About women who have lived too long alone—and men who have stayed too long at war... Valerie—Passionate, young, proud, she remained untouched, until a bold Yankee officer taught her the meaning of surrender.... Ellen—The beautiful widow of Mallows. Suddenly the war was at her doorstep and she was forced to face the naked challenge of an unknown enemy.... Lacy—The grand old lady of Mallows. Spirited, undaunted, she made the sacrifice that saved them all.... In the tradition of Gone With the Wind, a towering tale of the elegant old South in its last moments—a novel brimming with unforgettable characters from a memorable bygone era...and the beginning of a tempestuous new one....