Dark Seduction

Starred review from April 2, 2007
Bestselling author Joyce kicks off her Masters of Time series with a master's skill, instantly elevating her to the top ranks of the ever-growing list of paranormal romance authors. Her strong, smart heroine, Claire Camden, is a woman damaged by the violent deaths of her mother and cousin; her life revolves around her dreams, her beloved bookstore and her efforts to keep safe. Those efforts prove less than successful when her apartment is invaded one night by a band of warriors from the past who make strange, threatening demands. Soon, Claire is catapulted into 15th-century Scotland (a land she happens to have studied for years) with the help of a handsome medieval warrior named Malcolm. Malcolm is a Master, charged with protecting Innocents (a group that includes Claire), but he hides a secret that could lose him his soul. His quest is to defeat the evil Moray and retain the safety of his land and people; of course, unbeknownst to Claire, he can't do that without her. Steeped in action and sensuality, populated by sexy warriors and strong women, graced with lush details and a captivating story, this title may not set a new standard in the paranormal/time-travel romance genre, but it certainly qualifies as a superlative example.

April 15, 2007
Left irrationally fearful after the brutal deaths of her mother and her cousin, bookstore owner Claire Camden has protected herself well, but locks and sensors aren't enough to keep the ancient past away. When Highland laird Malcolm of Dunroch, part of a royal line descended from the Celtic gods and sworn to protect the innocent, bursts into her home in search of a page from a mythical healing book, claims her as his own Innocent, and sweeps her back in time, Claire is tossed into a world of violence, passion, and betrayal, with only Malcolm as her guide. Sexual tension crackles between Claire and Malcolm as he struggles with his desire for Claire and his protective duty in this sizzling, action-packed adventure, the first in Joyce's "The Masters of Time" series. Joyce ("A Lady at Last") lives in Arizona.

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.