When Words Were the Only Gifts They Could Send

 By Kimberly Grist

When Words Were the Only Gifts They Could Send

Each year on Veterans Day, we honor the brave men and women who have served our nation, safeguarding our freedom.. Their courage and sacrifices have shaped our history. In quieter moments, primarily through their heartfelt words, their true humanity shines. 

Long before the invention of telephones, email, texts, and even the telegraph, writing letters was a vital means of staying connected with loved ones during wartime. Sweethearts sent heartfelt messages that showed courage, promised loyalty, and included prayers for each other's safety. These letters were more than just words; they were lifelines full of hope and devotion, providing comfort and connection during uncertain times.

Letters of Love and Longing

This post will focus on the 1860s, during the Civil War, when sweethearts, newlyweds, and families found solace in heartfelt letters that crossed battle lines and bridged months of separation.

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Facts from the Front: 

Soldiers poured their hearts into letters that captured a profound sense of homesickness, along with moments of humor, friendship, and unwavering faith. These heartfelt messages remind us of the human spirit's resilience. Here are a few cherished excerpts taken from real letters written between 1861 and 1865:

“I cannot tell you how often I think of you… When I close my eyes, I can almost see you by the hearth, your hands folded in prayer for me. If the Lord wills, I will come home to you before another Christmas passes.”

— From a Union soldier to his fiancée, December 1863

One of the most famous letters of love came from Major Sullivan Ballou to his beloved Sarah in 1861:

“If I do not return, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I loved you, nor that when my last breath escapes me on the battlefield, it will whisper your name.”
— Major Sullivan Ballou, Union Army, July 1861

Postage and Delivery: 

Civil War soldiers were prolific letter writers. Some camps sent out hundreds every day!

• Postage cost 3 cents, but “Soldier’s Letters” could be mailed unpaid and stamped “Due 3 Cents” so their families could pay upon receipt.
• Delivery was surprisingly fast—two to four days from Virginia to New York!
• Many soldiers joked that the mail wagon was “as welcome as a barrel of biscuits.”

Letter to Mrs. Nancy McCoy from her son, Private Isaac McCoy of Co. A, 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment, postmarked Feb. 2, 1863. Image courtesy of Library of Congress

Camp Pets and Mascots:

Animals made life in camp brighter. Regiments adopted dogs, cats, raccoons, pigs, and even a bear cub named Old Ephraim. One company’s rooster faithfully crowed at roll call every morning, bringing a touch of home to the front lines.

Examples from history:

• The 8th Wisconsin Regiment—known as “The Eagle Regiment”—kept a famous mascot named Old Abe, a live bald eagle who inspired countless other regimental pets and mascots.
• The 3rd New Hampshire Infantry kept a rooster mascot that crowed at roll call, as mentioned in letters and regimental notes.
• In “The Citizen-Soldier; or, Memoirs of a Volunteer” (John Beatty, 1879), a Union officer humorously described “a rooster that thinks himself in command.”

 Mice were frequent visitors, prompting one soldier to write, “They pay no mind to rank and will eat a general’s crumbs as quick as mine.”

Music, Games, and Pastimes:

When not marching or writing letters, soldiers passed the time with fiddles, harmonicas, and makeshift banjos. Favorite tunes included “Home Sweet Home,” “The Girl I Left Behind Me,” and “Just Before the Battle, Mother.”

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Music was more than entertainment—it was a lifeline to home. Yet some songs stirred such deep emotion that officers feared they might weaken morale. One such ballad was so mournful and beloved that it was banned in several camps for making men too homesick to fight.

Public Domain image courtesy of Duke University Libraries, Historic American Sheet Music Collection.

Written in 1857 by Rev. Henry D.L. Webster and composer Joseph Philbrick Webster, the song “Lorena” was said to induce such homesickness among soldiers that commanding officers occasionally forbade it from being sung around campfires. Letters and journals from both Union and Confederate soldiers mention the song’s haunting melody and sentimental power.

A Grateful Nation Remembers

The courage shown by our veterans extended beyond the battlefield; it was echoed in every heartfelt letter they wrote, every silent prayer they whispered, and every moment of longing experienced by their families. Freedom was not only carried by the soldiers’ bravery but also sustained by the deep faith and love of those who believed in their safe return.

Thank you to all veterans, past and present. Your bravery keeps us safe, and your sacrifices show us that love and faith are the most significant victories.

Pumpkins, Pie, and Proposals

 If you lived in a small frontier town in the late 1800s, autumn wasn’t just about harvest chores and wood-stacking—it was prime courting season. After all, once the fields were cleared and the larders filled, there was finally time for a little fun. And in a sweet Americana world, fun often meant food, fellowship… and maybe a few furtive glances across the barn floor.

Pumpkin socials were one such event. The ladies of the town would bake pies, roast seeds, and turn every gourd in sight into something edible or decorative. The men, conveniently, would show up to “help carry heavy things.” Somehow those heavy things always ended up near the dessert table.  Between bites of pie, couples would wander the lantern-lit square or take a buggy ride under the harvest moon. Many a lifelong romance began with a shared slice of pumpkin pie and a bashful smile.

