Customer Reviews

Shadow Crossing

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I credit my new found love of futuristic romance in large part to Catherine Spangler. Ms. Spangler's Shielders have been the downtrodden determined underdogs everyone loves to route for. But what now? The Shielders have escaped tyranny through a wormhole to settle in a new quadrant, one where everyone is equal. Or are they?

Celie Cameron had used the excitement of her illegal smuggling ventures to keep her mind off her personal hell, now her life is dull and gives her much too much time to think about her past. That is until she delivers a shipment to the ninth sector. Something is very wrong there. The foul air and poor conditions on Joba remind her of Calt, a hell-hole in the old quadrant. Following her instincts she looks for her employer, Max, in a seamy bar, and finds him there.

After feeling him out to ensure that he is not responsible for the deplorable conditions on the planet, Celie leads him and his android, Rurick, to her ship to transfer the goods. While making the exchange, they are attacked. Out numbered and out gunned, they barely escape in Max's craft, leaving Ceilie's behind. Max had been injured in the attack, leaving Rurick to pilot the ship and see to its repairs.

Celie finds herself intrigued by the android, Rurick. Though obviously designed to be his master's double, he has far more personality than the human man. Warmth just seemed to radiate from him. Perhaps he was the answer to the questions that burned in her on long lonely nights. With him she could experience what she would never allow herself to experience with a real man?

Rurick too has secrets. His deception had been perpetrated for his own protection. Max is the real android and Rurick is the Crown Prince of his people. He had been in search of his late mother's relations when he had stumbled upon the deplorable conditions in the ninth sector. The attraction Celie feels for him is definitely mutual, but his mission of mercy has to take precedence. She could not discover who he was. -- Easier said than done.

Though often at cross purposes, both Celie and Rurick are determined to right the wrongs in the ninth sector. Can they fight the attraction that would be disasterous for both? SHADOW CROSSING is a grand adventure, filled with intrigue and incredible passion. It is a tale of greed, ignorance, and betrayal, of self acceptance, and of love. Ms. Spangler just gets better and better. I can't wait for the next installment!---Leslie Tramposch ~ PNR Reviews

Life was boring for Celie Cameron--one milk run after another. While she wouldn't go back to the problems she's escaped, she wouldn't mind something interesting--at least that was what she thought before she found herself in the middle of a firefight. Celie learns that the sector is not as sedate as she had imagined--and that someone is systematically denying some people basic food and medical requirements. When Celie finds herself on a spaceship with an arrogant prince and a handsome cyborg, she decides that she can finally indulge in the sexual desires she's repressed for so long. After all, while she could never trust a man, she has nothing to fear from a cyborg--does she?

Rurick has uncovered evidence of a plot against justice and the legitimate authorities of the sector--but it couldn't have happened if some of those authorities weren't deeply involved. He's got to find the truth--and help the innocent people who are suffering. When Celie walks into his life and starts demanding sexual satisfaction, he is torn between his desire for her and the secret he holds. Celie can't trust men and she really shouldn't be trusting Rurick either.

Author Catherine Spangler writes an exciting saga of space ships, sabotage, secret identities, and cuddly aliens. Rurick is a powerfully alpha hero, a man who can keep up with a woman who has smuggled--and worse. If any male can break through the tough shield that Celie has built, it is Rurick, but she's determined not to let him. SHADOW CROSSING is a true romance, but it offers cross-over appeal to fans of the STAR WARS genre. SHADOW CROSSING is a part of Spangler's SHIELDER universe, but each of the books stands alone.

There was a time when Celie Cameron smuggled contraband all over the quadrant, surviving by wit and bravado. Now with Shielders safely settled in a new quadrant, questions of inequality and poverty seem to be solved. That is, until Celie takes an illegal shipment to the planet of Joba. The government certainly has failed to eliminate poverty and need on this desolate planet. And when she tries to make her delivery, things go dangerously wrong.

Shocking discoveries once rocked Rurick and shook the foundation of his beliefs when he realized the failure of the Interstellar Council to uphold the life quality codes they established. Poverty and disease are rampant, and he intends to do what he can to help the planet of Altair. Indeed, he fears how many might die before he can bring much needed supplies. Then gunfire forces Celie, her assistant Raven, his robot, and himself to retreat to Rurick's ship, leaving Celie's ship behind. Celie soon finds herself intrigued by the robot that seems almost human, especially when she learns of his pleasure programming. But she and Rurick both have secrets and one is that Rurick dare not reveal his true identity.

