I'm hunting for a specific Civil War romance. The hero in this book does not go off to fight in the war (the book is set in Texas). I think it might be because of his religion. The book starts with the women of the town sending off their "boys" with a flag the women of the town have made. The hero of the story is a blacksmith(?) or something similar.I believe that that the heroine of the story has her fiance killed in the war and she does not like the hero at all--thinks he is a coward. The hero carves a statue of the men of the town as a memorial but at one point, some people who are still angry at him do something to his hands--I think they break his fingers or something. He continues making the statue anyway despite the pain, etc. I'm pretty sure this is a Harlequin Historical.

Does anyone have any idea what book this could be?

This sounds like what you're looking for- Always To Remember

OMG this was the best book I've ever read.

I agree!!!! Those very early Lorraine Heath books are gems. I still like her books but early on she was magnificent.

Yep, that was one great book.