This was okay … got off to a very slow start and remained rather dull for much of it. I did enjoy the timeline jumps, as it made the book feel like a contemporary / historical mash-up.

I didn’t feel any chemistry between Scarlett and her ‘great love’, nor the present-day lead characters, on this end, it just feel flat for me. And the steamy scenes were exactly like many other steamy scenes I’ve read, and between that and the lack of chemistry, almost felt like they were there just for the sake of being there. So I feel like at least some bits of this novel may have been forced.

I did enjoy the present-day conflict as well as the terrible parents in the ‘past’ leads. I enjoyed the high amount of drama in both timelines as well.

This was an okay read as far as something to keep me company while I cooked, cleaned and exercised. It just barely held my attention. However … that twist did redeem it a bit. Worth it.

This is also a tale of perseverance—and a well told one in that sense.

3.5 stars.