This is one of those uneven books that is at times quite interesting, but suffers from the proverbial sagging middle. It starts well and ends well, but in between there are some boring parts that I had to force myself to get through. The result is a very average read.

Gavan St. Aldan is the Earl of St. Aldan, a prosperous, self-contained holding in Wales that is almost a kingdom unto itself. Many of its inhabitants believe that they are descended directly from Merlin, whom they call Myrddin, and St. Aldan is actually named in honor of Myrddin’s mother. Local legend has it that one of Myrddin’s descendants will find a love as true as Myrddin’s, which will bring magical happiness to everyone. While Gavan is skeptical, his sister Gwyneth believes the legend. When adventurer William Whitmore finds an old book and necklace supporting the myth, Gwyneth is convinced it is coming true. However, the old man who was going to translate the book is killed and Gavan, Gwyneth, and William set off for London and William’s sister’s house where they believe the book can be translated in safety.

William’s sister Priscilla is in the middle of declining a persistent suitor when Gavan, Gwyneth and William burst into her home. Their carriage has been attacked by someone searching for the book, and both Gavan and William are injured. The annoying suitor is quickly disposed of, and Priscilla gets to know Gavan much better as she imperiously orders him to remove his shirt so she can bind his injured ribs. Only after Gavan and William are taken care of does Priscilla get around to asking what happened, which really impresses Gavan. They tell her the whole story, and she agrees to let them stay. William soon leaves, however, ostensibly to find the book which is now missing. So Priscilla is left alone in her home with an arrogant earl and his sister.

The sparks really fly between Priscilla and Gavan. They experience an instant attraction and can hardly keep away from each other. It would seem obvious that Priscilla is the lady of Myrddin’s legend who is destined to become Gavan’s bride. But it’s not really that simple. Though Priscilla is well-born, she owns a successful millinery business which she enjoys. She doesn’t think she’s suited to be an earl’s wife, and she isn’t sure she likes his constant high-handed edicts either. Will she be able to listen to her heart and surrender to the magic that surrounds the two of them?

The exciting beginning – when the injured Gavan bursts into Priscilla’s world – was echoed by an exciting ending. Circumstances forced Gavan to return to Wales, and he dragged Priscilla with him. This time was just as entertaining and compelling as the beginning. Unfortunately, the middle left much to be desired. After their explosive meeting, Priscilla and Gavan seemed to spend a lot of time engaged in petty arguments or thinking repetitive thoughts about each other. Nothing much happened at all, and I found myself quickly losing interest. What made matters worse was that I could think of all kinds of things the author should have done to make things more engaging, and I couldn’t figure out why she hadn’t thought of them also. I also feel compelled to mention that the term “libido” is used often – and incorrectly – here. Many of Freud’s terms are so much a part of our consciousness that we forget that they weren’t always around. But no one had heard of a libido in 1820, and someone in the editing process should have caught this one.

One highlight of this book, though, was the relationship between Gwyneth and Gavan. Although Gavan didn’t exactly agree with all Gwyneth’s ideas, he was very supportive towards her. Interestingly, Gavan’s treatment of his sister was one of the things that made Priscilla fall in love with him. It was a nice touch. If you are intrigued by sibling relationships, and you don’t mind doing a little skimming when things get dull, this book may work for you. Otherwise, you may want to wait and see if Ms. Byron’s next novel is a little more even.