After the murder of her brother and his wife, the heroine takes her young niece and nephew and flees Ireland to keep them out of the clutches of their parents killer. In her desperation to board the hero's ship, she declares herself to be his wife and kisses him. The hero is not the sort to believe in the Blessing his family is gifted to that allows them to know and see their life mate. He is a lawyer, he's absolutely focused on saving his family from financial ruin but he can't stop himself from taking the panicked woman and her two young children aboard. And each time they go to part ways, he always finds a way to reason his preens and the heroine, whom feels so drawn to the Irishman, longs for his to stay always. But in order to keep the children with her, she must marry so, even though it breaks her heart she seeks out her brothers friend to marry. Although the friend isn't a very decent person, at times he is cold and ruthless, he's not truly a villain. I didn't like how the heroine goes to him with the proposal of marriage and then sleeps with the hero under his roof. I thought it was heartless and mean to play with him like that. I really liked the hero. They say you can judge a man by how he interacts with children and the hero was a kind, tender and protective man. Though he starts out at the beginning of the book as a rather humorous, stone faced man who thinks of nothing but his vow to save his family, He however soon becomes a guardian to the young children and a pillar of strength for the heroine. He truly will do any and everything for either of them though at times, he becomes angry with himself because of his selflessness. Because in order to save and protect his female and her children, he sacrifices an opportunity to save his family.The heroine was something to admire as she defies custom and has interest in learning and reading and she risks everything to save her niece and nephew, though she knows that few will believe the truth she has to tell about the murder. It was a nice book with a very sexy Irish hero and touch of paranormal elements what with the Blessing and all. ( )