Harriet Klausner's Review Archive
Ten years later, Abby still struggles with the pivotal tragedies as her father is released from prison. When she meets Major Jonah Tremain when he seeks a horse tamer, she falls in love. However, he wants a real lady as a wife and not a tomboy who happens to be the trainer of the horses he needs. Jonah never reckoned with a Texas tornado like Abby who goes after him with a vengeance.
The key to MOON RACER, book three of the Half-Moon Ranch romances (see HUNTER'S MOON by Bobbi Smith and RENEGADE MOON by Elaine Barbieri) is Constance O'Banyon's skill to further the mystery of ten years ago without giving away the secret. The lead couple is a solid pair as Abby goes out of her way to prove to the obstinate cavalry officer that it is not petticoats it is the heart. The strong story line adds depth to the Hunters while entertaining readers with a fine Texas romance. Anyone who reads this novel and its predecessors (sequential order is the best approach, but each tale can stand-alone) will die waiting for the finale DARK MOON by Evelyn Rogers to learn what really happened a decade ago).
Harriet Klausner Dark Moon Evelyn Rogers Leisure, Sep 2003, $6.99, 368 pp. ISBN: 0843952148
Matt Hunter leaves his family's Half-Moon Ranch to journey to England to buy a thoroughbred racehorse known as a killer, Dark Champion. By the time he returns to Diablo, Texas, his three siblings are married (see HUNTER'S MOON by Bobbi Smith, RENEGADE MOON by Elaine Barbieri and MOON RACER by Constance O'Banyon) and his father freed from prison, having completed a ten year prison sentence for murdering his wife.
Widow Juliana Rains returns to her hometown of Diablo seeking to learn how her mother died. In her gut she believes that her stepfather killed her mother, but lacks evidence. Besides finding the proof, she sees Matt. Juliana has never forgotten Matt nor he her. As they fall in love, her inquires may prove deadly. Besides which love may not be enough for these two individuals with plenty to demonstrate to others without the trouble of a relationship to impinge on their respective efforts.
This reviewer could not wait for the final story in a strong quartet of novels to learn the truth of ten years ago (clever writing by three authors hooked me to wait for the finale). Following up with the climax on three well-written western romances released over the last couple of months by other authors is not easy. However, Evelyn Rogers makes it look effortless. The author succeeds because of two superb lead characters, the personality consistency of the repeat support cast especially Matt's siblings and father, and the clever close-out of what happened a decade ago. Though the villain lacks anything redeeming, readers will appreciate the final the HALF-MOON RANCH tale that completes a wonderful trilogy.