Essence of Trust

Melinda Rucker Haynes' Essence of Trust is the third in the Eternal Trust Saga. It brings together old friends Dorel and Michael, old lovers Rian and Spence, as well as old enemies Ian and Datascape Systems International - in a tale that is bound to be thrilling in its complexity.

Rian Farsante and her soul mate, Jonathan Spencer, are no longer together. Rian left him when he began to drift further and further into the world of shadowy black magic and sexual ritual. She knew that if she continued with him, Spence would keep on using her, hurting her, and ultimately he would kill her again. Now because of a vision she has had while in the Spiritlands, Rian is convinced that Dorel and Michael Gabrielli, along with their eleven-year-old son Marty, are in danger from Dr. Ian Stoddard. Thus, she is forced to contact Spence because she knows that only by working together can they hope to defeat Ian for good.

Spence doesn't understand why Rian refused to channel their combined power to create the Swords of Balance. When she contacts him, he is hopeful that the two of them will re-unite. His hope is shattered when she informs him that the Gabriellis are in danger. He doesn't believe they are in danger, nor does he believe that Ian is trying to contact Rian or that he is responsible for the danger the Gabriellis face. When he has a vision that their dog is injured, he tries to contact them via the phone without success. Consequently, he decides to make a trip to their isolated vacation cabin, and what he finds there is heart-rending.

Together with the help of a spirit guide named Chevayo, they set out to save their godson from Ian, who believes that Marty is the prophesied Essence or avatar; Ian intends to use him to take over the world. However, he, too, needs the swords. Will Rian and Spence succeed? What really happened to the Gabriellis? How can Rian convince Spence that his desire for more power combined with his abuse of that power leaves all of them susceptible to their enemies?

Essence of Trust is the completion to the Eternal Trust Saga, yet seems to open new possibilities for many of these characters. It is chocked full of mysticism and prophecy, as well as suspense and paranormal elements.

These characters are complex, often times filled with angst, and yet still are able to work toward doing what is right in the face of good and evil. They discover that love is the key in their search to work through and overcome all the obstacles they face. And they finally begin to realize that the wrong choices made in the past will have a direct bearing on whether they succeed in their endeavors now.

Ms. Haynes does a superb job weaving together the complex plotlines in Essence of Trust. While this book can stand alone, I recommend readers read the entire series. This was my first book by Melinda Rucker Haynes and I regret not having read the previous books in the series because it required so much concentration to follow along with the characters on this wondrous trip. However, the intense concentration was worth it as it left me hoping Ms. Haynes writes more books in the Eternal Trust Saga.

Reviewed by: RogueStorm