Beloved Enemy by Al Lacy

It has been a while since I have posted a book review here! There should be a few coming in the next few months. This week there will be two!

The first one is a historical fiction novel entitled Beloved Enemy by Al Lacy. In my reading experience, I have encountered two types of historical fiction. One weaves history into the story, making it part of the dialogue and action. The other presents history and a story side by side, almost in the form of a narrator giving the historical background between scenes. I personally like both types. The former is a smooth and enjoyable read, but often leaves out certain aspects of historical information that I end up seeking on my own. The latter sometimes leaving me feeling as if I am alternating between an interesting textbook and a novel, but in the process I am reminded of historical information I may have forgotten.

Beloved Enemy is historical fiction of the second type. Set at the beginning of the Civil War, author Al Lacy walks readers through the events leading up to and surrounding the First Battle of Bull Run (known as First Manassas in the South). His particular emphasis for both historical and fictional purposes lies in the espionage surrounding the early days of the war.

Beloved Enemy reads much like a western novel. The emphasis lies in the action and discussion of action, with some of the more romantic scenes lacking the polish of more feminine novels. This is unsurprising considering the numerous westerns author Al Lacy has written. In my opinion, it does not distract from the quality of the story. Rather, it offers a contrast to many heavily romantic historical fiction options available today.

If you like history and enjoy fiction, especially of the western style, then Beloved Enemy is worth picking up. To learn more about the books or author, click on the link below.

More Info and Author Bio

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.