All wars wound and the psychological effects resonate and disrupts throughout time. Laura knew this and was prepared to deal with a changed man when the man who won her heart and was her kindred spirit returned from Viet Nam.

When the handsome Brady Malone finally did return, his good looks were still intact, but like many other returning vets, his outward looks belied the deep scars on the inside. Laura tries to reconnect to the wonderful chain of love they had previously shared; however, Brady, in an attempt to shield them from the pain, had build an insurmountable barrier inside of him that cut Laura off from bridging back to his heart.

Building an outwardly successful life and a marriage with two children, Brady still managed to barricade his past life behind him. Yet, despite his new distance, Laura remained his lifeline and on occasions of shared happiness, they celebrated by anchoring another charm to her bracelet to always remind them of the occasion.

Then, when the past so carefully buried, exploded in a volcanic eruption of media coverage, Brady's internal barrier and heart also ruptured and the shards of pain and shame threatened to cut their lives apart.

To help Kat and the troubled teenager Sean cope with the waiting and tension, Laura Malone tells them the stories behind each charm. Will these tiny charms of love still be potent with their love to help today?

Karen Rose Smith has written a powerfully moving story of two people finding their true strength to face life's adversities by their willingness to share their need and love for each other. Her depictions of Laura and Brady wrestling with their own conflicts over duty and personal honour ring true. The bracelet stories are skillfully interwoven with their present day concerns for each other. A wonderful read that will leave you seeking to find your own charm bracelet and the past that shapes you today.