Shades of Honor by Wendy Lindstrom

Description:

Former Union soldier Radford Grayson returns to his small hometown, looking for a stable and comforting place to raise his young, motherless daughter. Despite his troubled past, his hopes are to reconcile with his family and put his dark secrets behind him. But he doesn't count on falling in love with Evelyn--his brother's financee...

When Evelyn Tucker accepted her childhood friend Kyle Grayson's marriage proposal, she thought it was the best way to make her ailing father happy. But after Radford arrives home, the fiery and independent Evelyn realizes that the comfort and friendship Kyle gives her will never hold a candle to the instant, undeniable passion she feels for Radford. Now their forbidden desire threatens to shatter family ties and destroy newfound dreams--unless their love has the power to overcome all obstacles...

My Review:

Shades of Honor by Wendy Lindstrom

5 out of 5

     Haunted by a gruesome war and his own dark secrets, Former Union Soldier Radford Grayson returns home, seeking a loving reunion with his brothers and a place where he and his young daughter can make a home. Desperate for peace, Radford is ambushed by his unexpected and forbidden love for Evelyn—his brother's fiancée.

       I found this book while looking for free books.  The description makes you think of the numerous other cheesy romance novels.  It really is a wonderful story though.  Radford and Evelyn battle hardships and a past that threatens to keep them apart.

        Radford is the eldest Grayson brother and the war hero.  He is haunted by the horrors he saw during the Civil War.  He feels like he never lived up to the hero his family thought he was.  Radford did whatever his brother Kyle wanted to try and make his way back into his family.  He gave up his share of the saw mill their father built and helped out in Kyle’s fiancé’s livery.  Radford even agreed to stay in another home instead of his mother’s.  He fell in love with Evelyn and still tried to do the right thing by fighting his feelings.  Radford shows his strength, courage, and love throughout the book.  It is wonderful to see the wounded and defeated man finally start to find the family and home he so desperately wanted.

        Evelyn grew up with the Grayson brothers and was always the tomboy of the group.  No one realized she had turned into a beautiful woman except Radford.  She worked hard to keep her father’s livery business going and stay faithful to Kyle.  Evelyn had a connection to Radford through his daughter.  They also were able to share the pain and outsider feeling they felt.  The ability to finally connect with a man in a way other than friendship sent her world upside down. No matter what, she tried to honor her promises and take care of her dying father.

        Kyle is the second oldest Grayson brother and took over the saw mill after their father died.  He worked hard to make the business a success, and he resents having Radford back in town.  It doesn’t help that Radford falls for Evelyn.  Kyle had to grow up and forget his dreams to take care of his family.   This changed him and put him on a different path.  He struggled with his anger over his brother leaving everything to him.

        This love triangle is one that breaks your heart.  You hope that Radford and Evelyn will end up together, but you are not sure if that will happen.  It is set during the Reconstruction Era, so the choses for a woman are limited.  This was a sweet story that made me eager to read the next.  The Grayson brothers have a bond that makes you want to call your own siblings.  This book doesn’t just give you an interesting love story, but it shows the importance of family.  I am eager to read the next book and see what happens to the Grayson boys.

Happy Reading, 

Kimberly