If you are looking for a "boy meets girl and they run away, happy ending" sort of book, this is not it! Yes, boy does meet girl, they do run away, fleeing the terrors of the Civil War, trying to get to Atlanta, but my! What a journey! Taylor Brown does an amazing job of
…more portraying the actuality of war: the brutality, the complete loss of moral conviction, the terrible price paid by civilians and by the actual land, ravaged by destruction. This is not a feel-good sort of book, but an excellent example of historical fiction with its grittiness and grim descriptions! Taylor Brown's character development is outstanding; Callum and Ava have more strength than either of them thought possible. But they are clearly human, with failings and flaws. There are great moments of beauty and tenderness, even in the midst of the horrible destruction.
Not for the faint-hearted romantic readers, but I would recommend it highly for anyone wanting a personal glimpse into real life towards the end of the Civil War. (less)