India has always been an exotic and steamy land, beribboned with colour, full of mystery and tradition and where tigers and elephants are free to do as they please. The India of "Soul of Fire", set in the Magical British Empire time, dramatically deepens India's adventurous soul, now a land filled with shape shapers and secret alliances fraught with spies and danger at every turn.

Shattered by the rejection of his father in England, Peter Farewell, now Lord St. Maur, had found some solace as a were-dragon in Calcutta. Comforted in some part by the acceptance in this exotic land, he still felt doomed and dismayed by the knowledge that he could never find love or see his beloved ancestral home of Summercourt again. He also knew the quest he was on to find the Soul of Fire ruby was doomed as he had no further clues to where it was located and the land was filled with people, many on the verge of rebellion again their British rulers.

Yet, the British gentleman always, he had to respond to the cry of someone in distress, despite the danger to himself. Shifting into his dragon self, he quickly found himself saving the most lovely woman he had chance to met. After rescuing Sofie Warington, he soon found her as independent and stubborn as she is beautiful. Bound and determined not to enter into an arranged marriage with a powerful Raj with dangerous tigerlike eyes, she was adamant she would not go home.

Refusing to let her go into even more danger, Peter offers to take her on her journey to a past flame she met while dancing in England, now serving as an officer in the British Army. Meanwhile, Sofie's maid, Lalita, seeks to save her from the dangerous dragon that snatched her. But, Lalita has her own secrets as she is in reality a Princess of the noble were-monkey king and the holder of all that Peter seeks. Can she get there in time to save Sofie or will powerful enemies prevail?

Sarah A. Hoyt has crafted a jewel of a fantasy romance story with a very charming and likeable hero in SOUL OF FIRE. Developing a minor character from her first book, "Heart of Light", Peter Farewell comes into his own as a romantic hero as he strives to keep his promise to Nigil about finding and returning the missing legendary jewel while shy of his growing love for Sofie, so sure he is of rejection. While this book can be read as a sequel or a stand alone, I am sure all readers will want to joint me in eager anticipation of Hoyt's continuation of the story in "Heart and Soul" when released in October 2008! Enjoy!