Kathryn Smith has a knack for coming up with original characters. Winthrope Ryland is the cynical product of a troubled childhood, which he and his brothers helped each other get through. The relationship between the brothers (each brother is unique,instead of being the usual generic "bad boy") is as interesting as the relationship between Winthrope and Moira. Smith has written books about each of the brothers, which I also recommend.Winthrope and Moira make an involving, "hot" couple who are believable as well as moving. Winthrope's attempts to protect her, while still knowing he has to betray her, kept my attention, in spite of all the other books I have read with seemingly similar plots. This one had a few twists which put it on my shelf with the other "keepers".