I love books that ask really interesting “what if” questions. In NEGLECTED MERGE, two worlds have been merged into one, collapsing most of the continents. On the continent that survived, there are now two races, the Winged Ones and the wingless ones (humans.) Tauria is 32 and works in a government job. She discovers one of the Winged Ones in her window, injured, and allows him to stay as she treats his injury. Later, they meet as he is the son of the leader of the Winged Ones and one of their ambassadors, and soon fall in love. I loved the questions this book asked about rules and conformity. Doron and Tauria are both locked within the rules and traditions of their separate societies, which have developed rules about relationships and marriage for specific reasons. Yet happiness does not play a part in those rules and as they begin to question those around them (I especially liked Doron’s sister), we find love isn’t considered a priority. A delicious slow burn romance and oh the way the plot ramped up at the end and had me turning pages so fast to find out what happened! I can’t wait for book two! ( )