Born of This Fire: A Novel
A Civil War Homefront Story
Book Two in the Dauntless Series
By Jeanne Gehret
A young bride faces the dangerous legacy of her husband’s past—and the cost of standing with him. Romantic historical fiction inspired by true events.
International award-winner!
Available in eBook and print wherever good books are sold.
“Intimate and epic, historical and timeless. This novel burns quietly but leaves a lasting mark.”
– Katie Meyers, Goodreads
When secrets break them apart, can a love forged by war bring them back together?
Leavenworth, Kansas, 1864: New bride Annie Osborn Anthony left genteel Martha’s Vineyard with high hopes and strong ideals—only to step into a town still scarred from Bleeding Kansas with a husband whose abolitionist reputation has earned dangerous enemies. When she discovers a hidden journal that reveals another side of the border war—and of Daniel—she begins to question the man she married.
During the war, mayor Daniel Read Anthony was a hero to some and a menace to others. Now he fights with the press instead of a pistol, and he’ll do anything to protect Annie. Even hide truths he believes will spare her pain.
But when Daniel’s controversial past comes to light and threatens everything they’ve built, will Annie walk away—or stand with the man she loves?
Born of this Fire is Book Two in the acclaimed Dauntless Series. Inspired by true events from suffragist Susan B. Anthony’s family, it pairs Daniel’s fierce convictions with Annie’s quiet strength in a Civil War–era marriage tested by betrayal and violence. Perfect for readers who love character-driven historical fiction set on the American frontier—rich with heart, history, and redemption.
Through the lens of one woman’s spiritual and emotional awakening, this novel invites readers to consider the courage it takes not to fight, but to stay.
Get your copy today!
Awards
2026 American Legacy Book Awards
Family Saga Category Finalist
2026 Eric Hoffer Awards
Historical Fiction Category Honorable Mention
Next Generation Indie Book Awards
Regional Finalist
Praise
“A beautifully crafted love story with multi-layered relationships, rooted in one of America’s most turbulent eras—the Civil War’s “Bleeding Kansas” conflict and the fight for women’s suffrage.” Almeta Whitis, African-American storyteller
“History melds nicely with emotional and political realizations as the lives of Annie and Daniel Read Anthony come to life, firmly rooted in the hopes and expectations of their times.” Diane Donovan, Midwest Book Review
“The heated and even murderous politics of post bellum Leavenworth seem to rival that of Washington, D.C. of the time. Gehret has done meticulous historical research onsite in Leavenworth and in Susan B. Anthony’s hometown of Rochester, NY.” Andrew Coyle, Librarian & Managing Editor, Rundelania.com
“War, emancipation, Lincoln’s assassination—and one woman’s journey from dependent bride to person in her own right. I couldn’t put this book down.” Jacqueline
“Love, loyalty, and endurance set against the searing backdrop of Civil War–era Kansas. Drawing on true events, Jeanne Gehret captures both the heat of battle and the quieter, more intimate wars fought inside the human heart.” Katie Meyers
“A well-researched story of love plus conflict in Kansas immediately after the Civil War. You’ll feel like you’re there with the characters making their way through this new frontier.” Kathy Brasby
“Gripping and memorable. Meticulous historical research blends seamlessly with vivid storytelling, creating a narrative that feels authentic at every turn.” Mary Ferguson
“A deeply textured exploration of love and loyalty set against the brutal realities of ‘Bleeding Kansas’ and the Civil War era. Finely rendered historical detail and a protagonist who refuses to be overshadowed—historical fiction that grounds big ideas in intimate stakes.” Maria Baker
Excerpt
Daniel spun around to face Annie.
Hang it all, why couldn’t she understand the dangers here? His heart had nearly stopped when he’d spotted her in Bauer’s carriage.
Throwing up his hands, he said, “Why were you out alone? I thought you were coming back here from the bank to wait for Lydia.” He spoke gruffly, wanting his words, his fear, to get through to her. If she kept venturing into trouble, he’d never sleep again.
“Is Leavenworth so very dangerous, then? You scared the dickens out of me, pointing your gun like that.” There was no mistaking the fury in her eyes—blue fire, hot and sudden, aimed straight at him.
D.R. blinked, fighting the urge to gape at her. His sister Susan was the only woman who’d ever spoken to him that way in the past. But now, Annie.
Her rosy cheeks flushed crimson as she continued, “Have you lied to me and brought me to a town where I can’t go outside by myself? We were surrounded by men with guns! Where did they come from?” She swept her hand around the room.
If only she knew how complicated that question was.
Powerful Themes in this Gripping Historical Novel:
- A marriage built on secrets
- A genteel woman in a violent land
- A diary that could ruin lives
- An unlikely friendship between two women
- Powerful men, dangerous tempers.
- A past that wouldn’t stay buried
- Gossip that cuts deep
- A weapon hidden in plain sight
- Her faith may be all that saves her
About the Series
A marriage forged on the frontier. A partnership tested by fire. Romantic historical fiction inspired by true events.
When outspoken abolitionist Daniel Read Anthony meets young heiress Annie Osborn, their shared antislavery ideals bring them together—but his reputation as a firebrand and her sheltered seaside upbringing ignite a clash between respectability and risk. From Martha’s Vineyard to the Kansas frontier, their worlds collide amid an ongoing tempest of conflicting ideologies and border-town tensions. As secrets from Daniel’s volatile past threaten everything they’ve built, will love be enough to save their future—and each other?
The Dauntless Series is a romantic historical women’s fiction trilogy about true events from the family of suffragist Susan B. Anthony, meticulously researched from archives and period newspapers. From Bleeding Kansas through the Civil War and into the long struggle for equal rights, follow Annie and Daniel as they fight for the soul of their country and the love that brought them together.
Perfect for readers who crave character-driven history on the American frontier—gritty, intimate, and redemptive.
For Readers
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About the Author
Jeanne Gehret writes women’s historical fiction that explores the emotional and spiritual journeys behind public lives, especially those of Annie and Daniel Read Anthony. Informed by her masters in theology and certification in spiritual care, Gehret uses her passion for untold stories to bring the Anthony family to life through writing, blogging, and historical presentations. Her Dauntless Series draws from years of archival research and a deep interest in how women endure—and transform—through hardship.
Early in her career, she authored the first children’s book about dyslexia, an international bestseller with over 60,000 copies sold.
Reach out to her at Jeanne@JeanneGehretAuthor.com.
