About the Book

Book: THE AFTERMATH: Ladies of Oberlin Book 3

Author: Tamera Lynn Kraft

Genre: Historical

Release Date: February 1, 2025

Betsy loves her husband, Nate, but losing his leg in the Civil War has changed him. He never touched alcohol before the war, but now he’s turning into a drunk. She doesn’t know how to help him, but to save their marriage, she’s going to do everything she can. If only she can figure out how.

Tormented by the loss of his leg, Nate feels worthless. His drinking only makes things worse, but he can’t stop. It’s only a matter of time before he drives Betsy away. Why did God allow this to happen? What does he owe God now, after this betrayal?

Nate’s anger and bitterness are building a wall that neither he nor Betsy can break down of climb over. Only God can help them, but Nate is no longer on speaking terms with the Lord. Is there any hope for them?

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About the Author

In her spare time, Tamera Lynn Kraftloves to watch classic movies, drink quality teas, and ride on roller coasters, but not while drinking tea. She does drink tea while writing and working as managing editor for Mt Zion Ridge Press, a traditional Christian publishing company. She has always loved adventures and loves to write historical fiction set in the United States because there are so many stories in American history. Forks in the Road, The Aftermath, Lost in the Storm, Red Sky Over America, Anna’s Christmas Promise, Alice’s Notions, and Resurrection of Hope are among her published works, some of which have won awards.

Tamera has been married for a very long time to the love of her life, Rick, and has two married adult children and the most adorable and smartest grandchildren in the world. She was a children’s pastor for over 20 years. She is now the leader of a ministry called Revival Fire for Kids where she mentors and coaches children’s leaders, teaches workshops, and is a children’s ministry consultant and children’s evangelist. She has written children’s church curriculum including Building Foundations and is a recipient of the 2007 National Children’s Leaders Association Shepherd’s Cup for lifetime achievement in children’s ministry.

More from Tamera

Oberlin College: Ahead of Its Time

(Insert books picture) All three of my Ladies of Oberlin books feature women who graduated from Oberlin College shortly before the Civil War. Oberlin College, founded in 1833 in Northern Ohio, was a college ahead of its time in many ways. In 1835, it became the first college in the United States to regularly admit African Americans. It’s also the oldest co-educational college in the US. In 1837, it admitted four women, three of whom graduated and earned a college degree. Mary Jane Patterson, another Oberlin graduate, became the first African American woman in 1862 to earn a Bachelor of Arts college degree.

One of Oberlin’s founders once bragged that “Oberlin is peculiar in that which is good”. Oberlin was peculiar in many ways in advancing the causes of the time. Charles Finney, the second president of the college, helped it earn its controversial reputation. He was the founder of the Second Great Awakening, a Christian revivalist movement in the early and mid 1800s.

Oberlin College was the hotbed of abolitionist activity and a stop for the Underground Railroad before the Civil War. It was once called “the town that started the Civil War” because of its participation in the Oberlin Wellington Rescue in 1858. Slave catchers came to Oberlin to capture an escaped slave and return him to Kentucky. Most of the town came to the slave’s aid and rescued him. For their trouble, over twenty were arrested and put on trial for violating the Fugitive Slave Act. During the raid on Harper’s Ferry by John Brown, three men from Oberlin participated.

(Insert arch picture) Oberlin graduates have been involved in all of the movements of the late 1800s including abolition, women’s suffrage, the suffrage movement, and education as well as many charities and helped shape the nation for the twentieth century.

Oberlin was also very well known in the missionary movement of the late 1800s. Between 1860 and 1900, 90% of missionaries sent overseas by the American Missionary Society were graduates of Oberlin College. Between 1899 and 1901, thirteen missionaries from Oberlin were martyred during the Boxer Rebellion of China. An arch in Tappan Square at the center of Oberlin pays honor to their sacrifices.

My Impressions

“Lord, I don’t want Your bright light shining on me. Let me stay in the shadows.”

What an odd quote to pick to represent this post-Civil War novel by Tamera Lynn Kraft! Yet, I feel like it and a few others I’ll mention hit home at the heart of this emotionally difficult-to-read book, The Aftermath, book 3 of The Ladies of Oberlin series. The Aftermath stands well on its own.

What makes The Aftermath hard to read is watching one of the two main characters, Nate Teagan, as he struggles to come to grips with his leg amputation during the War. Feeling like half a man, battling society’s prejudices against people who are less than “whole,” any rejection Nate receives becomes an impediment to his dream of being a lawyer. Nate is unwilling to rely on anyone other than himself. Cage also tries hard to reason with Nate, but finally says, “Your problem isn’t your missing leg. Your problem is with God.”

We continue to watch Nate battle his growing addiction to the whiskey bottle and his mounting refusal to turn to the Lord, Who allowed him to lose his leg.

As we view life from Nate’s angle, we also see it from his godly wife, Betsy’s purview. She becomes more and more involved in the Temperance movement, to eventual Nate’s great embarrassment and shame. As Nate’s personality changes from God-fearing to drink-obsessed, Betsy has reason to fear for her and her children’s safety. Fortunately, Betsy has some wise friends, Cage and Lavena, who are a tremendous help, and a new friend, Mrs. Anderson. Mrs. Anderson has a story similar to Betsy’s and she gives her advice Betsy hasn’t considered, plus tells her, “Things would get worse before they got better.” Yikes!!

What will it take for Nate to come to the end of himself and finally be willing to turn to God to help? “Trying isn’t enough. Unless you surrender this to God, you’ll fail. He’s the only one who can help you through it.”

I loved seeing friends Cage and Lavena working through struggles of their own. The writing style was a little preachy to me, and I wanted the characters to have a little more dimension. But by the end of the book, I was fully immersed, wondering if I were in Betsy’s place, would my marriage survive? If I were in Nate’s place, how low would I sink?

My fave secondary character is Johnnie. Life is much less than fair for him, yet he, who originally needs Nate’s help, becomes a helper. Loved seeing this relationship come full-circle!!

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

Notable Quotables:

“Quoting that scripture and prayer are good ways to start, but that doesn’t mean everything will work out the way we hope. All we can do is trust the God who gives hope to fill us with His peace.” – Betsy

“…but only the Lord can change people’s hearts. We can be His servants and do His will, but we can’t change people. That’s the Holy Spirit’s role.” – Mrs. Adams