The Treasure

September 29, 2008
Set largely in 12th-century Europe, this intricately plotted historical romance from bestseller Johansen, the sequel to Lion's Bride
(1996), is replete with majestic castles, ruthless assassins and gentlemen rogues. Two star-crossed lovers become unwilling participants in a deadly struggle for control of an artifact that could contain the very secrets to immortality itself. Ex-assassin Kadar Ben Arnaud wants nothing more than to live a quiet life in Scotland with the love of his life, former slave Selene Ware. But when Arnaud is summoned by his old master to collect on a promise he made years earlier, he's honor-bound to leave the safety of his home and embark on a perilous journey to steal a priceless treasure from a stronghold in Tuscany. When Ware is kidnapped, Arnaud finds himself forced to embrace the darkness of his past in order to save her. The smoldering relationship between Arnaud and Ware will keep romance fans turning the pages.

October 15, 2008
Summoned back to Syria from Scotland, presumably by Sinan, the ruler of the assassins who had saved the lives of his Scottish friends several years earlier, former assassin Kadar Ben Arnaud is furious when the messenger kidnaps Lady Selene Ware (a former child harem slave and Kadar's love) in order to assure his compliance. But Sinan is dead, and it is the evil demon Nasim who has called him back to retrieve a priceless treasure, sending Kadar and Selene on a perilous quest that could tear them apart forever. Paranormal threads wind through this sensual, exotic medieval adventure that continues the colorful story begun in "Lion's Bride" (1996; rereleased in September). Though each novel stands on its own, they are best read in chronological order. Johansen ("Silent Thunder", with Roy Johansen) is most recently noted for her gripping, suspenseful thrillers. Her return to historicals will please her patient fans. She lives near Atlanta.

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2008
Once Kadar Ben Arnaud was the most dangerous killer in the world, but he has given up the assassination business for a new life in Scotland. However, Kadar had promised Sinan, the King of the Assassins, that if he were ever needed, he would return. Even though Sinan has now been replaced by Jabbar Al Nasim, to Kadar, his word is his bond, so he reluctantly sets off for Syria for one last assignment. To ensure Kadars cooperation, though, Nasim arranges to have Lady Selene Ware taken hostage. Selene is determined to do her part in helping Kadar, but when the real secret of the treasure they seek is discovered, it threatens to destroy any chance Kadar and Selene might have of a future together. After more than a decade spent writing contemporary romantic suspense and thrillers, best-seller Johansen returns to her literary roots by taking two secondary characters from Lions Bride (1996) and giving them their own chance at a happily-ever-after ending. Johansen now sends her hero and heroine on a whirlwind journey from medieval Scotland to Syria to Italy, and she neatly blends her superior suspense crafting skills with her distinctive brand of classic historical romance to create an adrenaline-rich, passionate tale of love and danger.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)