Unforsaken (Zebra historical romance) [Mass Market Paperback]

Olivia Chandler rushes to the train station to wait for her beloved fiance Matt to emerge from the passenger car. He has been away fighting in the Civil War and now, at long last, he is scheduled to come home. Olivia has been in love with Matt all of her life and cannot bear to wait even another moment to marry him. Giddy with excitement to be reunited, she rushes toward him the moment she spots him, holding out her hands to welcome him. Matt does not reach back. A moment later, when a very pregnant woman steps off the train and sidles up next to him, Olivia realizes why. Matt is married to someone else. Heartbroken, she runs from the depot, never once looking back...

Matthew Bowen is stunned to see Olivia at the train station. He's always loved her and curses the fates that kept him from receiving the letter she'd sent to him, announcing the death of her father, a wealthy, mean-spirited man who wouldn't let Matt within a foot of his daughter. Thinking he'd never be permitted to have Olivia's hand in marriage, Matt had gone out and done something stupid while at war, seeking solace in another woman's arms for a night. That night had resulted in the conception of his daughter, leaving him no alternative but to do the honorable thing. Still, he knew he'd always love Olivia Chandler...

A few years later, Matt's wife dies and he is faced with the daunting task of raising his young daughter Sarah alone while singlehandedly working his fields. Olivia's aunt Eula sees this as the perfect opportunity to bring the couple back together again, so she offers to take care of Sarah for Matt while he works, then pushes the task onto her less than willing niece. Aunt Eula hopes her plan will work, for it will take nothing short of a miracle to melt the ice around Olivia's cool facade and turn her back into the hopeful young girl she had been before her dreams had been shattered and she evolved into a bitter, hard-hearted woman...

-full review originally published in "The Romance Reader"