As the author note states this is a true beauty and the beast story. One where the love of a strong woman saves the soul of the beastly creature she has somehow fallen for. Although the hero in SECRET THUNDER isn't hideously deformed (in fact he is a gorgeous male specimen) he more than fits the bill of the beast as the reader discovers right off the bat.

He is Luke de Periguerix, AKA the Black Dragon, a fearsome Norman warrior known for his ruthlessness on the battlefield. Fortunately, for the reader, underneath all of the brawn and ruthlessness lies a man with a kind heart whose biggest dream after facing (and committing) the worst atrocities of war is to live out the rest of his life quietly on a farm.

She is Faithe, a widowed Saxon woman, strong of heart and mind. She's a woman who loves her home so fiercely she is willing to marry the enemy in order to keep it.

Once married the two are fiercely attracted to each other but naturally have reservations about forming any kind of relationship. Just as things begin to fall into place for them a secret Luke wishes to remain buried comes back to haunt him and threatens their budding relationship.

The story starts out crudely and contains some very gruesome scenes. This is one author who does not pretty up the blood and brutality of the times she is writing about. But don't let this put you off; Ms. Rice balances the gore and darkness with many moments of compassion, beauty and light.

This book is sensual, very sensual and although the story line might sound familiar to many romance readers it features a very unique heroine. She's a widow who, imagine this, has enjoyed sex before she meets the hero! This, among many other things, endeared me to her and made for some very racy and exciting scenes. It also made her a real person in my eyes. I'm a little tired of the virginal heroine (be she a widow or not). Faithe was a nice change of pace.

The descriptions of life at the time are done so well you'll be sweating alongside the characters as they shear the sheep in the sweltering sun, you'll smell the stench of blood and grime on the unwashed bodies after battle. Ms. Rice is just so darn good you'll feel like you're there.

The plot does have a tendency to rely on misunderstandings between both characters. This is something that usually bugs me but because the writing is so exciting and realistic this didn't mar my enjoyment at all. I think it's because the reasons for the misunderstandings were valid and honorable rather than silly, petty things. I didn't feel like slapping anyone silly because I understood their reasons for not coming clean. I felt like crying for them both because of their predicaments.

The characterization (especially Luke's) is absolutely stunning. I've got to admit that after the first few chapters this is one beast that I was bound and determined to hate and I was ready to put the book aside but I'm so glad I continued reading. The author made him human and compassionate and, believe me, it was no easy feat with this hero! SECRET THUNDER might make you queasy, it might make you cry and it might even make you laugh. Which when you come down to it is the reason many of us read fiction ~ to be swept away and drawn into another place and time, even if we wouldn't want to stay there. These are all things this book fully delivers.

If you are a medieval fan, a beauty and the beast fan, or just like a really well told story that packs an emotional wallop SECRET THUNDER is most definitely worth a few hours of your precious reading time