"Terrific paranormal romantic suspense thriller"

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

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted October 15, 2005

Summary

Claire Coulter's brother is dying. To Claire's astonishment, her boss offers to pay for the the risky operation that might save him. The catch? Claire must accompany Tobias Benton on a search for the Fountain of Youth. Despite believing Tobias is on a wild goose chase, Claire agrees—she'll do anything to save her brother. The trip is a disaster: Tobias doesn't just want Claire's company— he wants Claire. But Claire is drawn to Jack, their mysterious and sexy guide. Although the strange and beautiful deck of tarot cards she's carrying with her predicts a positive outcome, Claire suspects everyone around her is hiding something. Especially Simeon, an urbane older man who claims to be studying snakes, but whose dark demeanor hints at a terrible past. Claire's psychic sensitivity alerts her that all is not what it seems, but can she figure out who to trust before it's too late?