Heart of the Hunter by Lara Adrian, originally published under the pen name Tina St. John, is a thrilling blend of medieval romance and fantasy. Ariana of Clairmont embarks on a perilous journey to rescue her brother, aided by the mysterious and brooding knight, Braedon le Chasseur. Their partnership, filled with intense challenges and a blossoming romance, unfolds amidst a backdrop of dark secrets and mystical quests. This story is perfect for fans of Donna Grant and Karen Marie Moning.

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As a fan of Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breed series, I thought it would be nice to explore her previously released medieval romances under her pen name, Tina St. John. I was expecting a good romance, as is the case with all of Lara Adrian’s work, but I had no idea that Tina could craft such an intricate and engaging story like HEART OF THE HUNTER turned out to be.

Ariana of Clairmont is on a mission to reach France and free her brother from the hands of his captors. Upon receiving a ransom note demanding her brother’s work, Ariana gathers her brother’s precious research and places them in a satchel for her to carry on her trip. Though Ariana is a well-bred woman with manners and beauty, she certainly holds her own against the scummy men she encounters on her trip. When her bodyguard is killed and her means of travel to France has backfired on her after a particularly close call with death, Ariana finds herself within the arms of a man who just happens to be called Le Chasseur – The Hunter.

Braedon is a knight with a dark past. His scar running along the left side of his face causes others to fear him, but Ariana sees more to him than the disfigurement the marks his face. She sees his strength, his virility and her way out to France. So although Braedon does all that he can to leave the woman after saving her life, Ariana sticks to him like a tick, never relenting until she gets what she wants.

And in the end, she does get what she wants because Braedon begins to soften around her, revealing the secrets of his past to her in slow increments. What I liked about Braedon and Ariana’s relationship was that it wasn’t a simple love at first sight thing, nor did Ariana swoon over Braedon because he had once saved her life. Their relationship worked because they willed it. They worked together, learning to trust one another as they try to meet their goals.

A few twists and turns that occur will have readers enchanted and enamored by St. John’s writing. For those of you who love her writing as Lara Adrian, I would recommend these books to you because there are a few similarities between the Midnight Breed series and the Dragon Chalice series. You can expect the same great action from the Adrian books in St. John’s books as well. I thought HEART OF THE HUNTER started off strong with some great fight scenes, but it only got better as St. John revealed a few secrets. You’ll also find the same loyalty and fierceness of the Order members in Braedon, the hero of this book.

I should mention that the paranormal aspect of this book isn’t as prominent until the latter half. I loved the entire notion of this series. The Dragon Chalice series is based on a quest to find a mythical cup that possesses great power and it’s this epic adventure that makes me hope you give Tina’s writing a shot! Readers who enjoy books by Donna Grant, Karen Marie Moning’s earlier historical and Kresley Cole’s Sutherland Brothers series will be sure to enjoy this series. I loved it and I’m sure you will too!

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