This is on my list of favorite books ever. I cannot recommend it highly enough. The writing is superb. The plot is interesting and well paced. The characters are unforgettable. I have read this book 5 times and I will read it more. There is always something new in it, something that hits me as relevant to my life, every time I read it. It is much more thought provoking than a romance, but it is romantic. It is more story- and character-driven than most historical fiction, but the author brings you into the world of the past and makes you feel you've experienced it for yourself. Buy it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.