Blue Moon [Paperback]

Jill Marie Landis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1999

New from national bestselling author Jill Marie Landis. A love story that not only sparkles--it shines...

Lost in the watery backwoods of Illinois, a frightened young runaway meets a lonely stranger...two wounded souls hiding from the world. Together, in a treetop sanctuary, they would learn the importance of trust, and forgiveness--and moonlight...

"First-rate."--Publishers Weekly

"Fabulous."--Affaire de Coeur

"Guaranteed To Satisfy."--Amanda Quick

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Setting: Southern Illinois, 1820
Sensuality rating: 5

Eighteen-year old runaway Olivia Bond assumes no one can love her because of the ugliness of her past. Reclusive half-breed Noah LeCroix believes no one can love him because of the ugliness of his scars. When Noah rescues Olivia from the dangers of the Southern Illinois swamp he calls home, each recognizes the beauty and strength of the survivor inside the other. Returning Olivia to her long-lost family should be the most difficult task of Noah's life, but in fact leaving her there turns out to be unbearable. But when prejudice and intolerance, as well as a mysterious stranger from Olivia's past, threaten their hard-won peace, both face the challenge of a lifetime, namely letting themselves love and be loved. Bestselling author Jill Marie Landis, whose award-winning novels include Come Spring and Sunflower, will capture readers with a mesmerizing historical tale of the battles and rewards of passion and romance. --Alison Trinkle

From Publishers Weekly

Noah LeCroix made an appearance in Landis's Just Once; now the enigmatic recluse gets his own story, set in 1820. After a near-fatal accident while guiding 200 families down the Ohio River, Noah loses an eye and retreats to the swamps of frontier Illinois. He avoids all human contactAuntil a mysterious girl stumbles into his swamp. Olivia Bond was kidnapped by river pirates and sold into prostitution. Having escaped, but still wary, she grudgingly accepts Noah's help. As she heals, Olivia comes to feel safe with Noah who, in turn, is intrigued by her beauty and how easily she has slipped into his lifeA"invading his senses and stirring up his world." Desire sparks between them, but Olivia doesn't feel worthy of his love, and Noah, respecting her refusal, agrees to see her home. He leaves her with her family in Illinois, unaware of the danger that awaits her at the hands of an obsessive ex-lover. In this gripping and emotionally charged tale, Landis delivers another unusual, beautifully crafted romance. (July)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 323 pages
• Publisher: Jove (July 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 051512527X
• ISBN-13: 978-0515125276
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #835,578 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

JILL MARIE LANDIS'S twenty+ novels have earned distinguished awards and slots on such national bestseller lists as the USA TODAY Top 50 and the New York Times Best Sellers Plus. She is a seven-time finalist for Romance Writers of America's RITA Award in both Single Title and Contemporary Romance as well as a Golden Heart and RITA Award winner.

Her works include historical romances, contemporary single title romance with a hint of suspense, inspirational historical romances, and most recently the new Tiki Goddess Mystery series that launched with the successful Mai Tai One On.

Jill Marie resides in Hawaii with her husband. When she's not writing or sitting on the beach reading, she enjoys visiting with family and friends, raising orchids, working in her garden, plunking on the ukulele, dancing the hula and quilting, but not all at once.

She enjoys hearing from readers at www.jillmarielandis.com
facebook, and at www.thetikigoddess.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Undeniably romantic, yet somewhat disappointing read, August 18, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Blue Moon (Paperback)

No question. This tale of love between two lost souls is very sweet. Olivia Bond feels unworthy of love because of the year she spent as Darcy Lankanal's sex toy. Reclusive Noah LaCroix feels unworthy of love because of his severe facial scars. When Noah rescues Olivia after she gets lost in the swamp while on the run from Darcy, they begin to care for each other. Wonderful idea, yet two things bothered me. First, two such appealing characters in a romance novel deserve far more in the way of a sexual pay-off. More should have been made of Noah's loss of virginity. The build-up in tension between Olivia and Noah was never given a decent outlet. Second, and more serious, the last part of the book spent way too much time on Darcy and a shaky attempt to clean up his image in preparation for a novel of his own. I'm sorry, Jill, but Darcy is no hero.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting characters and setting but..., June 18, 2001

By 

Carol Peterson Hennekens (Colorado Springs, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blue Moon (Paperback)

Set in the 1820's when Illinois is on the frontier, Blue Moon has the potential to explore some new territory in the romance genre. For starters, the main characters are a refuge from a brothel and a man described as the "oldest living virgin in the territory." The obstacles to their love (because there must always be obstacles) are even fairly original. And certainly, Landis can write a terrific romance (Sunflower and Come Spring are permanent members of my keeper shelf). Somehow, it doesn't all quite come together in Blue Moon. I'd lay the blame on too much time spent on the threat posed by Darcy, the brothel owner. The time could have been better spent on more interaction between Olivia and Noah.

Also worth noting, this book is the sequel/spin-off to "Just Once." I went out of my way to read them in order but that probably isn't necessary to understanding and enjoying Blue Moon.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Readers will feel good after this historical romance, May 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Blue Moon (Paperback)

Colonel Sullivan and his river pirates force the father of teenager Oliva Bond to surrender his daughter to them. In turn, they sell Oliva to Darcy Lankanal, owner of a New Orleans house of gambling, liquor, and prostitution. As is his want with any new prostitute, Darcy uses them for two-three months before he turns them over to his customers. However, Oliva was still with him after a year. One month ago, she fled his boudoir.

By 1820, a desperate Oliva runs into an Illinois swamp, seeking asylum, but instead takes a nasty fall. Hermit Noah La Croix finds the unconscious teenager and carries her to his remote tree house. When she first awakens, Oliva seems frightened by the scarred visage of her host. However, as he shows her kindness and compassion, the duo falls in love with one another. Still both have deep rooted scars to overcome and the obsessed Darcy plans to have Oliva return to his house of ill repute no matter what it takes to get her there.

Anyone who has read a Jill Marie Landis historical romance knows they can count on authenticity, an exciting story line, and a haunting climax. BLUE MOON takes off from where its prequel, JUST ONCE, leaves readers. Noah remains the same recluse, but even lonelier as his only friend has just been married. Oliva has demons chasing her, but still can see the beauty inside her savior. The story line vividly paints to readers a different, more complete side to the Era of Good Feeling. Ms. Landis illustrates why she is a best selling, award winning author with this awesome Americana romance.

Harriet Klausner