Having never read a Barker book before, I had no expectations of this book and none were met. A well-woven plotline was sacrificed for frequent forays into the labored "isn't sexuality diverse?" area. The idea that women, as a rule, fall in love with men who are well-endowed, sexual maestros is one-dimensional and ridiculous. If this is supposed to be poking fun at the predeliction of women to fantasize about the heroes of "bodice-rippers," the joke goes on too long to be truly amusing. Actually, the whole book seemed like one long joke at the expense of the reader: characters without depth or true complexity, a plot which meandered into nowhere, and a cynical use of cliche plot devices to fill in the threadbare parts. The ending was a bleeding wound with a Band-Aid stuck on, presumably so that a sequel may be written, the Band-Aid ripped off and the two parts grafted together. I won't be around to watch.