If I had knows this was going to be a tragedy ahead of time, I would have judged this book very differently. There is not a HEA in this book, I say that as a warning, not trying to give anything away. The writing itself was very beautiful. The character were very alive. Isabelle was a little too determined to stay in a horrible situation instead of finding a way at times, but otherwise she was a true woman of her times - trying to make the best of what life had given her.

Ethan was a gallant gentleman, wanting to protect a woman from having a harder life than necessary. He just happened to fall in love with her at the same time and it only made things harder for awhile. Where there is a sad part of the ending, there is also hope and hint at a new life ahead.