I will always read any book written by Jody Hedlund. I truly enjoyed The Preacher's Bride, and The Doctor's Lady and was looking forward to this book. It had the "high drama and high-tension romance" as described in the book's blurb but the subject matter was stressful/angsty for me. I know the author did her research about prostitution in the logger camps and some of the situations are based on events that actually happened. It just seemed that Lily was so headstrong and always going into situations that I knew were dangerous and I was getting stressed out for her physical protection. She is driven by her love for her sister---searching through all the logging camps, helping to rescue women who have been forced into prostitution, and hoping to rescue her sister from among them. Connell is definitely a swoon-worthy hero. He cares for Lily but he wants to keep the loggers happy so that his logging camps will be productive. The H/h do have great, at times fun, chemistry and there is definitely a physical attraction. *Spoiler alert* In the end, Lily found her sister but not in the way she had expected although the end does imply an eventual happy ending. I would recommend this book but be prepared that it is a serious read about a dark topic that unfortunately happens even in these times. I enjoyed reading this adventurous tale set in the timber industry of 1880s Michigan - a unique setting that this author drew so well. I felt the chill of the winter and early, early spring setting. I also admired the heroine's goal to find her younger sister amid the many brothels accommodating an all-male work force far from polite society. There was plenty of well-choreographed physical scenes, and I thought the romance developed nicely between hero and heroine, Connell and Lily. I did think the villain a bit too villainous but after reading the Author's Note I realized he was based on a true historical figure known for the kind of behavior depicted in the book. I also thought the minor character Frankie fell like an add-on, not intrinsic to the plot, but since she, too, was based on an actual historical figure I was once again impressed by the research.
