THE TREASURE

Author: Iris Johansen ISBN: 9780553807318 12/2008 HISTORICAL Publisher: BANTAM
Time Period: 1196 Scotland & Syria

An ex-harem slave... A reformed assassin... A race to find the most powerful religious artifact of all time... Lady Selene Ware had been nothing more than a harem slave when Kadar Ben Arnaud—a man once trained in the black arts of death and seduction—helped her escape to the safety of her native Scotland. But even a world away she still wasn’t safe from the sheikh who claimed her as his stolen property—and who now forced both her and Kadar to return with a chance to win their freedom. There is, of course, a catch. First they must find the legendary religious relic that men of power have searched for from King Arthur’s time to the present. For Selene and the ex-assassin, it is a dangerous odyssey that begins in erotic captivity and leads to an encounter with the mysterious and reclusive Tarik, who now possesses the treasure. But the truth is far more explosive, the stakes far more deadly, and the closer they come to discovering the secret, the closer they will come to losing each other—and their lives. For even as Selene grasps the key to this age-old mystery, Kadar may have to step over the fine line separating the dark path from the light to save her.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

THE TREASURE is another masterfully told story by Iris Johansen that is sure to have readers on the edge of their seats. Filled with marvelous imagery and larger-than-life characters, this is a compelling tale that shows that love is, at all costs, of the utmost importance. And as such it can often demand the ultimate sacrifice.
 
A reformed assassin and a delicate damsel join forces to unravel the secret of a lifetime. They are plunged into situations that are neither glamorous nor safe, but they manage to find their way out of every one and move steadily closer toward that which is so closely guarded. I never guessed the mystery, which was wonderfully satisfying for this reader. I would much rather be surprised at a story's unraveling than know what was in store.
 
While the story is compelling, it is, at least in this reader's estimation, the swift-moving, historically appropriate dialogue that sweeps this along. There is a rhythm to the characters' dialogue at all times that I found soothing and almost hypnotizing. Even when Selene is denying her love for Kadar there is no break in the cadence, no stilted feeling to the dialogue. Although I knew her denial to be false, I still believed her, if only for a moment. That ability to pull the reader to believe what is obviously false is a mark of a delightful storyteller. I was completely pulled in, at every moment.
 
There isn't anything at all not to love about Iris Johansen's THE TREASURE. It is an engrossing story that held me enthralled from beginning to end!

Kay James