About the Book

Book: Texas Reclaimed

Author: Sherry Shindelar

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: February 3, 2026

Can love blossom between a woman haunted by her family’s past and a man haunted by the trauma of war?

Cora Scott is determined to hold onto her family’s Texas ranch and provide a stable home for her young half brother, Charlie, despite the mounting challenges of post-Civil War frontier life. But when a scheming creditor threatens to seize their land, she must accept help from Ben McKenzie, a former Yankee soldier sent by her late brother. Though Ben’s generosity and strength draw her, the man’s private struggle she stumbles upon—too reminiscent of her father’s alcoholism—makes her question whether she can trust her heart to him.

Ben McKenzie arrives in Texas intent on fulfilling his promise to his dying friend to protect Cora and Charlie. While using his inheritance to save their ranch, he battles not only the loss of their cattle but also his dependency on laudanum—a medicine that turned into a curse after his imprisonment at Andersonville. As his feelings for Cora deepen, he must choose between his promise to his father to take over their Philadelphia newspaper and his growing dream of a life with Cora in Texas.

When a Comanche warrior begins courting Cora and Ben’s responsibilities in Philadelphia threaten to tear them apart, they must decide if their love is strong enough to overcome their fears and forge a future together on the Texas frontier.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Originally from Tennessee, Sherry loves to take her readers into the past. She is an avid student of the Civil War and the Old West. When she is not busy writing, she is an English professor working to pass on her love of writing to her students. Sherry is an award-winning writer: 2023 Genesis finalist, Maggie finalist, and Crown finalist. She currently resides in Minnesota with her husband of thirty-eight years. She has three grown children and three grandchildren.

More from Sherry

Texas Reclaimed is a story of victory, redemption, and the rebirth of trust. It is a story of courage and of freedom from the chains of the past and the chains of addiction. It is a story that honors the Civil War soldiers who survived their wounds, only to return home to fight another battle: dependency on the opioid-based medicines that had helped save their lives.

I first heard of laudanum when I watched the movie Amazing Grace about William Wilberforce’s eighteen-year battle to end the slave trade in Great Britain. Wilberforce played a pivotal role in ending the slave trade and eventually slavery itself in Britain by speaking, campaigning, and introducing bills into the British parliament. However, Wilberforce was also addicted to laudanum, a tincture of opium.

It wasn’t his intention to become dependent upon a drug. A doctor prescribed it to him when he was twenty-nine years old for ulcerative colitis and other health ailments. Laudanum was used to treat a number of health issues and ailments in the 18^th and 19^thcenturies, and no one, including doctors, had much understanding about addiction and dependency. The word addiction didn’t even exist as we use it today. But the soul-deep struggle was very real for too many people, even a man of faith like Wilberforce.

Addiction is pernicious, and laudanum took its toll on Wilberforce. He suffered physically, mentally, and spiritually from its poisonous effects.

Years later, I learned that even some of the nineteenth-century authors that I admire, such as Louisa May Alcott and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, struggled with laudanum dependency, as well.

In the nineteenth century, doctors and the public viewed opium, in its various forms, as an essential medical tool. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers were wounded in the American Civil War, and many more suffered from debilitating and potentially life-threatening illnesses. A Civil War medical manual, quoted in Dr. Jonathan Jones’s Opium Slavery, states that opiates were as “important to the surgeon as gunpowder to the ordinance [military weapons].”

My heart went out to Wilberforce, the tens of thousands of soldiers, and others enslaved to laudanum or other substances through no fault of their own. For many, once infected, it could be a lifelong battle, one that many did not win on their own.  But there were victories.

And I love to write about soul-deep struggles and victories.

My hero, Ben McKenzie, is a Federal Cavalry captain captured and imprisoned in the notorious Andersonville Prison Camp. He barely survives the harsh conditions of the camp. His best friend, Jeb Scott, does not. Ben makes a death bed promise to his friend that he will look after Jeb’s mother and sister who live in Texas.

Ben aims to keep that promise, but the medical treatment that he receives after his release from prison camp leaves him dependent upon laudanum. My story starts a year later. Ben determines to break the chains that are eating away at his self-respect. He throws away his bottle of medicine and heads to Texas to keep his promise.

I asked a friend of mine about his own deliverance from addiction. He had this to say, “It was a lifetime ago, my addiction was strong, but my pain was stronger. I’ve lost so much in my life, but then I found that God’s love was deep, and He was even bigger to forgive. Out of His mercy He set me free, and through His grace He healed me from my past.”-Rev. Mark Little Elk

That is my prayer for all of those who struggle. And I look forward to sharing Ben McKenzie’s story with you in Texas Reclaimed.

My Impressions

“Ben was like her father. The realization roared through her.“

Wow! Calling all US history lovers, especially those who love inspirational fiction set around the Civil War times. Sherry Shindelar’s third novel in The Lone Star Redemption series, Texas Reclaimed, is a stellar piece of work, and my fave of the series. 

We get to meet friends from previous books again. And perhaps some enemies as well. So, you will want to read these books in order. 

Laudanaum use takes center stage in this novel. After the horrors of Andersonville prison, Ben is legitimately prescribed the medication to overcome extreme illness. Unfortunately, consisting of parts alcolhol and opium, laudanum was often addicting. Ben’s need could cause him to lose the new life he is beginning to build in Texas. 

Actually a newspaper editor, Ben arrives in Texas to fulfill a promise to his deceased best friend. Ben takes keeping his promises very seriously, which is a good thing for prickly, distrustful Cora. Her past makes it difficult for her to let down her guard to trust Ben. But trust and respect are two very important foundations to a good relationship. Sometimes I thought Ben had the patience of Job with Cora! Would she ever stop second-guessing him?

Of course, the dearest part of the story comes in the form of nine-year-old Charlie. A discarded segment of society, he has been welcomed by Cora into her family. We see prejudice, Native American culture, and precious child through him. He steals the show! 

What to say about Ben? I admired so many qualities about him. He is determined to keep his promises, a hard worker, and willing to learn ranch life that is not his natural bent. He does have a “besetting sin,” though, and one wonders if he will ever escape its curse or its shadow. Ben says, “My faith is patched together.” While he seems to be implying that his faith has barely weathered the storm, maybe our faith needs patched together. Maybe it needs to have survived the storm and still emerge on the other side, stronger. 

Shindelar packs plenty of history, romance, adversity, faith, and twists into her novel. Highly recommended!! 

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review wax required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

“The Lord made a way where there was no way. “ – Devon

“Love is risky.”- Cora

“You see rainbows where others see clouds.” – Ben’s father

“Not all belles sit in parlors or ride in carriages. Especially in Texas.” – Ben

“Couldn’t the man see trusting him was like extracting shrapnel?”

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wow! I loved these characters!! (Well, I did want to shake Cora a time or two!)

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, February 14

Books Less Travelled, February 15

Books You Can Feel Good About, February 15

Betti Mace, February 16

lakesidelivingsite, February 17

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 18

Texas Book-aholic, February 19

Bizwings Blog, February 20

Holly’s Book Corner, February 20

For Him and My Family, February 21

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 22

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 23

Lyssa Loves Books, February 24

The Bookish Pilgrim, February 24

Connie’s History Classroom, February 25

Cover Lover Book Review, February 26

Pause for Tales, February 27

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sherry is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/mEe2g/texas-reclaimed-celebration-tour-giveaway