And then there were the apple-paring parties, where young folks would gather to peel apples

for drying or cider-making. Legend had it, if a girl tossed her apple peel over her shoulder, the way it landed would spell the initials of her future husband. Somehow, every girl’s peel conveniently twisted into J for Jed, Jake, Joshua, Joseph, Jack... you get the picture. It made any man whose name started with "J" one of the most eligible bachelors in town.

Harvest dances rounded out the season. Barns were swept clean, fiddles tuned, and candles set glowing in jars. The music wasn’t fancy, but the laughter was genuine. Between reels, a fellow might ask if he could see a lady home. If she said yes, the whole town knew there’d be another dance in their future, and maybe a wedding, too.

Life was simple then, but never dull. Work was hard, love was sweeter for it, and every pumpkin, pie, and proposal was part of the great adventure of building a life together.

As an author, I love capturing that blend of innocence and grit. The moments when two people, elbow-deep in flour or apples, realize that home isn’t a place at all. It’s a person.

So the next time you see a pumpkin pie cooling on your windowsill, take a deep breath, smile, and remember: somewhere in the pages of a sweet historical romance, another love story is just beginning.

Until Next Time,

Kit Morgan

Gobble! Gobble! Thanksgiving Feasts by Marisa Masterson

 Ah! The turkey. I can easily conjure up the smell of it roasting in the oven. Does it bring to mind Thanksgiving for you, also?

Consider the sound we associate with it. Gobble! Gobble! Have you noticed the double meaning of that in connection with the holiday meal?

We think of it as a sound, true. Also, it is what happens at the meal. And that is one reason turkeys became the food of choice for the special day.

Homer Winslow's view of Thanksgiving

In the nineteenth century, Thanksgiving went from being a regional celebration to a national holiday. Communities would come together to celebrate. Turkeys provided enough meat--much more than chickens--to feed many people. And since it had been an early symbol of the feast, it became the choice for the holiday.

I remember my grandfather speaking about raising turkeys on his farm in the 1930s and 1940s. He would ship them to Chicago. Because of the appetite for the bird, his children received Christmas presents.

So, gobble, gobble up the meal this year and Happy Thanksgiving!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKCTCKJC

Look what our authors published in October!

  

Our authors have been busy writing your next favorite story.

Look what we published in October!

The Bride on the Shawnee Trail: A Clean Mail-Order Western Romance

By Marisa Masterson

     Caroline Bierhals would have married the next day. Instead, her fiancé dies under mysterious circumstances. As she delves into the investigation, the killer threatens her, forcing her to flee for her life. Desperate for justice, Caroline finds herself alone and without support.
      Meanwhile, Jack Poston longs for more than just beans to eat on his ranch. In need of a wife to cook and tend to the chickens, Jack sends for a bride. When she arrives later than expected, they must marry quickly so Jack can return to his ranch and begin the cattle drive the next day.
      Having lost two grooms, Caroline refuses to let her new husband out of her sight, determined to keep him safe from the unknown danger that lurks on the Shawnee Trail. As they face the hardships of the trail, Caroline realizes that the real threat may be the murderer who is hiding among them.
      Will they find a love strong enough to survive the treacherous journey and bring them together, or will danger ultimately tear them apart?

Release date: October 14 2025

https://www.amazon.com/Bride-Shawnee-Trail-Mail-Order-Western-ebook/dp/B0FNQ27L9T

Val: Wild Rose Ridge Historicals Book 1

By Kit Morgan

Six mail-order brides.
One exasperating preacher.
And a fiery chaperone who swore she’d never fall in love.
     The last thing Valentine O’Malley expected when delivering a passel of mail-order brides to Wild Rose Ridge was a chance at love herself. Especially while butting heads with the town preacher. Micah Sutton craves peace and order. Val brings sass, stubbornness, and a fiery Irish temper. Add in the ever-gossiping “Busy Bees” and a funeral-hungry undertaker, and Val isn’t sure she’ll survive twelve chaotic days leading up to Christmas. But when Christmas Eve arrives, she must decide if she’s only passing through… or if Wild Rose Ridge and a certain steady-eyed preacher, could be the anchor she’s been searching for.

Release date: October 14, 2025

https://www.amazon.com/Val-Wild-Rose-Ridge-Historicals-ebook/dp/B0FQRXF68B

Isabella Rocky Mountain Bride : National Park Brides

By Angela Raines

Scarred in body and spirit from the 1902 Philippine-American War, Michael (Jim) Welling fled to the untamed Colorado mountains seeking peace and isolation. Isabella (Bella) Harrison, a spirited and independent woman of the early 1900s, defies her well-meaning family to retrace Isabella Bird’s legendary journey through the rugged frontier. When their paths cross in the wild heart of the Rockies, neither expects the spark of connection—or the healing power of love. As they work to preserve the breathtaking land that will one day become Rocky Mountain National Park, they must confront their pasts and decide if they can build a future together.

