The latest book in Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan series,
subtitled "A comedy of biology and manners". Miles Vorkosigan
is in love with the beautiful widow Ekaterin Vorsoisson and is
striving to make her his Lady Vorkosigan, but Ekaterin wants never to
marry again after her bad experiences with her first husband, so
Miles is attempting to court her without letting her know it. Mark
Vorkosigan is in love with the warm and outgoing Kareen Koudelka,
and they have spent a year together as students on Beta Colony, but
her family disapproves of him, since they are traditional
Barrayarans and Mark is a clone and has been having Betan therapy
for mental problems. There are also subplots involving butter bugs
and Barrayaran politics.