I'm going to write a review now myself. I liked it, but I didn't love it. Hester was a great character, but waaayyyy too perfect. Did you see any flaws in her, other than the fact she had pre-marital sex, which in my estimation isn't really a flaw at all?

I didn't love the proposal either, but I got the feeling that it was Galen's way of saving Hester's reputation within her community. By then, her ex-fiance had accused her of something fairly serious, and she was on her way to becoming a pariah. He made sure to play his hand publicly, and to make a show of power and social status that would protect Hester. And I think she understood that. Again, not an ideal proposal, but not the most outlandish one I've seen in romance novels either. :D

Those are very fair points, Locus. The addition of viewpoints proves buddy reads are a great thing.