This was a fascinating read. I've never seen anything like it. The hero in this regency-era novel has experienced a spinal cord injury in battle. His story is told with an unflinching realism that was both resonant and educational. He connects with a woman who has had exposure to the realities and horrors of war both in her personal life and though her experience in her brother's surgical clinic.

I liked the fact that the story allowed for growth for both of them. I also really appreciated that it addressed the fact that while his experience was harrowing, his wealth and societal position afforded him some privilege in dealing with it. Though the book dealt in very heavy topics (death, disability, depression, self-harm, sexual disfunction, etc.) the overall tone was hopeful and there was plenty of space for humor, affection, and chemistry.

There were a lot of anachronisms that were hard to ignore (word choices like "saccharine", expressions/phrasing, and the treatment of topics like depression and sex) but the overall story was still enjoyable and worth reading!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

I have been patiently waiting for Finn's story since reading his older brother's book. I knew it would take an amazing woman to get through to him and love him.

Major Phineas Allan Storme is struggling to adapt to his life after Waterloo, as he is now paralyzed and confined to a Bath chair. The author did not shy away from what true paralyzation looks like. It means our hero has no control over his bowels and wears what is essentially a diaper. He has no feeling anywhere below the waist if you know what I'm saying....His valet does daily exercises with him to keep his legs from wasting away and the depression he feels on a daily basis is overwhelming.

Lady Jane Marsden is not your usual romance heroine. She is the 32 year old spinster daughter of an Earl. I had to read her age several times the first time I saw it because I was so shocked. No young 19 year old for our hero Major Storme, per the usual norm in regency romances. She has been engaged twice previously, and is not shy about saying she enjoyed the physical side to those relationships.

These two butt heads and challenge each other. Finn is still a devastatingly handsome man and Jane is determined to show him there is a whole new life waiting for him, complete with dildos and sex toys. The steam really picks up after the first 50% of the book and it is steamy!

There are trigger warnings, as the hero does contemplate suicide throughout the book, and the realization of what paralysis truly is may be shocking to some as it is referenced in the book. .

Phineas was wounded in battle and is now confined to a bath chair(wheelchair) while mentally he deals with survivor's guilt, PTSD, depression and suicidal thoughts.
Jane has been engaged twice but has never actually made it to the alter, but she did give herself to both her fiancées before they died, one in an accident and one in the war.
Both MC's are older at 32(her) and 37(him) years old. They also both love fairy stories and that's part of how the relationship starts when she calls his grumpy butt an old bridge troll it catches his attention and it starts off a very interesting back and forth between the 2 of them as he learns life is not all despair and she learns a positive outlook doesn't fix everything.
Having older experienced characters is always refreshing, the fact that he has no function below the belt and that doesn't change makes this love story and the physical relationship far more unique than I was expecting which is awesome. Both books in this series take a pretty hard look at mental health. I loved the fact that his paralysis didn't just get magically better at the end of the story.
TW: suicide attempts, PTSD, depression

3.5 stars.
“The Heart of a Storme”, by Sandra Sookoo (Dragonblade Publishing), is about a very intense and passionate, while also being sweet, romance, between a wounded hero and a free-spirited heroine.
The relationship between Finn and Jane is full of tenderness and lust, a blending of sweetness and eroticism, with a detailed exploration of how a character with paralysis can experience sexuality and pleasure.
I liked the story and loved the characters, they feel so down to earth.
The approach to the less palatable aspects of living with paralysis and the daily battles Finn faces seem realistic and thoroughly researched. There are other sensitive subject matters addressed in the story.
There are also some cute details, such as Wellington being a sort of service cat.
The characters are so relatable perhaps because they seem more modern/contemporary than historical.
The same happens with other dimensions of the story; I’m not sure if the term “depression” was widely used or even coined at the time (the first quarter of the 19th century) as the author suggests showing the hero using it often to characterize his mental health issues.
All in all, an enjoyable read.

Major Phineas Storme is struggling to come to terms with his life. He is confined to a bath chair due to injuries from the war. Depression is a terrible demon to face.

Lady Jane Marsden has faced many losses in her life, but still manages to keep a sunny disposition. Her work with her brother at his clinic is to lift moral. Her parents have their idea of the future she needs, but she disagrees.

This is a very emotional, historical romance with exceptional characters. Our heroine will not be deterred from what she wants. Our hero battles a vicious demon with help from a stubborn woman and an affectionate cat.

I loved it.