title: Traditionally Defiant
author: Wysong, Allisia
description: If you can break someone's spirit will they ever be the same? Caraline Hawkins refuses to find out, for years she has lived for everyone else, now it's her turn. Her difficult life has made it hard to trust many people. Her parents are cruel, teachers expect perfection, and if she gets married it will only get worse. She has a plan for her life and it will never include a man having any power over her again. She knows life will be hard, but is willing to do what she must to protect her and her brother. Until, Alexander Phenton starts trying to dismantle the walls she has built around her life Alexander has loved Caraline for more years then even he realized, until the day she disappears. He uses all his contacts but it still takes him two years to find her and get her back in his life. The problem is she still refuses to ever fall in love, except now she has a secret that has hardened her heart even more. Can he get her to trust him enough to share her secrets and life with him?