Reviewer: Lori Graham
Title: The Dark Horse
Author: Patricia Simpson
Publisher: A Tor Book, Published by Tom Doherty Associates
ISBN: 0-765-35324-5
Release Date: November 2005
Genre/Sub-genre: Paranormal Romance
Year/Setting: Current, Sierra Nevada Mountain Range
Overall rating: 4.5
Sexual content rating: Sensual/Mild Sexual
Patricia's Website:
www.patriciasimpson.com
Claire Coulter is a woman possessing a very unique skill – to be honest, several. Primarily, she has incredible ability in the area of crypto graphical analysis. This skill is one utilized by her employer, Tobias Benton, owner and president of CommOptima. However, his newest project has nothing to do with her actual job but a new very personal pursuit Tobias has undertaken. Normally, Claire would stir clear of the man especially after he makes unwanted sexual advances. However, he has promised to pay for some critical medical care Claire’s brother needs if she follows through with the project. How can she refuse?
The project takes them to the Sierra Nevada’s where they will be following an ancient map to complete their quest. Unfortunately, they still need a guide so Tobias has recruited Jack Hughes to take them deep in the range through Deep Man’s Gulch to the Medicine Valley. Jack had quite an experience in Medicine Valley and has a healthy respect for the area. So, although he has agreed to lead them into the area, he will do so with great caution.
Claire, Tobias and Jack are also joined by Jack’s parents, William and Suzanne, who unexpectedly come in for a visit, Jack’s grandmother, who runs the ranch with Jack, and an elderly professor who wants to be guided to areas where he can observe rattlesnakes. Claire isn’t intrigued by any of the group. William treats his family like dirt, Suzanne doesn’t know where she fits in, Jack creates emotions in Claire which scare her a bit, Tobias can’t keep his hands to himself and has started to get mildly violent in his attempts and the professor isn’t all he claims to be. In spite of all of them, Claire knows she needs to be there so she can save her brother plus she has developed a healthy curiosity for their quest.
Patricia Simpson weaves a dramatic tale in The Dark Horse. The saga takes various turns I hadn’t really expected and the characters create a great foundation for those turns. I struggled just a bit with the paranormal side of Jack. Patricia does an exceptional job of explaining how he came to be the way he is but I couldn’t quite grasp how it correlated into what he is or isn’t today. I would like to have see a bit more on him since he was the hero of the story.
Claire, conversely, is quite fleshed out. I found it very painless to flow into her character and follow her train of thought and the method behind some of her actions. Claire is a woman with great inner strength as well as passion for what she loves. On the other hand, she is also very haunted and always looking over her shoulder or into people’s actions. Because she is an illegal immigrant to the U.S., she struggles to find some peace. I think Patricia finally gets her on track and you can take a deep breath in the end and know Claire has found a home.
Lori
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