Skip to main content
book cover for Stones River

Stones River

A Civil War Story of Courage, Sacrifice, and an Otherworldly Love

Narrated by M. F. Jones

You must sign in to see if this title is available for request. Sign In or Register Now

Book 1 of The Sentinel Heart Trilogy

Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app


1

To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.

2

Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.

Pub Date 25 Nov 2025 | Archive Date 2 Apr 2026


Talking about this book? Use #StonesRiverghost #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!


Description

When Jessie Gibbs meets Lemuel Sanders, she thinks she has finally found her ideal man—until she discovers that he is the ghost of a Civil War soldier. For 144 years, Lem has kept vigil at his unmarked battlefield grave, seeking someone to complete a personal mission so he can go to his final rest. As love grows between them, Jessie is torn. If she succeeds in fulfilling Lem’s wish, she’ll lose him when he passes into the afterlife. But if she fails and he remains in the world, she’ll never be free to find intimacy with a living man. A riveting story of faith, passion, and resolve, Stones River shows the power of love to overcome all obstacles—even death itself. 

When Jessie Gibbs meets Lemuel Sanders, she thinks she has finally found her ideal man—until she discovers that he is the ghost of a Civil War soldier. For 144 years, Lem has kept vigil at his...


A Note From the Publisher

About the Author: Before turning to writing full-time in 2008, M. F. (Mimi) Jones worked in publishing. She got her start at Viking Press where, as an editorial assistant, she discovered the bestseller Ordinary People by Judith Guest in the slush pile, and became its editor. She then moved to magazines and was a fiction editor at Redbook and a senior editor at Family Circle and Reader’s Digest. Her feature articles and columns have been published in those and other magazines. When not writing, she can be found reading, knitting (while listening to audiobooks), singing in a choir, or hiking with her rescue dog. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, composer Douglas Hedwig. Stones River is her first novel, and the first book of The Sentinel Heart Trilogy. Connect with her at www.mfjoneswriter.com.

About the Author: Before turning to writing full-time in 2008, M. F. (Mimi) Jones worked in publishing. She got her start at Viking Press where, as an editorial assistant, she discovered the...


Advance Praise

From Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize review:

“Jones's prose is engaging, and her passion for the subject is evident throughout this largely romantic tale. She steers away from romanticizing the war itself, instead balancing its horrors with individual stories of heroism, courage, and reality…. Jones's characters are sharply honed and serve as a driving force for this appealing tapestry of history, romance, and ultimately, self-discovery.”

From Amazon, Goodreads, and NetGalley reviewers:

"With rich historical detail and a heart-wrenching romance at its core, Stones River is a must-read for fans of paranormal romance and historical fiction."

"This isn't just romance in Civil War costume; it's a thoughtful exploration of love, loss, and how the past shapes the present....A surprisingly substantive paranormal romance that's both entertaining and educational."

“Stones River is emotional, romantic, and beautifully written—a perfect choice for readers who enjoy love stories with history, heart, and a touch of the paranormal.”

“I am extremely impressed as this is the author’s debut novel and I think even the most experienced writer would struggle to mix the genre of Civil War History with paranormal romance. This is the first book that I have read of those two genres and the author has made it sensational.”

“Stones River is not only a ghost story but a meditation on history's insistent presence in the now, and the essentially human wish for a sense of some belonging and closure. Both heart-warming and distressing, the story lingers in mind like the memory of an old hymn. “

“It’s no small feat to make a ghost feel like a fully realized romantic lead, but Jones pulls it off beautifully….

The novel … serves as a quiet tribute to those lost in war—especially those whose stories are buried in unmarked graves or forgotten battlefields. Through Lem, we see a man frozen in time, still aching for closure. And through Jessie, we experience the courage it takes to love someone you might lose.”

“I loved how Jones captured the tenderness of relationships alongside the eerie, magical realism of ghostly presences and time’s strange pull. The writing is lush, the atmosphere immersive, and the emotions? Raw and unforgettable.”

“I believe fans of historical fiction with a paranormal twist will not want to miss out on it. I am eagerly awaiting the second installment from The Sentinel Heart Trilogy, Soldier's Joy.”


From Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize review:

“Jones's prose is engaging, and her passion for the subject is evident throughout this largely romantic tale. She steers away from romanticizing the...


Marketing Plan

NetGalley 

Reviews pending from Foreword Clarion and Kirkus

Monthly newsletter (sign up at www.mfjoneswriter.com)

Entered in Independent Book Publisher Association contest

Author appearances in the Nashville/Chattanooga/Atlanta area 

NetGalley 

Reviews pending from Foreword Clarion and Kirkus

Monthly newsletter (sign up at www.mfjoneswriter.com)

Entered in Independent Book Publisher Association contest

Author appearances in the...


Available Editions

EDITION Audiobook, Unabridged
ISBN 9798991820066
PRICE $20.52 (USD)
DURATION 9 Hours, 36 Minutes

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Shelf App (AUDIO)