From Literary Times An agitated David Trent makes a phone call to his brother Caleb， asking him to take care of 'Lizzie' if anything should happen to him. The next thing Caleb knows， his brother is dead from an apparent suicide. Caleb， an ex Delta Force captain， keeps his promise to David and infiltrates the commune where Lizzie is living. Commando style， he takes her prisoner to his country home in upstate New York where he plans to deprogram her. She recognizes him from David's pictures and she is surprised that Caleb has most of her things there. She asks for her medicine， and he thinks she is using that as a ploy， until she gets a debilitating migraine and he learns what he has to do to take care of her. Lizzie has the run of the estate because Caleb has 'Lizzie' proofed it， but he underestimates her for she proves to be intelligent and determined when she sends an SOS. During her imprisonment， Lizzie and Caleb get to know each other， but he can't trust her 100% even though his instincts tell him to. Based on what David had told him， Caleb thinks David's death is her fault even though she tries to explain that they were only friends， and she is a virgin. She asks him to call her Elizabeth， but he refuses as one more means to control her. Caleb feels guilt over his growing feelings for her because she was a part of his brother's life and death; and she feels things for him she has never felt before. When the barriers begin to break down， Caleb almost makes love to Elizabeth， but he is reminded of her treachery when he sees the tattoo that all commune members are required to have. Elizabeth proves herself to Caleb after he suffers a reaction to a spider bite and later she tells him all about her relationship with David. They infiltrate the commune， learn the truth about David's death， and narrowly miss getting killed. And now Elizabeth is free to go， and she does. After three months， Caleb can't stand it anymore. He needs and wants Elizabeth and will kidnap her again if he must， but Elizabeth has had time to think about her hard hearted hero， and she knows what she wants.A Hard-Hearted Hero is Pamela Burford at her best! Definitely two thumbs up! A strong woman and a vulnerable hero make A Hard-Hearted Hero undeniably romantic! A great romance and a terrific thriller! Pamela Burford is superb at building the intensity of both!Gloria Miller -- Copyright © 1994-97 Literary Times， Inc. All rights reserved