I really loved this installment of the series. Mari and Bowen are great together as they try to figure out the Lyake mate stuff and how Bowen could have possibly lost his mate nearly 200 years prior but feels as though Mari is his mate also. 
 Bowen is a wonderful example of a dominate male. He wants to protect and make Mari's life as comfortable as possible. Even if Bowen has the inclination to do something to make Mari's life less comfortable his mate instinct prevents him from doing it because he just wants to make Mari's life better. Who does want a man who is willing to do just about anything to make you smile. 
 Mari is young, very young, by Lore standards. She is actually 23 years old to Bowen's 1200 years. This brings up something of a clash of culture but not so much that Bowen can't learn and roll with the strangeness Mari talks about. 
 The teasing and banter from Bowen is delicious as is the sparks that fly often between the two characters. Cole did a fantastic job and even though my ratings have been pretty much the same, I feel her stories are getting better with each book.