I am rather confused. I don't know whether to rate this book 4, 3, or even 2 stars! 
 Ms Ivory was doing the most here - going into a bit too much detail about sheep farming and the intricacies of the confidence trickster life. They were necessary to the plot but in too much detail. We didn't new all that research to be out into the book. 
 I am also not sure I like the circumstances under which the protagonists hung out and fell in love. I wish it had been different. 
 But what I absolutely loved were the two main characters. They were glorious. Emma I loved without reservation. Loved her character. Self-aware, self-assured, confident in her abilities, capable......awesome. I'd take her over any of the "headstrong, independent" heroines that pepper historical romance any day. Loved her. Loved that she was on the chubby side, or as Stuart liked to think of her "a grownup cherub." Loved her common sense, her independence, her impulsiveness, or "going daft", as she called it. 
 I also loved Stuart. Loved him. And I can't tell you why. I am sure that in other circumstances/the hands of a less talented writer I would've found him too pushy, or even a tad rapey, perhaps. 
 But oh, I didn't. Instead I enjoyed and adored the character Ms Ivory created. Loved his pushiness, loved the substance of him. I loved that his speech impediment was a great part of his charm, and how he seemed to have mastered it most of the time. Loved his kindness.....I really loved Stuart, and I am very sure I would've hated him elsewhere. But no. Here, he's Bae. 
 So yeah. Amazing characters who I loved reading about; interesting enough story, but I wish they'd been in any other setting but that. 
 I also felt cheated at the end. I wanted an epilogue. I wanted to see the HEA of these two compelling characters in action. But alas. 
 Does 4 stars seem fair?