I really loved this! The writing is spectacular, descriptive yet not heavy-handed, with just a touch of romance and conspiracy to liven up the plot. 
 Portia is alone, a war widow, having buried her husband and infant daughter within 8 months of each other. The war has ended and she is not content to sit in her brother-in-law's home--crowding her dearest friends--and seeks employment as a governess at a horse farm two day's ride away from her home in Tennessee. Her new home is quite a bit more spectacular than any place she's ever lived, but Beau Stanford is no longer the wealthy man he once was. His father had set their slaves free decades before the War Between the States, and still only keep Black Freedmen on their farm. Beau came back wounded from a bullet to the shoulder and a widowed man, his beloved Claire dead. His grief was so great he lashed out at his young son, Jonny, scaring the boy mute. 
 Portia aims to help. She needs to feel useful, and hates that she's considered with suspicion on account of her husband being a Confederate--Jake was a kind and gentle man who kept no slaves and only entered the war because he was pressed. Beau's black servants are more like family than help, and Beau himself does the lions' share of work on the farm. His long-time friend, Henry, has designs on courting Portia, but she wants no part of that. She is intrigued by Beau, whose grief is still as deep as her own. 
 Jonny's capable of speech, though he hasn't spoken aloud in almost two years, but Portia's able to carefully pry away his sorrow and make a deep connection. Unfortunately, as soon as Portia is able to get a foothold in the Stanford household, the arrival of Lydia and her scheming father, Oliver, throws all her work into disarray. Lydia has long held designs on Beau, and--while Beau is at first intrigued by Lydia's resemblance to his beloved Claire--it's clear that Lydia will get exactly what she wants, regardless of who she hurts to get her way. And Oliver is truly despicable. 
 I relished the quick plot movements and careful detail placement. This book immersed me in the desolate Reconstruction Era, where rebuilding is the state of the world, and lawlessness reigns in the vacuum of so many young men lost to war. Beau is honorable, self-sacrificing and industrious. He knows he must marry Lydia, and not only for his own mercenary needs, but he can't help falling for Portia. She's a totally different woman to Lydia, or Claire even, and he knows this strong, self-sufficient, brave woman is one who can stand by his side in these lean times. Portia doesn't want to love again. She and Jake were childhood sweethearts, and yet she's moved by Beau's kindness and also loses her heart to Jonny completely. There are some plot twists that I half-suspected, but was pleasantly surprised in the execution. 
 In truth, there were a couple times I thought we'd hit the HEA, only to get sucker-punched into a new twist. Portia is a plucky woman--which I adored. Her life has always been a struggle, but she bobs and weaves, finding the best path she can trod of the limited paths available. Really, a great read. Don't expect any heat, but it's chock full of heart.