Are you a person who accepts things just as they are or are you someone who has to know the "why" behind everything? A "why" person can't leave things alone, she delves, investigates, even pokes until she finds the answer or the answer finds her. If you're a "why" person, then you can identify with Kegan, the heroine in Toni Meilleur' s newest book, Tournament of Fire.

Tall, outspoken Kegan always has to know the answers behind everything. Her paranormal gift of touching an object and knowing its history helps her to find the answers. It also helps to bring her to knees when former lover, Logan, uses her talents to gauge the value of his latest filched archaeological find. A large, person-sized box with air holes is Logan's most recent discovery. If the size of the object isn’t intimidating enough, her senses are screaming at her to leave, pronto. Unfortunately, those of the criminal bent, which includes Logan and all his minions, don’t understand the subtlety of intuition.

Kegan sees when she touches the box an immense warrior waving a large weapon with his muscled arms. He uses the weapon to slay his many enemies, even a beautiful woman. The images scare her and she tries to break contact, but it seems as if the box is holding her captive. Logan pulls her screaming off the box. While attention is focused on her, no one notices the broad-shouldered warrior stepping out of the box, no one except Kegan. Her warning cry has every criminal type pulling a gun on the Conan the Barbarian look-a-like. Instead of a bloody massacre, she watches the men drop to the floor when the warrior growls a word. The fact that he is heading for her is enough to make a girl faint, which she does, or did she? All Kegan knows is she is transferred to a cave and doesn't have an idea how she got there.

Da'rak, the tall warrior, didn't know it is time to awake, but it must be. Why else would the Earth witch call him forth from his slumber? It is time to win back his place as King of Paa'eva through the Tournament of Fire. He takes in the Earth witch with her long brown hair and almond-shaped eyes and is pleased with what he sees. He decides to take her with him to Paa'eva because a witch with so much power should not be left alone. His enemy could capture her and use her against him. The only problem is the Earth witch, who calls herself Kegan, doesn't want to travel across the galaxies with him. Da'rak can feel her attraction to him and acts on it by kissing her and deepening the attraction. There is no alternative for her, Kegan must travel to the Tournament of Fire with him. He is unwilling to let her go.

Kegan tries to fight the attraction. It doesn't matter that Da'rak is the embodiment of every lust-filled fantasy she's ever had. She can't just be whisked from Earth by a being who isn't even human, although he does looks deliciously male. Her life is here on Earth. Then there are the blood-soaked images she absorbed. Da'rak isn't exactly a peaceful guy, add to that he thinks she's a witch conspiring with his enemy. If she leaves Earth, she knows there will be no returning. Despite her whining, threats of police, and rational arguments, she is well aware that Da'rak will do what he wants in the end.

As they say in Monty Python, "now it's time for something totally different." Different doesn't even began to describe Tournament of Fire. The characters are bigger than life--that sometimes happens when you have supernatural powers. The sexual tension between Da'rak and Kegan is maxxed out. Then there is another whole world of Paa'eva thrown in to tantalize the reader. The combination keeps the reader engaged, page after page.

All you lovers of the Alpha male--this book is for you. If you're not that in love with a strong, dominating male, read Tournament of Fire and be prepared to have your mind changed.
Reviewed by Morgan Wyatt
© September 2006