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Heart of the Storm
Dana Thunder Eagle is a beautiful woman with a fierce heart and powerful gift. But after the murder of her husband and mother, she ran away from the Rosebud reservation, hoping to leave the past behind her forever. Now, two years later, the killer is still on the loose.
And only Dana has the mystical power to stop him.
After six months of daily torture at the hands of South American rebels, Chase knows his latest mission may be his to whip Dana into fighting shape in just five weeks. Even more challenging will be to ignore his cinnamon-eyed student's graceful beauty.
United in a life-or-death mission, Chase and Dana must learn to lean on each other if there is any chance of stopping a madman who seeks to destroy a people's history…and future.
And only Dana has the mystical power to stop him.
After six months of daily torture at the hands of South American rebels, Chase knows his latest mission may be his to whip Dana into fighting shape in just five weeks. Even more challenging will be to ignore his cinnamon-eyed student's graceful beauty.
United in a life-or-death mission, Chase and Dana must learn to lean on each other if there is any chance of stopping a madman who seeks to destroy a people's history…and future.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 2007
8 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
About the author
Lindsay McKenna
360 books2,503 followersI've lived six lives in one and it all shows up in the books I write, one way or another.
I was always a risk taker and broke mustangs at thirteen years old in Oregon. I learn to break them with love, not threat or pain.
At 17 years old, I picked night-crawlers (worms) out in our Oregon orchards from 9pm to midnight, every night. I earned enough money to buy my school clothes and book. I also plunked down $600 to a flight company at the Medford, Oregon airport and asked them to teach me...a girl...to fly. I soloed in 12 hours, which is average. From that time until I left for the US Navy at 18, I had accrued 39 hours of flight time in my Cessna 150 single engine airplane.
I was in the US military and was an AG3 (weather forecaster). There was no airplane club, so I couldn't fly when I was in the Navy. But I could look at the clouds in the sky ;-).
Later, I flew in a B-52 bomber for a day and night mission (18 hours total), a T-38 Talon jet, USAF, where I was riding in a "chase plane" on a test flight in a Dragonfly jet.
I was one of the first AFLA (American Fencing League of America) women fencers to fence with epee and sabre. These weapons were closed to women because they were too 'heavy' for a female to handle. I said baloney and fought the males and won half my bouts. I was part of a surge of women fencers on the East Coast in the 1970's to push for equality in the sport. Together, we changed the sport and changed the mind of the men. Today? In the Olympics? Women now fence in foil, epee and sabre, thanks to what we did as a vanguard showing the world it could be done.
I then became a volunteer firefighter when I was a civilian once more, the first woman in an all - male fire department in West Point, Ohio for three years. I became a local expert not only in firefighting, driving the engine and tanker trunks, but also had training in hazardous material (Reynoldsburg Fire Academy, Columbus, OH).
My books always reflect what I experienced. If you like edgy, gritty, deeply and emotionally intense love stories with sympathetic heroes and heroines, check out my newest series that will be available mid-Oct. 2015, and it incorporates much of what I have lived.
I was always a risk taker and broke mustangs at thirteen years old in Oregon. I learn to break them with love, not threat or pain.
At 17 years old, I picked night-crawlers (worms) out in our Oregon orchards from 9pm to midnight, every night. I earned enough money to buy my school clothes and book. I also plunked down $600 to a flight company at the Medford, Oregon airport and asked them to teach me...a girl...to fly. I soloed in 12 hours, which is average. From that time until I left for the US Navy at 18, I had accrued 39 hours of flight time in my Cessna 150 single engine airplane.
I was in the US military and was an AG3 (weather forecaster). There was no airplane club, so I couldn't fly when I was in the Navy. But I could look at the clouds in the sky ;-).
Later, I flew in a B-52 bomber for a day and night mission (18 hours total), a T-38 Talon jet, USAF, where I was riding in a "chase plane" on a test flight in a Dragonfly jet.