Release date: October 28, 2025

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FBR9NJSN

    Not all of our authors make their books available on pre-order. For those who do, those advance sales go a long way to help their book ratings.

Below are some future books.

November Releases: 

 

A Joyful Ring: Wholesome Holiday Western Romance (Silver Bell Sweethearts Book 1)

By Shanna Hatfield

A rugged freighter, a hopeful dreamer, and a Christmas they’ll never forget.

In 1876, Gunder Birke leaves the daily struggle of Pittsburgh behind, determined to build a better life in the rough-and-tumble mining town of Lovely, Oregon. Hired as a freighter to haul dangerous explosives for the local mine, Gunder faces ongoing danger—but nothing as treacherous as the risk to his heart when he meets the beautiful and spirited Risa Hoffman.

After losing her mother and siblings, Risa has spent most of her life on the move with her father, never knowing what it means to have a real home. When she convinces him to settle in Lovely, the remote, uninviting town is far from the idyllic refuge she imagined. Still, Risa pours her hopes into building a future, working at the boardinghouse while dreaming of a finding a husband who can offer stability and comfort.

But when Gunder’s steady kindness and quiet strength awaken feelings she never expected, Risa must choose between the security she’s always longed for and the love that rings true in her heart.

As snow begins to fall across the rugged Oregon landscape, two souls discover that sometimes the most beautiful gifts come wrapped in hope, faith, and the promise of love.

A Joyful Ring is the first book in the wholesome holiday Silver Bell Sweethearts series.

Release date: November 13, 2025

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FW8NZJ25

Kringla by Kelci: Old Timey Holiday Kitchen book 40

By Linda Carroll-Bradd

     Kelci Odell yearns to be a newspaper reporter and is caught upstairs at a saloon, dressed as a man. Her wish was to interview the ladies and expose their plight in an article that would land her a job…instead of making cheese on the family dairy farm. But her conservative Norwegian family is scandalized. The solution: send Kelci to her cousin Ritter’s Astoria, Oregon hotel until the gossip dies down. Being in a new location doesn’t quash her curiosity.
     Even though Hauk Stefanssen spends his days on a fishing trawler, he hears about the schemes of a new arrival in town from his chatty younger sisters. The woman’s spoken with Peder at the fire safety council and Eryk at the family’s cannery. Feeling ignored, he seeks her out and is bowled over by her assertive personality. After reading her articles, he sees through the brashness to the compassionate woman inside and vows to become better acquainted. But what does an easy-going fisherman have to offer this dynamo?

     This is a clean romance containing wildly opposite personalities, community events, and the swoon-worthy trope of he falls first.

Release date: November 18, 2025

https://www.amazon.com/Kringla-Kelci-Timey-Holiday-Kitchen-ebook/dp/B0FV73HBT3

December Releases: 

A Compromised Christmas

By Marisa Masterson

How had she lost her way?
      Gracie Williams only wants a private moment away from the other stagecoach passengers. Somehow, she wanders into the wilderness, and the forest refuses to allow her to leave—or so it seems to her as branches close in as she tries to push through them. She is completely lost until she hears a noise.
      Ezra Rafferty—Rafe to the few friends he allowed into his life—hums as he returns to his cabin. The hunt was successful, and he anticipates the warm fireplace in his cabin as heavy snow begins to fall. Yes, he savors the quiet life. Being alone suited him fine, especially after the incident.
     But he does not remain alone. A wild-eyed woman bursts onto his trail. She clutches his coat and begs for help. What’s a man to do? He takes her to his home for shelter during the storm.
      He does not plan to keep her. Plans have a way of changing…
      Rafe has set in motion the events that will unwind a scheme and bring to light secrets that reverberate all the way to the East. All because a woman wanders off the trail.

Release date: December 2, 2025

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FL12C122

Ruby's Christmas Escape: Mountain Man's Substitute Bride

By Kimberly Grist

When disappointed hopes collide – Will a resilient mail-order bride muster enough resolve to pursue her dreams of love and soften a reclusive mountain man's heart?

     Abandoned as a child and raised in a children’s home, Ruby knows that romantic dreams are mere illusions. After aging out of the orphanage , she follows her pastor's advice and applies to a matchmaking agency. While practical in her approach, deep in her heart lies a flicker of hope, a dream of her own happily ever after, where she longs for a place to belong and a husband to cherish. As circumstances would have it, her future groom is also short on time. Praying that is a good sign, she accepts a proposal of marriage and heads west to a land where the streams are said to flow with milk and the heavens rain down a supply of honey.
     Disheartened by love and rejected by his mail-order bride, Jonas Vann, a former army scout, is determined to protect his heart and keep the world at bay. Fortunately for him, knowing he needs help caring for his family, his friends and neighbors intercede on his behalf. As winter approaches, they take matters into their own hands, accepting a substitute mail-order bride on his behalf.
     The unyielding force of destiny is as strong as the power of attraction. Will an arranged marriage, a ready-made family, and the spirit of Christmas be the catalyst to fulfill all their dreams, or will their newfound love collapse under the weight of the challenges ahead?

Release date: December 3, 2025

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F4DY169F