While overindulging in spirits and women at a scummy inn in London, a drunken Kian, age seventeen, meets his one true mate. That she is only a child and a servant at the inn makes no difference to Kian. The girl, Loris, is Kian’s “oneness,” his unoliaeth, the soul gifted to him by the guardians to love forever. Loris knows all about Kian from the prostitutes that work at the inn, and this, coupled (excuse the pun) with his suddenly overwhelming interest in her, frightens Loris. Kian discovers that Loris has been sold to a whore-master by the owners of the inn, and in trying to save her causes a fight that ends with Kian being seriously injured and Loris’ purchaser dead. Kian’s curse is the result, and it is manifested in the physical pain that Loris feels from Kian’s touch, and her conflicting feelings for him. Kian knows he can’t live without Loris, so he has her taken to his family’s castle in Wales.

Ten years later, Kian is head of his branch of the Seymours and he’s still gotten nowhere with Loris. She still despises him most of the time and they fight almost constantly. Loris also refuses to believe in the whole unoliaeth thing, and her denial causes Kian much emotional pain. Although Loris never wants to leave Kian’s beloved castle, she is convinced to travel to London, ostensibly to meet with a nobleman who may be her grandfather, but mainly to get her away from the dangerous troubles that have been occurring all over Kian’s property.

The troubles are the work of the Seymours’ enemy, Morcar Cadmaran, Lord Llew. Morcar is a vicious and powerful wizard with a huge hatred of the entire Seymour clan, and he’s also, unfortunately, Kian’s neighbor. Morcar has enlisted the help of a pre-eminent American wizard to awaken an ancient monster, which he sends to Kian’s land to eat livestock and destroy property. Kian knows that he cannot ask the head wizard of his family, Malachi, for help, because Morcar will use his close proximity to attempt to destroy Malachi. So Kian has to attempt to solve the problem of the unstoppable monster on his own.

Meanwhile in London, Loris is miserable being away from Castle Tylluan. Loris misses Kian terribly. Perhaps the unoliaeth is real after all, and not quite as one-sided as Loris had supposed.

Ms Paul’s “Touch of” books are so complex that the previous paragraphs are only the most major circumstances of the plot. There’s also a very nice secondary romance between Kian’s brother Dyfed and Morcar’s American betrothed, Desdemona, as well as the continuing story of Morcar’s rivalry with Malachi. Loris’ erstwhile suitor, Tauron Cadmaran, is an interesting character and should probably have a story of his own. For all the plot’s complexity, the author does a great job of keeping the details straight and the pace fast.

It’s so wonderful to read a plot driven paranormal with different, interesting characters! There aren’t any hugely endowed vampires, or crazy werewolf sex scenes (which I love, don’t get me wrong), but this book doesn’t need them to stimulate interest. There’s plenty of romance, although it’s more subtle, and more than enough action and emotion to make the reading well worth your while.

Thank you Ms. Paul, Touch of Passion is a great book and I definitely recommend it. Will you publish Malachi’s story next, please?

--Wendy Livingston