When I was a little girl, I would dream of being a fairy princess needing a timely rescue from the fierce fire breathing dragon by, of course, a handsome young prince.

But I'm not a little girl anymore so why should the prince have all the fun? Why wait for a hero that might or might not arrive? I want to be the dragon slayer. I want to be...Rhiana.

Rhiana is both the heroine and title of the latest fantasy romance by seasoned author Michele Hauf. That she is both is no coincidence. Rhiana is one tough cookie. A female in a traditionally male field, Rhiana is more than competent.

And why shouldn't she be?

As the author is apt to point out, "most medieval women were no shrinking violets, who only lived to cook, clean and serve their warrior men. I mean, a woman would have had to be tough to survive in those times, don't you think?"

Yes, I do think...especially with a flock of dragons flying around her village. Rhiana may have special gifts (she can sense the dragons from a distance, determine their attack scent from a mating scent, is blessed with the instincts of a dragon, dares stand before the fiery beasts without flinching) but multiple dragons are too much for even this slayer.

Fortunately the arrogant Macarius arrives on the scene. Claiming he is "the greatest slayer in the land", Macarius and Rhiana immediately set off sparks. How could they not after this "greatest slayer" is shown up by a mere woman? That might daunt other men but Macarius thrives on the challenge.

And challenges they do face. The Baron, for reasons of his own, forbids the slaying of dragons forcing Rhiana to choose between becoming an outlaw or watching innocent villagers die.

Already receiving glowing reviews, this is another strong novel from a strong writer. Michele, although known for writing straight historicals, is no stranger to fantasy romance. Fans may recall that her first published romance featured, in the author's words, "a vampire hero, a pissed off ghost, and time travel."

In fact, Michele Hauf is a member of Vampire Vixens, a group of authors writing about vampires, and she is the keeper of The Ultimate VampList (www.vampire-books.com), an on-line listing of THE vampire books to read. Telling of her feisty character, her favorite Buffy The Vampire Slayer character is Spike. Michele is addicted to coloring in the fabulous Dover and Bellerophon coloring books that features intricate detail and many hours of relaxation.