Reaching for Independence — Barbara Youree

Reaching for Independence is both about war and about love. The story is set in the nineteenth century during Greece's chaotic War for Independence from the Ottoman Turks. The fascinating historical figures include Captain Bouboulina, the woman who launched the war to free Greece, two Greek war commanders, Mavrocordatos and Kolokotronis, who opposed each other -- nearly causing a civil war -- and the famous poet, Lord Byron, who led troops to victory. Real characters intermingle with fictional ones. Widowed Dr. Mikos and his teen-aged daughters, Zoe and Lyrica, move from a Greek island to the mainland to establish a hidden clinic for wounded soldiers. Zoe faces a dilemma: She is betrothed to Philip, a soldier, who is brilliant and ambitious. His younger brother, Iscos, becomes wounded in battle and is taken to the clinic. While tending him, Zoe realizes how deeply she cares for him. Suspense builds as victory in war seems in doubt, and no one knows until the end which brother will win Zoe's love.