This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
Wow! was I pleasantly surprised by reading this book. I expected a romantic dime novel but I got a well focused scope on the lives of real and nearly-real people in middle 19th century Georgia. It was a time of honor vs. greed. It reminded me very much of today.
Ms. Cook animates her characters with a rare authenticity I have seldom read regarding the inhabitants of the south during the war between the states. Usually, authors seem afraid to stray from the approved stereotypes. We like to think the times were very different but what her character “lil Alex” observed after the war near the end of the book rings with haunting familiarity, “Honor was forgotten in the pursuit of great wealth. Politicians were bought and sold.”
The first thing, however, that caught my eye was her unapologetic use of exact if expansive vocabulary that had me reaching for my dictionary to be sure I had the right meaning. This may be a burdensome chore for some but I thoroughly enjoyed the novelty.
Be warned. If you only abide stereotypical history and skip words seldom read, this book isn’t for you. On the other hand if you enjoy authenticity and precision with some emotion thrown in for seasoning this is a book well cooked! ( 
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