Title:
Heart Of An Outlaw
Author:
Angela Verdenius
Published By:
Wings ePress
ISBN:
Electronic:
1-59088-155-9
Print:
1-59088-855-3
Release Date:
Available Now
Format:
Electronic, Print
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A group of Daamen traders come across a slave auction. As traders of goods, not flesh, they prepare to leave. The jeering of the crowd begs a closer look. On stage is a young girl, chained and bound. She wears a gold death mask. The slave trader says that she is a Reeka Warrior Woman. The Reekas are a race of females raised to fight and kill. Branded as outlaws, it is believed that they killed their own men then attacked the surrounding town. The Reeka have been hunted to near extinction. When the slave trader offers the girl to a brothel owner, Darvk of the Daamen steps in. The price is high, but to Darvk it is more important to set the spirited warrior free.
Tenia does not trust anyone. She has been betrayed by her own blood relatives and knows of the price on her head. Her youth, fighting skills and possible value as a chained whore are the only reasons that she has been left alive. A tall young man with dark hair has purchased her to service the men on his trading vessel, so she will fight and find her freedom in death.
Darvk and his men can see the girl is in distress so they remove the collar and chains. Tenia challenges them all, grabs a sword and holds them at bay. When she faints, they realise that she has a serious knife wound. They lock Tenia in a cabin to monitor her recovery. Darvk tries to gain the trust of this hot-blooded warrior, but she has been taught by her sister never to cede to a man. Her endless escape attempts are inevitably thwarted, but result in pain and injuries to the Daamen. When she is lucky to escape a gang rape by soldiers, Tenia finally is made aware that the Daamen have come to her rescue, yet again at their own expense. She begins to warm to the incredibly tall, dark and handsome trader. He is interested in her past and has begun to believe that the Reekas' suffering may be persecution, and not of their own making. Darvk secretly lusts after Tenia. His feelings of guilt are quickly pushed aside when she responds in kind. He feels that he has tamed the warrior when, yet again, she disappears. The traders arrive in time to rescue Tenia and another Reeka from another brutal band of soldiers. This Reeka is Tenia's older sister Reya. Reya is disappointed that Tenia is a captive and plans their secret departure. After Darvk berates Tenia again, he melts her heart with his tender lovemaking. Darvk wants to be with his spirited warrior woman for life. Tenia knows that she will have to go with her sister and leave Darvk forever. Her heart is breaking.
Angela Verdenius's debut novel is a superb introduction to her Heart and Soul series. Although linked, each book is excellent reading on its own. Ms Verdenius's Darvk is a man most romance readers would aspire to find in real life. He has the patience of a saint and a well-muscled physique, powered by endless lust for his true love. He knows that Tenia is all he will ever want and that to be without her would be a living death. Tenia is also a character to admire. She is a warrior with an indomitable spirit, her only weakness the love of a good man. She meets physical challenges with courage few men could match. Her biggest dilemma is whether or not to give her trust to a man.
Heart of an Outlaw has left this reader hungry for more of Ms. Verdenius's fantastic futuristic world. She is definitely an author not to be missed. Highly Recommended!Reviewed by: Naomi
