ROMANTIC TIMES
MAGAZINE'S 2001 REVIEWERS' CHOICE AWARD WINNER
FOR BEST HISTORICAL ROMANCE! 4 1/2 STARS, TOP PICK! -
When eight-year-old Isabeau de Lyon runs off to watch the Children's Crusade
pass by, she is caught up in the crowd and swept away. Sixteen-year-old
Jared de Navarre vows to bring her home. His search lasts years and leads
him to the Middle East, where he becomes a fierce mercenary known as the
Black Lion.
Isabeau has been taken and sold into slavery. She survives the life she
is forced to lead, eventually escaping the harem and claiming a new identity
- that of the feared Assassin called Shadow Hunter.
The Black Lion's reputation for taking chances makes him ideal for Isabeau's
plot to steal a jewel from her nemesis. When she discovers that the mercenary
is none other than her childhood protector, neither can guess what will
happen as they meet as man and woman in this passionate game.
Hillary Fields takes her place as a true queen of romantic adventure.
Readers will be transported to the desert and drawn into the wonderful
web of intrigue. In this seductive tale, Ms. Fields creates vivid descriptions
and vibrant characters that will keep you engrossed from beginning to
end.

ASTRID
KINN - ROMANCE REVIEWS TODAY -
France and Syria, Early 13th Century
Eight-year-old Isabeau de Lyon simply had to go into town to see the boy
who was allegedly a saint. Her betrothed, sixteen-year-old Jared de Navarre
would not allow it, since he had been entrusted by Isabeau's parents to
watch over her. No pouting, crying, tantrums or other childlike behavior
from the coddled beauty would change his mind. Naturally, that left no
option but to escape into town, and Isabeau managed that on her own, never
fathoming, in her little girl's mind, that she would be assaulted, injured
and abducted from her luxurious home and loving family, never to return.
Jared vowed to find Isabeau or die trying, and years of following empty
leads eventually deposits him in Persia, where he becomes a famous and
ruthless mercenary dubbed the Black Lion. His adolescent dream of finding
Isabeau and going back to the life he was supposed to lead died early
on, although in the far corners of his mind he has never stopped searching
for the Isabeau of the golden locks and bright blue eyes.
Many years later, Jared is asked to meet with a dangerous adversary who
has a mission for Jared and his renegade group. The adversary is a mysterious
desert warrior, the only one with perhaps a more dangerous reputation
than his own. Jared has no idea that Isabeau survived her abduction years
earlier, so it never occurs to him that she and his new employer are one
and the same. All he knows is that the &Assassin& has bright blue
eyes and an almost paranoid penchant for privacy.
Isabeau cannot believe her eyes when she realizes the Black Lion is her
betrothed from another lifetime. Still, she needs his assistance to help
her accomplish her goals, so she cloaks herself in even greater secrecy
than normal in an attempt to hide her true identity from the man she has
never forgotten, or forgiven, for not saving her those many years ago.
Besides her anger, though, Isabeau feels vulnerable and exposed in front
of Jared, believing that if she reveals herself to him he will never be
able to move past what she has had to do in order to survive.
Heart of a Lion is a powerfully
written, intelligently crafted romance with high intrigue and riveting
suspense. Isabeau is the perfect heroine; strong and intelligent. She
is a woman way beyond her time, who not only has survived the atrocities
committed against her, but risen above them and triumphed like a true
heroine. I love strong and independent women in historical romances, and
Isabeau ranks right up there with the best of them.
This story is filled with all the elements of a good book, and then some.
Interesting characters, beautifully depicted scenes of life in Persia
in the 13th century, true blue romance in the face of what appears to
be insurmountable odds -- this is just some of what you'll find in Heart
of a Lion. Ms. Fields's talent is very apparent in this magnificent
tale -- don't miss this fascinating novel!

SUZANNE COLEBURN, THE BELLES AND BEAUX OF ROMANCE -
Heart of a Lion is a thrilling romantic
adventure about a headstrong young girl abducted and sold into slavery
in the Mideast and found later by the man who was her betrothed, a legendary
mercenary called The Black Lion. Jared de Navarre has made it his life
to search for his beloved Isabeau and never return to his homeland until
he is able to bring her back to her family.
Sixteen years have passed and Jared has been summoned to fight by the
side of the renegade Shadow Hunter who leaves a white rose as a sign the
Assassin will take their life. Little does Jared know that this deeply
veiled person is none other than his lost Isabeau? The renegade needs
the mercenary to help free a precious jewel from her detested enemy. Get
ready for a lot of excitement as these two join forces to invade an enemy
fortress and capture a rare prize as danger swirls all around them.
Jared is a magnificent male who is guilt ridden but strong, compassionate
and forgiving as well as loyal and never a quitter. Isabeau is resourceful,
courageous and undaunted in fighting for what is right as she leaves her
past behind. She knows her life is going to change again when she finds
out that the Black Lion is Jared de Navarre, her betrothed. Their love
story sizzles right off the pages and will surely have your heart pounding
double and triple time with Ms. Fields special brand of sensuality.
Delicious!
Suzanne "The Black Lion Sure had my Blood Pressure and a few other
things in an Uproar. Whew, I Dont think Ill Recover Anytime
soon!" Coleburn.
"Hillary Fields Heart of
a Lion takes you on a spelling binding journey of courage and valor
as an enduring love story unfolds that is so powerful you can hear the
Black Lion roar as he searches for his beloved Isabeau. Incredible storytelling
by a master!"
HARRIET KLAUSNER -
Intense Historical Romance...
In 1212, teenager Jared de Navarre is expected keep his preadolescent
betrothed Isabeau de Lyon safe, but she sneaks away to watch the Childrens
Crusade. Somehow Isabeau becomes part of the marchers and vanishes. Feeling
guilty for failing at his mission, Jared vows to find Isabeau and bring
her home. However, she is sold into slavery in the Middle East and he
fails to rescue her.
Years go by and though Jared still sort of seeks out Isabeau he believes
she is dead. He has hardened his heart and become the notorious mercenary
The Black Lion, willing to do anything for cash. An assassin guild member,
the Shadow Hunter, knows of his reputation and hires Jared to steal a
jewel from a rival. Neither the Black Lion nor the Shadow Hunter realizes
that the identity of the other is their betrothed. Both have done ugly
things to mentally survive, but a wall of shame makes a permanent relationship
between them seems more impossible than the first meeting between them
after all those years.
Heart of a Lion is a strong medieval
romance that mostly occurs in the Middle East, which enables the plot
to feel quite invigorating in spite of the desert heat. The action-packed
story line hooks sub-genre fans because both lead characters obtain empathy
from the audience due to their respective plights. Hillary Fields provides
an intense historical romance that will surely garner her many new readers.
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