Soldier's Joy
Book II of The Sentinel Heart Trilogy
Sign In or Register Now to see if this title is available for request.
Buy on Amazon Buy on Bookshop.org Buy on Kobo Buy on WaterstonesSend 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 27 Sep 2026 | Archive Date 11 Dec 2026
Talking about this book? Use #SoldiersJoyBook #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!
Description
Avery Gowan is barely home from Iraq when a ghost appears to him—one that looks disturbingly like him. The apparition says that Jessie Gibbs, a woman Avery just met, can help him overcome the guilt of a mission that killed three of his friends and maimed another.
Days earlier, at a service honoring his family’s Civil War relative, Lemuel Sanders, Avery was drawn to Jessie’s quiet strength. Camping with her Civil War-style band the previous year, Jessie, a musician, had discovered Lemuel’s unmarked woodland grave, leading to his identification and proper burial after 145 years.
Jessie and Avery begin a relationship, but his emotional volatility threatens their bond. While Avery hides the truth about his spectral visitor, Jessie hides something too—a secret about her true connection to Lemuel Sanders that may cost her Avery’s love.
The sequel to the award-winning Stones River, Soldier’s Joy stands alone as a haunting story about how the past refuses to stay buried, how healing demands facing it, and how love gives the courage to do so.
Advance Praise
Since Soldier's Joy has just become available, there are no reviews as yet.
Praise for M. F. Jones’s previous novel, Stones River (Book I of The Sentinel Heart Trilogy), Silver Medal Winner in the 2026 IBPA Book Awards
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.”
Foreword/Clarion Review: “In M. F. Jones’s riveting romance novel Stones River, a woman encounters a Civil War ghost; together, they search for solace…. [A]bout honoring soldiers, their traumas, and the descendants who carry their stories forward….” Reviewer: Karen Rigby, April 4, 2026
Kirkus Indie Review: “In Jones’s supernatural historical novel, the ghost of a soldier from the American Civil War seeks the aid of a contemporary woman…. A compelling meditation on history, empathy, and how the past is remembered.”
IBPA 2026 Book Awards Judge’s Review: “… excellent writing, solid characters who showed growth and whom I cared about, pacing that pulled me along and made me not want to close the pages, and a gripping story.”
Amazon, Goodreads, and NetGalley Reviews:
“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.”
“a thoughtful exploration of love, loss, and how the past shapes the present”
“a perfect choice for readers who enjoy love stories with history, heart, and a touch of the paranormal.”
“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”
“It’s no small feat to make a ghost feel like a fully realized romantic lead, but Jones pulls it off beautifully”
“a quiet tribute to those lost in war—especially those whose stories are buried in unmarked graves or forgotten battlefields”
Marketing Plan
iRead Book Tour, 9/29/26 - 10/19/26
Local readings and author talks in the Tennessee/Georgia area
Reviews in BookLife, Kirkus Indie, Foreword/Clarion
iRead Book Tour, 9/29/26 - 10/19/26
Local readings and author talks in the Tennessee/Georgia area
Reviews in BookLife, Kirkus Indie, Foreword/Clarion
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9798991820042 |
| PRICE | $19.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 306 |