This book takes place in an era that is not as common in the genre -- the American colonial era of the mid-18th century. The characters are likable, for the most part, and the premise is utterly unique (although it does fit a larger fish-out-of-water or mismatched couple theme or trope). I can't rate it higher, though, because it perpetrates one of my big romance novel pet-peeves. The male hero finds it necessary to turn the female hero over his knee to administer a spanking. And not a sexy-time, let's play spanking. A you're a naughty little girl who has displeased me, the older, wiser male, spanking. Oh, but wait, in the middle of the act he gets totally turned on by her pert little rump. Sick and sad. And it happens TWICE. Get real. -cg ( )