“Clara McBride carefully counted ten cartridges before dividing them into a double stack of five.”

Opening line of “A Single Spark” by Judith Miller

“A Single Spark” by Judith Miller is set in the American civil war at an ammunition factory. I found the back cover gave a little too much a way for me as it takes quite a while before there is an illusion to sabotage. The majority of the book is dedicated to the relationships of the workers at the factory as well as the process of production and it’s dangers.

It is well written and if you enjoy learning about history through novels, this is one for you. There is a lot of carefully researched detail and Judith brings this to life through the story. For me, it was a little much as I enjoy a bit more of a pace to a story and a little more intrigue.

Whilst this one wasn’t quite my cup of tea, I have to give it four out of five on the enJOYment as I did find it interesting and had to know how it would resolve!

From the back cover:

Wanting to do her part in the war effort, Clara McBride goes to work in the cartridge room at the Washington Arsenal, the city’s main site for production and storing of munitions. She’s given the opportunity to train new employees and forms a friendship with two of them. All seems to be going well, especially when one of the supervisors shows interest in her.  

Lieutenant Joseph Brady is an injured army officer who, no longer able to lead troops into battle, has been assigned to a supervisory position at the Washington Arsenal. While Clara has caught his eye, he also makes it his mission to fight for increased measures to prevent explosions in the factory.

But when suspicions rise after multiple shipments of Washington Arsenal cartridges fail to fire and everyone is suspect for sabotage, can the spark of love between Joseph and Clara survive?

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Bethany House Publishers through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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