As the family's Keeper of the Scrolls, Taylor Maxwell was digitizing the generations of journals written by their ancestors. Neil and Riana's were the first. In truth, their lives were as far back as anyone felt was needed to go. The present day Maxwells owed everything they were to Neil and it was he who instilled the value of keeping such journals, though Riana kept her own, which was just as compelling.

But they both felt incomplete when it came to Colin MacAyer. He was obviously a trusted friend and confidante, but the how of the relationship was never explained. Finding the current crop of MacAyers was easy enough, given that there were only four of them, a brother and sister in New York and their two elderly aunts.

Excitement bubbled up in Colleen when Sean showed her the letter he received from Taylor Maxwell. Maxwell was a common enough name, but these Maxwells were not common and they had a connection to them? If so, she was determined to find it.

But a simple quest is not so simple when one has to deal with Clayton Maxwell. A throwback to the days of feudal lords, he is the undisputed Lord of Contentment. He is the sole owner of everything on that island. It's an odd life, but it's his and he values it. He also values people and that includes Colleen. To the point of infuriating her.

The clues left behind by Riana are not simple. It becomes clear that the MacAyer puzzle was meant to be solved and their story told, just not too soon. They doubted Riana thought it would take almost two hundred years. Each branch of the family was left with something to start with, if only they'd known what they had.

History is valuable and the Maxwells value theirs more than most, but before something can become history it has to happen and the life you live must be your top priority. One has to wonder if Riana was as interested in uniting the families for the future as she was in giving the MacAyers back their past.