Let me start off by saying I loved Aidan. Anyone who has something bad to say about that man is simply incorrect. Most of the reviews I've seen for this novel say that Aidan is very cruel to Norah, but honestly, I didn't really think so. I think the way Norah reacts is what makes people think so. She hurts because of the way he reacts when she hurts him. Aidan's like an injured dog that lashes out when you try to pet it. There are many heroes who are said to be broken, but this one of the most broken men I've encountered in a historical romance. Until the end, he truly believes he's irreparable and irredeemable, when the love he pours on his daughter proves otherwise. There were many times when Norah finds something he says to be cold, but I didn't. If anything, I found her to be the cruel one. She is hyper-sensitive of her own feelings but tactless with his. At the ball, in the garden she's in another man's arms (whom she calls "the most wonderful man in the world"), with her own wrapped around his neck, giggling, and getting kissed without much protest, when she knows how Aidan's first wife cheated on him publicly. When she knows that said man is trying to steal her away from her husband. Do you possess a brain, woman? And then she wanders out into the wilderness because she's upset that he got jealous. So, no, I don't think she does. I'm not saying she's cruel on purpose, just dumb in that regard. So many times I found myself asking her, "Why are you upset?!" But, all in all, she does have a good heart, and I could see that she really cares for Aidan.

Now, I did like the mystery plot line, even though we know who the villain is from the outset, because we get to see at least some reconciliation with the Irishmen because of it. And because it's one of the strongest and most well-written points of the book. Toward the end, though, with all the clues, I wanted to shake some sense into them because they weren't getting it through their thick skulls.

I have a love/hate relationship with Cassandra. At times, she acts more like a 10-year-old than a 15-year-old, and other times she acts wiser than her years. She could be very obnoxious but also very loving. In fact, I disliked her for most of the book, but grew to like her in the last few chapters.
This is a long book, but a rewarding one if you can bear to sit through the pain the characters feel. ( )

I rarely will not finish a book, but this one just didn't do it for me and life is too short to finish a book that I do not love. The romance was just too much - I want more depth to my plots. Perhaps I need to stick to romances with a paranormal, suspense or comedy angle to them in the future. ( )