Desperate to save her sick daughter, Dale Stuart-Taylor is accidentally transported to another world. Part hero, part rogue, the mysterious Shadow awakes in Dale emotions she thought died long ago with her husband. Unsettled by her unwanted attraction to her captor, Dale finds herself marooned on an alien world and forced to rely on the help of a man she fears may not be worthy of her trust.
Determined to end the traffic in human flesh that destroyed his family, warrior Raf del Jakar poses as Shadow, a slave trader. When he finds a naked woman in the snow he is suspicious. Struggling against his attraction to her, to protect his mission Raf takes her prisoner. As they traverse the dangerous mountain terrain, he comes to appreciate her inner strength and honor. But he cannot let her distract him from his ultimate goal - the destruction of the slave trade.
Together Dale and Raf form an uneasy alliance to fulfill their goals, but neither counted on the feelings growing between them.
Excerpt
Through slitted eyelids Dale studied the man as he stood stirring something on the stove. Hair the color of wet India ink hung halfway down his back. In the room's dim light she couldn't tell if his skin was a warm brown from the sun or his natural complexion. He frowned and creases fanned out from the corners of his eyes, revealing his mature age. His cheeks were high, his chin firm. If not for his straight narrow nose, his profile looked Native American. Tall with broad shoulders, he dominated the room. When he turned toward her, she closed her eyes. Unable to see, she felt vulnerable. All her life, she'd been the strong one - the calm, rational one. The one to whom everyone turned when they needed help. Being dazed and disorientated angered her. She fought against the feeling of helplessness. Fight or flight? Her heart beat a rapid rhythm in her chest. Fight. Flight was not an option. What had happened? Who was this man? What did he want? Where was she? Where was Thea? At the thought, the other questions ceased to matter. Her eyes snapped open. She scrambled to her knees and faced the man. "Thea! Where is she!" He lifted one eyebrow. "Where is who?" His calm, quizzical tone fanned the flames of Dale's growing rage. She leaned forward, her fingers curling into tight fists. "Thea, my daughter, what have you done with her? If you've hurt her I'll rip off your head and spit down your throat."
"A most colorful threat." His soft chuckle sent a ripple of rage through her.
"One I'm more than capable of carrying out. Where is she?"
Professional Reviews
Harriet Klausner
Seven years have passed since Dale's sister Cathy disappeared with her clothing and a crystal left behind. Dale will never see her sister again and starts to throw the crystal into the river when a storm passes overhead and transports Dale into another world.
Raf Jel Jater searches the mountains for the slaver Devros when he comes across a naked unconscious Dale and saves her life. When she awakens, she realizes that she is no longer on earth but on a world much like medieval Europe. Raf pretends to be a slaver so he can locate Devros and put an end to his crimes that threaten to plunge the country into war. Dale is frantic to find the crystal that Raf hides from her because she has to go home to her daughter Thea who needs her for a kidney transplant. Thea uses the remaining crystal to transport herself to the world her mother is in and finds some allies that guide her in this strange land. As Thea struggles to reach her mother, Dale realizes she loves Raf but knows she and Thea must return for the life-saving operation.
Elysa Hendricks is a first class fantasist who builds incredible worlds and creates alien species that seem believable. Readers will adore the Shakar, a feline humanoid species who lack mankind's ruthlessness. They adopt Thea in a special magical bonding ceremony. Raf and Dale are warriors, willing to fight for a cause. Fans will root for them to find a way to be together if he survives his battle with Devros. SHADOW MOON is an enchanting romantic fantasy that readers will put on their keeper shelf.
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