After the death of her husband left her a penniless widow, Lady Faye Rivellaux came to live with Lord Torr Lorvais and his wife, Lady Elayne, and their daughter, Angeline. But death and ill-fortune continue to plague Faye. At Lady Elayne's deathbed, Faye promised her best friend to take care of her daughter, and now Angeline has been kidnapped. The note delivered to Faye is explicit -- no one is to know of the ransom demand and the price is silver, which Faye certainly does not possess. She does, however, have a priceless golden goblet, a treasure found by Angeline while playing by the river on an outing with her mother and Faye. The women agreed to keep the gold a secret, but Faye knows it is the only thing she has of value that will guarantee Angeline's safe return. To work with the kidnappers is unthinkable, but Faye will do what she must to save the little girl she loves as her own.

Brant Meslarches is repulsed by the mission he's been given by Lord Torr, but because of a blood oath and a secret Brant is desperate that Torr keep, he carries out the plan. Brant is to meet Lady Faye, demand the silver ransom, which both men know she cannot pay, and send her weeping and frightened to Torr for help. But Faye faces up to the situation with uncommon bravery and instead of silver, she offers up a fortune in gold. Brant is staggered by the sight. The cup reminds him of his late brother Royce and his all-consuming quest to find the lost treasure of a king named Arthur. It reminds him too of the secret Torr holds over him. Brant is torn by conflict. His oath to Torr must not be broken, and yet he cannot turn away from helping the beautiful Faye find Angeline, whom he learns is a mere child. But neither can he forget that he was the one responsible for ending his brother's dream of finding Arthur's treasure and will never be at peace until he finds it.

This new novel by the up-and-coming Catherine Kean has many of the same qualities of her earlier books -- an opening designed to hook the reader into the story, a vibrant hero and heroine, and even a charming little dog that more than once rivals the hero for heroism. But that can't-put-down quality doesn't quite reach all the pages and some chapters lack the urgency and seductive magic that characterize this author's normal writing style. It's still, however, a book worth the read and a nice addition to a growing collection of successful titles.

Book Summary

Facing the tall, brooding rider by the stormy lakeshore, Lady Faye Rivellaux clings to her goal--to rescue the kidnapped child she vowed to protect. At all costs, she must win back the little girl she loves as her own. When the stranger demands a ransom she can never pay, Faye offers him instead her one last hope — a gold cup.

Brant Meslarches is stunned to see the chalice. Worth a fortune, it's proof a lost cache of wealth from the legendary Celtic King Arthur does exist, as Brant's murdered brother believed. Brant can't return the little girl to the lady whose desperate beauty captivates him. Yet, now that he's seen Lady Faye, he can't let her escape his grasp; she is the key to his only means of redemption.

The last thing Faye wants is an alliance with a scarred knight tormented by secrets. But, she has no other way to rescue the child. Risking all, she joins Brant's quest. And finds some things are more valuable than gold.