The Treasure

This was the first book I have ready by Iris Johansen and I will certainly be seeking out more. I enjoyed this book greatly and read it in one day because I couldn't put it down. I loved the "hero" in this story. Kadar is noble and strong, with a dark past but a good heart who tries to do right by those in his life. The heroine was annoying at times, though many of her choices were understandable based on her history. The romantic tension between them was good. Johansen did a good job of maintaining that tension even after "breakthroughs" in their relationship. This story also had a good dose of external tension for Kadar and Selene to struggle against. The villian was really a jerk (though the exact nature of the control he had over Kadar was unclear; is this a sequel to another book?) Often when I finish a romance I close the book with a satisfied smile and put those characters behind me. With this story I am still pondering how things will play out for Selene and Kadar in the decades to come.

I really enjoyed The Treasure. It is a real page turner! I truly love the characters Kadar and Selene. They are fully developed and the dialogues between them are wonderful. Some parts were nail biters as their enemies allied against them but they prevailed. I highly recommend if for anyone who loves historical romances.

New York Times bestselling author Iris Johansen weaves a tale of treasure, trysts and timeless romance in her triumphant return to the romance genre in THE TREASURE. Since she was a young girl of 11, Lady Selene Ware worshiped the handsome ex-assassin Kadar Ben Arnaud, who rescued her from slavery and debauchery in the House of Nicholas. As Selene grows into a young woman, worship turns to lust for Kadar, who is known for a string of broken hearts across Scotland. When jealousy is slow to attract Kadar's attention, Selene throws herself at him, certain that destiny will make them man and wife. Kadar succumbs to ravishing Selene before he sails away into the night on the Dark Star to make good on an age-old promise to Sinan, king of assassins. He is forced to lie to her just as he gains her trust and claims her for himself. As in all good romance novels building a plot between lovers, Selene is kidnapped and dragged into Kadar's journey to obtain "a great treasure, a treasure beyond price." Kadar had walked the dark path because it was easy and exciting, but he walked away from it and created a new life with Selene's family in Scotland. Kadar professes to Selene, "There's a fate that guides all of us. We were meant to be together. I've known it almost since the first time I saw you." Sinan's successor, Sheikh Jabbar Al Nasim, has an insatiable quest for power and sends Kadar to the castle of Sienbara in Tuscany, Italy, to steal the "shimmering gold box" containing "the treasure" from the elusive Tarik. Before the journey begins, the reader is swept into moments of passion as Kadar pleasures Selene in the luxurious tower room, using his body to sear their souls together. The mysterious treasure brings Kadar and Selene closer to the "gift" inside, but not without facing dangers and near death. Before Kadar and Selene discover what the treasure is, they learn about Eshe --- words engraved on the grail inside meaning "Life." Tales of long life have been told since Biblical times and the "grail" is part of the mystery, but is there really a "miracle recipe for eternal life"? Tarik and his wife Layla have been guardians of the treasure for eons. As Kadar lies unconscious with a "death wound," Tarik is forced to make a life-altering decision to save Kadar. Selene and her manservant are used as pawns in this struggle between the evil men vying for the treasure. When Haroun is slayed by Nasim's men, she seeks vengeance and implores Kadar to work with another assassin, Vadan, to kill Nasim and his men. It all sounds dark and clandestine, but reading THE TREASURE is a romantic adventure, one that reminds you of watching a sweeping epic on the big screen, including fortresses, castles and warriors riding through forests and across the countryside with swords --- larger-than-life images drawing the reader closer to a surprise ending. Kadar and Selene's harrowing journey strengthens their love. "He would look at her and she would be swept away in a storm

In 1196 Syria Jabber Al-Nasim knows his power is waning and knows what he needs to do to regain what he is losing. He directs Captain Ali Balki to go to Scotland and bring home former assassin Kadar Ben Arnaud. If he refuses to come home, Ali is to inform him that Sinan King of the Assassins demands he pay the price of freeing the foreigners. Jabber knows Kadar will honor his pledge. Ali fears Kadar but does the bidding because he is even more afraid of Jabber. In Scotland Kadar looks forward to a long quiet life with his beloved former slave Selene Ware. However his years of respite end when Ali arrives with the summoning; Kadar is honor bound to go home. To be totally free he learns he must find a King Arthur relic possessed by the mystical Tarik in Tuscany. Selene insists on going with him. Danger accompanies them every step of the way. This medieval romance with a touch of the mystical is an excellent historical starring two great characters who just want to be left alone, but understandably go on their twelfth century quest across Europe. The story line is action-packed from the onset when Jabber gives his orders to a frightened Ali. Fans will enjoy this strong thriller that is a stand alone sequel to mid 1990s LION'S BRIDE. Harriet Klausner

I am a true fan of Johansen's historical romance novels. I have read and reread everyone of her earliest novels. I was truly sadden because romance readers lost a true "treasure" when she left for mainstream thrillers. I stopped reading her for years afterwards because I wasn't a fan of her new thriller/mystery books. I thought we had lost Iris from romance novels for good. So when I heard she was writing the sequel to the Lion's Bride, I had to have it. I never buy hardcover, unless I really enjoy the author's work. I can count on 1 finger, the authors I consider so worthy of shellling out hardcover prices. And it didn't disappoint. I don't want to spoil the book for anyone by detailing everything that happens, but the old Johansen is back. I thought with years away from this genre that I would not get the same heat as she delivered in her previous historical novels, just like what happened to Catherine Coulter. I didn't have high expectations, happily I was wrong. She gives me what I would expect from a Johansen historical, with the strong intelligent, dialogue between the Kadar and Selene, a little darkness from the hero and a strong minded, independent heroine. The story takes place around 4-5 years after the Lion's Bride. You know from the off-set that Selene loves Kadar loves Selene, but he feels she is not ready. She doesn't trust, even Kadar, who saved her from slavery from the House of Nicholas when she was a child. She has issues of abandonment that stems from her time when she was a slave. After Kadar takes Selene's virginity in the beginning of the book, the adventure/action takes off. Sinan's people kidnap Selene to force Kadar to go back to Nosari mountains to have Kadar make good on a promise he had given to Sinan (the Old Man of the mountain, king of the assasins) in the past to ensure that the HEAs from the Lion's Bride were able to escape (another novel). What Kadar and Selene doesn't know it's not Sinan that summoned him but Nasim (Sinan's trainer of assasins). Sinan has been dead for awhile. I loved the building of the relationship between our HEAs. The ending was a bit mystical in what happens to the heroine and hero. I couldn't summarize everything or else I'd go on and on. Those who loved Johansen's Lion's Bride will be happy with this book. This book can be read as a stand alone because it involves new characters and the main HEA's,so there will not be any scratching of the head b/c the author puts something in that you have to know to follow the story line. Those who haven't read the Lion's Bride will definitely be tempted to read how it all began.