Like someone else said this is a weekend/vacation read. The story line is solid enough and the river boat setting is fantastically written. Though the story had a weak beginning and "fluffy/let's get this wrapped up" ending I thought the story telling and character development was enjoyable and compelling. I would read Steffen again.

I really wished Steffen had developped her "bad guy" character a little better. He had no redeeming character qualities at all...making him evil, but so much so that you wonder how the main character ever fell in love eith him.

I also felt like the childeren were storyline tentpoles instead of being intrical to the plot. When I finished the book I wondered if the story might have been better without them...