When Tara Adair set out for her vacation at her grandfather's chateau in Paris, she never expected that it would change her life. The more old Jacques asked her to believe, the more she worried about him. But she had never been able to deny him anything, and so when he asked her to check out the archeological dig at the old church, she went and met Brent Malone-the man she didn't yet realize she had been waiting her entire life for.

Brent Malone had experienced so much more in his life than Tara would ever believe. He had been around a lot longer than she realized as well. He never expected to feel this fierce desire-no, compulsion-to protect her at all costs from the dark evil that threatened her and everything she held dear.

By the time Tara finally believed everything her grandfather and Brent told her-vampires, werewolves, the Alliance-it was almost too late. The police were investigating several bizarre homicide cases where decapitation was a primary factor. Tara's cousin Ann was exhibiting a strange lethargy. And Tara's nightmares were becoming more real and frightening. Her only way to stop everything was to trust Brent, and she wasn't sure that was a good idea. But when Brent was wrongly arrested for the murders and she had to fight this evil alone, she realized how much she loved him and needed him.

To say Realm of Shadows was engrossing would be understating the appeal of this book! Having never read a Shannon Drake novel, I was unprepared for the depth of emotion her characters had and the sense of urgency her plot created. I found myself urging them on with each page I read. Ms. Drake's ability to blend her characters into each other's life stories was flawless, and I found myself feeling a depth of emotion most people wish for when they read a book.

Realm of Shadows is definitely worthy of a "repeat read," and has earned a prominent spot on my bookshelf! I will most certainly be on the lookout for other novels by Shannon Drake!

Reviewed by Tracy Atencio
© May 2004