Heroine Hazel Stanford returns home to Cornwall (after spending three years in the United States) and she discovers that hero Rafe Savage was in an accident over a year ago which scarred his face and body and damaged his hip. (He was on a launch that had a gas leak, and it blew up.) Rafe has been Hazel's guardian since her parents died when she was ten. Rafe and Hazel are distant cousins and are not really related. He is bitter and angry towards Hazel because she never visited or enquired about him after his accident. Rafe doesn't know his cruel sister Celia never told Hazel about the accident, so this is all a shock and surprise to Hazel. Celia and Hazel have never got on and Celia is trying to make as much trouble as she can for Hazel. Tensions escalate. Rafe and Hazel find they are still attracted to each other...

I really enjoyed this book. Rafe and Hazel had good chemistry. Rafe was cranky at times, with Hazel and because he was still in pain from his injuries. I liked Rafe, he obviously had feelings for Hazel but he mistakenly believed she ignored him during his accident. I also liked Hazel, she was feisty and stood up to Rafe. Rafe's sister Celia was horrible.

This was a very entertaining read by Carole Mortimer with a lot of angst, arguing, misunderstandings, and secret longings. ( )