As a novel, I enjoyed it, I guess. I liked the move away from the Rogue Hunters theme, and back towards Sands' old style. (I find the RH premise rather boring.) There was no humor in this one. I missed that.

BUT: As far as romance, this wasn't at all for me. I found Jeanne Louise's character to be a total mood-killer. I finished the book with no respect and actual dislike for her character. Her decision that drove the conflict part of the plot may have been realistic IRL, but it certainly was the opposite of romantic. (view spoiler)[ True love to me is the marriage vows lived: '...for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, through sickness and health, etc.' She was too much of a wimp to even begin to commit. Again, this may be realistic, but it is NOT romantic.

A quote that kept going through my head was 'love is not love that alteration finds'. Again, that is romance. This book was not. Jeanne-Marie's happy ending was contrived for her by her uncle and through no effort of her own. She's only into forever if everything goes her way. And it did. She sure didn't have to suffer for it. There was no catharsis for me the reader. I found her ultimately unlikeable. (hide spoiler)]