It is my favorite of hers, and I've read all. The heroine was not a martyr, but a real human being struggling with something deeply personal and important to her. The hero's illness gave this novel a depth that added to the development of the story. I definitely recommend it. Author's ability to capture point of view of stroke victim is good writing, superior to most romance fare.
Book is also quite moving in spots.
The duke's loss of language and gradual reacquisition of it, is shown through his own words and inner thoughts. This is not simple stuff. The reader has to work, but the payoff is tremendous. I suspected it was a stroke, but thought maybe it could have been some other kind of mental disfunction. I didn't like how this was unclear.