I read this book many years ago when it was first published. The novel is a relatively early work by Deborah Smith, and is has a distinctive 'romance' flavor/style that is a little bit dated. However, it is a very enjoyable book. And already, in that novel, you can foresee the type of writer that Smith would become in years to come. I enjoyed it thoroughly again.
I waited a long time to read this book, given that Deborah Smith is one of my favorite authors. But I was a little disappointed, probably because the book was published in 1991, early in her career and wasn't as well written as subsequent novels. Also, I guess I'm just not used to sado-masochism and ripped bodices in the romances I read, but these, as well as incest, were popular themes in the novels of that era. The historical backdrop of the Trail of Tears was what drew me to the book, Smith provided a good sense of the incredible devastation perpetuated against the Cherokee. I also think the conflict between the hero and heroine was credible. All in all, an interesting read.
This is one of Deborah Smith's early works in the style of Harlequin Romance Novels. Her later works, A Place to Call Home, Bear Mountain etc are more mainstream novels. Good Story line. Highly recommend if you like women being swept over their feet, and people never saying what they truly feel due to pride.
