"A powerful Civil War drama"

Charlotte Randolph and her six year old brother, Alexander are living in the family home alone. Her mother is dead and her father and brother are fighting for the Confederate cause. When her hated neighbor, Mrs. Martin comes to warn her in the middle of the night that the Yankees are coming to take over her house, she and Alexander have no choice but to flee. They run to her uncle's farm outside of town but her brother Michael makes her go back so she can spy for the Confederacy.

Charlotte hates all of the deceit, especially when she finds herself engaged to not one but three Yankee officers in order to be able to gather useful information. All Charlotte wants is for the war to be over, the Yankees to be gone and for her to be left alone. Fat chance of that happening any time soon.

Captain Ben Chandler is different though. He is kind and caring and solicitous, especially of Alexander. Charlotte is drawn to Ben but too much has happened in her past for her to even begin to try to have true feelings for any man. Besides what if Ben finds out all of her carefully guarded secrets?

This soulful heart-wrenching story does not sugar coat the ravages of war. It is a true to life tale that will have you grabbing tissues left and right as this story unfolds. Even though Charlotte was a true Southerner, she discovered eye-opening facts about the Southern way of life. Gwyneth Atlee has written a powerful story that is sure to please even the most exacting history buff.

Reviewed by Kathy Boswell
Posted June 1, 2002