I have been wrestling with how to rate this book because I like both Violet and Sebastian and I have always loved this author’s writing. However, as the final book in this series, it just left me feeling flat – not finished – not settled – not … just not. The ‘mystery’ was just not worthy of this author’s talent and the romance just left me flat. After all of the years apart, after all of the betrayals – well, I would have expected them to have some growing pains and the fireworks show to end all fireworks shows. No fireworks.

I’ll be honest, I only read the first 2-3 books in the series and then waited for this one. I don’t care for love triangles and that is what the ‘romance’ of the first books was about. Then, finally, Violet makes a decision, she chooses St. Sevier – only to find he already has a wife. Violet is expecting St. Sevier’s child and she marries Sebastian who has adored her all of his life. I just thought Sebastian deserved more – more romance. In this book, I had hoped for more for Sebastian and felt sad for him – and for me – because I just didn’t feel the real romance.

The book featured St. Sevier and his wife Ann almost as much as it did Sebastian and Violet and I didn’t care for that.

The bottom line for me is the writing is good – as always – I just didn’t care for the overall storyline of the series and I had hoped this book would make up for that – and it didn’t. ( )