I was dubious about starting the Wideacre series, because it gave the appearance of being a historical romance (which I typically despise). There are a few love/ex scenes but these are used to magnify the horrors perpetuated on Wideacre (greed, obsession, murder, incest). The first two books, which I enjoyed, were more of a psychological thriller than historical romance. This book was more romance, less thriller. The horror of the first two books end here. This book deals with the aftermath ... (show more)

I was dubious about starting the Wideacre series, because it gave the appearance of being a historical romance (which I typically despise). There are a few love/ex scenes but these are used to magnify the horrors perpetuated on Wideacre (greed, obsession, murder, incest). The first two books, which I enjoyed, were more of a psychological thriller than historical romance. This book was more romance, less thriller. The horror of the first two books end here. This book deals with the aftermath - the cleaning up, I suppose, of the horror.

The third book put me off because the author, while she refers to Meridon as a carnie, never identified with another actual nomadic band (she always used the word 'gypsy,' which is considered derogatory to some travellers). There are several types of travellers but the reader gets no information about the group that Meridon lived with before going to work. She gave readers a non-traveller's view of a traveller's life and rehashes old stereotypes. We don't get an insiders view, we get an outsiders view of the lifestyle. (show less)