"An exciting paranormal fantasy"

Psychologist Rian Farsante begins having visions that her godson eleven year old Marty and his parents Michael and Dorel Gabrielli are in danger form her former employee, mentor, and lover Ian Stoddard of Datascape Systems. She calls her former partner and her last lover Jonathan Spencer to ask if Marty is okay, but instead of concern he demands she come back to him to create the Sword of Balance that he swears he will only use for good. Rian refuses having left her beloved because he is turning to the dark and the Swords of Balance that he and Ian covet will destroy his soul.

Rian's vision turns out truer than she even dreamed as Michael and Dorel are murdered and Marty is abducted. Deciding rescuing Marty is top priority; Rian agrees to partner with her soulmate risking her life and soul by doing so. As the danger mounts with Ian having the support of the evil God Anubis, Jonathan pressures her to create a new Swords of Balance, but she remains reluctant as she does not trust her beloved even as Ian psychically tries to coerce her to return to him.

ESSENCE OF TRUST is an exciting paranormal fantasy that grips readers once the triangular relationships between Rian, Jonathan, and Ian and their abilities surface. Rian is the key to the story line as the two men from her past demand she join their side of the dispute, but she distrusts both of them. Though complex and overloaded with otherworldly elements, fans of modern day fantasy thrillers can trust Melinda Rucker Haynes for providing an enchanting tale.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted June 12, 2005