Its 1830 and we find a six year old boy hiding under his mother's bed in their home in Boston, while she is being murdered. The little boy is then spirited away under the cover of darkness.Twenty four years later that little boy has grown into a strong, solitary, untrusting tracker called Wolf.

After finishing up a case he is in San Francisco when he encounters Alanna Malone and sparks fly. Little does he know at this time, that their future is inextricably linked. Wolf decides to return to Boston to finally discover who killed his mother and why his father never came back for him. Maybe then he would be able to dispose of the guilt he has carried with him since that night, and find out who he really is.

The Malone family are travelling on the same clipper as Wolf, and he and Alanna's physical attraction is obvious to everyone, much to the annoyance of Mr. and Mrs. Malone.

Wolf finds Alanna intoxicating, brutally honest, intelligent and completely open about what she wants in her life - and Alanna wants Wolf. Wolf is confused by Alanna's strong convictions, considering her father has already arranged a marriage for her to a wealthy Bostonian, a man who makes Alanna's skin crawl.

Wolf continues to fight their attraction because he doesn't believe in the kind of love that a lady like Alanna deserves, but mainly because he is terrified of needing anybody, as his past has taught him he will always be left alone. He also detests Alanna's parents as they obviously don't care about their daughter's happiness, and she is just being used as a way to enter high society. However, no matter how hard Wolf tries to remain distant from Alanna, they draw closer together.

Back in Boston with the help of a select few, Wolf starts investigating the murder, and while his passion for Alanna grows, he still holds himself back. Alanna is unwilling to wait for him to realise that they are meant to be together, and introduces him to Old Chinese, her protector and close friend, who shows Wolf an ancient art form, teaching him to harness his energy, and allow the memories of his past to show themselves to him in his dreams.

As they overcome many obstacles, everything appears to be falling into place for the couple, but then horrific lies and despicable secrets come to light, and as Wolf tries to unlock his past, they must travel to the wild Scottish Highlands to discover how his destiny and Alanna's are entwined. But will their deep connection be enough to survive what is ahead of them?

I found ALANNA by Kathleen Bittner Roth to be an utterly intoxicating read. I always hope for an enjoyable historical romance but what I got with this novel is just so much more. It is dramatic, suspenseful, historical and passionate, with characters that I, as a reader, became completely attached to. There are some unexpected twists and turns which kept me hooked right up until the end. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and recommend it to anyone who loves a story that has it all.