Book excerpt: A triumphant tale of forbidden love that will delight Barbara Samuel's many romance fans while tackling the serious issue of racism in our not-so-distant past. An unforgettable romance in an unforgiving time. They'll need love and courage to see the dawn. He's a hometown native, returning from the war, determined to change the world he'd fought to protect. She's the girl who's been his secret friend since childhood, now a beautiful woman. Her war-time letters kept him alive. But he's black, and she's white. In 1946 in Gideon, Texas, their undeniable love might get them both killed. Barbara Samuel is a multiple award-winning author with more than 38 books to her credit in a variety of genres. Her work has captured a plethora of awards, including six RITAs; the Colorado Center for the Book Award (twice); Favorite Book of the Year from Romance Writers of America, and the Library Journal's list of Best Genre Fiction of the year, among many others. Visit her at www.barbarasamuel.com.