"Spangler at her high-flying best!"
There are some hot names in Furturistic/Sci-Romance today,
but to those who embraced the sub genre years ago, you will
know one name was there leading the way: Catherine
Spangler. She just gets better and better with each book in
her Shielder series. SHADOW CROSSING, I think, is my
favorite of all her talented works. I just love the premise! Celie Cameron was raised in a rough part of the Universe,
saw horrors done to her family that have left their scars,
deep scars. Now, after escaping through a wormhole with
other Shielders, she is a smuggler, skirting on the edge of
the law in Quadrant 9. In the past two years, she has been
more legit -- okay, boring. Her deliveries are almost
always legit, there is no need for laser blasting, fights
with the Controller ships. So when she lands, delivering
her next shipment on time, she is caught off guard by the
condition of the planet where she lands. The place is a
slum, and it smells of trouble. In fact, the whole place
smells. She has little time to consider this appalling condition,
because she ??discover??s Raven has stolen away and plans
on having an adventure with Celie. Nineteen, Raven is a
Shielder, an orphan, who had been sold into slavery by the
Anteks. Nessa and Chase rescued her (SHEILDER) and raised
her as their daughter. With the apprehension over the
planet's condition, and now the burden of worrying over
Raven, Celie just wants to make contact with Max, her
client, get her money and "get the hell out of Dodge"
before something bad happens. She meets Rurick, who she thinks is Max. The sexy man, with
the golden eyes, turns out to be Max's android. One made to
look just like Max. Max, Rurick, Calie and Raven are making
the transfer of merchandise when they are attacked. Max
saves Raven and Celie and Rurick escape into Max's ship.
Celie is upset about leaving her ship behind because it
means she has nothing but Rurick and Max refuse to return
Raven and her. Celie soon learns that Max and Rurick are on
an important mission to fight an ever- growing evil. I cannot reveal more without ruining the delightful tale.
This is Spangler at her very best. Max and Rurick are both
sexy hunks but with a great sense of humor that keeps you
smiling at their antics, especially as Raven falls for the
stoic Max and Celie lets down her walls of fear to let
Rurick near. So if you love high-flying Sci-Romance, then don't
hesitate. This is one super read. Posted September 30, 2004
Reviewed by Deborah Macgillivray
Posted January 3, 2007
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