So I learned what buggery means... New vocab word! This book was delectable. My parents think amnesia is a stupid trope but I think they have deep-seated internalized misogyny that turns them against the romance genre. Potato, potato. Anyway, I love it when the man falls first and secretly pines for years. When Helena-turned-amnesiac starts to fall for him too, it was practically cheering. And I loved how Bea was incorporated as Hasting's daughter. She humanized him, and most importantly she didn't;t have a miraculous and unrealistic recovery in the end. She was who she was, and it will take time for that to heal. My only problem is that I wish Helena confronted Hastings more about how cruel he was to her. She retorted with biting zingers too, but only in response to his comments. His excuse (being secretly in love with her) did not justify years of hurtful comments and lewd behavior.

Quotes: "'I don't believe you read Mr. Martin's book.'
Hastings read every book she published from cover to cover, even the ones she took on purely for financial gain. 'First page and last page—and did I not sound impressive discussing it?'" UGH I love a secret pining because then you get nuggets like this

"More than even her scorn he feared her apathy—the opposite of love was not hate, but indifference: to exist in such proximity to her, yet make no impression upon her awareness, upon her soul."

"'So you are remorseful for giving in to my carnal demands?'
He shook his head. 'No, I am only apologizing for speaking those words that would have you believe I didn't treasure the privilege of making love to you.'" how come guys don't talk like this anymore?