Review: Entertaining reincarnation tale
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 27, 2014
Shadows of the Past is a paranormal romance which includes two timelines, one contemporary and one dating back to the 15th century. As we follow the stories of two heroines, Anne in the present and Genevieve in the past, we realize that the two women and their lovers are linked. Eventually Anne begins to believe that she could be the reincarnation of Genevieve, and that some of the other important people in her current life may also have been a part of her past.The two stories proceed in alternating chapters, and the author usually ends each section on a cliffhanger that leaves us eager to discover what will happen next. Reunited with her unfaithful lover, Neil, Anne goes with him on a vacation that they both  hope will lead to a reconciliation. But the trip turns dangerous as they become lost in a woodland where they make a gruesome discovery. Meanwhile, the 15th century tale follows Genevieve's life as she tragically loses her family, is taken in by a kindly wisewoman, and eventually finds her way to a nun's vocation. When an evil Abbess takes over as head of the convent and Genevieve falls in love with a kindly priest, Genevieve's life takes an ominous turn. In the present, Anne begins having nightmares and visions as she tries to avoid a malevolence that seems to be pursuing her over the gulf of time.I enjoyed this novel. It was well-paced and both heroines' stories were interesting. I was occasionally bothered by historical inaccuracies and some odd formatting choices (i.e., long and inexplicable use of italics in certain spots), but these flaws did not detract from the story. I also liked the ending, which offered an unexpected and foreboding note. Warmly recommended.