Ardith, a children's book author and illustrator living in Boston, has no intention of staying in Wyoming. All she plans to do is to simply deliver her two nephews and niece to their father. But when she arrives at Sugar Creek and finds Baird isn't prepared for his children, she has no choice but to stay until they're settled in. She does so reluctantly after all, Baird had betrayed her years ago when, on the day they were to wed, he ran off to Gretna Green with her younger sister. Besides, she is more than just a little bit interested in her publisher and friend, Gavin Rawlinson.

Baird is as ill-prepared to deal with his children as he is with the ranch. He has never been around them much in fact, wasn't even present at their births - his children being named China, Khymer, and Durban - after the places their father was when they were born. He finds Ardith rigid and cold, staid and proper -- not the fun young woman he once knew.

Ardith isn't quite prepared to deal with the children either. She has little or no experience and is always afraid of saying the wrong thing or doing something that's not quite right. But she comes to care very much for them - and eventually, to her surprise, to the wild west and to the children's father.

Baird is an enigma - from the English aristocracy he has never been content to remain just from the manor born, he is an adventurer. The wild west, much to his surprise, fits that bill just fine. While it is clear he cares for his children, he has no idea just how to show his affection. The turning point in Baird's personality for this reviewer was when he was so supportive of Ardith's drawings.

As expansive in its reader appeal as the wild west in which it's set, COLOR OF THE WIND is a story to savor. Elizabeth Grayson is one of the best historical writers today. Her characterizations are top rate and her storytelling ability keeps the reader turning pages at a frantic pace. She details the cattle round-up with such skill the reader gets such a sense of place they can almost smell the cattle and feel the dirt and grime. Adding to the rich texture of this book were Ardith's letters back to her publisher in Boston and the appearance of Hunter and Cassandra from Grayson's previous book, SO WIDE THE SKY. Writing a review for this book was difficult in a way, I was so excited to share the story, I could have easily made it 2 to 3 times as long. But this is a book readers should experience for themselves; a mere review simply cannot do it justice. Grayson never disappoints. I am chomping at the bit for her next book!

Slowly, through their journey from betrayal to redemption, my heart warmed to them. By the end of the book I admired and loved them both. It had just the right amount of suspense, passion, betrayal and forgiveness. You close the covers of the book and sigh with satisfaction.