Blue Moon

Noah LeCroix made an appearance in Landis's Just Once; now the enigmatic recluse gets his own story, set in 1820. After a near-fatal accident while guiding 200 families down the Ohio River, Noah loses an eye and retreats to the swamps of frontier Illinois. He avoids all human contact--until a mysterious girl stumbles into his swamp. Olivia Bond was kidnapped by river pirates and sold into prostitution. Having escaped, but still wary, she grudgingly accepts Noah's help. As she heals, Olivia comes to feel safe with Noah who, in turn, is intrigued by her beauty and how easily she has slipped into his life--""invading his senses and stirring up his world."" Desire sparks between them, but Olivia doesn't feel worthy of his love, and Noah, respecting her refusal, agrees to see her home. He leaves her with her family in Illinois, unaware of the danger that awaits her at the hands of an obsessive ex-lover. In this gripping and emotionally charged tale, Landis delivers another unusual, beautifully crafted romance. (July)