Okay. This book almost lost me. Seriously. I almost stopped reading at page 75. Why? Because the author did something STUPID. Aspartame as a component in a heavenly healing mixture? Really? Why would you DO THAT? No. Just NO Ms. Kate. That one lame thing almost cost the entire book for me. I delayed in reading the rest of it for a day or two and just because of it. But I finally returned to the reading. I'm glad I did. The second half of the book made it worth it. In fact, it actually redeemed the series and brought back any interest that had been lost in the second and third books along the way. So if you read this book...try to just let that momentary lapse of judgement slide. It will be worth it.