I know many Kleypas fans don't care for this book. It's darker than some of her others and features elements many romance readers shy away from. I can't help myself, I adore it. There's something so raw about Nikolas, some indefinable thing that makes him worthy, even when he shouldn't be. Emma is amazing. She's strong and caring and compassionate, but she isn't a doormat. Though parts of this are hard to read, it's an excellent novel.