I enjoyed this book very much. The conflict, while slightly convoluted, wasn't a simple one, and wasn't one that could have been solved by sitting everyone in a room and making them talk to each other. The hero is incredibly nice and kind and still very human, and the heroine is smart and strong and still afraid but deals with it. Love the chess thread, felt that was handled very well, as was the brief falling out between Lydia and Minnie.