After a 15-year absence, Straif Blackthorn returns to Druida City to claim his rightful place as GrandLord T'Blackthorn. As a young man of 17, Straif lost his entire family to the Celtan Angh virus -- a virus fatal only to the Blackthorns due to a genetic weakness. His mother, father, sister, aunts, uncles, cousins...all are gone, leaving Straif the last of the Blackthorn line. Now he's returned and is intent on finding a cure for the genetic disorder and reestablishing his line. During his long absence, the T'Blackthorn Residence has fallen into deep disrepair. Straif's first order of business is to hire a contractor to repair and refurbish the Residence. Mitchella Clover comes highly recommended by Drina, his new Fam, and as soon as Straif sets eyes on Mitchella, he decides she's just the woman for the job.

The attraction is mutual and Mitchella accepts Straif's offer of employment. To bring a Residence back to life after such a long period of neglect will cement her reputation. She even decides the casual affair he suggests will be a pleasurable interlude for them both. Mitchella realizes any liaison with Straif is doomed to be a brief one. Nothing is more important to T'Blackthorn than having a family so his genetic line will continue. Mitchella has been sterile for many years and knows her condition to be irreversible.

Straif and Mitchella begin a heady affair and come to care for each other deeply. But when she tells him she's unable to conceive, he walks away from what has become a passionate and loving relationship. Fortunately, it doesn't take long for Straif to realize that there's more to family than a gene pool, that a heart bond can be much more important than shared DNA.

Once a year, Ms. Owens takes us back to Celta where its inhabitants and their Fams enchant and delight us for a day or two. I can't imagine it taking even the pokiest reader longer than that to finish one of her books. They're like Godiva chocolates, impossible to eat just a few. There will be no saving some for later. You'll gobble it down and howl for more when it's gone!