Enjoyable novel, complete with mystery, intrigue, romance, and a healthy dose of finding oneself. Also loved the sense of friendship and family the four men had with each other. Their friendship was something fresh in the romance world (IMO), where you're more apt to find friendships between groups of women then men.

Enjoyable as far as amnesia plot-lines go (not my fave trope). I'm keen to read about the rest of the friend-group, as I imagine that's who the series follows. I liked both Mariah and Adam a great deal. Bits of the end were.. I don't know. *Too* convenient? HEA, I get and approve of, but this was over the top, maybe? I don't know. Still, an enjoyable read!

I really liked the characters and their relationship, and the friendship that was talked about. However, I feel like the happy coincidences at the end were a little unrealistic. I did like Putney's writing, and I found it to be a fast read.

I'd like to address the naysayers. I've been reading a lot of romance novels lately. Why? Because they're fluff, and I need fluff in my life! I teach full-time and go to grad school. These books give me a MUCH needed distraction. They're quick reads, and keep me in happy endings. (Have I mentioned I love happy endings? I do. I really, really do.)
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Even though the basic premises and plot points of many of these novels make the feminist in me cringe, I rejoice when the female protagonists turn out to be strong and intelligent. Well written, enough suspense to keep the pages turning, and a happy ending (of course!).

This is a first book in a series, so the main objective, was to set up all the characters, which the author had to create several "oh bitch, please" moments. I enjoyed the story and it is fitting my need of getting lost in a historic romance series. It did not disappoint and looking forward to the next books in this series.

DNF for exoticism of both hero and heroine’s ethnic backgrounds/ancestries, as well as “lying to an amnesiac and claiming to be their spouse” plot.

I would have given this a five stars because I really loved this book, but I figured even though Mary Jo Putney is one of me very favorite authors, it's only fair to admit that I did see some things which might be considered flaws by those who aren't as huge of fan girls as myself.

For one some of the scenarios include in the book were too coincidental lining up too neatly and some of the ending reveals were a little obvious. I figured out exactly who the bad guy was and what lies they were telling pretty much five sentences into meeting the character. While both characters have tragic, if at points unrealistic backgrounds, they also don't face any real loss in this book and it's wrapped up in a nice bow with happy endings for all. Additionally there's what should have been a major confrontation between Adam and Mariah's father that never actually happened or if it did it happened after the book ended. So those things I felt the need to point out.

That said, sometimes a readers needs happy endings all around. And I don't necessarily read historical romance to look for dramatic unexpected plot twists. Additionally I'd like to point out that there's been this large movement in young adult fiction for the need to have more diverse books and characters at least in the genre. Personally I think the movement in a way applies to all genres and while this book was written long before that movement became a huge thing, I think it's important to point out that Mary Jo Putney did this without it being a thing. She wrote a book that I would say definitely fall into the realm of mainstream historical romance, with a mixed race hero of Indian and English descent who faced racism long before racism was an acknowledged thing. This isn't her first story with heroes or heroines of mixed or foreign decent and I doubt it will be her last. I sort of love that she just does this without thought or without a movement to push her to do so. Not saying that other authors are doing this just because of a movement or that she's the only author whose ever created a mixed race character in historical romance. I just love that she's willing to do this when it's not exactly common in this genre of romance. I love that there's diversity even in a genre as traditional as historical romance. I think it's the trait of a great writer when they can see the things that the readers and the world need to see before the public starts demanding to see them.

Overall this was a quick and delightfully romantic read that I think most fans of historical romance will greatly enjoy.