Author Catherine Spangler's gift for memorable futuristic romance absolutely sparkles in SHADOW CROSSINGS. While it works just as well as a standalone, SHADOW CROSSING takes its part in the series of books about Shielders with aplomb. As always, Spangler populates her universe with characters readers come to love. Celie and Rurick share a powerful passion even as they work at cross purposes. Seemingly insurmountable differences present challenges they most overcome. Secondary plots likewise dazzle, especially with the return of fan favorites from previous novels. An absolute reading pleasure, SHADOW CROSSING comes very highly recommended.

There are some hot names in Futuristic/Sci-Romance today, but to those who embraced the sub genre years ago, you will know one name was there leading the way: Catherine Spangler. She just gets better and better with each book in her Shielder series - Shielder, Shamara, Shadower, Shadow Crossing and Shadow Fires (Dorchester Publishing). Shadow Crossing, I think is my favorite of all her talented works. I just love the premise!

Celie Cameron was raised in a rough part of the Universe, saw horrors done to her family that have left their scars, deep scars. Now, after escaping through a worm whole with other Shielders, she is a smuggler, skirting on the edge of the law in Quadrant 9. In the past two years, she has been more legit - okay, boring. Her deliveries are almost always legit, there is no need for laser blasting, fights with The Controller ships. So when she lands, delivering her next shipment on time, she is caught off guard by the condition of the planet where she lands. The place are slums, and it smells of trouble. In fact, the whole place smells.

She has little time to consider this appalling condition, because she discover Raven, has stolen away and plans on having an adventure with Calie. Nineteen, Raven is a Shielder, an orphan, who had been sold into slavery by the Anteks. Nessa and Chase rescued her (Shielder; Lovespell 1999) and raised her as their daughter. With the apprehension over the planet's condition, and now the burden of worrying over Raven, Celie just wants to make contact with Max, her client, get her money and "get the hell out of Dodge" before something bad happens.

She meets Rurick, who she thinks is Max. The sexy man, with the golden eyes, turns out to be Max's android. One made to look just like Max. Max, Rurick, Calie and Raven and making the transfer of merchandise, when they are attacked. Max saves Raven, and Calie and Rurick escape into Max's ship. Calie is upset, leaving her ship behind means she has nothing, but Rurick and Max refuse to return Raven and her. Calie soon learns that Max and Rurick are on an important mission to fight an ever-growing evil.

I cannot reveal more without ruining the delightful tale. It's Spangler at her very best. Max and Rurick are both sexy, hunks, but with a great sense of humor that keeps you smiling at their antics, especially as Raven falls for the stoic Max, and Calie lets down her walls of fear to let Rurick near.

So if you love high-flying Sci-Romance, then don't hesitate. This is one super read.

We've read of Celie in earlier books of the Shadower series, and here at last the young girl is grown up and gets a story of her own.

Celie had spent much of her youth as a smuggler, and although she's gone all respectable, she misses the rush of danger and risk. She's got her own craft now, and the deliveries she makes are scheduled and routine. But her longing for adventure is about to be answered in the form of Rurick. He's a prince of a guy, and has been artificially cloned in the form of a replica android, as his life is one of risk. Celie is drawn into his world, and they go through much adventuring together. But Celie's life has never been easy, and there is no way she will fit into his. She's hiding a devastating secret - or at least she thinks she is - but more than that, unlike android Max, she's just not built for royalty. She has to be true to herself, and Celie can't see herself fitting into Rurick's lifestyle.

For those that have read the earlier Shadower novels, here's a chance to read Celie and even Raven's stories. I found that while it rounded the series off nicely, it's the least favourite of the series as much of the dangers faced by the Shadowers has been overcome. But it's nice to have all the ends tied up, and I'm glad Celie's story has been told.

The third book set in a science fiction world. I loved them all. Read also Shadower and Shamara. There's a double romance here which makes it extra special. I liked the new little alien life discovered by Rurick and Celie although it didn't have much to do with the story -- it was just cute and did allow the main characters to make a point or two.

Rurick pretends to be an android as a security measure since he is really a crown prince. Celie is a smuggler with a good heart. Never boring -- never slow. It was great from start to finish and it was good to see older characters again.

