It’s rare to see a hero or heroine with disabilities. I can count on one hand the books I’ve heard of – much less books I’ve read – that have a major character in a wheelchair, or with brain damage, or, as is the heroine in Shades of Desire, blind. It’s a challenging plot and characterization to tackle, but when done right, can be very, very good and unique. Unfortunately, weak plotting and a chemistry-less relationship take away any points Virna DePaul may have earned for breaking the mold.

Natalie Jones knew she would likely go blind for much of her life, thanks to a genetic disorder. It doesn’t make it any easier when she does lose her vision, particularly because she is a talented and lucrative photographer; losing her sight is also losing a major part of her identity. One day she is attacked in her home, and this brings her to the attention of Liam “Mac” McKenzie, a detective from an elite investigative agency. He is immediately attracted to her, despite her blindness, and she returns that attraction. When it becomes evident that the reason she was attacked is related to a series of photographs she took, she is determined to figure out what she saw through her lens.

As someone who recently became disabled, Natalie is in a very difficult state emotionally and psychologically. She may be adapting well enough physically, but struggles with adapting and accepting the situation. It is nearly impossible to say what is realistic and what is not in this regard; certainly, I have no right to judge or question her reactions. I will say, however, that it dominated her characterization. We know very little of her outside her disability. It shouldn’t define her, but at this stage of her coping process it does, and there is very little true development in the course of the novel, aside from a last-minute epiphany with little grounding.

Mac is a weakly sketched character as well. There is very little that distinguishes him from dozens of other law enforcement heroes. He is flat and unremarkable, except when he is really dumb with Natalie.

Putting the two of them together didn’t improve things. Their chemistry felt forced, and their ostensible attraction was unbelievable. Quite simply, I didn’t buy their romance, and I don’t trust their HEA.

Again, I give the author credit for trying something different, and the combination of Natalie’s blindness, and the nature of her victimization, is unique and interesting. Unfortunately, everything else was just poorly constructed and developed, which lead to a disappointing read.