Book Review: Joshua Greyman

Fiction/Romance/Paranormal

Joshua Greyman

Maeve Sidhe Fitzgerald

Xlibris

2006

ISBN: 978-1-4257-1973-9

Soft cover/ 254 pages

Ancient Egypt, some ten thousand years ago, is the background for author Maeve Fitzgerald's second novel Joshua Greyman. Fitzgerald (Little Feather's Woman) mixes aliens, time travel, violence, and seduction in a story that features a bright, feisty Egyptologist and a space traveling biogenetic engineer.

Oshua Iey'mann sets off from his planet, Se'phreema, to attend to experiments on a planet far from his home. The scientist has genetically altered animals by increasing their levels of testosterone so they can fight off predators. Even though his mother, the queen of his planet, has a disturbing dream about his journey, Oshua and his shape-shifting, cradle-bonded brother, Om, go anyway. A meteor shower causes the ship to crash. Oshua is left injured and alone. The medallion that his mother insisted he take with him is his one hope for survival. When it is stolen and ends up in the hands of Hattie O'Brien, Professor of Egyptology, a strange turn of events pulls her into the world that Oshua is stuck in.

Fitzgerald's main characters are accomplished and beguiling with unexpected assets that allow them to survive in their violent surroundings. Hattie is a karate sensei with a PhD and Oshua (whose name Hattie misinterprets as Joshua Greyman) is a prince, a scholar, and a perfect specimen of the Se'phrim race complete with telepathic and empathic abilities. Oshua's "irresistible response" to Hattie incites in the alien a ferocious desire to have her as his wife. They quickly become a couple despite Hattie's cynical nature ("Hattie did not believe in love at first sight, so how to explain this violent attraction she felt for Joshua, her Joshua?). The author presents the two as a team, with both Hattie and Oshua contributing equally to each other's survival: Oshua uses his extraordinary skills and Hattie, her intellect and superior fighting ability. It is a true partnership.

Joshua Greyman offers romance fans a spicy combination of adventure and passion, and the delightful portrayal of a strong woman and a compassionate, protective man who loves her.

Melissa Levine

For Independent Professional Book Reviewers