Catherine Spangler does it again! Reading Shadow Crossing is a wonderfully exciting adventure. The characters are rich and vivid. The unfolding relationship between Celie and Rurick is done masterfully. I couldn't wait to read a page so I could turn to the next. Ms. Spangler seems to effortlessly take you in one direction and then, once you think you know where you are going, take you in a completely different one. If you enjoy futuristic romance this is a must read. Shadow Crossing is well worth the read. Bravo, Ms. Spangler!! Let's just hope there is an encore.

Space is truly the final frontier, and it keeps expanding for Celie Cameron. Since they found Shamara, and Eirene had found the rest of the Enhancer population, the Shielders had settled. Life in the new quadrant is fairly dull now, for a pilot who was used to the dangers of the Controller's prisons, their Anteks, the Shadowers, and constant predation of the pirates that plagued their old quadrant of space. Here, the peace was almost boring, and the smuggling was no longer, but now the open trade was encouraged thought out this new sector. The term "smuggler" and Celie Cameron were not the same, not anymore. Mariah had taught her well though, and she is equipped to handle any thing this new quadrant of space has to offer.

Maximilian Rurickko Riordan never counted on the pilot of the supply ship to be a woman, let alone the woman of his dreams. The tall, leggy, statuesque blond is different from the women he's used to having around. This ship's captain stirs something in him that he thought no one could. He is a man of experience, yet he feels as though she was made just for him. Too bad that it won't work. She thinks he is and android, and he cannot tell her any different. He is on a mission, and the loss of the supplies that they had to leave when they escaped from Joba is a big blow. Conditions in the ninth sector of the Verante quadrant were appalling and the secret well kept by higher authorities. Rurick is certain that members of the Interstellar Council are behind this, but he needs proof and he needs it fast.

Once again, Catherine Spangler weaves a wonderful tale that takes us to the stars with Shadow Crossing. The Shielders have settled well into the Verante quadrant, and Celie has been kept busy shuttling supplies and delivering cargoes around the quadrant. The peace and prosperity of the places she visits are astounding, and yet her entire vision of the "perfect quadrant" is blown when she runs into Maximillian Rior, android extraordinaire. Mistaking the android for human and the human for android has been a ploy that has worked so often, but now Rurick, the "android" of the pair, finds himself wishing things could be different. Darn the promises made.

Join Rurick and Celie as they explore their very own Shadow Crossing in the Verante quadrant. Come along as they seek the answers to the problems that plague the ninth sector and the House of Riordan. Follow along as they sail through the treacherous shoals of space, enduring ambush, shipwreck, Tobals, and betrayal, only to find a love that will transcend the problems. This April release from Dorchester publishing is a must buy for those who have the others and an excellent initiation into the future as written by Catherine Spangler. This definitely not one to be missed...5 Stars +

When she relocated to a different quadrant, Celie Cameron gave up her successful smuggling career to go straight. Her plan is to ship only legal cargo. Her latest shipment is to Joba, but upon landing at the settlement, Celie discovers that nineteen years old Raven McKnight, the daughter of her friends, has stowed away on her vessel.

Celie accompanied by Raven is completing the transaction with Max Rior and the android Rurick when a firefight occurs. The two women flee with Max and Rurick. To her surprise, the independent Celie is attracted to Rurick, but avoids males, even technological ones, as if the gender was the plague. However, she cannot resist Rurick just like he cannot ignore her. As they fall in love and keep Raven safe, they team up to battle the evil that endangers the quadrant.

The fourth Shielder novel is an enjoyable outer space romance that has fan favorites returning while providing a fresh tale to new fans who will want to read this author's backlist. The lead couple is a delight as both suspects avoid anything remotely entangling the heart yet they fall in love anyway. The myriad of subplots tie back to the prime theme so that fans of both genres receive a strong novel that stands alone, but is even more satisfying for those who have read Catherine Spangler's previous "S" (for stupendous) works.

Harriet Klausner

SHADOW CROSSING is an absolute must read! The futuristic is a wonderful romance, a true page-turner, and a book I will place on my Keeper Shelf. Anytime an author creates a smuggler heroine (Celie Cameron), a sexy android-disguised hero (Rurick), a wise-cracking android named Max, along with adorable Toggles...the story line sizzles. Well done, Ms. Spangler. Very well done!