Layla Beck, the spoiled daughter of a U.S. Senator refuses to marry the man her parents select for her. Her defiance causes her father to decide to let her fend for herself in the world. Through family connections, she is hired for a writing project in Macedonia West Virginia, to write the history of the town.

She goes on the project without the people of the town knowing anything about her background. They assume she is someone needing a job, being employed by the government as a writer. During the course of her research she stays at a house owned by a family named Romeyn.

Jottie Romeyn, the unmarried aunt of two young girls is raising the girls for her brother, Felix. Felix is kind of a rogue character who is in and out of trouble. Predictably, Layla falls for Felix, but with unimaginable results. Her presence causes the unraveling of family secrets that have had a devastating effect on Jottie's life. The truth is finally exposed, leaving many victims in its wake.

This book is well written and it explores the dynamic of a family relationship where an older brother uses an unmarried sister as a surrogate parent for his children. It is a familiar story, especially, it seems, in Irish families.

I found the story riveting and my only problem was with the ending. It wasn't satisfying at all with regard to Jottie's fate.

it is very well written and I liked the fact that it was set in the 1930's since that is the decade that interests me most at this time.

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Created Jul 31, 2015 at 1:22pm • Submit your own review...