Fountain of Secrets (Akora)

Gavin Hawkforte, heir presumptive to the English earl of Hawkforte is also half Akoran through his mother, the Princess Kassandra (from the author's 5th book "Kingdom of Moonlight"). Though his destiny is in England, his heart has always been in Akora. Being of a logical and scientific bent of mind, he has been spending many months making geological surveys of the various islands that make up Akora. He, along with the Vanax Atreus, ruler of Akora (and Gavin's uncle) have become concerned that the volcano that nearly decimated Akora centuries ago has again reawakened. While taking measurements on the uninhabited island of Deimos, he encounters a young woman who has been living their alone (since the death of her mother) and who has also observed the changes in the island's geology - much to Gavin's surprise. What is this intelligent, independent (not to mention beautiful) young woman doing living on this desolate island all alone? She presents a mystery that Gavin is determined to solve.Persephone has never seen such a handsome warrior. Not that she has lived in total isolation, as she has traveled to the other islands of Akora as well as to the capital city of Illius to the great library in the palace. She had intended to go to Illius to share her geological observations with the Vanax and his council, but this prince of Akora has come to her. And now, he asks her to return with him to Illius to help convince the council that action must be taken to evacuate Akora in the event of an imminent eruption. While she will do all she can to save Akora, she is reluctant to share anything about herself with Gavin. What if he should find out about her disgrace? Would he stop looking at her with such warmth in his eyes?As they work together to convince the council, as well as the Akoran people, they fall for one another. But is their love doomed by the imminent threat or by the diverse destinies each believes awaits them? Though a little light on plot, the lead couple are engaging and likable - which was a relief from me, as I have never particularly warmed-up to the Hawkforte men. Gavin's father Royce (KoM) and their distant ancestor Hawk from 2nd book "Believe in Me" were both a bit too humorless, authoritarian and autocratic for me (Hawk less so than Royce). But luckily, the same cannot be said of Gavin. He's smart, logical, warm and even has a sense of humor! Another enjoyable story of Akora from Ms. Litton. I look forward to cousin Clio's story Fountain of Fire, the last in this trilogy.

This is a "can't-put-it-down" book. It's the 5th in a series. Read them all! They are set in the early 1800's and deal much with historical England and the invented island country of Akora. It's a wonderful mix of culture with lots of romance and adventure. I hope she writes many more.

In 1837, Akoran aristocrat Gavin Hawkforte travels to the deserted island of Deimatros where Deilos the traitor tried to murder the prince's parents. However, he is shocked to be greeted by a woman with a pistol. Persephone informs him that she lives on Deimatros. She asks why he is here and he responds that he has come to conduct measurements of geological points to compare to a century old survey. Persephone in turn explains that the three millennia dormant volcano that once destroyed much of the Akoran archipelago is awakening.As she takes him into a cave still open to him show the lava flow, Persephone says she lived here most of her life with her self-exiled mother, who died a few years ago. As Gavin and Persephone work together to try to stop a natural disaster from happening, they fall in love. However, she has a secret concerning her lack of family that makes it impossible for anything permanent to occur between them once he learns the truth.Though another tour of reading duty at Akora may seem tedious with the fifth trip to the island paradise, Josie Litton keeps it fresh with a twist that brings the series full circle (though the next tale seems already set up). The story line focuses on to how to stop or impede the upcoming natural disaster almost as much as it does on the historical romance between the lead protagonists. Fans of Akora and those Xenos among the audience will appreciate another Akoran stamp on their passport even if it is mostly a return to the deserted isle of the caves.Harriet Klausner