This truly is by far the BEST BOOK Virginia Henley has written. In her other novels (which i truly love) the hero is so easy to fall in love with. However, in this novel it is harder to love the hero-Sean and so very easy to love Emerald- Clearly she grows and matures into a woman throughout the course of this novel. When I think of Amber and Joseph and Shamus and Kathleen- I cry. Although the novel ends beautifully with Sean and Emerald together- My heart is still broken over the many lost loves. I could write forever about this book and I am undone by the emotions, spirituality, actions, and sexuality of Sean Emerald Amber Joseph Kathleen and Shamus. This novel is different from your others because the woman is not a shy coy maiden who has to be coaxed into love. Emerald's heart overflows with unrestrained love and passion while Sean keeps a part of himself locked away and later realizes his eternal love for Emerald