A Nice Review

The Civil War, that most tragic and devastating engagement of brother against brother, came to its bloody conclusion in 1865. Yet, Maryann Austin's beautifully written tale places the reader squarely in the middle of it. The Cotton family, so strong and tightly woven, is subject to circumstances that resonate strongly today, a century and a half later. Family connections, stalwart and pervasive systems of belief and behavior, and the capricious nature of circumstance provide the underpinnings for a well written and intriguing story that keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end. There is so much sadness and loss, yet a shimmering thread of hope, even redemption, glistens in the darkness. Once you pick this book up and read the preface, you will not want to put it down; it is a story to remember.

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