“Sophie Barnes’ secondary characters are exemplary, and her ability to convey feelings is such that I shed tears over the fate of a minor player. The story is powerful, delicately nuanced, and textured, and so very moving and gripping. Ms. Barnes’ prose is in turns ethereal and of startling clarity, the dialogues are impeccable, and I was completely immersed in this magnificent story until the very last page.” - Fresh Fiction
“A smart and sincere heroine I cheered for, an achingly honorable medical hero, just the right touch of danger, and a wonderfully slow-burn love story that explodes with passion. You will delight in this gem.” - Katharine Ashe, USA Today bestselling author
“Fascinating medical and historical tidbits enrich an engaging storyline, and Florian especially is an interesting character... Generally smart and action-packed” - Kirkus Reviews
“Barnes’s fast-paced novel is complete with ever-present sizzling sexual tension between Florian and Juliette, whose romance is counterbalanced by the realism of medical advances of the times.” - Publishers Weekly
“The gravity of the medical subplot adds thought-provoking depth to this romance between two good people with greater aspirations than those expected by society. Florian’s secret may be inconsequential in our modern era, but it defines the villain as a truly detestable character in any time period. Enjoyable.” - Historical Novel Society
