The Lion's Embrace by Marie Laval
Historical Romance
Date Published: 2/2013
Algiers, 1845
Arrogant, selfish and dangerous, Lucas Saintclair is everything Harriet Montague dislikes in a man. He is also the best guide in the whole of the Barbary States, the only man who can rescue her archaeologist father from the gang of Tuareg fighters that has kidnapped him. As Harriet embarks on a perilous journey across Algeria with Saintclair and Archibald Drake, her father’s most trusted friend, she discovers a bewitching but brutal land where nothing is what it seems. Who are these men intent on stealing her father’s ransom? What was her father hoping to find in Tuareg queen Tin Hinan’s tomb? Is Lucas Saintclair really as callous as he claims—or is he a man haunted by a past he cannot forgive? Dangerous passions engulf Harriet’s heart in the heat of the Sahara. Secrets of lost treasures, rebel fighters, and a sinister criminal brotherhood threaten her life and the life of the man she loves.
Does forever lie in the lion’s embrace?
*****
Arrogant, selfish and dangerous, Lucas Saintclair is everything Harriet Montague dislikes in a man. He is also the best guide in the whole of the Barbary States, the only man who can rescue her archaeologist father from the gang of Tuareg fighters that has kidnapped him. As Harriet embarks on a perilous journey across Algeria with Saintclair and Archibald Drake, her father’s most trusted friend, she discovers a bewitching but brutal land where nothing is what it seems. Who are these men intent on stealing her father’s ransom? What was her father hoping to find in Tuareg queen Tin Hinan’s tomb? Is Lucas Saintclair really as callous as he claims—or is he a man haunted by a past he cannot forgive? Dangerous passions engulf Harriet’s heart in the heat of the Sahara. Secrets of lost treasures, rebel fighters, and a sinister criminal brotherhood threaten her life and the life of the man she loves.
Does forever lie in the lion’s embrace?
*****
BUY LINKS
*****
Excerpt:
“Oh, my God,” Harriet breathed out. She
glanced around, but nobody was
paying the two men the slightest notice.
There was no time to think, a man’s life
was at stake. With a muffled cry she hurled
herself at the tall stranger, jumped on
his back, and hooked her arms around his
neck.
He
let out a roar of anger and swirled round to shake her off, but she wrapped
her legs more tightly around his waist.
“Bon sang! Qu’est-ce que...”
He dropped
the dagger, twisted his body, and managed to grab her waist to
slide her to the front so she was now
against his chest. Aware she was losing her
grip she lunged forward and sank her teeth
into his shoulder.
He
growled, held her at arm’s length, and threw her off. She fell on the
cobbles. The turban softened the impact to
the back of her head, but a vicious pain
at the bottom of her spine made her cry
out. The man swore in French. Although
she only caught a few words, she understood
he was angry. Very angry. His victim
had escaped.
She
let out a sigh of relief. She had done it. She saved a man’s life. Her joy,
however, was short-lived. The Frenchman
leaned over, picked her up by the collar
of her tunic, and lifted her as if she was
no heavier than a bundle of cloth. The
savage glint in his eyes dried her throat;
her heart hammered against her ribs.
“Please,
don’t hurt me,” she pleaded, breathless.
His eyes opened wide in shock.
Since
when did Tuareg fighters speak fluent English? Come to think of it, since when
did they smell of Damascus rose soap?
He
peered more closely at the face in front of him and saw two large, grey eyes bordered
with long, dark eyelashes and the tip of a small nose above the dark blue scarf.
He recalled the odd sensations when the soft, curvy body had thrust against
him earlier. This wasn’t a Tuareg fighter
at all, it was a … He ripped the headdress
off and a mass of thick, honey blonde hair
tumbled out.
“A
woman? I thought as much. Who are you?” he asked in English. “What the
hell did you think you were doing just
then?” He shook her a little, not to hurt her,
but enough to give her a fright.
The
woman didn’t answer.
“You’re
not so bold now, are you?” He narrowed his eyes, smiled his meanest
smile, and was satisfied to hear her
helpless cry. She had cost him days of patient
stakeout. Now, because of her, Rachid was
free to sell the map to the highest bidder. And he knew exactly who that would
be.
“Maybe
you want to take another bite?” he snarled, pointing to his shoulder.
“No,”
she whispered.
“Actually,
maybe I’ll be the one to take a bite. You look appetizing enough.”
He lifted her closer, until his mouth
almost touched hers, and he felt her warm
breath on his skin.
*****
Rating: ❦❦❦❦
*****
Review:
Harriet reluctantly turn to Lucas Saintclair, the kind of man she despise for help when her father is kidnap. Her first meeting with him is very interesting. She doesn't know him right away and she attacks him and let the man Lucas caught get away. She doesn't really want Lucas' help but Lucas turns out to be the best guide she can finds so she have to hire him.
Lucas doesn't want to travel with Harriet. He thinks she's weak and will break even before starting their journey but it turns out she is better than he expected. She surprises him at every turn. At first Lucas seems to be really arrogant but as the story progresses, he turns out to be more than that. Harriet discover that underneath that tough exterior is someone more than what she thinks of him. He's different than she thought.
I really like Harriet character. She's caring, strong, and can take care of herself. I love reading her interaction with Lucas. At the beginning of the story, Lucas and Harriet is like water and oil. They are at the opposite side of each other but as their journey continue, they find themselves attracted to each other. I recommend this book for it is a great adventure finishing this book. Go read this book if you haven't. You will not be disappointed. :)
Harriet reluctantly turn to Lucas Saintclair, the kind of man she despise for help when her father is kidnap. Her first meeting with him is very interesting. She doesn't know him right away and she attacks him and let the man Lucas caught get away. She doesn't really want Lucas' help but Lucas turns out to be the best guide she can finds so she have to hire him.
Lucas doesn't want to travel with Harriet. He thinks she's weak and will break even before starting their journey but it turns out she is better than he expected. She surprises him at every turn. At first Lucas seems to be really arrogant but as the story progresses, he turns out to be more than that. Harriet discover that underneath that tough exterior is someone more than what she thinks of him. He's different than she thought.
I really like Harriet character. She's caring, strong, and can take care of herself. I love reading her interaction with Lucas. At the beginning of the story, Lucas and Harriet is like water and oil. They are at the opposite side of each other but as their journey continue, they find themselves attracted to each other. I recommend this book for it is a great adventure finishing this book. Go read this book if you haven't. You will not be disappointed. :)
Thank you very much for your fantastic review! I am delighted that you liked the novel.
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