Across a Moonswept Moor
Grade : C+

If you love action, this is the book for you, because it's packed with it. From the time the heroine steps through into the seventeenth century until the last page is turned, the plot moves quickly and the excitement never stops. If deeper characterization and romance is a little neglected in the process, it's still a pleasant read.

Fiona Chancellor's cousin Faith has been missing for a year. So when Fiona dumps her fiancé and gets laid off from her job, she uses it as an opportunity to see if she can discover what happened to her cousin. She has one clue: an unusual double-edged dagger. Armed with the dagger, Fiona goes to Faith's last known whereabouts and asks about it in antique shops. Eventually she finds one man, a dwarf, who tells her that the dagger has unusual powers when held in a stone circle at midnight. Fiona tries it and Zap! - back she goes to seventeenth century Ireland, right in the middle of Cromwell's invasion.

Fiona finds her cousin Faith right away. Faith has been living in the past for a year and is married to a man named Miles O'Bruaidar, who is known as the Irish Lion. Miles was captured by the English, and when Fiona arrives, Faith and some loyal friends are trying to figure out how to rescue him. Since Fiona has just been reading up on local history, she is able to tell Faith where Miles is being held. They come up with a plan and set off to rescue Miles and his companions.

The man more or less in charge of the rescue effort is Ian Maclaren, a transplanted Scotsman. Although he and Fiona argue a time or two, their attraction is more or less immediate, and true love soon follows. But although they find passion and love in each other's arms, there isn't much time to concentrate on their feelings. They need to be on their toes to avoid English patrols, and it will take all their strength and cunning to rescue Miles.

As I mentioned earlier, this book is fast-paced and entertaining. There is never a dull moment, and the characters' lives are often in danger. I like a really adventurous romance now and then, and if you are similarly inclined you might enjoy this one as well.

The characters are all fundamentally likable, particularly Fiona and Ian. They fall in love quickly, which is fun, and both of them respect the other's abilities. I liked that Ian was patient with Fiona and willing to give her credit for making the difficult journey.

However, because they fall in love so quickly and most of the conflict is external, the believability and the romance of the relationship suffers somewhat. At times it even seems like an afterthought; the most important goal of everyone in the book is to rescue Miles. Ian and Fiona do have some revealing conversations, but they needed to have even more of them. Part of the problem is that dialogue is not really Ms. Moffett's strong suit; many of the conversations that do take place sound stilted and a little unnatural, with characters giving revelations about themselves as if they are participating in a group therapy exercise. There is also a young child who becomes close to both Ian and Fiona, and although she has been abused and neglected all her life she bonds with them in record time, which seemed unrealistic to me.

If you are wondering how the time travel element is handled, I would say it's also something of a mixed bag. Fiona has almost no trouble accepting that she has traveled back in time, mostly because her beloved cousin is already there and can show her the ropes. She doesn't spend much time wondering what happened to her; she just gets right on with saving Ian. Perhaps because her adjustment is so easy, the period feeling is a little superficial at times. Fiona doesn't spend much time thinking about how different the world is. And how does Ian react to a true love from three hundred years in the future? Well, that's one of those conversations that takes place completely offstage, so the reader doesn't really know.

I would recommend this one for those who either loved the previous book, A Double-Edged Blade, or are looking for a read with lots of action and external conflict, which Across a Moonswept Moor has in spades. Readers seeking deep soul-searching and thoughtful characterization will have to look elsewhere.

Reviewed by Blythe Smith
Grade : C+

Sensuality: Warm

Review Date : August 14, 2001

Publication Date: 2001

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Blythe Smith

I've been at AAR since dinosaurs roamed the Internet. I've been a Reviewer, Reviews Editor, Managing Editor, Publisher, and Blogger. Oh, and Advertising Corodinator. Right now I'm taking a step back to concentrate on kids, new husband, and new job in law...but I'll still keep my toe in the romance waters.
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