This series has largely been disappointing for me, but these particular characters intrigued me in the last book, so I still held out hope of really liking this one. And, it definitely is my favorite of the series. But although I thought I might end up rounding up to a fourth star at times, the last 15% or so was the worst of the book, and I just can't manage it now. The characters have some really daft moments, but ultimately I still liked them. It's a second chance for an abused heroine now working in medicine, and a scarred soldier now recovered from addiction. There's a lot that's right up my alley. I think if the focus had been a bit more about the relationship building and character growth I would have enjoyed it more, but it felt like a lot of that energy was given more to secrets, grudges, and a deadly plot. This is my 6th book by this author (plus a novella), and I think probably I'm just not the audience for her style. It seems like all the heroes have a cruel streak they unleash at least a couple times, and all the heroines, even jaded former prostitutes!, are almost entirely clueless about sex and must be 'guided by a master' or some such. And overall the writing has been a bit weak.

I rate this series
.5 - 3 stars.
1 - 2 stars.
2 - 1 star.
3 - 3 stars.
4 - 2 stars.
5 - 3 stars. ( )

Emma, a friend of Melisandre from Shameless, book 4, is now working as a surgeon. Brandon Rohan has struggled with drink and opium after being wounded in war. The two have come together previously but he doesn't remember her.
I do like Emma and Brandon as a couple better than Benedick and Melisandre, but their story seemed unnecessarily convoluted and dramatic, much like book 4. The first three books of this series are so good, so maybe I'm judging these last two unfairly. This is still a decent read but not what I hoped for as a conclusion to the series. ( )