This was by far one of the best books I have read in a long time. Jana Petken’s saga begins in England in 1912. We are introduced to Celia Merrill, daughter of landed gentry who has married Joseph Dobbs, one of the vilest villains to ever grace the printed page. The horrors of this marriage are myriad and painfully depicted in Petken’s prose. I’ll say no more at this point and let the reader discover as I did. Soon, the story takes us from England to Spain and. eventually, through that country’s bloody civil war.

Throughout, Ms. Petken engages the reader with her well-drawn characters, who are rich and complex, and her penetrating narrative. This is a beautifully crafted story that will keep the reader enthralled and may actually teach him/her something about history during the ride. I enthusiastically endorse this novel – you will not be disappointed!