Shamara

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Futuristic Fantasy -- an entertaining storyline
Review: Jarek san Ranul is fully aware of the fate of his people, the Shielders. The Controllers massacred most of the Shielders fearing their powers -- they are genetically resistant to Controllers' mind power. Any individual who shows the gift of mind power is put to death. The few survivors were scattered. Jarek finds evidence of a wormhole, a vortex to another galaxy, which can provide escape and he needs help to open it to find SHAMARA for his people.

Eirene Kane is Enhancer, one of a genetic few with a powerful gift. Enhancers can enter a mental plane of existence where thoughts are communicated to others even though their bodies might be light years apart. She is hiding her identity and a dark secret and on the run from her dangerous uncle who has traded her virginity for a trade route. Her flight hurls her into the arms of Jarek, a man who steals her heart and uncovers her secret.

Shamara is an engaging Futuristic romance filled with passion and love so much so that sub-genre fans will enjoy feasting on the tale. The magic of this novel lies in the characters who seem so real that Ms. Spangler must have met them in some far away place rather than her fertile imagination. Oh, what a set of secondary characters SHAMARA has, you will laugh your way through Lani's part in this book, right down to the unconventional stuff she did at the end. The fast-paced story line is exciting and the insight into many exciting characters is cleverly intermingled into the plot. Let me just say this, if you want a sensual book with tons of excitement, and thrills; this is the series for you. So hang onto your hearts and get set for a memorable, fast-paced tale that puts Catherine Spangler on your must read list!

Rating:
Summary: An okay entry
Review: My introduction to this author came from Shadow Fires. I really liked that book and was looking forward to this one. I wouldn't recommend this one (try the library or a friend or used first). It isn't bad, it just is incredibly annoying. Too many coincidences, to many people standing at just the right time to help. Also, The heroine is another whiny, annoying female. She wants freedom, but boo hoo I can't help anyone else. She just takes and takes and people cover up for her. If she wants to be free, then she needs to deal with the consquences of all her actions. True adults don't run from responsiblities. When she gets absolved of her guilt(another coincidence) she suddenly can grow up and take charge of her life. If you read this book look for Lani and Gunnar - their interaction is the only interesting part of this book.

Rating:
Summary: Two stars because I like the subplot
Review: Okay, I read the reviews here and was really excited to sit down and read the book. I love futuristics, they are probably my absolute favorite romances, except for dragon-involved ones. Three hours later I put it down, just managing to resist tossing it against a wall. I know that there are only so many plots to futuristic romances, but please! The characters were interesting, but the rest of the book was so predictable and seen-before. After I was done, I couldn't remember half the characters names, and I didn't care about them anyway! I gave this book two stars because there was an itsy bitsy subplot romance that I thought quite enjoyable. While at one point I would have considered buying the others in this series, I think I'm going to pass. If you like your "usual" futuristic romances from Lovespell, think about picking it up. If you go more toward Dara Joy, Sharon Lee or even Susan grant, I'd give it a pass. There are better ways to spend your money.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding -- Gone With the Wind in Space!
Review: Okay, so this book isn't anything like "Gone With the Wind" -- It's better! But it has the same scope and grandeur and a meaning deeper than what you first see on the surface. Eirene's struggles for freedom and to find herself, Jarek's devotion to his people, all are reminiscent of another time. And after all, this book is set in another time -- the future! It is funny and sexy and action-packed and says something all at the same time. Everyone should read it, whether they like futuristics or not.

Rating:
Summary: Great sci-fi romance
Review: On Travan, Eireen is stunned when her avaricious Uncle Vaden informs her that he bartered her as a virgin bride to the powerful Leors for a trade route. Though she knows as a female that she has no rights, she pleads with her uncle to reconsider especially since she possesses healing powers. He tells his niece that her virginity is worth more than her healing prowess, or else he would have sampled the goods. Eireen knows that her mind-seeing future spouse will quickly learn she is an Enhancer, a trait that will mean her demise.

Desperate to escape, Eireen must rid herself of her virginity so she enters the pleasure dome where she meets Shielder Jarek san Ranul, who was left for dead by his foes. Jarek fully recovers and he realizes the virgin with him had to be an Enhancer using healing powers to save his life. He believes that Eireen could be the key to saving the Shielders from the genocide of the Controllers. However, he soon finds his responsibility as a leader conflicting with the needs of his heart to protect Eireen, the woman he loves.

