Horse play

Not as keen on this one, mainly because of Javier and Kizzy. The newly introduced Javier has a touch of the Mr. Rochester about him, all brooding (read uncommunicative, controlling and slightly creepy as well as having a wife locked in the attic), whereas Kizzy is no Jane Eyre, she's far too busy swooning over his half-gypsy good looks and amazing skill on horses and pianos. The horse in a thunderstorm rescue at the end was really cheesy and I thought the abrupt death of his wife was a bit too convenient (contrasting with Devon & Lady Fraser's decision to go their separate ways in the previous books. Anyway,apparently being a widower will make Javier a good husband and that Kizzy will ‘heal him' (pah!).

I had the same criticism with the custody battle, it was gripping and I really felt for the characters, then suddenly everything was sorted out and it wasn't really mentioned again. Sebastian was just portrayed as being an irredeemable villain, but I was more interested in poor Suzette. I suppose I am not reading these books for unhappy endings, but I got a bit impatient with this one.