When I began reading this story I realized that it was a follow up to 'Sweet Jazz' -- a book I owned, but had never read. I don't read many historical interracial romance stories for obvious reasons. I prefer my love stories without laws (during that time period) that said it's wrong and unlawful to love a person of color.

It's 1945, and Randy has returned from serving in the war. He feels displaced. He's living in the South with his in-laws, and his young daughters are afraid of him. He feels less than a man when he's unable to find a job. Employers know that by keeping women on their workforce they can continue to pay them less money. His relationship with Cassie is strained and he is slowly losing respect for himself. Cassie is trying to do it all. Wife. Mother. Worker. Friend. Lover. It becomes too much and Randy slowly comes around to doing more to help her and their daughters.

When an accident happens and Randy is warned beforehand of the mistreatment of patients he discovers first hand he should have listened. His experience became real to me and it catapulted right there in the room with him. I felt all of his anger, pain and rage. When the chickens come home to roost I was deathly afraid for the entire family and I questioned my sanity for reading this book.

In his life, Randy has always known alienation and isolation and this story is no different. We feel his angst especially when he is denied to entry to watch his wife sing. Cassie singing again is bigger than his pride and he quietly walks away. There is a running theme between the two stories where some of the people of color in the story take on the same biases and prejudices of their white counterparts. When they are called out on their behavior they have blinders on and can't see they are no better and in some respects no different than said counterpart.

Great book! I liked this book a lot. The characters were so realistic and the era it was set in was well portrayed. I would like to read more books by this author.

I loved this book!!! ☆☆☆☆☆ rating. Is a must buy book.

I liked this book.