3.75 stars 
 A solid second chance romance of an estranged couple. 
 It was an honest story, and Julia London chose to gave us a heroine who wasn't so easy to like and had a lot of growing up to do in the course of the novel. 
 At times we can sympathize with Margot and her struggle to fit into a new environment - she went through a major culture shock and she had been told she will marry a stranger. But often when we looked into their past, we can see where she just didn't try to keep an open mind, and came off a little snobby and spoiled. 
 The story's political intrigue added tension to their relationship, and on the whole was done well until towards the end. I felt like she trusted her family perhaps far too easily but did not seem able to trust her husband. The whole (view spoiler)[prison break (hide spoiler)] felt like it was just a little too easy. 
 I also felt like this story needed more happy moments , between the couple, in their past and present. In the past so I can understood Arran's devotion to her and his depth of feelings when she left. And in the present to balance out a pretty heavy story weighted with many unhappy memories. 
 After so much struggle and distrust, I want to believe the strength of their new bond. When she proved where her loyalty lies, I was hoping to see more happy, feel good moments, especially in the epilogue. 
 A major plus for safety gang:(view spoiler)[the hero and heroine both remain celibate during their separation. The hero may have started out with a girl in his lap when we first meet him, but we found out he was faithful to her. The heroine kissed a man after she left but she felt guilty and that was it. (hide spoiler)] 
 At a Glance 
 Love triangle (view spoiler)[No (hide spoiler)] 
 Cheating (view spoiler)[No, see above spoilers (hide spoiler)] 
 Descriptive sex with OM/OW (view spoiler)[No (hide spoiler)] 
 HEA (view spoiler)[Yes, with epilogue (hide spoiler)] 
 Arc review courtesy of author and publisher.