This is an ultra-slow-burn historical romance with two middle-aged heroines and an ambitious level of immersive detail. Readers looking for more of a wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am pace will find mostly frustration here, but I loved watching Agatha and Penelope's relationship build in trust and intimacy. I also loved seeing how they fit into their community and getting to know all the minor characters. There's a reveal that made me quite literally gasp aloud, much to my girlfriend's amusement. And there's enough yearning to sink a ship of lesbians. Onward to the next--and sadly, last--in the series!