This book demonstrates a troubling contradiction in American culture. Boys are taught (or I thought they were; I was) that when a woman says no, it means exactly that. Any force he applies subsequent to the word "No" is a serious felony. There are men in prison for neglecting to honor the negative from women. Perhaps someone should correct me if I am in error on that point. The contradiction is that Ms. Roberts writes best selling novels, read primarily by women, I should think, books that have men who literally force women into bed with the women approving his action, both the women forced into the bed and the women with the book in their hands.
This book is very little different from all other Nora Roberts novels. The names, locales and occupations are altered, but not much else. Here two artists meet on the picturesque coast of Maine, clash initially, and just after half-way through the pages, the hero, in effect, rapes the heroine, and she responds positively. They make a side trip to pay homage to "The MacGregor" at his Hyannis Port castle and end up happily ever after--or so it is implied. Daniel MacGregor is a meddler who uses his wealth to impose his will on his family and others. He is just a wee bit obnoxious.
The book has some good moments, nice descriptions, but there are not enough of these to raise this to the level of literature. Perhaps that is exactly the lack that readers expect and want from a Roberts book.