I was one of the first AFLA (American Fencing League of America) women fencers to fence with epee and sabre. These weapons were closed to women because they were too 'heavy' for a female to handle. I said baloney and fought the males and won half my bouts. I was part of a surge of women fencers on the East Coast in the 1970's to push for equality in the sport. Together, we changed the sport and changed the mind of the men. Today? In the Olympics? Women now fence in foil, epee and sabre, thanks to what we did as a vanguard showing the world it could be done.
I then became a volunteer firefighter when I was a civilian once more, the first woman in an all - male fire department in West Point, Ohio for three years. I became a local expert not only in firefighting, driving the engine and tanker trunks, but also had training in hazardous material (Reynoldsburg Fire Academy, Columbus, OH).
My books always reflect what I experienced. If you like edgy, gritty, deeply and emotionally intense love stories with sympathetic heroes and heroines, check out my newest series that will be available mid-Oct. 2015, and it incorporates much of what I have lived.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 20, 2011
Interesting to read about american indian culture and ceremonial pipes. Kind of fantastical.
June 3, 2019
Well-written romantic suspense taking place entirely in a Native American milieu. A sacred object has been stolen and used for horrible purposes. The two people sent to retrieve it have baggage of their own that has to be addressed before undertaking their job. The job appears to be as dangerous as a medieval quest and danger encompasses them. However, they have some extraordinary weapons at their disposal. McKenna makes this not only believable but lyrical and satisfying.
May 25, 2017
Loved this story, by far my favorite of Lindsay McKenna, actually the first I read from her as well.
March 1, 2023
Suffering from the grief of losing her mother and her husband only 2 short years ago, the heroine is given a dream by her grandmother which tells her it's time to return home. The heroine is there within days and instantly she is surrounded by the healing peace of love and home. She knew she should have returned long ago but her pain over the murders made her lose focus on what was important. Her grandmother gives her the news that she is chosen to be the guardian of the Storm Pipe, a powerful artifact that currently sits in the hands of a man who has already used it to kill the vice president and who plans to kill more. She knows this quest if her destiny and she does not fight it but within she knows she also no warrior.
The hero too is suffering from his torture and scars from his service in the military and he's just returned from a soul quest to the news that he is destined to train the heroine for her mission. The hero knows no matter what, he must be hard and ruthless with this woman if they are to make her ready within 5 weeks. So as their training begins, he resolves himself to show no mercy or emotion towards her though she is beautiful and dedicated to their training. She dislikes him at first because he is dismissive and brutal with his methods but what most disturbs her is the fact that she can't know what he is thinking. 4 weeks pass in a blur and in that time, she has come to respect this man as both confidant and teacher. She can't imagine spending her days without him and worries that he does not feel the same towards her. And the news that it's the enemy she seeks now that killed her mother and husband have only driven the heroine harder to ready her body and mind for the mission ahead. Still, she is glad when the hero announces he will be traveling with her. He knows that she needs him to be the ruthless soldier he is and he's willing to be the dark side to her light. He's also acknowledging to himself and to her that his feelings run far deeper than that of a teacher to his student. In his own words, he tells her he loves her and, in that moment, all the pain of their lives was washed away by the surge of hope for the future. When the time comes to steal onto the enemy's land and take back the artifact, the heroine unleashes everything she has learned on the man responsible and she fights like the warrior within. Still, though the mission may be a success, it's not without its casualties and the enemy is not defeated yet.
This was a nice surprise is that I wasn't expecting much to start with. I don't know why I go into these sorts of book with such a low expectation but perhaps I'm hoping to get more than I bargained for rather than be disappointed. Maybe I enjoyed this book more than I should considering the rather simplistic plotline and the fact that (I bought a used copy of the book) the previous reader has decided to throw religious gibberish throughout the pages. The plot was rather straight forward and at no time was I either surprised by the turn of events or ever really anticipating what was to come. The characters were rather muted in that while it was touched upon that they both have suffered great emotional trauma, only the heroine's story was developed. The hero was just the solid rock to which the heroine relied upon. I would have loved this book light years better if the hero's torture story was more drawn out or if it played a larger role in either his characterization or the story. As such, while I did like him as a character, I was disappointed with the loss of true greatness. Why did I like this book as much as I did consider the cons listed above? First of all, it had a great cultural reference to native Americans which didn't involve stereotypical woo-woo. Secondly, the characters have an easy and a charismatic love based on friendship and trust. Lastly, the book was rather easy to read and follow along with. Perhaps, I am over rating this book but I just can't bring myself to rate it below a 3 star. Sue me.
