Grace Johnson could see the future before her, shining brightly with the fulfilled desire of being married to David Carver. But, her father won’t let her marry that preacher’s son. Grace longs to see her father turn to God, but redemption seems so far away. What’s more, the States are at war and the Carvers’ beliefs get them driven from their home in Virginia. Now, the future seems dark to Grace. Will she ever marry David? Will her father turn to God?
So, The War Rages On.

Later, Grace is moved with compassion and decides to act on behalf of a young couple who have been rejected in town because they’re “Negros.” Her decision brings all of them into trouble with the Ku Klux Klan, entangling them in a terrible darkness none of them saw coming. How can she believe that trials and pain are part of God’s good plan? Then, Grace unexpectedly finds herself standing in front of a man who has caused grief all over Virginia, even to her own family! The choice lies before her: will she harbor hate or extend forgiveness?
This is The War Within.

Then, Grace’s adopted daughter, Eliza is jolted from her lovely world when the secret of her parents’ past is cruelly revealed. How could Grace lie to her? Eliza separates herself from friends and family, and her faith shatters. Will there ever be joy in her life again? To make matters worse, two outlaws arrive – one bent on revenge, the other seeking redemption. Eliza gets caught in the crossfire alongside the very ones who shattered her lovely world. How can she find contentment in the Lord’s purpose?
This could be The War’s End.

The War Trilogy, by Cecelia Schmidt, is a beautiful, adventurous historical fiction series set in the mid + post Civil War era.

Each books has its own twists and turns, mingling scenes of humor and grief, love and hate, hope and despair, faith and doubting into a blend of life with an overarching theme of redemption in Jesus Christ.

I really enjoy Cecelia’s emphasis on family and bringing God into every area of life. The struggles and triumphs of the families intertwined in The War Trilogy are genuine and can be felt through the pages. With engaging characters and story plots, these books are sure to strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ and encourage you to make the most of your relationships with family and friends.

Cecelia writes like a sister, telling the story in a voice of love and hope, as she invites your imagination to fly on the wings of truth, love, faith, redemption, and forgiveness.

The War Trilogy books are some of the good and beautiful stories we need that hold keys to questions relevant then and now. What do we do when desires go unfulfilled? How do we hold on to hope during hard times? Can we trust God even when His plans are different than we imagined? Can we really extend forgiveness to people who have harmed us and our friends? Where do we find contentment? When will redemption come?

These are the questions that fuel the stories of Grace, Eliza, and others. Will they be ready to accept and stand on the truth when the answers come?

Praise be to God, who has ended the war of hostility between Himself and man through the Person of Jesus Christ. Praise be to God, who is our contentment. “He Himself is our peace” (Ephesians 2:4a). In Hebrew, shalom means peace, as well as tranquility, safety, health, success, comfort, integrity, and contentment. All of this is given us in the Person of Jesus Christ. As it is written, “His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6b). Hallelu Yah!

So…The War Rages On, it is The War Within, and you can bring The War’s End.

Read the Trilogy.