Born a gypsy child with the sight, Chiara sells fortunes at a party and attracts the attention of wealthy Luca Zeani. Due to a misunderstanding, Chiara is sold to Luca as his slave. Unfortunately, Luca bears an uncanny resemblance to the beast that attacked her younger sister, breaking her sanity. However, Chiara is puzzled to find his heart is not evil when she looks inside with her gift. Luca, in turn, is mystified why the lovely Chiara seems to be alternately afraid and trusting of him.
Dark forces work to tear the couple apart as they struggle with their growing love for each other.
The Shadowed Heart is a moving and curious tale. It is interesting to see how Ms. Beaumont has smoothly woven the psychic characteristics of her heroine into the story. I was concerned about the location and time period Ms. Beaumont chose for this book. I know next to nothing about Venice and certainly had no desire to know anything about it. However, Ms. Beaumont depicted the time and places so well that my interest was caught and maintained.