For one – I somehow understood the timeline of the blurb differently than it actually happened in the book when it came to the “non letter” – in the blurb it sounded like a reason for something to get started when in reality it happened at the end as a final thing to make something solid …

Then there was the “secret” that was well – how should I phrase it – well – I kind of knew it before I even started really getting into the story.

The now and then writing style was strange when the prologue already told you too much – especially when the whole prologue was repeated again – it was like a double chapter somehow…

Then in the “now” time – I completely lost the “connection” between the characters. It was all about what happened in the past and the influence of the secrets … but in the grand total it felt like two old friends reconnecting and not like lovers reconnecting.

Some parts also felt stiff and disjointed, hurried even – I read several other books by this author so this feeling was new to me, it was – and I mean that in a respectful way – like this was more a good draft in need of polishing and not story wise fully finished book.

I loved the devotion of the male character – a rare trait – and I loved the female lead in the “then” chapters – the supporting characters were more confusing then helpful especially in the “now” chapters. The whole plot idea had this “civil war – plantation – south” feeling to me – half of the time I was expecting to read about a women in a crinoline coming down a grand staircase – don’t ask me why because the plot was nowhere near that.

So in total – I liked the plot idea and the setting – just the development did not work out for me in this book. I might be the odd one out there and I will never hesitate to pick up the next book from this author so if you think the plot is one for you I would never try to stop you from reading this one.