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 Don’t think I’ll 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 Children’s 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.