Overall, it was a good story. I would have preferred less language, but I understand that this is fairly normal for the period setting. The Civil War was indeed a bloody mess, both physically and psychologically. The author did a beautiful job highlighting the post-traumatic effects of the war on its soldiers. We see a great deal of the PTSD symptoms in Radford Grayson. His brothers don't understand because they never served--they stayed home and ran the family business. Only Evelyn seems to have some understanding because her own father also served in the war. Radford is stuck in the past--haunted by nightmares of the battlefield. No matter how hard he tries, he can't just push it all out of his mind.

I really admire Evelyn's ability to see that Rebecca needs maternal affection--something that Radford can't provide. She takes Rebecca under her wing and gives that little girl a lot of tender loving care. And in turn, I believe Radford loves her more for it. She also wants to help Radford learn to deal with his past. She knows that the longer he goes untreated, the worse he may get.

All in all, it's a book that fills you with compassion for all the characters. ( )

I really, really enjoyed this book. It’s set post-Civil War, yet the only thing that really ties it to the time is the hero having trouble adjusting to post-war life. The rest is simply a rollicking good romance.

Radford Grayson returns home years after the war with hopes of joining his brothers in the family business and getting back to an easier way of life. The minor crisis of the story comes when his brother resents his return. The major crisis is when Radford falls in love with his brother’s fiancé…and she with him. I love books where you wonder how in the heck they will ever make this work, but it does, they do, and everything is shiny and happy in the end. This book is a great ride with fantastic characters, following a man’s desire for the one thing he can’t have.

The Grayson Brothers have their own ongoing series, so if you like the characters, you can follow this with other stories. ( )

Very well written. But this was too much, as each character were each going through their own private torture, and I was growing impatient of Radford and Evelyn's dancing round each other, while Kyle remained faintly suspicious of them. Too many tears shed by all, though Radford's daughter, Rebecca, blossomed slowly but surely. Overall, very good. ( )

I am so discouraged... a perfectly sweet and wonderful story was corrupted with a totally unnecessary explicit sex scene. The additional one, of the marriage night, may have passed as slightly explicit but still unnecessary.

With that said, this was a well-written story of the struggles of a gallant man, Radford Grayson, who daily struggles with post war distress. After his three year old daughter is abused by a nanny he goes back home to raise her near family and friends. He pledges her safety to her and himself.

He was raised very close to his three brothers. They owned and built a saw mill with their father. After the father's death right at the end of the Civil War, Rad could not settle because of the trauma he was living. Now, three years later, his younger brother cannot seem to welcome him back. He assigns Rad to help build the livery of their close friend and father of the brother's fiancé, Evelyn.
Readers will relate to post war syndrome, many of the every day struggles of individuals to succeed and still be able to have life outside of work.
The story flows in a manner which 'pulls the reader in'. One can feel the intensity of emotions, thoughts and feelings.

This book cover is more applicable to the story than the new revised ones. It is also more appealing to the eye.

The characters in the story will become alive to the reader. The development of supporting scenes are very well-portrayed.

Based on talent and reader involvement, my review of this book offers a Four Stars rating. ( )

I downloaded this book to my nook not expecting it to be all that great (it was free) but as it turned out it was actually an amazing book. I loved how the plot line was realistic and makes you feel like you are there with this family sharing their expierences and feeling their pain and happiness as they get through their struggles of their past and of their heart. And can't wait to read the next books in the series. ( )