Review: Hard Hitting Second Installment- Rowena and Caedmon Both Suffer From Someone's Treachery
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 25, 2014
After the shocking cliffhanger in the last installment, I was more than eager grab up this second book in the Golden Key Chronicles series to find out what happened next.This absolutely has to be read in order because it builds on the last book and assumes the reader has read it to know the situation, the characters and the ongoing plot.  It doesn't pause to catch the reader up so fair warning there.This one starts out two years after the events of Rowena's Key.  Rowena still resides in the castle of Caedmon's father the king and her memories are still absent.  She is hemmed in by people with their own agendas and has learned the hard way how to handle herself.  All she can dream of is getting away from all this and be free.  Before her plans can come to full fruition though, the prince who claims her has escaped his imprisonment and is free.  She assumes he is like his brother, his father and all the other nobles so she wants nothing to do with him and her plans are unchanged.  Caedmon is just one more reason to get away.Caedmon returns with the knowledge that his imprisonment and torture were due to lies and a betrayal from within.  He is now free and wants two things.  He must deal with the plotting and betrayal against himself and his people, but he must somehow find a way to again win the heart of the woman he loves.  Rowena is not making it easy.This was another wink and a blink quick read.  The last story was a blend of genres, but this one stayed well within the realm of fantasy romance.  It is told from alternating third person perspectives.  It was exciting especially with that long scene where Rowena proved her fighting prowess, but it was frustrating too when it came to the romantic relationship.  Truthfully, this one was all prickles and the romance is all one sided.  Rowena's amnesia and Caedmon's long imprisonment really mess things up for them. Mostly this is true because Rowena is left to fend for herself in a hostile environment that leaves her hard and distrustful.  Can't blame her, but it was hard to see after how close they were at the end of the first book.  Rowena comes across a tad rude and insensitive because she was so set on her plans and determined to push blindly forward without paying attention to the clues that were there that she was doing Caedmon a disservice.  I know this is intentional and a part of me understands putting up walls after what she went through, but I adore Caedmon and felt so bad for what he found when he finally came home.  At least, he now has even more respect for the lady he loves after seeing her in action.  So the tension in their romance is stretched taunt again and I must wait and see.There are so many hints of big things to come particularly when it comes to the secret plotting in high places.  The foreshadowing of this story has my anticipation on high alert for what is to come.  It just keeps getting more exciting.Fantasy romance lovers should definitely give this serial of stories a look-see.My thanks to the author for providing this book in exchange for my honest review thoughts