"A stunning epic of romantic fantasy." Affaire de Coeur (five stars) "Magnificent storytelling." Iris Johansen NYT Bestselling Author THE CHALICE TRILOGY In a land of dark seas, pagan rituals, and the lost memories of a far distant past comes a story of epic fantasy and stunning sensuality. The time is the twelfth century of the Fifth Age of Men, the year 1198 A.D. The Seven Books of Lore have long been scattered to the far corners of the earth, awaiting the one who can bring them together to fight an ancient enemy from the Age of Darkness. THE CHALICE AND THE BLADE - Book One One woman holds the key to victory in the first clash of war. Ceridwen, a lost priestess of the old religion, escapes the secluded abbey of her youth and her unholy betrothal to an evil lord, only to be led by fate and sacred prophesy into the castle tower of a sorcerer feared throughout Wales. Magician, trickster, and a warrior of uncommon skill and deadly grace, Dain Lavrans survived the Lionheart's Crusade and his captivity in the Holy Land to become the mage of Wydehaw Castle. But despite all he's learned of magic and medicine, he does not behold true enchantment until the mysterious Ceridwen is given into his keeping. Passion and innocence has never woven a more binding spell than in the maid, nor has power and fierceness ever combined in a less likely vessel. From the wild tribes of the forest, to the March lords of Wales, to the defrocked priests from the Isle of Saints, there are many who seek the maiden, all meaning to wrest her power, her legacy, and the promise of immortality for themselves. But while politics, passion, and greed seethe across the land, in a labyrinth of caves below a fortress in the north, the world's most ancient enemy is stirring to life.
Autorentext
"Sexual tension crackles and snaps...Janzen's place in the romantic suspense pantheon is assured." Romantic Times on LOOSE AND EASY
"The high-action plot, the savage-but-tender hero, and the wonderfully sensuous sex scenes, Janzen's trademarks, make this as much fun as the prior Crazy titles." Booklist on CRAZY KISSES
"Tara Janzen once again takes readers on a non-stop thrill ride. Don't miss CUTTING LOOSE!" Romance Reviews Today
TARA JANZEN, New York Times bestselling author, (also writes as GLENNA MCREYNOLDS) is the creator of the acclaimed Steele Street series of romantic suspense novels about a hotshot crew of former juvenile delinquents and car thieves in Denver, Colorado who grow up to become one of the U.S.A.'s most elite black ops forces. The eleven book series begins with CRAZY HOT and CRAZY COOL and finishes up with LOOSE ENDS. One of the books is on AMAZON'S TOP TEN ROMANCE LIST - LOOSE AND EASY, 2008. She has won numerous awards for her writing, including a RITA from RWA, and has had nine 4 TOP PICKS from Romantic Times magazine, with seven of the TOP PICKS awarded to the Steele Street series. Two of her books are on the Romantic Times ALL-TIME FAVORITES list - RIVER OF EDEN, and SHAMELESS.
Writing as GLENNA MCREYNOLDS, she is the author of thirteen Loveswept romances, all reissued as Tara Janzen ebooks, an epic medieval fantasy trilogy, THE CHALICE AND THE BLADE, DREAM STONE, and PRINCE OF TIME, and a contemporary romantic adventure set in the Amazon, RIVER OF EDEN - "One of THE most breathtaking and phenomenal adventure tales to come along in years!" - Jill M. Smith for Romantic Times. Tara loves doing research for her books, and her love of anthropology and the natural sciences has helped her create the landscapes of her novels, from the rich historical background of THE CHALICE AND THE BLADE trilogy, to the shores of the blackwater rivers flowing through the lost world of the Amazonian rain forest in RIVER OF EDEN. Her love of the shooting sports and American muscle cars fuels all the "crazy hot" and super fast-paced Tara Janzen novels of the Steele Street series.