Digital Kitchen Studios Kitchen Studios itibaren Charley, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE12, UK itibaren Charley, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE12, UK

This one barely makes 3 stars for me. Maybe I've just been reading too many of these novels lately and all the drama is wearing me out. Anyway, it has all Coulter's usual elements; Sophie, the heroine, was abused, this time by her uncle who was hitting her and forcing her to pretend to be a loose woman so that he could manipulate her lovers. Ryder, the second Sherbrooke son (this is the second novel of the Brides trilogy, though I haven't read the other two) arrives in Jamaica to solve the mystery in which Sophie and her uncle are at the center. About half the book passes in Jamaica, the other half back in England. It was okay--actually, I definitely loved certain parts. I thought Sophie was a good character--very spirited at times, other times very subdued and wary. Ryder I didn't like so much. He was just a little bit too much of a jerk. He was used to controlling women and I resented him for constantly coercing Sophie. From the start, he approached her like something he wanted to dominate just for the fun of it, another game he wanted to win. That attitude is okay within reason...but I just found it direspectful here. Also, I didn't mind this theme in Devil's Embrace, but he basically forced himself on her twice. It didn't ruin the book, but it didn't really work for me either. And his incredible kindness/charity toward children felt artificial and cheesey. Oh, and I really dislike the Sinjun character. I know we don't see much of her and that she's supposed to be very likable (sweet, open, innocent, affable, blablabla), but if I had a sister-in-law like that, I'd file for divorce.

Interesting but in places boring and long-winded.