Dr. Barrett Browning, a history professor seeking tenure, is given the opportunity to have exclusive access to the Jamison family papers from the Windswept Plantation in Louisana, their ancestral home . The documents are in the custody of Davis Jamison, a wealthy and powerful (not to mention handsome, of course) venture capitalist living in Houston. Barrett is invited to spend the summer at Davis' home to inventory the papers and begin writing her articles and book. Some of the Jamison relatives, however, oppose this research, insisting that there is something to be found which will damage and embarass the family. Barrett has her own nemesis in the form of a tenured full professor in her department.

The romance in this story is the least part. It is as predictible as we expect, but well done and satisfying. The conflict caused by the family and colleague are also predictible, but not quite so satisfactorily resolved. I thought the best part of this story was the historical portion. In addition to Barrett's findings being described, there are flash-back journal entries from the family's founding matriarch beginning at the time of her marriage in 1830 until her husband's death in the mid 1850's which provide glimpses into her life as mistress of a large antebellum plantation.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance novels. It is well-written, with interesting characters. It is fast reading, but long enough (510 pages) that all but the speediest readers will need at least 2 sittings. ( )