The Shadow and the Star by Laura Kinsale,

He is a man of dark secrets -- wealthy, strong, majestically handsome -- the master of the ancient arts of a distant land. Scarred by a cruel childhood, he has sworn only to love chastely ... yet he burns with the heat of unfulfilled desire.

She is innocent and nearly destitute, yet she possesses a beauty as incandescent as a heavenly orb. And she is drawn to this powerful stranger by a need she cannot deny.

Never has such passion so consumed a man and a woman. But by giving his heart freely, the Shadow risks everything he believes in. And to follow her enigmatic warrior means the Star must enter his world of intrigue, vengeance, and desire -- and surrender to the most dangerous love there ever could be.

The Shadow and the Star is a regency romance with ninjas. It sounds cheesy but it’s not. It’s a touching romance with unforgettable characters. Leda, the heroine, is prim and proper and tries to keep her dignity in hard circumstances. Samuel, the hero, is mentally scarred from a sexually abusive childhood. His struggle to live with his past but separate it from his present is what makes this book so touching. If you like emotionally charged romance The Shadow and the Star is a must have. Oh, and there’s sharks.

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