Good start to the series. The book opens with a prologue as Royce pursues answers to the mystery of what happened to his little sister twenty years earlier. He meets with two men who have promised him a meeting with someone who knows, but the conditions change when he arrives. The next thing he knows, his companion is dead, and Royce is knocked unconscious and dumped into the water.

Iona is a healer on the island of Lismore. Scarred physically and emotionally, she lives alone on the outskirts of the village with her dog and the animals she rescues. While out late one night, she finds a man who has washed up on the shore and takes him to her cottage to treat him. But when he regains consciousness, he can't remember who he is, how he got there, nor can he see.

It is hard for a leader and warrior to find himself so helpless. Royce initially feels that he would be better off dead than being such a burden to Iona. But Iona refuses to low him to feel sorry for himself, and as he heals, she helps him adjust to his circumstances. I liked how she challenged him by using his pride against him, forcing him to prove himself.

Iona keeps herself apart from people, certain that no one wants to be around someone disfigured as she is. It is also a way to protect her heart from the pain of more loss. But because Royce cannot see her, she finds it much easier to be herself around him.

The relationship that forms between Iona and Royce is a slow-growing one. The chemistry is there from the start, but they must learn to trust before anything can come of it. I liked seeing that Royce's protective streak is intact, although his blindness handicaps him. It was sweet to see his kindness and how he tried to help her the best that he could. As his memories begin to return, he realizes he doesn't like the man he suspects he used to be. His time with Iona has changed him. Iona knows she is falling for Royce, but nothing can come of it. He will eventually return to his home, while she is committed to staying on Lismore as the island's healer.

There is danger in Royce's presence in Iona's cottage. Those who left him to die want to be sure that he did, and there are several close calls when they come searching. What is the secret that someone on the island is hiding, and what does it have to do with Royce's quest? A partial memory of a name sends Royce and Iona on a visit that leaves them with more questions than answers.

When Royce regains sight and memory, both must decide their future. Royce must return home and resume his duties as laird and wants Iona to go with him. But Iona's fears prevent her from following her heart. My heart broke for both as they faced a future without each other. I was rooting for Iona to face her fears and take a chance. The ending was sweet and emotional and everything I could hope for.

By the end of the book, some of Royce's questions have been answered, but there are still many more. I look forward to the next book to see how many are answered.

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