The hero too is suffering from his torture and scars from his service in the military and he's just returned from a soul quest to the news that he is destined to train the heroine for her mission. The hero knows no matter what, he must be hard and ruthless with this woman if they are to make her ready within 5 weeks. So as their training begins, he resolves himself to show no mercy or emotion towards her though she is beautiful and dedicated to their training. She dislikes him at first because he is dismissive and brutal with his methods but what most disturbs her is the fact that she can't know what he is thinking. 4 weeks pass in a blur and in that time, she has come to respect this man as both confidant and teacher. She can't imagine spending her days without him and worries that he does not feel the same towards her. And the news that it's the enemy she seeks now that killed her mother and husband have only driven the heroine harder to ready her body and mind for the mission ahead. Still, she is glad when the hero announces he will be traveling with her. He knows that she needs him to be the ruthless soldier he is and he's willing to be the dark side to her light. He's also acknowledging to himself and to her that his feelings run far deeper than that of a teacher to his student. In his own words, he tells her he loves her and, in that moment, all the pain of their lives was washed away by the surge of hope for the future. When the time comes to steal onto the enemy's land and take back the artifact, the heroine unleashes everything she has learned on the man responsible and she fights like the warrior within. Still, though the mission may be a success, it's not without its casualties and the enemy is not defeated yet.
This was a nice surprise is that I wasn't expecting much to start with. I don't know why I go into these sorts of book with such a low expectation but perhaps I'm hoping to get more than I bargained for rather than be disappointed. Maybe I enjoyed this book more than I should considering the rather simplistic plotline and the fact that (I bought a used copy of the book) the previous reader has decided to throw religious gibberish throughout the pages. The plot was rather straight forward and at no time was I either surprised by the turn of events or ever really anticipating what was to come. The characters were rather muted in that while it was touched upon that they both have suffered great emotional trauma, only the heroine's story was developed. The hero was just the solid rock to which the heroine relied upon. I would have loved this book light years better if the hero's torture story was more drawn out or if it played a larger role in either his characterization or the story. As such, while I did like him as a character, I was disappointed with the loss of true greatness. Why did I like this book as much as I did consider the cons listed above? First of all, it had a great cultural reference to native Americans which didn't involve stereotypical woo-woo. Secondly, the characters have an easy and a charismatic love based on friendship and trust. Lastly, the book was rather easy to read and follow along with. Perhaps, I am over rating this book but I just can't bring myself to rate it below a 3 star. Sue me.
October 26, 2014
4.3 stars
How far would you go to stop a murderer who is abusing the power of old? How much training can you give a civilian is just five weeks and feel they can come out alive? Two forces and one ultimate ending in the game of life and death. Who will come out on top in the end when the prize is so valuable that people are willing to kill for it? Power is everything, then again power can be corrupted for darkness and revenge or held closely when used for good to benefit others. great read highly recommended. Enjoy another great read from Lindsay McKenna.
How far would you go to stop a murderer who is abusing the power of old? How much training can you give a civilian is just five weeks and feel they can come out alive? Two forces and one ultimate ending in the game of life and death. Who will come out on top in the end when the prize is so valuable that people are willing to kill for it? Power is everything, then again power can be corrupted for darkness and revenge or held closely when used for good to benefit others. great read highly recommended. Enjoy another great read from Lindsay McKenna.
February 5, 2014
Don't really know what to say about this. I feel like there is going to be a test on Indian culture after the book was over. Very factual. The romance was there but not much of it. I finished it. I'm giving myself credit for that. Audio Book was read very well.
April 24, 2015
another great read.
August 30, 2016
great book
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews