3.5 stars This is one that I had to take a break from because it was so freaking depressing. The first half of the book focuses on the heroine's childhood and all the events that made it such a sad existence. You have to read it too or you won't understand the power of events that happen in her adulthood (well, you could but it won't have nearly the same impact I imagine.)The second half of the book perks right up, but I read it constantly on edge and in a straight out state of anxiety when the OW stuff started up. I could really feel the influence of her upbringing on her interpretation of situations as well as how hard of a hit she took to her self image and security after each questionable event. Not all of the doubts could be blamed on her own perceptions. Some of the characters just egged you on to believe the worst. People you admired and looked up to with the heroine's eyes of child in the first half of the book start showing their warts after her marriage, making you want to just smack a person at times.The hero, although never squeaky clean, turns out to be a darker character than we thought and makes you wonder just what he's capable of or will be in the future (I really wonder if this is the type of man someone with her security issues should be married to). There's a back story of ancient ancestors which influence where the mind goes plus there's that out of the blue surprise tacked on at the end that Holt likes so well.If you like uber angsty (read depressing) gothics that leave you wondering what is really in store for the future for the H & h, then this one should fit the bill.