With SHIELDER, SHADOWER, and now SHAMARA, Catherine Spangler has earned a high place among the elite of the science fiction romance sub-genre. The story line of her current tale is fast-paced, loaded with action that will please fans of both genres and adheres to the principles of the society that the author depicted in the previous novels. Eirene is a strong heroine while Jarek is trapped in a dilemma because he needs to endanger the woman he wants to keep safe leading to a superb story.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Best world building futuristic romance book
Review: This book is written in a fictional futuristic world that is real enough to make it very intriguing and completely believable. All of the characters in this book have very well developed personalities. The flaws of the characters makes them seem more human and realistic.

I easily sympathize with the main character, Nessa dan Ranul. Nessa has spent most of her life living alone, because of seizures and her crippled leg. She has been ostracized by the people of her home world. A deadly virus is killing her people, the Shielders. She offers to carry a deadly virus as host in hopes of finding a cure in time to save them. She has to travel to another planet to find the cure. She hopes to regain her peoples approval and acceptance by saving them. If she does not get to the other planet on time the virus will kill her.

Chase McKnight, a bounty hunter rescues her from her ship that is adrift in space. He is hunting the Shielders, her own people for money. She is unsure whether he will help her and the other Shielders or turn her in if she tells him the truth. If she does not get help in time the virus will kill her. She is very attracted to Chase and want to trust him, but cannot.

The whole book is a very intense and believable story that keeps you on edge from beginning to end. There is danger and twists thoughout the story. I did not know until the last couple of pages how the story would end. I know I will be reading more of Catherine Spangler's books.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down a must read . . . .
Review: This book is written in a fictional futuristic world that is real enough to make it very intriguing and completely believable. All of the characters in this book have very well developed personalities. The flaws of the characters makes them seem more human and realistic.

I easily sympathize with the main character, Nessa dan Ranul. Nessa has spent most of her life living alone, because of seizures and her crippled leg. She has been ostracized by the people of her home world. A deadly virus is killing her people, the Shielders. She offers to carry a deadly virus as host in hopes of finding a cure in time to save them. She has to travel to another planet to find the cure. She hopes to regain her peoples approval and acceptance by saving them. If she does not get to the other planet on time the virus will kill her.

Chase McKnight, a bounty hunter rescues her from her ship that is adrift in space. He is hunting the Shielders, her own people for money. She is unsure whether he will help her and the other Shielders or turn her in if she tells him the truth. If she does not get help in time the virus will kill her. She is very attracted to Chase and want to trust him, but cannot.

The whole book is a very intense and believable story that keeps you on edge from beginning to end. There is danger and twists thoughout the story. I did not know until the last couple of pages how the story would end. I know I will be reading more of Catherine Spangler's books.

Rating:
Summary: Winner of the WordWeaving Award of Excellence
Review: Women on Travan are only good either for breeding purposes or for trading for goods and services. Eirene Kane had hoped to escape those fates because she's a gifted healer, but her uncle has other plans for her. He's going to barter her virginity for a trade route. Eirene can't let that happen; it would only be a matter of time before her betrothed discovered that she's an Enhancer. So she stows away on a passing ship traveling to Saron. There she seeks employment as a courtesan, planning to rid herself of her irksome virginity quickly to make her worthless as trade fodder for her uncle. She'll use her gifts as an Enhancer to make the encounter swift, and then be on her way. Too bad her client seems immune to her mind manipulations.

Jarek san Ranul stands as the guardian between his people and extension. His people are Shielders, genetically resistant to the Controllers' mind manipulation. He's found a wormhole that possibly leads to Shamara, meaning sanctuary, for his people. Jarek believes that Enhancers, a race now believed to be extinct, had the ability to use a portal to travel to other galaxies. With such a heavy burden always with him, Jarek has never sought a relationship with a woman. Sick to death of being alone, he allows himself to be talked into a visit to the Pleasure Dome for a night of warmth and comfort in a woman's arms. He's stunned to learn the woman is a virgin. But an assignation attempt proves the woman to have the very gifts he seeks to aid his people.

SHAMARA by Catherine Spangler is an outstanding read. With the perfect blend of psychic gifts, space travel and old fashioned romance, Spangler creates a novel readers will find impossible to put down. Eirene proves her extraordinary valor time and again as she puts other's needs ahead of her own. Likewise, Jarek's concern for the survival of his people is only outshined by his concern for Eirene, a difficult balance indeed. Furthermore, the secondary story of the dangerous Leor Commander Gunnar juxtaposed by the lighthearted courtesan Lani, the "blue-feather lady" from the Pleasure Dome, provides comic relief for an otherwise very intense story. This fast paced plot with its wonderful secondary plot line will please previous fans in addition to earning many new ones. The carefully balanced characterizations and action make SHAMARA a Winner of the WordWeaving Award of Excellence.