I have seen this authors books in the bookstore but I have never chosen them as I thought them dated but how wrong can I be . I loved the main characters plot and all the scandal surrounding the Carson family. There was twists and scandal on every page and I was just rooting for all the family to find happiness . The period was the 1860's and all the hardships that was around at the time .Showcasing the difference in society between those that have money and those that do not. The jobs , the hardships and the hand to mouth living . This truly was a page turner as I was just desperate for that happy ending. The cover is quite bland but does replicate the time period and staging of this novel.