The Wedding Shroud: A Tale of Early Rome by Elisabeth Storrs - SWBA Runner up: General Fiction

From the Sharp Writ Book Awards judges:

• This book is well written and researched.  It held my interest throughout.  All of the characters were fleshed out, and were given some kind of closure. Well done!   
• This book is a fabulous read, with interesting characters and plot, as well as fascinating historical details.  Although there's a bit of a lag in the middle, this is an excellent book--and it even has a great ending!  
• This is an eye-opening account of an overlooked (but formative) period of history - it's almost as if the Etruscans are who the Romans become with their later decadence.  Not an easy read, as I found the main characters attitudes and prejudice difficult, but very rewarding.   
• My comment... WOW! I think this is the best book I've read in the SWBA.  This book is a combination of a lesson on the life in early Roman and Etruscan society... gods and goddesses... cults and the impact they can have... and enough romance to make any woman's heart flutter without overdoing it so much that men won't want to finish the book.