Terms of Surrender begins as the war between the States comes to a close and the remaining soldiers are slowly trying to pull their lives and bodies together. One soldier in particular, Captain Michael Cantrell, has seen his entire life — his family, his home and his spirit — devastated by this war. In an effort to heal or simply get away from it all, Michael roams from place to place in search of a purpose in his life. Lorrie Farrelly gives him that purpose when he saves Annie and her brother Robbie from an unscrupulous Colonel seeking to take their land. Michael is a soldier and he is used to doing battle, but this particular fight leaves him wounded and at the mercy of Annie’s kindness to heal his body and possibly to soothe his soul.

Lorrie Farrelly has created a fantastic tale of love, war, and painful memories. Despite the desolation all around, Terms of Surrender doesn’t feel like a dark, cold story full of misery. That’s because it isn’t, even though neither Mike nor Annie have had an easy time lately and they both are suffering from nightmares that prevent them from moving forward. As the love slowly develops between these two lost souls, both are able to open their lives up to others. Specifically, Michael takes a shine to Robbie who fills the void left by his lost brother. Terms of Surrender could have been a depressing read but it is a credit to Farrelly’s skill as a writer that she is able to infuse the story with splashes of humor. It is a story that is filled with hope and healing and best of all, action. She takes a story that has been told time and again and spins it into something wonderfully gripping and engaging.

After the civil war, Captain Michael Cantrell finds himself haunted by the losses incurred, and he blames himself for a tragedy that took everything he held dear. With nothing left, he heads west, determined to never allow anyone to get close to him again. When he comes upon a brutal attack against Annie Devlin and her ten-year-old brother, he can't help but become involved. While he thwarts their attacker, he is wounded himself. Annie takes him home and tends to his wounds, and soon Michael learns that Annie and her brother are being tormented by a rancher who wants their land. Michael decides to stick around long enough to help keep the Devlins safe. Soon he has feelings for Annie, which makes him question whether he should just go ahead and move on because, while his physical wounds have healed, he is certain that the emotional scars he carries never will. Will Michael continue to run from the ghosts that haunt him or has he finally found a place to belong?

Filled with sweet emotion, but also heart wrenching hurt, Terms Of Surrender by Lorrie Farrelly is exactly why I am such a fan of historical fiction! It's a story that had my emotions all over the place. From the harshness of the west, to the birth of a new baby. Tenderness at one turn, but heartbreak could be right around the corner. The storytelling is done with such amazing clarity that I found myself easily transported into the lives of Annie, Robbie, and Michael. Each character literally jumps off the pages. I couldn't read the book fast enough to see whether Michael would stay or go, and whether he would ever be able to stop blaming himself. The character of Gavin plays a unique role in this story as well, infusing a spiritual twist that really enhanced the plot for me. Great characters, a touching romance with a bit of sizzle, and a plot that provides enough danger and suspense to keep it interesting make Terms of Surrender a stand out historical romance. While this is the first time I have read anything by Lorrie Farrelly it certainly won't be my last.