FALCON MOON

Author: Cassie Edwards ISBN: 9780451222787 1/2008 HISTORICAL Publisher: NAL/SIGNET ECLIPSE
Time Period: 1840 Arizona

After she treks across the country, nothing is more welcoming to Wylena than the sight of her brother Joshua's mission in Arizona Territory. With both their parents dead, she is glad to reunite with Joshua and her other brother, Jeb, but less than happy to learn of their troubles. Jeb has mistakenly acquired the reputation of a scalp hunter. To make matters worse, he's been courting a lovely Apache woman who is Chief Falcon Moon's sister. And the anger of the ruthless Mexican general on Jeb's trail pales in comparison to the ire of a protective sibling. Then Wylena is kidnapped by Mexican troops, and the handsome chief comes to her aid. Now, in addition to clearing her brother's name, she must fight her burning desire for her valiant rescuer.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Reading FALCON MOON by Cassie Edwards is like taking a giant step backward in time. The lush descriptions, vivid details and slow, steady build-up toward the story's climax is compelling. Once involved in the story of three siblings and a handsome Indian rescuer, it is impossible to stop reading.

Wylena's two brothers are as opposite as brothers can be. Jeb is almost reckless in his determination to follow his own heart, regardless of the way his actions impact others. Father Joshua has chosen a religious path, one that lets him move freely among almost everyone he meets. Wylena loves both brothers, but their lives make it hard for her to reconcile her feelings for who they are and what they do while she searches for some peace of her own. The scratches inflicted by a tornado's wrath had healed, but there are scars on Wylena's heart that still fester. When she is kidnapped, then rescued, she is forced to deal with every issue in her life, both old and new. The man who rescues her, Falcon Moon, seems an unlikely hero. He harbors deep feelings-not all of them positive-for Wylena and her brothers.

I enjoyed the way this story made me feel in the respect that I felt truly transported in time. I smelled the putrid cell where Wylena stayed, felt Falcon Moon's uncertainty and resentment. There were a few technical issues that pulled me from the story, but none were so overwhelming as to be totally jarring. Some of the dialogue felt forced, but that could be attributed to the historical aspect of this tale.

Overall, I enjoyed FALCON MOON. Wylena is a memorable character and the ending left me smiling.

Kay James