"Entertaining Civil War family drama"

In 1864 Jake suffers an injury during a battle. He awakens in a hospital thinking that an angel is taking care of him, but also realizes he has no idea who he is. All he possesses is a vague letter inside his confederacy uniform. The angel Shannon Mahoney sees Jake as her salvation to escape an abusive home.

While Jake tussles with his loss of memory, his other injuries heal. Shannon feels some guilt for taking advantage of Jake's condition, but soon they begin to fall in love even as she worries that he has someone perhaps a wife waiting for him to return. Unbeknownst to him his sister Jenny struggles to save the family ranch from robber land barons while trying to protect a close all alone pregnant friend.

This is an entertaining Civil War family drama that provides readers with an astute tale that focuses on the cost of war on civilians as much as soldiers that makes for an anti-war theme due to the hardships on innocent lives. The story line is insightful but difficult at times to keep track of as so much is going on to several different key but likable players. Fans who enjoy a discerning tale that answers the Edwin Starr question "War what is it good for?" with a resounding "absolutely nothing" will appreciate Cindy Holby's deep WINDFALL.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted November 30, 2004