Heroes and Hearts Review

Heroes and Hearts by Noemi Betancourt

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Isabel Kendra is no stranger to a life of struggle. When her father disappeared years ago she and her mother had to fend for themselves. Even now as a chef experiencing burn out on the job, she does what is necessary to pay her bills while dodging her mother's attempts to find her a man. She is more than capable of taking care of herself and neither wants or needs some man to do it for her.

When Isabel comes home one day to find her house turned upside down she discovers her life is about to follow suit in this tale of swords and sorcery, love and prejudice. Prince Alaric is dashing, handsome and brave, everything a prince should be. He is also no stranger to the female form, yet when he meets the bold and vivacious Isabel, rather than be put off by her lack of docility he finds himself drawn to her allure in a way that he simply cannot understand.

Together the two must thwart the evil forces that threaten their lives and their worlds, while struggling against their own blistering attraction for each other. Can Isabel balance her aversion to the prince's habit of coming to her rescue with the realization that sometimes it is all right to accept help from a man? And can Alaric handle himself around a damsel who gets herself out of her own distress and learn to be simply the man who loves her.

*The Chrystal Palace Chronicles Part Two will be released at the end of the tour
 

 Excerpt:

On the way to her room, she knocked softly on Alaric’s door and opened it a crack to peek in and check on him.  He lay on his back snoring softly, but his twisted covers told Isabel he hadn’t been sleeping well.  He was bare-chested, save for the bandage that had been wrapped around his midriff, and the hairy leg that hung beside the bed made Isabel suddenly aware that the man was completely naked.  She knew it probably wasn’t the thing to do, but the air below decks was chillier than above and she didn’t want him to catch a cold on top of being injured.  She quickly slipped into the room and drew the covers up to his throat.  God, the man was beautiful!  His dark hair lightly brushed his forehead and his features looked as if they had been chiseled in stone.  She lightly touched his damp forehead to find it was a bit too warm.  She sat on the edge of the bed beside him and wrung out the washcloth that lay in a clay bowl filled with cool water.  She placed the cloth upon his head and noticed he had opened his eyes and was watching her.

“I’m sorry, I’ll go,” she gasped.  She rose to leave, but he grabbed her arms and pulled her to him.

“Isabel,” he murmured, placing a hand in her hair as he continued to pull her down on him, and suddenly she found he was kissing her.

His lips were unbelievably warm and soft, and she felt herself melting as his tongue probed the inside of her mouth.  Just as suddenly as it had started, Isabel felt Alaric’s grip loosen.  When she pushed herself up she found he was asleep again.  Her body trembled as her heart thrummed beneath her breast.  She hurried from the room and entered her own, flopping down on her bed to calm herself.  She had kissed guys before and she was definitely no virgin, yet no man had ever caused such a strong reaction within her and she was terrified.

Alaric awoke just as the sun’s rays began to brighten the sky.  He rose to his feet slowly, his movements shouting with every cut and bruise from the battle.  As he made his way above deck he could hear feet clomping around and saw the Shumi had busied themselves with various tasks to get the ship ready to sail.  He glanced over at the other ships behind them and saw they were doing the same.  Isabel was standing behind the wheel, a determined look on her face, as she stared out the mouth of the cave.  Memory of last night’s dream suddenly shook him.  She had come to him in the night, clad in a sheer gown that left nothing to the imagination.  She sat on his bed, leaned forward and placed a kiss on his forehead.  Her eyes burned with desire, her lips parted and full.  He reached for her and pressed her against him, capturing her lips in a sensuous kiss that made his blood surge.  He could still remember the feel of her lush body against his.  He shook the memory from his mind as he could feel his trousers tightening.  No, that would do neither of them any good.  A small Shumi hurried to Isabel’s side, they exchanged words, and then he hurried off again.  She turned to him as he approached, and he thought he’d caught an expression briefly flick across her face, followed by a soft blush. 

“Good morning, highness,” Isabel greeted him as he approached. “Should you be out of bed so soon?”

“And here I thought I had left my mother at home,” he teased.

“You were badly injured last night, prince,” Isabel replied firmly, her face showing concern.

“Tis but a scratch milady.”  He reached out and stroked a finger against her cheek, the softness of her skin sending a shiver through his body that made his heart leap.

“Thank you for your concern,” he whispered, suddenly hoarse.

Isabel blushed deeply, a heat emanated from her eyes that sorely tempted him to make that delicious dream from last night a reality.

Had it been a dream?

Review:
I enjoyed this book. My only problem was that it was short. It took me just  a few hours to read it. I defintitely enjoyed the story line. It felt like the story just took off from page one. I was hooked from the first chapter. I feel like it didn't take long to get into the action part of the story and the romance part. I didn't feel like I was reading less important information because the story got straight to the point.

The story begins with a little girl watching her father walk out on her mother and herself. She learns to grow up a strong and independent person. She doesn't want to find a man when her mother desperately tries to set her up.

 Unbeknowest to Isabel, she will be taken to an unbelievable world, where she might just find someone worth getting to know.  She'll also meet a man she thought she would never see again...her father.

Unfortunately, Isabel come to this world in the mist of a dangerous war against a sorceress. Isabel must fight not only to survive but to overcome the reputation her father has given to anyone in her family...Cowards.

Isabel must prove she is not like her father in order to save this new world.

I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it as a good read.