Shackled

In wars eighty years apart, two young women living on the same Appalachian estate determine to aid soldiers dear to them and fight for justice, no matter the cost. 1944. When a violent storm rips through the Belvidere attic in No Creek, North Carolina, exposing a hidden room and trunk long forgotten, secrets dating back to the Civil War are revealed. Celia Percy, whose family lives and works in the home, suspects the truth could transform the future for her friend Marshall, now fighting overseas, whose ancestors were once enslaved by the Belvidere family. When Marshall’s Army friend, Joe, returns to No Creek with shocking news for Marshall’s family, Celia determines to right a long-standing wrong, whether or not the town is ready for it.

1861. After her mother’s death, Minnie Belvidere works desperately to keep her household running and her family together as North Carolina secedes. Her beloved older brother clings to his Union loyalties, despite grave danger, while her hotheaded younger brother entangles himself and the family’s finances within the Confederacy. As the country and her own home are torn in two, Minnie risks her life and her future in a desperate fight to gain liberty and land for those her parents intended to free, before it’s too late.

1. Opening Credits
2. Note to the Listener from the Publisher
3. Dedication
4. Prologue
5. Chapter 1: A Refugee Is Born
6. Chapter 2: A Marriage of Convenience
7. Chapter 3: Married to a Murderer
8. Chapter 4: Seeds of Love and Hate
9. Chapter 5: The Daily Beast
10. Chapter 6: Bound and Gagged
11. Chapter 7: Fatherless
12. Chapter 8: The Bloody Party
13. Chapter 9: Life in Basunda
14. Chapter 10: New City, New Life
15. Chapter 11: A Day of Prayer
16. Chapter 12: Fired
17. Chapter 13: Paying the Jizyah
18. Chapter 14: High School Dropout
19. Chapter 15: The Apprentice
20. Chapter 16: Comboni Catholic School
21. Chapter 17: Two Extremist Camps
22. Chapter 18: University of Khartoum
23. Chapter 19: Bad Medicine
24. Chapter 20: Surprised by Love
25. Chapter 21: Overwhelming Grief
26. Chapter 22: A Family of My Own
27. Chapter 23: A Businesswoman
28. Chapter 24: A Stranger’s Voice
29. Chapter 25: Attempted Kidnapping
30. Chapter 26: Accused of Adultery
31. Chapter 27: Only One Choice for Me
32. Chapter 28: No Help from the US Embassy
33. Chapter 29: A Christmas Eve Surprise
34. Chapter 30: Christmas in Prison
35. Chapter 31: Ministry Behind Bars
36. Chapter 32: The Women’s Prison
37. Chapter 33: Initiation
38. Chapter 34: Courtroom Drama
39. Chapter 35: Discrimination and Intimidation
40. Chapter 36: Bible Smuggling
41. Chapter 37: The Exorcist
42. Chapter 38: Brave New Lawyers
43. Chapter 39: Businesswomen in Prison
44. Chapter 40: A Dead Witness
45. Chapter 41: Spiritual Cage Fight
46. Chapter 42: The Valley of the Shadow of Death
47. Chapter 43: Sentenced to Death
48. Chapter 44: A Violent Truck Ride
49. Chapter 45: Death Row
50. Chapter 46: Chains Broken!
51. Chapter 47: Childbirth in Shackles
52. Chapter 48: The Day I Died
53. Chapter 49: Back to Death Row
54. Chapter 50: Free at Last
55. Chapter 51: Betrayed
56. Chapter 52: Secret Interrogation
57. Chapter 53: In Jail Once Again
58. Chapter 54: Spies in the US Embassy?
59. Chapter 55: Help from Afar
60. Chapter 56: Flight to Freedom
61. Chapter 57: Hope and a Future
62. Chapter 58: Seven Years Later
63. About the Authors
64. Closing Credits