2.5 Stars. I don't read this author's works for the lack luster romances, but rather for the history and surrounding plot. I struggled with this one though. There wasn't as much history (or maybe just not as interesting a history), and she seemed to take sides in this one more than usual. I like it when she presents the good and bad of both sides objectively. She usually presents characters of several faiths, and I enjoy that history as well. This time, the main character seemed to spout a lot of spiritualism that wasn't tied to any particular denomination. I didn't find that as interesting. I didn't feel as connected to most of the characters as usual either. I don't know, something was just off about this one. Not her best book, but ok.
Good, but not great. I love historic romance, but the author (my second read of hers) seems to want to cram the historical facts down the readers' throat as they read. I will definitely read more of her work but I wish she'd lay the history in with a more polished hand.