I tried so hard to finish this book. But I couldn't. The female protagonist, Miranda, was nothing more than window dressing for male authoritarianism. First, a former suitor. Then her twin brother. Clever with money at a genteel poverty level yet both men treat all those tricks as nothing more than useless. Give up after less than 1/3rd way through. McClymer dropped the ball on the entire premise by not highlighting her intelligence or knowledge. I don't foresee giving the author another chance. Too many disbelieving notes on this book.