Kira is regretting her decision to go for the more "authentic" tour of Peru. Her tour guide, Luis, is rude and a bully. Her vacation is definitely not what she had imagined it would be. Things cannot get any worse – then Luis abandons her with nothing but her pack and a vague indication of where to head to reach her final destination. When Amaru appears on the scene, she is initially wary but relived not to be alone in a strange and dangerous place. She finds him knowledgeable about Incan culture, and is fascinated by his stories. When he tells her an extraordinary tale of her existence, she finds herself believing him even though many wouldn't. But can she help him escape his plight? Is she the one he long been waiting for to help set him free?

Leap Of Faith is a highly unusual novella, the like of which I have not come across before. I enjoyed the glimpse into Incan culture provided by Kate Willoughby, though I know not whether it is based wholly in fact or whether Ms. Willoughby has used some artistic license. The characters of Kira and Amaru are very likeable, and for a short tale are very well developed. Leap Of Faith mixes exploration on the part of the characters with lovemaking, thus this novella becomes more than a short piece of erotic fiction. Both aspects of the storyline – the sightseeing and the love scenes – are detailed very well, and take up about equal parts of the story. Leap Of Faith is a tale without coarse or crude language, steeped in an old culture that I found rather intriguing. I even liked the rather playful llamas. I have enjoyed this short tale, and found myself wanting to know more about the culture of the Incas and the country of Peru. Thanks to Kate Willoughby for rousing my interest with this unusual and intriguing short story.

Reviewed by: Elizabeth