This was a big book (373 pages) and I thought it would take me awhile to read, but once I got started, it didn't take me long at all to finish. It kept my interest and made me want to keep reading. The author does such a good job of making you see both sides of the North and South views after the Civil War had ended. I didn't agree with the one side, but I could at least understand where they were coming from. As the back cover states, this is "a gritty novel . . . . addressing the greater healing that begins in life, when we are courageous enough to lay aside our preconceived notions and personal prejudices".

The Civil War is over and Juliana is headed South to help heal the hurts and teach those who were once slaves, how to read and write. When she first arrives she receives help from a southern gentleman named Andre. Juliana and Andre keep crossing paths and both of them hold very different views on this war that is over. But both are also very drawn to one another. Both of them show "courage and resilience in the face of fierce opposition and the triumphant dignity of the human spirit". I look forward to reading the other two books in this series, "Then Came Hope" and "Then Came Love". ( )

I loved this book. It takes place right after the Civil War. I loved to read about the issues at that time. How hard it is for individules to accept differences, such as the freedom of the slaves. ( )