Set in North Carolina and Virginia in the 1860s, Staton's Civil War novel explores the budding love of Confederate Private Bill Stamford for two women amidst the carnage of war. When the death-predicting halo around Confederate soldier Bill Stamford's buddy, Daniel, turns out to be true, the private turns to a nurse for aid. The nurse, Franny Neale, misses her fiancé fighting out west and seeks companionship in Bill's arms. After a blissful night with her, Bill knows some life-changing decisions lie ahead. As he marches to a place called Chancellorsville, a halo appears around another friend, Charlie from home. Now Bill must not only decide between his Tar Heel sweetheart or his new Virginia lover, he has to choose his friend's fate – let the halo win or try to outwit it.