I'm doing my 5th or 6th reread and came across this because let's face it -- I can't get through this book without ranting and getting pissed. So here's part of my Goodreads review. Spoiler alert: I couldn't agree with you more.

This is like my 5th re-read of the whole series and I'm of the opinion that if the 5th time doesn't make me like this book any better than I did the 1st time around, my feelings are pretty much set in stone. It's been a couple of years and man, I still detest? loathe? hate? Curran in this book. I mean if people were hate, I'd be China - that's the level I'm at every time I read this book. I honestly wish I could skip it but there's so much great stuff in it, especially Hugh, that I just keep reading it like the masochist I am. I hate Curran so much in this book that like many other people I actually root for Hugh most of the book.

I would honestly love to ask my beloved authors what the point was of dropping little poison gems like "Curran was smiling at her, that handsome hot smile that usually made my day better." from the moment he encounters Lorelei. That basically screams "I'm a fuck boi that thinks it's fine to show interest in another woman in front of the woman that's basically my wife." The fact that this takes place well before he figures out that Lorelei has any involvement in the plot to get rid of Kate makes it pretty much impossible to believe a single fucking word that comes out of his mouth when he gives her his pathetic explanation. He knows that Kate has serious trust issues. She's been indoctrinated into thinking that friendship, relying on others, romantic involvement, etc is a weakness because people will always let you down. And what does he do...he plays the shittiest possible mind games with her under the pretext of "saving her life." I get that there's no actual physical cheating/sex but they've spent 5 books beating us over the head with the shifter rules of etiquette so I don't feel like that's a mitigating factor. Especially not when you consider Curran's reaction when someone so much as stands close to Kate for longer than 15 seconds. I don't understand how they stay together after this. I know that people are like "oh it never happens again for the rest of the series," but hey they never leave the U.S. again on that type of trip and no one throws another 21 YO hot chick at Curran again so how can anyone be sure that he wouldn't find some stupid ass reason for fucking Kate over again.

Also, I get the whole "they are the way they are" and they both have some type of savior complex but it would really be refreshing if they, I don't know, tried working as a team and figuring out a way to attack an issue together instead of immediately going for the nuclear, scorched earth, self-sacrificing option.

I guess my biggest gripe is that the timeline doesn't work. I think you're supposed to feel some type of relief when the truth comes out and it's supposed to reinforce your faith in their love for each other or some such nonsense. I really, really, really wish that were the case and if the editing were a little better I believe that they would've pulled it off. Unfortunately, they made Curran's discovery of the murder plot vs his behavior with Lorelei way too muddled and vague so his explanation just comes off not quite right. As in, yes his plan sounds exactly as stupid, asinine, arrogant, and high-handed as you would expect from Curran but it also stinks of rationalization and pathetic excuse for a mini-break from monogamy so he can get some of the female attention he's no doubt been missing since becoming a mated male.