A dangerous expedition. A precious artifact. A race against time.
Museum curator and expert in antiquities AnaRose Preston accepts the challenge to find one of Christianity’s holy relics concealed in the hilt of a legendary dagger. Traveling throughout contemporary France, she rushes to solve a historical mystery. But members of a secret society stand in her way. AnaRose risks her life to locate the weapon before it falls into the wrong hands.
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The adrenalin rushed through their veins, anticipating an adventure of a lifetime, following the paths of brave knights when honor, duty, and sacrifice determined destinies.
AnaRose may not work at a museum as famous as the Louvre, but she is fiercely proud of her work, and takes her expertise in antiques very seriously. She is a goldmine of information, and she is respected for her seniority over others in her field. The discovery of a ring in Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon, a small settlement known for it’s Commandery by the Knights Templar, sparks intrigue, especially for AnaRose, who is asked to travel to France to authenticate it.
Time is of the essence for AnaRose, as the discovery of the ring is not privately known, and there is the possibility of the ring being the key to finding a lost holy relic. The Holy Nail is simply a legend, but if AnaRose can get her hands on the ring, and follow the path it shows her, the Holy Nail may reveal itself to be more than just a story passed down through generations.
AnaRose and the Templar's Quest: An Action and Adventure Novella by Mary Ann Bernal is a thrilling journey of fascination, danger, and a desperate fight between past rivals to be the first to find the truth behind the existence of the Holy Nail.
To have worked so hard to get to a point where she is the person to call when the ring is discovered is something to admire about AnaRose. She is not one to step down from a challenge, nor one to sit back and let others do the work. She is more than happy to get stuck in and put in the effort required to reach the finish line. Her commitment to her role, as well as to her own curiosity, is inspiring to read about, and as she travels around, trying to find the truth behind the Holy Nail, and what significance the ring with the Templars Cross on it holds, I found myself envying her, and the vast knowledge she holds. I felt very much like Jo, AnaRose’s assistant – never entirely sure what was going to happen next, or who we would be meeting in the next chapter, but very enthusiastic and along for the ride no matter what.
To add to the drama and suspense, there is rivalry within the pages of this novel, a fight to be the first one to reach the finish line, and to make it out on top with the prize so desperately desired. AnaRose has made some enemies in the past, and the past is never truly gone. It hangs around to haunt, and AnaRose finds herself up against old opponents, while new threats lurk around the corner. While reading, you can never be entirely sure who you can trust, which makes it very difficult for AnaRose to safely navigate the story she is uncovering. The perspective changes often within this book, from AnaRose’s group, to that of her rivals, and we even get to see the world through the eyes of people AnaRose believes to be trustworthy, but who have other ideas about how things are going to play out. By revealing to the reader who can and who can’t be trusted, there are less massive plot twists, but more suspense, for the reader knows what AnaRose does not, and when she is and isn’t safe. The decision to reveal such knowledge to the reader has paid off, for you want to step into the pages and warn AnaRose, but can do nothing except for sit back and wait for something to happen, or for her to figure things out before she is in too much trouble.
This is a novel written to be enjoyed quickly and without confusion or plot twists that are difficult to keep track of. The plot itself is laid out very plainly, and the characters seem to follow the path as if they already know where they will end up next. At times, I wished for more information, more depth to the story. I wanted to live among the characters and listen in, like a fly on the wall, to their conversations, and get to know them as though I had been good friends with them for many years. The writing style used in this novel is rather distant, skimming over the unnecessary details to continue the story. This does make the plot quite fast paced, and with things moving quickly, you don’t want to put the book down, as you never truly know when the next big thing is going to happen. I do believe this has the potential to be an action-packed series of AnaRose’s adventures, but I would like to see some more detail, to unveil AnaRose’s way of thinking, and how she manages to weave together one thread into another until the truth is laid out in front of her.
The history in this novel, as AnaRose follows the journey of a Knights Templar, and attempts to uncover the hiding place for the lost relic, has clearly been carefully considered when creating AnaRose’s quest. When fact and fiction combine, legends can become reality, and this book has done exactly that. Facts and truths about the Knights Templar have been moulded into the pursuit of a hidden artefact in a modern setting, creating a truly captivating experience.
AnaRose and the Templar's Quest: An Action and Adventure Novella by Mary Ann Bernal proves just how much we all crave adventure, for following AnaRose was a delight, and every twist, turn, and tidbit of information grew more exciting and enchanting as the story progressed. For those who like to see the past come into the present, and enjoy unfolding the truth about the lives of people who lived hundreds of years ago, I highly recommend this book.
Mary Ann Bernal attended Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY, where she received a degree in Business Administration. Her literary aspirations were ultimately realized when the first book of The Briton and the Dane novels was published in 2009. In addition to writing historical fiction, Mary Ann has also authored a collection of contemporary short stories in the Scribbler Tales series and a science fiction/fantasy novel entitled Planetary Wars Rise of an Empire. Her recent work includes Crusader’s Path, a redemption story set against the backdrop of the First Crusade, Forgiving Nero, a novel of Ancient Rome, and AnaRose and the Templar’s Quest, a historical mystery adventure.
Since Operation Desert Storm, Mary Ann has been a passionate supporter of the United States military, having been involved with letter-writing campaigns and other support programs. She appeared on The Morning Blend television show hosted by KMTV, the CBS television affiliate in Omaha, and was interviewed by the Omaha World-Herald for her volunteer work. She has been a featured author on various reader blogs and promotional sites.
Mary Ann currently resides in Elkhorn, Nebraska.
Thanks so much for the awesome review.
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