My main complaint about this story was the fact that it dragged; it was obvious where the author was taking the reader well before the character actually got there. This story is 450 pages and could have left out at least 75 of them.

Eliza Beaudry is a poor sharecropper's daughter who wants more from life. She's willing to share her charms to get what she wants. Cole Wallace is a traveling gambler who wants what Eliza is offering, but not the 'ever after.' After sampling Eliza's offerings, he leaves the area -- he's not interested in commitment. When Eliza turns up pregnant, her dad goes out looking for Cole -- with a shotgun. However, Cole makes the strangest offer; he will return soon and Eliza will have a husband.

In the meantime, Cole goes home and asks his younger brother, Aaron, to marry Eliza. We also meet the patriarch, Judge Wallace, now a stroke-victim without speech. The old man seems to hate each son equally. There is a very complex relationship between the three. When Eliza arrives, she changes the dynamic between the men. Eliza grows up and becomes a positive force in the family.

Aaron has some serious issues of his own. Cole gets his brother and Eliza to wed and then he leaves for greener pastures. Only, the pastures aren't nearly as green as he thought. 3.5 stars

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