An author can use extended pages count for character development and/or plot. In this case, I think it was all plot. And while the plot was crazy as a 31 year old book often is, it did work.

In fact, compared to the first attempt I made with this author, this felt more mature, relaxed, and better paced.

It was going so well until I wanted to quit.

I know the much maligned cure-by-sex thing bothers many, and honestly, me less so

But here it's atrocious enough that a solid 4* read fell to 3. Cause y-i-k-e-s.

Both characters were far more palatable than Reckless Angel, with a very tender hero.

Content warnings (cause don't buy this book if)
(view spoiler)
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Very good read, with a few niggly things that kept it from a five star rating for me. I didn't like how the rape(by Campbell) was treated, with the hero (Francis) thinking that he could get the heroine (Anne) over it by giving her his lovin' (the very next day), and of course, it worked! I would have liked more detail of her brother's confrontation with Campbell and more detail of the resolution at the end. I also thought some of the love scenes were superfluous. 4/5 stars ( )