Spells Cast in Shadows

As a young girl, Montana Freeborn was saved from drowning by majestic centaur Seth Phoenix, whom she whimsically named “Pony Man.” Warned to keep their contact a secret, Montana grows into a fiercely independent young woman with psychic abilities who still yearns for Seth. Born a prince among his people, Seth has struggled with a life-long forbidden passion for observing humans. After his beloved friend Nyssa was brutally murdered by human hunters, Seth receives the ultimate punishment of being banished to live among humans as a human. When Montana accidentally runs him over, he accepts a job on her ranch while he heals. They fight their instantaneous attraction to one another, not knowing the horrific consequences that may follow if they give in to their passion. Will these two star-crossed lovers be able to overcome the SPELLS CAST IN SHADOWS against them and find a way to love and live in the light of day?

Gracie McKeever has written a marvelous modern-day fairy tale, complete with a classic good vs. evil struggle of epic proportions. Because of her clever use of foreshadowing, the relationship between a human and a centaur is immediately believable. Montana is as sympathetic a heroine as this reviewer has read about in recent memory, one who has overcome all of the obstacles life has placed in her path with strength and grace, and without becoming bitter and withdrawn. Seth possesses a great combination of arrogance, wisdom and vulnerability, and is a true alpha male hero figure. The sexual tension between Seth and Montana is so palpable that steam fairly rises from the computer screen. Ms. McKeever’s language is somewhat graphic but not offensively so and is definitely part of the plot rather than gratuitous cursing and use of common slang for sexual terminology. Her excellent prose brings both her characters and her settings to life in the reader’s imagination. While billed as erotic in nature, the erotic elements occur naturally in the flow of the story and are not extreme or overly explicit. This reviewer enjoyed this tale and looks forward to more from Ms. McKeever. Highly recommended!

September 2006