Publisher's Synopsis
Ohio, 1875.
The bloody War of the Rebellion casts a lingering scar in America's soul. A decade after the surrender at Appomattox Court House, society continues to claw back from the brink. Constance Levitt, exhausted from the unrelenting grind, needs an out. In rural Ohio, a woman from a tarnished family has no prospects. Constance, acting on impulse, replies to JT Bishop's lackluster advertisement for a bride. Her boldness leads to a glorious opportunity in Kentucky. Trusting fate, she uproots her life for the unknown. Orphaned by the war, JT Bishop spent his childhood secluded in Blue Elm Hollow, shunned for his family's Northern ties. After inheriting his father's legacy, he embraces the responsibility with pragmatism. If a man wants a family, he needs a wife, preferably one ignorant of the local rumors. JT, overwhelmed by the success of his newspaper campaign and teetering on the cusp of defeat, finds hope in Miss Levitt's humble letter. Will this woman be his much-needed helpmate? Willing to take the risk, he invites her to his home. Can two strangers forge a lasting bond? Or will their choices bring new heartache?
