Champion of the Heart — Julie Parker

Amidst the ruins of ancient standing stones, Gemma dances to the beat of her own mystical drums. While swaying against the encumbrance of life's trials, left alone, she dances, wondering if she is, indeed, alone to fend for herself. But out of the darkness, a warrior larger than life, shows himself to her fleetingly.Lord Tristan de Bohon, King Edward's champion, is a proud, virile man who fought his way through the ranks, fought for his men's respect and fought his way into Haddon Castle. He will now face the greatest fight of his life. In order to do so, he will lose... lose his heart, his soul, to the beautiful maiden who invades his thoughts, his dreams, whose very being invades his own life's blood.While Gemma's heart cries out to her dashing hero, a fierce obstacle clashes onto the scene. A traitor strives to take the beauty, cloak her into his madness and betrayal... as he betrayed her mother. Deceit and treachery will force the lovers apart. And yet, another enters the scene to battle the monster's insanity while learning a startling secret of his own...