Shielder (Shielder Series, Book 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Catherine Spangler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2004

A beautiful woman hiding her identity and a dark secret finds nirvana in the arms of a man who might be hurting her people in this futuristic romance from 1998 Winner of the Emily Award.

Editorial Reviews

Review

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 -- From Literary Times

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 358 pages
• Publisher: Love Spell (April 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0505523043
• ISBN-13: 978-0505523044
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #491,593 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An emotional tour-de-force!, February 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Shielder (Shielder Series, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

In SHIELDER, incredibly talented newcomer Ms. Spangler has created the ultimate story about the healing power of love. Though technically a futuristic, SHIELDER transcends the boundaries and speaks to the dreamer in all of us. This is a must-read story about two strong but lonely people who discover that through love, anything is possible. Outcast Nessa dan Ranul has nothing left to live for. Knowing ths, she willingly accepts a dangerous mission to try and save her people from a devastating illness, even if it means sacrificing her own life in the process. Her strength and courage will tear at your heart! Chase McKnight is a renegade on a deadly mission of revenge. He doesn't have time for distractions, but when he discovers Nessa stranded in space, his long dormant honor mandates he help her out. Thus begins Nessa and Chase's action-packed adventure. As they travel the limits of the galaxy -- and emotion -- Nessa longs to tell Chase of her dilemna, but she can't let herself trust him, not when doing so in error could spell the end of her race. Every day brings her one step closer to her demise, and one step closer to finding the courage to trust this incredible stranger who makes her long to believe, just once, that love does indeed, conquer all. Ms. Spangler has blazed onto the scene with a gripping and emotional page-turner. SHIELDER is a story not to be missed! In addition to the appealing main characters, Ms. Spangler has created an enticing alternate world, populated by stunning locales and a cast of intriguing secondary characters. Might we get treated to a glimpse at Sabin and Moriah next? One can only hope! Bravo, Ms. Spangler.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Futuristic romance and SF fans will relish this tale, February 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Shielder (Shielder Series, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

A decade has passed since her Shielder community shunned Nessa because she was imperfect. Anyone suffering deformity like her bad leg and her seizures normally means death because the people believe any handicap drains their survival. Only her beloved brother kept her alive as even Nessa's parents reject her. Now Nessa has a chance to be accepted by her people. The Shielder enemy, the Controllers has developed the Orana virus, which is destroying Nessa's people.

Nessa has volunteered to be a guinea pig, working for a cure at a lab. However, something goes wrong during her space trip to Sonoma and she is left stranded with the clock ticking towards her death. Shadower Chase McNight rescues Nessa. However, Chase is a bounty hunter employed by the Controllers to destroy the Shielders. Though clearly on opposite sides of a stellar struggle, neither one expected love to blossom even if the emotion has no chance of success.

SHIELDER is more than just a futuristic romance as it has cross genre appeal to speculative fiction readers. The non-stop story line is filled with action and suspense. The lead protagonists are a fantastic duo, struggling with forces beyond their understanding such as love and the fight between the Controllers and the Shielders. The obviously gifted Catherine Spangler scribes a sensational space story that that will leave fans of SF and futuristic romance seeking out her previous titles even as they await her future novels.

Harriet Klausner

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary Futuristic Novel - Romantic &, Suspenseful!, September 7, 2004

By 

Jana L. Perskie "ceruleana" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Shielder (Shielder Series, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Catherine Spangler's "Shielder" is The Best!! Of course, I haven't read "Shadower" yet, but am about to begin the novel right after I write this review. If you like futuristic romance, or time travel, you will love this book. Not only is it extremely well written, but the plot is fresh, complex and very unusual. The characters are so realistic they jump right off the page. They sure found a place in my heart!

Leonessa dan Ranul is a Shielder, a race of people hunted all over their quadrant of the universe by Controllers. Shielders are able to block brainwashing and programing that the Controllers have performed on most inhabitants of the quadrant. Nessa and her people are immune to telekinetic control. However, Shielders are becoming extinct because Controllers and their minions are exterminating them at a rapid rate. A new deadly virus has been developed which only Shielders are vulnerable to. Nessa, is slightly handicapped and therefore shunned by the entire colony on Liron, including her parents. The dwindling colony does not have sufficient resources to share with anyone who is not perfect. She volunteers to be inoculated with the virus. She is willing to become a live host, and travel to the larger, better developed Shielder colony on Sonoma, where someone might be able to create an antidote. She has only four weeks before the virus will manifest itself. With only a small store of supplies and Turi, her affectionate Lanrax pet and only friend, Nessa takes off in an old, outdated transport shuttle.

After only two days in space, the decrepit lemon breaks down, leaving Nessa and Turi stranded. They are vulnerable to any passersby, including Shadowers, a group of space bounty hunters who hunt Shielders and criminals to deliver to the Controllers. Chase McKnight is a Shadower, expert bounty hunter, and ship captain, who reluctantly stops to assist Nessa. She disguises herself as a Pilgrim, and he agrees to eventually take her to a planet near Sonoma where she can get transportation to her destination. She must keep Sonoma's location a secret because she fears that McKnight will turn the colony's inhabitants, along with Nessa, over to the Controllers. Nessa is behind schedule and the deadly timeclock within her body is ticking.

There is as much suspense as romance here....and the romance sizzles. Ms. Spangler has created a grim universe where technology, progress and education do not prevent evil. She peoples her story with all kinds of fascinating creatures, and two fabulous secondary characters, who are featured in her next book, "Shadower." Nessa is an extremely courageous young woman, who has steeled herself to live alone, always. McKnight is her polar opposite, tall, strong and muscular to Nessa's small delicate form; he's an alpha-male, allergic to Lanraxes, she's calm, patient, accepting - no allergies; he is world weary, she is an innocent; he is physically strong, she is disabled. They are both very intelligent and Nessa is a computer wiz. But opposites do attract.

The author won the 1998 Emily Award for "Shielder" and she certainly deserves it. I am addicted to this series. Highly recommended!!
JANA