Timewalker (Harlequin Intrigue, No 275)

Rating:
Summary: Two Cultures Meet, but it's Nothing to Rhapsodize About
Review: Julia is an FBI Special Agent working to stop a gang of money launders on a Navajo reservation. Through sheer coincidence, something happens to bring back to life Benjamin Two Eagle, a Navajo Singer (shaman) who has been trapped in one of his amulets for over a century. Obsessed with finding his amulets, Benjamin teams up with Julia to take on not only the criminals, but the tribal police as well, and eventually they fall in love.

This book could have been really good, particularly if one is interested in the Southwest, Navajo culture, and/or magic. It has all the elements of a great story; however, Thurlow's delivery is unconvincing. The character's dialog is marred when they express things that, logically, they should know and take for granted. The reader might not know these things, of course, and that's why they're included. But they rob the story of realism and, consequently, suspense. The lack of realism (a paradoxical rule for any creative work trying to present a convincing supernatural image or event, but true nonetheless) also makes the magic in this novel unbelievable and ridiculous.

As for the romantic tension between Benjamin and Julia, it has it's moments but is essentially non-existent through most of the book. The conclusion, as well, is a severe let-down, and the reader remains unconvinced that the couple can overcome their differences and build a pernament future together.

TIMEWALKER is not a completely awful book, but it's not worth the price of ordering it out-of-print. Buy it from a used book store for fifty cents and be prepared to throw it away when you're finished.

Rating:
Summary: Two Cultures Meet, but it's Nothing to Rhapsodize About
Review: Julia is an FBI Special Agent working to stop a gang of money launders on a Navajo reservation. Through sheer coincidence, something happens to bring back to life Benjamin Two Eagle, a Navajo Singer (shaman) who has been trapped in one of his amulets for over a century. Obsessed with finding his amulets, Benjamin teams up with Julia to take on not only the criminals, but the tribal police as well, and eventually they fall in love.

This book could have been really good, particularly if one is interested in the Southwest, Navajo culture, and/or magic. It has all the elements of a great story; however, Thurlow's delivery is unconvincing. The character's dialog is marred when they express things that, logically, they should know and take for granted. The reader might not know these things, of course, and that's why they're included. But they rob the story of realism and, consequently, suspense. The lack of realism (a paradoxical rule for any creative work trying to present a convincing supernatural image or event, but true nonetheless) also makes the magic in this novel unbelievable and ridiculous.

As for the romantic tension between Benjamin and Julia, it has it's moments but is essentially non-existent through most of the book. The conclusion, as well, is a severe let-down, and the reader remains unconvinced that the couple can overcome their differences and build a pernament future together.

TIMEWALKER is not a completely awful book, but it's not worth the price of ordering it out-of-print. Buy it from a used book store for fifty cents and be prepared to throw it away when you're finished.