Tina St. John, Heart of the Flame

Heart of the Flame

Tina St. John

Ivy, Mar 2005, $6.99

ISBN: 0345459954

In 1275 Cornwall, England, former Templar Knight Kenrick comes to the home of his friend Rand only to see a massacre occurred. Kenrick knows the evil Silas de Mortaine apparently annihilated the family in search of the Dragon Chalice that Kenrick hid in his friend's home. Feeling guilt, Kenrick goes to the hiding place where he hid the chalice, but it is not there. He concludes that Silas has not gained possession of the object that would enhance his dark magic to the point of no one capable of stopping the malevolent wizard.

Kenrick finds an unconscious woman dying from infection. He nurtures her and takes her to the home of his sister and brother-in-law to further heal and to learn what she knows about what happened to Rand and his family. Instead the woman Haven knows she must escape as soon as she is able to leave. Still, as Kenrick questions her, she is attracted to him and visa versa, but she hides a secret that if he learns it will make him hate her, at least that is what she believes.

HEART OF THE FLAME, the sequel to the wonderful, historical, romantic fantasy HEART OF THE HUNTER, is a delightful tale that stars Kenrick, whose incarceration was the catalyst that brought his sister and in-law together. This time Kenrick's adventures are told even as he feels remorse over the troubles and probable deaths he brought to his friend. Still, he courageously knows he cannot fold as Silas remains a danger to the world. Haven is his perfect counterpoint as she adds mystery with what she hides from Kenrick. Fans of medieval romantic fantasy will appreciate Tina St. John's fine novel.

Harriet Klausner