to light that are not commonly known about the Civil War.

First, Fin, the hero, faces various moral dilemmas just trying to carry out orders. He witnesses historically accurate atrocities and unfair tactics perpetrated by both Union and Confederate commanders and soldiers. Fin is in the thick of rooting out bushwhackers and guerrillas who bring the battle to not just the soldiers, but to civilian homes and families, including his own.

Fin is a moralist, working desperately to find a way to do the right thing even when all his choices seem so very wrong. Can you imagine meeting your best friend on the battlefield, and he’s the enemy? I tried to wrap my mind around the idea of neighbor against neighbor and lawless vigilantes molesting plain folks in the name of a cause. “We are in a war, yes, but it needn’t strip a man of his humanity or God’s favour.” (Col. Joseph Lightburn, Fin’s commander)

Secondly, Melinda Jane, the feisty family friend (who definitely wants to be more than Fin’s friend), represents another little-known pocket from history. I took a bit of my own heritage to heart for her background. For most of my life, I definitely resembled my kin of Irish ancestry. However, like Melinda Jane, I have Native American and African American genes also. We don’t think much about mixed race nowadays—it’s the fabric of our wonderful country! Unfortunately, many folks were not as accepting during the Civil War period. At that time, a variety of ethnicities were actually enslaved, which we seldom see represented in Civil War movies and stories.

My second main character’s “secret” lends to her heart of gold and a compassionate nature that shines through everything she does. “Izzy taught me we’re all born into bondage. It matters not a whit what color a man’s skin is or the color of his horse or house—we’re all in shackles and only Master Jesus holds the key.” (Melinda Jane)

Oh boy, did I enjoy working with Fin and Melinda Jane—and watching sparks fly! I hope they’ll make you smile as well.

Blessings from the Heart of History, my friends!

Kendy