A Moment in Time

Veteran romance novelist Small ( The Spitfire ) is capable of better work than this mediocre fantasy with its rudimentary characters and over-elaborate plot. ``Somewhere in time'' Rhiannon of ``the Fair Folk'' relinquished her magic powers to marry a Welsh mortal, Pwyll. But he betrayed her trust and, as a punishment, he is to be reincarnated repeatedly, searching during every life for the soul of Rhiannon until he finds her and she forgives him. In 1060, Wynne of Gwernach (Rhiannon's soul) marries Madoc of Powys-Wenwynwyn (Pwyll's soul). In this life, Madoc somehow ends up with the magic powers. He concocts a brew to help Wynne remember their shared past life and, of course, she freely forgives him. But then Wynne (who is more compassionate than intelligent) resolves to patch up a feud between Madoc and his evil half-brother Brys. She visits Brys, who, true to form, seizes her, selling her and her unborn child into slavery. This puts Wynne into a snit, but her owner is kind and a terrific lover, so she adapts. But Madoc/Pwyll has lost his love yet again and sets out to track down Wynne/ Rhiannon. (Sept.)