Shadows of the Heart

England during the early 1820s was a hostile place for unmarried women without family or home. After losing upper class standing because of her father's gambling habit and scandalous suicide, Annalee Stewart believes her fortunes improved when she is hired as companion to the young but sickly and frail Lady Lenore Blackstone. Although the adjustment from being a member of the wealthy class to finding oneself suddenly in service to it promises to be difficult, Annalee has no choice but to accept where fate has thrown her. She did not expect, however, to be thrown into the dark and dangerous world of poisons and premeditated murder forcing her into protector status as well as companion. Annalee's growing attraction to Lenore, and Lenore's unexpected positive response, puts them both in the treacherous path of Lenore's husband, the cold and pre-occupied Earl of Blackstone. Annalee has also captured the eye of the Earl's sister, Victoria. Her bold flirtations serve to confuse Annalee's heart. Thrown into this tumultuous triangle of love, seduction, and deception, Annalee must sort through her real feelings and confounded passions. Faced with the potential demise of one lover whilst falling inexplicably toward the heart of another, her own life is threatened from within Blackstone Castle. In the deepest shadows of love and loss, Annalee must feel her way through the darkness; face her fears and trust that she will uncover the beacon she needs to find her path to true love.