Shades of Honor

by Wendy Lindstrom

Book Overview

He was a broken man...former Union soldier Radford Grayson returns to his small hometown, looking for a stable and comforting place to raise his young, motherless daughter. Despite his troubled past, his hopes are to reconcile with his family and put his dark secrets behind him. But he doesn't count on falling in love with Evelyn - his brother's fiancee. When Evelyn Tucker accepted her childhood friend Kyle Grayson's marriage proposal, she thought...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312982836
• ISBN13: 9780312982836
• Release Date: June 2002
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 308 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

A Romantic Debut Novel

This is an amazing novel by Wendy Lindstorm. Her words of the late 1800s reflect her creative ability. It gave me chills up and down my spine when I was reading! Radford Grayson has been gone from his hometown of Fredonia New York, for five years. He went to fight in the war, but felt he had abandonded his family in running the mill. Radford also has a small addition with him in his return. His daughter Rebecca, from a short-lived affair with a woman he met on his travels. Visions of coming home with open arms from his family, especially his brother Kyle, was instantly deflated. Kyle, with his hot-headed, ambitious nature, has been running the mill for years now, and is even getting married to a wooman, Evelyn, they had all been friends with growing up. Evelyn is a very petite, shy woman, who has been taking care of the livery for her father. It has been hard work for a woman and because of this, business has been slow. Evelyn's father, William, wanted Radford to help run the livery. Even though Evelyn protested, William insisted. While Evelyn and Radford worked together everyday, you could sense the flying sparks between them. Instead of imagining what kind of lover Kyle, her soon-to-be-husband, would be, she dreamed of Radford. What was causing these feelings? Radford doesn't want anyone, especially Evelyn, getting too close to his daughter. When Rebecca was smaller, Radford hired a nanny to care for her while he worked. The first woman hurt Rebecca when she moved away and got married. The second woman was a little more cruel. She abused her physically and mentally leaving her cowering from everyone except her father. He didn't want anyone doing that to her again. Radford keeps his distance from Evelyn, but is always watching and wanting her from afar. Can Radford let someone in his heart again after all the pain he's endured over the years? Will Evelyn leave Kyle who's always been a good provider and secure for her, even though the relationship is loveless? Find out in 'Shades of Honor!'

Shades of Honor

This is not your typical romance book. It's a family saga, and not only will you fall in love with the two main characters, but with a frail man and a scared little girl as well. I cried in three different areas of the book, and when it ended I felt a deep loss, wanting it to go on forever. Great writing. Great research. Great love story. And a great writer. If you're looking for a story with several plotlines, a hint of civil war memorabilia, and a desire to root for the heroes, this is the one for you.

Comments from several reviewers...

Remember how LaVyrle Spencer's books swept you away to another place and time, while you fell madly, passionately in love with her fabulous characters? SHADES OF HONOR took me to that height of reading pleasure. Ms. Lindstrom has created fresh, vibrant characters, impossible situations, and genuine, heartfelt emotions and masterfully weaved them into a passionate romance that will have you smiling as you shed a few tears. Reviewed by Tracy Farnsworth for The Romance Readers ConnectionThe awesome underlying emotional power of Ms. Lindstrom's story grabs hold as she deftly explores the love between father and child, friends, and the deep, sometimes ambiguous, bonds between brothers. The regrets, the jealousies, the anger and the ultimate love that holds a family together through times of trouble and triumph are all here and guaranteed to move you to tears and even laughter. The first book in a trilogy, SHADES OF HONOR is a portent of great things to come from a very powerful new voice in the genre. Reviewed by Kathe Robin for Romantic Times magazine - 4 stars An enchanting tale of loyalty, passion and true love. Ms. Lindstrom is a talented writer and I found myself wrapped in the characters and story to the point I cried. Reviewed by Teresa Sanders for Historical Romance Writers Lindstrom's powerful characterization aptly portrays the inner conflicts that all of us have experienced at one time or another. The characters are real and suffer human emotions and longings...that's what makes this novel so powerful, the idea that these are things that real people experience every day. SHADES OF HONOR is the book that you'll re-read. Reviewed by Julie Singleton for Escape to Romance Ms. Lindstrom has achieved success in making her story fresh and delightful. Her ability to capture the warmth and essence of her characters is a rare gift. SHADES OF HONOR is a heartwarming and passionate tale...and this reader anxiously waits for the second [book] in the series. Reviewed by Denise Clark for Road to Romance A poignant romance. If you enjoy a sweet, tender, romantic story that also has great conflict and depth of character, you'll enjoy SHADES OF HONOR. Reviewed by Carla Hosom for Romance and Friends! Shades of Honor is a Golden Heart award-winning novel, and in this case it was an award well deserved. I've almost forgotten what it's like to be so enthralled in a book and so concerned for the characters that I lose all track of time. As the hours flew by I knew it was going to be a late night (or maybe an early morning?) but the lost sleep was worth it. Shades of Honor is a perfect name for this book, as Evelyn and Radford come to terms with what it means to be honorable in different ways, both in relationships and on a battlefield. I love a good moral dilemma, and this is a juicy one. Characters often agonize over their choices in romance novels, but frequently the correct choice is ridiculously obvious to the reader. Kudos to the author for careful plotting

powerful Reconstruction Era romance

In 1870, Radford Grayson knows his fearful four-year-old daughter Rebecca depends on him, but guiltily he always has let her down, but vows not to this time. Knowing he needs the help of his estranges family, he returns to his hometown of Fredonia, New York desperate to provide a nurturing environment for his motherless child. He promised the youngster never to leave her again as even a few seconds apart mean apprehension and resignation of being abandoned for the frightened lass.The first person he sees upon reaching the family saw mill is childhood friend Evelyn Tucker dressed in breeches. Evelyn is engaged to Radford's brother, Kyle, the dependable sibling. However, first Rebecca and then Radford reach her heart as she falls in love with the woe-some twosome. Father and daughter reciprocate her feelings, but her close friend Kyle is his sibling and her fiancé leaving any relationship between them potentially destroying a delicate balance of a fragile little girl.This powerful Reconstruction Era romance will remind readers of Elvis' Love Me Tender . The story line is loaded with passion and emotion, at times quite overwhelming for the audience, as guilty consciences, silent accusations, and pointed recriminations cause frictional relationships. The cast makes award winning Wendy Lindstrom's tale into a triumph for Americana historical romance readers who relish a character study that hopefully leads to sequels set in Fredonia.Harriet Klausner