Good book. I enjoyed the unusual setting, as the English Civil War is rarely used in this genre. This book takes place in 1648, shortly after King Charles and the Royalists' defeat by the Parliamentarians.

Catherine was married off to her husband at the age of sixteen, and he left shortly after that to join the king and fight for the Royalists. For six years, Catherine protected the castle and its people from both sides. She quickly learned to take charge, depend on herself, and never show weakness. Then word came that her husband died, and his cousin John, a Parliamentarian, inherited the castle.

John Stratton didn't know what to expect, but it wasn't the beautiful, self-possessed woman dressed in breeches who met him. Unlike any woman he knows, Catherine fascinates him with the hint of vulnerability under her independent persona.

The sparks between John and Catherine fly from the beginning. Catherine doesn't know what to make of the feelings John stirs in her. Thomas's cruelty and neglect left her with a poor opinion of men and no intention of getting involved with another one. She finds John's open admiration and flirtatious ways suspect, but she isn't entirely immune to them. John makes no secret of his interest or attraction, but doing anything about it would be unwise. Besides bringing her husband's body home, he has been tasked with escorting her to her father's home.

I liked watching the relationship develop between Catherine and John. Catherine is quite outspoken in her independence and makes no secret of her intention to live life her way. Her relationship with her father is strained at best, and she resists John's plans to take her to him until she learns he is dying. I liked that John doesn't try to force her but understands her well enough to appeal to her reason instead. They get to know each other a little better during their journey, and the attraction continues to grow. After their arrival, John stays at her father's home in between his duties at nearby Windsor. His position with the army keeps him busy, but Catherine remains on his mind.

Catherine's stay at her father's home is tension-filled. Her father remains as distant and unemotional as ever, her stepmother blows hot and cold, and Catherine senses there are secrets around every corner. The time she spends with John almost feels carefree in comparison, except for the simmering awareness between them. When they give in to the attraction, their feelings overwhelm them, and they decide it would be wrong to pursue them. Unfortunately, neither can forget. John realizes that he loves Catherine and wants more from her, but Catherine isn't ready. Then her father reveals some things about Catherine's husband, and knowing that John was aware of them hurts and infuriates her. Catherine's confrontation with John created hurt and anger on both sides. I liked that John knew her well enough to wait before clearing the air, but it took longer than expected for him to visit her. An unexpected twist left her uncertain about what to do. John's subsequent arrival and revealing of the whole story went a long way toward repairing their rift, though Catherine's news created a small bump in the process. I liked that they overcame it easily.

There were a few times I wanted to shake Catherine because of her stubbornness. Her attitude sometimes made things more difficult between herself and others, when a little more flexibility would have helped. John was also no angel, with his occasionally inappropriate flirting and his tendency to overprotectiveness.

The ending was terrific as they finally gave in to their love for each other. I liked seeing Catherine settle into his home and family, and the epilogue was a nice wrap-up. ( )