This book might have scored higher but for a big pet peeve of mine. At no point in the book does the hero tell the heroine he loves her. He says he wants her, wants her to love him, wants to marry her, wants to make a family with her but never actually says he loves her. Do I need to remind authors why I read romances again? I thought I already did that. :-) I think I need to take a break from HPs as I'm starting having trouble with my willing suspension of disbelief. Here she is a widow with a stepson and 2 young children of her own. Why does the hero immediately wonder who the father of the twins is? Wouldn't you assume that it was her husband? Why after 10 years of of keeping your own counsel would you answer in full every question some strange man who is boarding in your house asks? Who is the father? Why did you sleep with him? yada yada and she spills her guts to him. She lets this stranger take her kids to school and pick them up the first day she meets him. That creeps me out. Just odd. I need to read about some women who have ordinary rational reactions to intrusive strangers.

Still, back to the "but is it a good HP?" question. Pretty good, could have used a bit more backbone on the part of the heroine and a bit more actual apologizing on the part of the hero. Just one sincere "I'm sorry for how I hurt you," would have gone a long way for me plus the previous spoiler bit. It was very readable though and I pretty much enjoyed it.

Thanks a bunch willaful for sending it my way. ( )