To live at Reema's house she must learn to live like a Gothman woman and Tara first must shed her Runner clothes, the black leather bullet proof garb for a delicate dress of a Gothman's woman. She also must learn to change her mannerisms. Instead of the confident stride of a warrior she must now adopt the submissive demeanor of a Gothman's woman. This proves to be a difficult task for the confident and aggressive Tara. On her first day in the Gothman city she rescues a young boy about to be assaulted by bullies down an alley. She hopes when she uses her laser pistol to distract the bullies and frighten them away her actions aren't noticed but as Tara helps the boy up and scolds him for not fighting back she discovers she has been seen by the boy's older brother, none other than the Gothman's leader lord Darius.

Both feel an immediate attraction to each other and though he may have seen her shoot the laser pistol, something a Gothman woman would never do, he says nothing. Later that same day she again meets Darius while visiting his mother with Reema. Quite suddenly Tara finds she is employed by Darius' mother as her household assistant and living under his roof. A short time later learns she has already been "Claimed" by lord Darius without her knowledge. Gothman's "Claim" their women as mates.

Darius had suspected that she was the Runner they were chasing from the beginning and normally a Runner would be shot on sight but Darius' views on Runners is different from that of his father's and of his older brother's whom Darius had killed to gain control of the Gothmans a few years earlier because he was a weak leader.

Darius knows they will need the Runner's strength to defeat the Sea People, an enemy nation of people to the east who threaten to overrun the Gothman's territory. Putting Tara in a position to prove she is a warrior and a Runner the attraction they both feel for the other can no longer be denied. Tara proves herself by starting her motorcycle a feat only a Runner can do because of the unique locking device. Their physical joining is spectacular, both know they are meant to be together by fate and join their nations together. By Tara doing what no Runner has ever done and accepting Darius' "Claiming" and Patha's presenting Darius a formal treaty to be signed the Gothman and the Runners form the largest Nation on Nuworld and successfully defeat the Sea People. During this time Tara give birth to twins further cementing the two Nations until Tara catches Darius cheating on her with another woman whom she kills but she can't bring herself to kill Darius and shoots him in the foot.

Bundling up the two children Tara leaves and heads to Southland and a new life but encounters life threatening dangers that leave both Darius and Patha believing she is dead. Syra, a cousin that has gone with her to help with the children has been told Tara is dead after she has rescued a woman from a burning building takes the children back to Darius to be raised to their heritage.

Tara is held captive by the leader of the Southland, Gowsky who is a "seer" of spirits, and a believer in the deity Crator. Tara is kept drugged for much of the time and when she finally is allowed to return to the consciousness begins to piece her world back together. Sick with worry over her children and worry over her Clan she begins to rebuild her body and spirit to escape. An old woman begins to appear to her and teach her about Crator, explaining her mission in her "old" life isn't finished and she must return home. After a harrowing escape and guided by the old woman she recovers her motorcycle, outwits Gowsky and heads for home. After learning of a possible colony of people on the Moon from a young woman she had rescued from a burning building.

Reaching the outskirts of the Runners territory she learns after the six cycles she has been held prisoner a Test of Wills has been called to determine who will lead the Clans because of the death of the legendary Tara of the Blood Circle Clan. Given proper clothing and a "comm. link" by the Runner Clan she first finds she adopts the name Leetha and enters the Test of Wills instead of identifying herself as Tara.

Tara knows to truly lead the Clans and regain her rightful position she must prove herself after being gone for so long. Traveling with the Clan that has befriended her she joins with the other Clans and begins the Test but it isn't long before those who have known her recognize her. Can Leetha, (Tara) stand as the true Warrior she is and regain her place as the Heir and Rightful Leader of not only the Blood Clan but the true mate of Darius by defeating all challenging warriors, both female and male?

Lorie O'Clare has woven an intricate story of a future Nuworld, possibly Earth. A love story where a woman in the Gothman culture is to be "Claimed" as a possession and in the Runner culture is an equal to any man. When the two leaders meet both must bend not only for the benefit of their people but of their love. A rich and rewarding tale of true love, betrayal, and a uniting of two powerful people and cultures. The first book of a truly great series that may prove to be the prophecy of our own future where people have gone back to the days of Clan feuds and the warrior ways of living. Ms. O'Clare has brought the story to life as Tara rides across the open on her Motorcycle and the reader can feel the cool breeze and the ache in her heart for her only true love whether Tara was running to or from lord Darius. Waiting for the next stories in her series will not be easy. as a fun, fast and very enjoyable fairy-tale.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Very sensual

Reviewer: Orange Blossom
November 13, 2003