Shielder (Shielder Series, Book 1)
Shielder is a bold and invigorating futuristic written by Catherine Spangler.  The passion that rises between characters is nearly tangible, but it's the fear of discovery and betrayal that binds them so tightly, leaving the reader struggling for breath. The Shielder colonies are in dire trouble.  A killer virus threatens to destroy every Shielder living in the realm of the Controllers.  As a discarded and exiled member of the Shielder colony on Liron, Nessa dan Ranul volunteers to be a live carrier of the virus and attempt to reach the medical laboratory at Sonoma colony.  Her only hope of feeling useful is to help all Shielders by finding a cure for the vile disease.  She has only one moon cycle to achieve her goal, then the virus will kill her. When Chase McKnight picks up Nessa's distress signal, he thinks he can simply dump her off at a Star Base and he will be free of her.  As a Shadower, however, he has other dealings to take care of, and that means Nessa will have to wait.  With his rules to keep her in line, such a small and fearful woman shouldn't cause him any grief. Nessa doesn't have time to be chasing every criminal on Chase's list, and she fears for her life and those of other Shielders if she doesn't make it to Sonoma in time.  With every day, she wonders whether she can trust this Shadower.  He doesn't know that she is a Shielder and the enemy of the Controllers for whom he works.  His care of her injuries and her seizures confuses her.  But it is the smoky look of passion that fills his eyes that begins to slowly bind her to him.  The attraction is so strong, and yet Nessa has no knowledge of the power of touching and stroking. One kiss binds Chase to Nessa.  He is powerless to ignore the feelings he has for this childlike woman.  Even Nessa's refusals to follow his orders do not seem to block her from his mind.  Only her obvious betrayal of his trust and her deceit yank him back to the cold reality of his world.  When he tracks her down, he will punish her as she properly deserves. Catherine Spangler's Shielder is wonderfully devised with very strong characters, including the support characters.  However, the plot has too many repeating events.  The "stopping off at another planet to hunt down another bad guy" bit happens over and over, and the final battle scene between the "really big nasty bad guy" and Chase is almost too soft, considering the nature of the crimes committed.  So, Shielder is great for it's characters and love scenes, but a bit weak in the knees when it comes to battles between good and evil. Boldly alive!  A future full of danger, tempered with passion! Shielder is remarkable in its intensity!  Characters that heat like wild fire! Catherine Spangler's Shielder is fast and furious!  Passion that builds an attraction that won't die! Karen Ellington  --Copyright © 030199 Literary Times, Inc.  All rights reserved--FromLiterary Times