So many things affect our returning soldiers not the least of it survivor's guilt. Along with a myriad of physical and emotional issues these men and women have to face an uncertain future of how they can overcome these problems or minimally learn to live with them.

This book starts a trilogy based on three soldiers that luckily survive their active duty but with problems acquired during their time abroad. Guilt plays a major role with these young men that they actually survived when so many of their men perished. Guilt that they disappointed their families following their own dreams instead of those of their family. Living and following in another's footsteps is an awfully tall order. How can you possible not wind up disappointing people whose ideas for your life differ from your own.

Carson has many regrets most reside in his own mind, but even so they impact everything he does. Carson and three fellow soldiers have returned with a health issue that has become quite prevalent with returning men. It isn't life threatening but does give their lives some limitations that they didn't have before. In Carson's eyes it's a distinct disadvantage in finding a normal life now that he is home on his ranch. Things like a wife and family just don't seem to be in his future.

Carson and his buddies have hit upon a wonderful idea a way to help the families of men that did not return. They set up a dude ranch within Carson's working ranch designed for children and their mothers to spend a week away from the myriad of memories and harsh reminders of a missing husband and father: a week long respite where every moment is filled with adventure and service catering to their every need. Carson personally knows several of the families that will be getting a special invite to the dude ranch. He is well aware that these lives need some space to gain back the momentum of a life, many of these wives and children are barely coping. He wants them to do better than just cope; he wants to help give them back a chance at a real life.

The first family belongs to Anthony Baretta his wife Tracy and son Johnny. Anthony's family has been supporting Tracy but she knows that they are quite a force. Even so her Johnny has had a lot of problems in this last year. He is attached to his mother, understandable when considering a six year losing a father. This offer of a week on a ranch would be so wonderful if Tracy can manage to get Johnny there. Every step of the way is another hurdle to master. But neither Tracy nor Carson ever imagined how just one week would change all their lives.

Rebecca Winter's series touches on a very real and important issue our society is already facing which is the return of our military men and women. Many of these young men and women have physical as well as emotional problems that have to be addressed and handled with care and respect. She represents these wounded warriors extremely well. Winter's writes with heart and hopefulness and yet remains honest in her wishes for happy endings for these brave soldiers. She recognizes that different situations have different perspectives for that happy ending. A desire for something close to a normal life is the end goal for Winter's returning warriors and true to form she does an admiral job of doing just that.