HEART OF THE FLAME

Author: Tina St. John ISBN: 0345459954 3/2005 HISTORICAL Publisher: BALLANTINE/Ivy
Time Period: Cornwall, England 1275

Six months in an enemy’s dungeon might have broken a weaker man, but the former Templar knight Kenrick of Clairmont has emerged from imprisonment with an unyielding determination, consumed by a single, daunting quest: to find the Dragon Chalice, a mystical treasure said to grant its bearer unlimited power. It is a dangerous chase, one that pits Kenrick against foes skilled in dark, deadly arts. But no obstacle will prove more treacherous–nor more seductively lethal–than the fiery beauty called Haven. Caught up in the battle for the Chalice, Haven survives a night of terror that leaves her wounded and near death. Her memory scorched by fever, Haven awakens to find herself in the care of the forbidding, handsome Kenrick, who offers his protection in return for her alliance. A tenuous trust is formed between the two, which soon ignites into a fierce passion neither can deny. But Haven’s memory of her past is slowly beginning to surface, and it will threaten the fragile bond she and Henrick share–and embroil them in a fight for their very lives. . . .

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Those of you waiting for the follow up to Tina St. John's HEART OF THE HUNTER, will not be disappointed in the sequel, HEART OF THE FLAME. Though there are not as many scenes with the shapeshifters as the last book, you will love the story, characters, and different sort of magic the new one has to offer.

I realize superstition, folklore, and suspected dabbling in the black arts were prevalent during the thirteenth century, but I have yet to run across other books with this type of theme being the focal point. Normally, during this time period,
magic and witchery are something characters are suspected of possessing, but usually it turns out to be a medicine woman with extensive knowledge of herbal healing, or an evil doer using poison. Tina St. John's type of magic puts it right
up there with the mostly helpful, mystical fae creatures and the like, only the evil side is represented in a much deeper way, putting a whole new twist on reading your typical historical romance novel.

Yes, there are many different books out there offering a take on the paranormal. What makes this series different and rewarding to read is the time period in which it takes place. Of course, it doesn't hurt to have a heroine with amnesia, a golden hero with a passionate quest, and a visit from the sexy brooding hero of HEART OF THE HUNTER and his bride. All of those things, and the continuing plot of uniting the Dragon Chalice, make HEART OF THE FLAME a treasure of its own.

Shannon Johnson