Black Lion's Bride

This is one of my favorite romance books because it is wonderfully different from the typical medieval romance tale. It has depth, tension (not just romantic tension), and uniqueness. One of the major things I've been annoyed by in romance books (esp. those by Johanna Lindsey) is that they either make you really pity the main characters or make the heroine unbelievably headstrong..to a point where you just want to slap some sense into them when they are in their defiance mode. This book doesn't appear to use either of those techniques and I am truly grateful for not having to roll my eyes after every page.

BLACK LION'S BRIDE is a riveting blend of passion, intrigue, and excitement. As I have come to expect from reading her other books, Tina St. John does an outstanding job of putting you right there in the story with her characters. Secrets, danger, forbidden love - this book literally has it all. My heart was pounding through all the scenes of danger (not to mention all of the passionate ones!) and several times I wondered how in the world Sebastian and Zahirah would find their happy ever after. The ending had me sighing and wanting an alluring,... man like Sebastian for myself!This was a beautifully sensuous love story with a highly original plot and wonderful characters. I read it in one setting! I also loved the 2 other books that go along with BLACK LION'S BRIDE. They are WHITE LION'S LADY and LADY OF VALOR. The only trouble is I just wish Tina St. John could writer faster!!

In this enchanting new romance by National Readers Choice Award winner Tina St. John, no one is what they seem--and love is more dangerous than any could ever imagine....Daughter of the King of the Assassins, Zahirah was trained to be as deadly as she is beautiful. When she steals into the desert camp of the English army, she has one goal: to banish the crusaders from her homeland by murdering King Richard the Lionheart. Her deceptive strategy delivers her into the hands of the enemy--and puts her at the mercy of the dashing Black Lion, Sebastian of Montborne.Fighting for peace in a dangerous exotic land, Sebastian never dreamed that the tides of war would bring him a mysterious beauty in need of his protection. Nor could he guess that the lady who ignites his heart is the very enemy he has sworn to destroy on behalf of his king. Caught in a deadly game of passion and deception, their unbidden love could cost them their lives....BLACK LION'S BRIDE is an excellent medieval romance by one of the genre's rising stars. Riveting action, heated sensuality, an exciting plot, and strong emotional characters that live and breathe like real people make this a medieval romance that stands out. The unusual setting of the Holy Land during the Third Crusade is also a nice added touch that only adds to the book's appeal. Highly recommended romance!

I have read all of Tina's books and this one is my favorite. It has everything you want in a medieval, passion, history, action and a hero and heroine who are equals and show their growing love for one another through what they say, do and feel. I really loved the hero, SEBASTIAN. He's strong, uber-sexy, intelligent and oh-so-male. Zahirah is the perfect counterpart to Sebastian in that she heats up the all-work/no play side of his heart. Yet she's quite tortured, too, with goals of her own and isn't a place-holder heroine. Buy this book. You will love it! Yay, Tina! You did it again! :)

Just when you think an author can't possibly top her previous books, she writes a daring, sexy, book like BLACK LION'S BRIDE and blows you away! This book has it all - action, adventure, an exotic setting, bigger than life characters, and sensuality that will leave you breathless.I loved Sebastian of Montborne from his first appearance in WHITE LION'S LADY. He was noble and honorable then, but in this book he really lives up to his hero status. Strong, intelligent, sexy as hell, he is a hero to sigh over. And Zahirah, the assassin who has a secret mission to kill King Richard the Lionheart is one of the most tortured heroines I've ever read. I sympathized with her even as I wondered how she and Sebastian could ever work through the obstacles between them. And I loved the fact that she was actually a capable assassin and not just a misunderstood innocent who would never hurt a fly. Zahirah kicks butt and I loved it!BLACK LION'S BRIDE is a definite contender for my favorite book of 2002. It's exciting, passionate, suspenseful, and very different from the usual medieval. Read it and you will see why I am raving over it! (P.S. to Ms. St. John or her publisher - can we get a story on Sebastian's Scottish friend Logan someday? He was great!)