Sometimes people who are right in front of us each day are not who they seem to be. There is nothing wrong with our instincts; those people are just good at disguising their true intentions. This is what our heroine in this romantic fantasy novel learns.

Professor of Archaeology Silverdawn Peterson is very content in deciphering ancient manuscripts. She does not understand why it just seems to come to her, but it does. At least it is a way to keep her mind off of the tragic death of her adoptive parents--an event which left her alone in the world. What Silverdawn does not know is that her boss--Professor Waymer--has been possessed by an evil warlord by the name of Iraj. He is searching for a pyramid that holds the essence of his minions: evil beings that will help Iraj return magick back to the world so that he can rule over the Earth.

Everything starts to change for Silverdawn when she is heading home from work and is attacked and saved by Faren a Paladian Knight. The knight has been sent to retrieve the pyramid and return Silverdawn to her real parents.

As both a romance and a fantasy story, I did not find anything ground-breaking here. But before you click off my review, know that the overlapping of universes and timeframes was very intriguing. I always find it interesting to see how any author is going to handle it when the characters have to time travel or move between dimensions. Ms. D'Arcy does a fine job of this. Again, the romance in the story was nothing new. But I found it to be charming in the way Silverdawn keeps denying her love for Faren, and Faren is constantly strutting his "code of honor" in how he relates to "Princess" Silverdawn. When searching through the multitude of romantic fantasies out there, I would not pass this one by. It is one you will suggest when a friend asks for a "good" book to read.

Reviewed By Kathy Martin
© May 2005