Even the most intelligent and talented men have feelings of inadequacy, jealousy or doubt and Brandon Dumont is no exception. Although he seems to have a brilliant and successful future both in his career as a surgeon and in his impending marriage to Caroline Benet he lacks confidence around his brother Jake. Their relationship has been strained for many years and the death of their father only added to that angst. Now together for the reading of his will it seems the years apart haven't lessened their problems. Now there is a new element in this mix, Caroline, who quite innocently put herself between the brothers. Jake's cold, demeaning assessment of her motive for becoming engaged to Brandon angers and hurts Caroline but doesn't even begin to forewarn her of events to follow. A simple target shooting contest sets in motion a series of events that none of them could ever guess and forever changes all of their lives. We fast forward to Brandon's survival from almost certain demise as a prisoner of war. The war left him both physically and emotionally scarred not to mention nightmares that have taken over his life. Certain he will never fully recover, his future beyond bleak, he is surprised and dismayed when Caroline arrives unexpectedly in Texas where he and Jake settled. But Caroline has a secret to share with no one but Brandon. She has never stopped loving him and upon learning that he survived the war would go to any lengths to be with him again. She wants and needs him but the question is does he need or want her. Brandon will do and say anything to get Caroline to go back home but he isn't prepared for how independent and resourceful she has grown to be. He seeks to protect her as much from the harsh elements of postwar Texas as from his declining sanity. They passionately love each other but a relationship needs more, it needs trust to survive. So now Brandon is facing still another test of survival. He can't decide which is more frightening, life with or without Caroline and the child she is carrying. Caroline took someone hostage at gunpoint to get to her Brandon and nothing is going to stand in her way. Love is a powerful weapon. It's her most powerful weapon to get her man. Interesting and sometimes harsh look at wars consequence on soldiers and medics especially in the early 1800's -- survival at what cost. The cost was great for all the characters in this story -- each didn't come through it unscathed. And that's what Albright wants you to understand. But at the same time she gives her characters hope for the future so what starts out sunny and becomes cloudy and murky can still have a ray of sunshine at the end. It's what dreams are made of. Happy endings.