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Luke Moreno is a security expert hired to protect a priceless legendary necklace, the Gypsy’s Revenge that has just been found. He has struggled his entire life to rise above his gypsy heritage… and a scandal five years ago when he was betrayed by the woman he loved and accused of stealing some extremely valuable gemstones from her mentor, don Fernando. Sofia Mikhelson is an antiquities expert known for her skill with amber and her talent for creating flawless reproductions of jewelry. Now a priceless artifact has been uncovered and she can’t resist the allure of seeing the Gypsy’s Revenge. The last thing she expected was to run into the thief who betrayed her love five years past. Just as the royal Roma family was about to regain possession of their legendary necklace, they are slaughtered and their necklace stolen, Luke and Sofia accused of the theft. Now Sofia and Luke must work together to recover the necklace and figure out who framed them in order to prove their innocence. However past betrayal is hard to overcome. Then there is the curse surrounding the necklace that anyone not of Gypsy blood who touches it will die… Heart of a Thief is a fast paced race against time through Madrid and the surrounding countryside. Legends, curses, heartbreak and betrayal are the name of the game, making us wonder how Sofia and Luke will ever make it out alive. One thing I especially liked about this book is somewhat unusual for a romance novel. Normally the focus of the story is on the heroine, but here Luke takes center stage. He has never forgiven Sofia for turning her back on their love and believing don Fernando when he accused Luke of the theft. When she reappears in his life, he is convinced she is a criminal like he believes don Fernando to be. So he is quite surprised at the anger she has for him. Luke has been scorned his entire life for his Gypsy blood so watching him slowly begin to realize his own prejudices and overcome his doubts to accept Sofia’s love is quite moving. The suspense is well done, weaving legend and superstition into the overarching plot. I love the glimpse into gypsy life we receive, which gives a fascinating spin on the story in Heart of a Thief. While the story of Sofia and Luke has its own satisfying resolution, the story of The Crusaders is just beginning. We still have two more Roma treasures to find and I look forward to seeing what happens in book two, To Protect a Princess, due out in October 2008. © Kelley A. Hartsell, April 2008. All rights reserved. |
The Crusaders Book 1: Heart of a Thief
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Posted April 2008 |
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