"Warprize is simply mesmerizing"

Xylara is of noble blood but with the indulgence of her father, King Xyron, chooses to live the simple life of a healer. When the death of her father throws the Kingdom of Xy into the hands of her half-brother, who harbors more than a little resentment towards Lara, the once mighty kingdom is weakened. Now war rages and Xy is threatened by the Firelanders, a tribe of the plains. But Lara has little interest in the politics of the kingdom; her heart lies in caring for the casualties of the war; both friend and enemy.

King Xymund's ill-run kingdom is about to fall to the Warlord of the Firelanders and he is powerless to stop it. Unexpectedly, Keir offers a truce in exchange for Lara as Warprize. When he is offered a way to keep his kingdom, the sacrifice of his half-sister is of little consequence except to his pride. Lara obeys the demand for the good of her people, and finds herself at the mercy of the mysterious, brooding Warlord, Keir...Or is she? When the uneasy truce threatens to break, Lara must choose between her kingdom and the warlord who has become her destiny.

In the forward the author says "let me tell you a story," and boy does she ever. Warprize is simply mesmerizing. The story is told flawlessly in first person with characters that capture your heart. The developing relationship between Lara and Keir is poignant and often humorous. Keir is a breathtaking hero; you will never look at a warlord the same way again. I am anxiously awaiting the continuation of Lara and Keir's tale.

Reviewed by Dee Gentle Paranormal Romance Reviews

Reviewed by Dee Gentle
Posted May 28, 2005

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Summary

SHE MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN HER PEOPLE AND HER FREEDOM... Xylara is the Daughter of the Warrior King, Xyron. With her father dead and her incompetent half-brother on the throne, the kingdom is in danger of falling to the warring Firelanders. Before she was old enough for a marriage-of-alliance, Xylara was trained as a healer. She can't usurp her brother or negotiate a peace--but she can heal the brave ones injured in battle. But not only her countrymen are wounded, and Xylara's conscience won't let Firelander warriors die when she can do something to save them. She learns their language and their customs and tries to make them as comfortable as possible, despite their prisoner-of-war status. She never expects that these deeds, done in good faith, would lead to the handsome and mysterious Firelander Warlord demanding her in exchange for a cease-fire. Xylara knows she must trade the life she has always known for the well-being of her people, and so she becomes... The Warprize