This historical romance opens with Lionel Redmayne, the cool, calculating villain of Magic in an unexpectedly vulnerable place. Emotionally -- because his heart was touched by the heroine of the previous book -- and physically -- because he’s just been shot. Enter Rhiannon, a “fairy-born” woman with a gift for sensing animals in pain. To Rhiannon, “Lion” is another hurt animal to heal… not just of his wounds, but of the dreadful emotional stunting inflicted upon him by his grandfather. But how can his wretched self ever be worthy of her pure love?A lovely redemption romance of the sentimental kind. Rhiannon, though a perfect innocent angel to Lion, somehow manages to be warm, lovable and not Too Perfect to Live. Lion is alternately wittily aloof or painfully tormented. There’s a small mystery (who is trying to kill Lion) and some historical difficulties for the lovers, since Rhiannon is Irish and Lion is an English Captain, but the main emphasis of the story is on relationships.You don’t have to have read Magic to follow Briar Rose, but it does add some to Redmayne’s character.
