I liked the background of this story - the divorcee allowing herself to open up to the possibility of love. I was less comfortable with the hero's initial approach - Leo's arrogant, slightly smarmy, and altogether much too pleased with himself. I wanted a heroine who would call him on this, but Thalia doesn't. I think I was meant to believe this was because she was irresistibly drawn to him, but it came across as weak-mindedness - which leaves a different taste in the mouth.

I was also taken aback by the ending

when Leo's family raised no objection to their "living in sin"

which felt unrealistic. Almost as unrealistic as the easy way in which

Thalia's husband's death was brushed aside

.

This is a book that has had excellent reviews from reviewers I generally admire, so I may be missing something - so I read the book again to make sure. But no, while this is a fluently-told story, I could not emphathise with either H or H sufficiently to enjoy it whole-heartedly.