The Dark Horse

Tobias Benton, head of CommOptima, and one of his associates is searching for the legendary Fountain of Youth. Tobias believes he finally has its location. It is in an archeological site in the Sierra Nevada, deep within a cave. The place is booby-trapped. Written upon the door leading to the Fountain is an ancient Nimian code. Tobias needs a translator, but no one in the world has broken the code. However, he knows the one who could do it. Claire Coulter has worked for Tobias a couple of years now. She works on the Nimian Project and has spent the last two years working on cracking its code. Claire never met Tobias before he called her into his office and offers her a deal. She would accompany Tobias to the site and translate the door for him. It would take about three days of horseback riding to reach it. Once done, Tobias would not only get her a Green Card, but would pay for her brother to get the kidney transplant he so desperately needs. Jack Hughes owns Dark Horse Ranch. The place is in dire need of funds, so he agrees to take Tobias and Claire where they need to go. But that did not mean he would like it. Jack had a magical experience at that site when he was thirteen-years-old. It was not something he cared to repeat, so he had never returned. He has no doubt that this little expedition is a bad idea. Humans are not the only ones in need of the Fountain. Set, one of the Ancients, needs it as well. The humans are simply a tool to reach it...and so expendable. **** Even though this is a "stand alone" book, references to a previous novel are made. Often Claire would call a lady that must have been a main character of the previous book. These scenes did not strike me as necessary, however, they did seem to lend a dark essence to the story. Each chapter begins with a paragraph that reads like a journal entry by Set. VERY nice touch! Not only did this give me more insight into Set, but it also made the possibility of Set being real more believable to me. **** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Take one hunky race horse breeder with a paranormal secret, a hot Latina with life and death issues of her own, throw them together with a sleazy billionaire and an ancient evil that's walking about on two feet and you have one killer book! Plus, I just love the hero. There's something about a boy who could be bad, but won't . . . HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

CommOptima CEO Tobias Benton believes he has located the legendary Fountain of Youth inside a cave in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. On the outside "door" is letters written in ancient Nimian. Tobias knows the person capable of breaking the code to allow entry; he assumes forced access will prove dangerous as he expects booby traps everywhere. Tobias sends for employee Claire Coulter offering her a deal she cannot refuse. She will go to the site and translate the Nimian runes for him in exchange for her brother obtaining the kidney transplant he desperately needs to live. Needing money to keep his ranch Dark Horse Ranch owner Jack Hughes reluctantly agrees to escort Tobias and Claire to the cave, a three day ride by horseback though he hates going near there, having suffered a paranormal experience there as a teen. At the same time Set, an Ancient One, seeks the healing powers of the Fountain too and plans to use the human pawns to help him attain his objective; afterward he will dispatch these worthless creatures. This terrific paranormal romantic suspense thriller has some tenuous ties to the previous Forbidden Tarot tale, THE DARK LORD, but clearly can be perused without reading the first tale. Claire is a wonderful protagonist willing to sacrifice everything including ethics and love to save her sibling's life; she adds a deep moral dilemma/fiber to the tale. Jack is also interesting as he denies love while Tobias is fixated on finding the Fountain of Youth. However, the most fascinating character remains Set, whose appearances are somewhat limited yet tells quite a back tale involving the Golden Ones and much more. Harriet Klausner