Call Down the Night (Zebra Ballad Romance)

Rating:
Summary: Winner of the WordWeaving Award for Excellence
Review: A hundred year old curse unconsciously draws Alexandra Gables to Salem, Massachusetts. While she has always been aware of her intuitive gifts, her arrival in Salem seems to greatly magnify them. A woman who defies convention, Alexandra carries a three-foot iguana in a birdcage that manages to make his presence known at the most opportune moments. Her summer plans to remain in Salem cataloguing several scientific collections for a friend of her father turn into quite an odyssey, however, when she meets the son of her host, Pierce Williams.

Pierce's conventional views of women belonging to home and hearth take quite a beating as he comes to respect Alexandra's abilities. Her insight in the past or future, however, takes a bit more persuasion. But when she saves the lives of neighbors, predicts a lightening strike and prevents a possible shipwreck, Pierce becomes a believer. When Alexandra's research into an ancient legend threatens danger to him, Pierce cannot deny the strength of her claims, or the power of his own emotions.

With paranormal elements, lurking danger and passionate romance, CALL DOWN THE NIGHT has something for everyone. Alexandra is a remarkably intelligent and resourceful woman filled with a zest for living and unwilling to hide her abilities just to suit society or the man she loves. While Pierce does not recognize women as equal to men until Alexandra proves herself again and again, he does valiantly defend her intellectual gifts a way that proves quite endearing. Further, the suspenseful and paranormal elements are nicely offset by humorous attempts of the town witch to assure her daughter's marriage to Pierce. Each time Alexandra circumvents the matchmaking machinations, she does so in ways both humorous and adept. Indeed, author Sandy Moffett utilizes the setting of Salem to great affect, making her tale both ingenious and believable. Without revealing too much, I also feel compelled to share that the twist at the end that leads to the additional books of the series is rather convention defying and absolutely delightful. I eagerly await the next of the series, TO TOUCH THE SKY to be published in September 2002. Winner of the WordWeaving Award for Excellence.

Rating:
Summary: A must read for every romance novel enthusiast
Review: Whether you are a lover of historical romances or not, "Call Down The Night" by Sandy Moffett is a "must read" for every romance novel enthusiast. To take a romance novel from being "simply good" to "absolutely great", I believe it should excel in four specific areas; a convincing romance, an interesting plot, a loveable heroine, and an unforgettable hero. Sandy Moffett has them all in her very first novel. And once you read it, you will know she is capable of producing this quality of work again and again.

Set in Salem, Massachusetts in the spring of 1792 her intelligent and independent heroine, Alexandra Gables has more problems to face than just dealing with inadequacies of a man's world. She is a woman with a gift of second sight. A gift she has yet to completely accept and understand herself. Even with all her abilities and sincere principles, Alexandra finds herself in one precarious situation after another as she confronts her past, creates her future and falls in love with her captivating hero.

Sandy's astute hero, the handsome Jonathan Pierce Williams, enters the story with the makings of an unforgettable man. Pierce, as he prefers to be called, graciously allows Alexandra to believe she's duped him into not knowing her true identity when they first meet. This sets the tone for his charming personality that continues to unfold page after page. By the end of the book you'll find yourself smiling over his wonderful nature, compelling gentlemanly mannerisms and attractive male psyche.

With each interesting twist and romantic encounter, Sandy Moffett's book is a definite page-turner. And when I closed the book, I said to myself, "I love this story". Call Down The Night is a book you will want to read again and again.