Iris Elaine Picket lives in a beautiful home, with many servants, and a husband who sees her with the same respect he sees those household slaves. The loss of her child after yet another beating from her husband gives her the impetus to take her maidservant and flee South Carolina, leaving behind her parents, security, even her name and begin a new life in the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania.

Once again, author Kimberly Gordon, draws us into the lives of her fictional characters, connecting us in our contemporary lives with her imperfect people who struggle to make good choices, just...

Margaret Roe, orphaned at the age of eight, lives her life in the same orphanage where her father was forced to leave her when he went off to fight in the Civil War. Now, fifteen years later, she takes care of the present set of children who are in the orphanage and has only a visit to the local confectionery shop as the highlight of her week. Margaret makes an uncharacteristically bold move and signs on as a mail order bride and quickly finds herself on a train to Iowa City, Iowa where she becomes Mrs. Russell Chadwick. Margaret's marriage is by no means usual as her husband is kind but...