Heart of the Tiger: 4

This was my first book by Lynn Kerstan, and I liked her style. There is a lot to recommend this book: suspenseful story, exotic location (India), well researched and detailed info., flawed but likeable h/h, and especially, really, really great dialogue (Georgette Heyer comes to mind). "Heart of the Tiger" was very easy to read, very easy to keep turning the pages. The storyline was different enough to be intriguing, and the interaction between the h/h was simply very good and very funny. While I liked this author's style and would definitely buy another of her books, this particular book did not appeal to me too much. I'm not a fan of the supranatural, and there is too much of that interwoven into the story (along with a lot of interweaving of Hindu religion) for me to have really enjoyed this book. Recommended, with reservations.

I read a review in the Library Journal for Heart of the Tiger and decided I needed to get the book. The review was right on! It said Heart of the Tiger was 'romantic', 'a beautifully written novel', with 'deeply conflicted, honorable and effectively rendered' characters. What it didn't tell me was I'd be up until three in the morning because I couldn't put the book down. It's a great read!

In 1823, after spending years overseas, Lord Michael Keynes returns home from India. However, he does not return to the family fold, but instead plans to kill his older stepbrother, the notorious Jermyn, Duke of Tallant, not because he wants to inherit, but because he detests his abominable sibling. Jermyn looks forward to the confrontation with an eye on a different outcome.Michael, accompanied by his Indian friend Hari Singh, rents a room at the estate of Beata Neri. Also residing there is Mira Holocombe and her wheelchair-bound father, who has almost no muscular movement. Jermyn drove them off their estate. Even though he knows better, Michael falls in love with Mira, but fears that if Jermyn finds out she will become an endangered pawn in their life and death contest. Mira reciprocates Michael's feelings, but seems to react with horror whenever Michael touches her. There is someone else who wants both brothers dead.HEART OF THE TIGER is a delightful Regency romantic suspense novel with some eastern paranormal elements to freshen up the plot. The characters for the most part are a wonderful group as their uniqueness makes each of the key players and the plot come alive. Jermyn is too evil to take seriously except as a viable threat and even that proves minuscule. Still sub-genre fans will appreciate Lynn Kerstan's tale and look forward to the next story starring another Michael enemy, the Archangel.Harriet Klausner