Blaze of Lightning, Roar of Thunder

Louisa Rodriguez was the only survivor of a brutal massacre that took her family and her village. Shot in the head and left to die, she regains consciousness and strength to bury the dead; filled with an all-consuming desire for retribution, she walks off into the Arizona wilderness, naked and alone. Horse trader Ring Crossman stumbles upon her and names her Blaze for the blazing strip of white that has appeared in her hair. As the two travel across the Southwest, they cross paths with Bane, a warrior with a hunger for vengeance equal to Blaze's. Soon, Blaze and Bane are on a journey of passion and destruction that may destroy them both. The narrative proceeds disjointedly, and the love triangle never quite materializes. But Blaze is full of strength and beauty, and her ability to grow after such horrific trauma is captivating. (Aug.)