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Shielder #1
Shielder
New Science Fiction Romance from RITA nominated author!
The Controllers have engineered a virus that is killing Shielders. In the hopes of finding a cure, the Shielders need a human host to get the deadly Orana virus past Controller checkpoints and to a medical lab on the planet Santerra. With her people facing extinction, outcast Nessa dan Ranul volunteers to be the host and is injected with the Orana. She has only four weeks to make it to Santerra before the virus kills her.
When her ship breaks down in deep space, she’s rescued by her most dangerous enemy—a shadower, a bounty hunter who tracks down Shielders. She can’t tell him the truth about her dilemma, or he will turn her in to the Controllers.
Shadower Chase McKnight has an agenda more pressing than claiming bounty rewards—vengeance. He doesn’t have time for a homeless waif who ignites emotions he buried long ago. He refuses to allow anything to deter him from his mission, which results in traveling away from Santerra—while the time bomb inside Nessa is ticking down. But she doesn’t dare trust this man who is an enemy of Shielders.
Their secrets and agendas don’t prevent the growing attraction between them, even as they fight their individual demons—even as time runs out for Nessa. Only love can bring them full circle, offering Chase redemption, and the chance to save Nessa—and ultimately, her people.
The Controllers have engineered a virus that is killing Shielders. In the hopes of finding a cure, the Shielders need a human host to get the deadly Orana virus past Controller checkpoints and to a medical lab on the planet Santerra. With her people facing extinction, outcast Nessa dan Ranul volunteers to be the host and is injected with the Orana. She has only four weeks to make it to Santerra before the virus kills her.
When her ship breaks down in deep space, she’s rescued by her most dangerous enemy—a shadower, a bounty hunter who tracks down Shielders. She can’t tell him the truth about her dilemma, or he will turn her in to the Controllers.
Shadower Chase McKnight has an agenda more pressing than claiming bounty rewards—vengeance. He doesn’t have time for a homeless waif who ignites emotions he buried long ago. He refuses to allow anything to deter him from his mission, which results in traveling away from Santerra—while the time bomb inside Nessa is ticking down. But she doesn’t dare trust this man who is an enemy of Shielders.
Their secrets and agendas don’t prevent the growing attraction between them, even as they fight their individual demons—even as time runs out for Nessa. Only love can bring them full circle, offering Chase redemption, and the chance to save Nessa—and ultimately, her people.
368 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1999
31 people are currently reading
1003 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Spangler
11 books244 followersCatherine Spangler is a bestselling and award winning author of the Shielder series (futuristic romance)and the Sentinel Series (romantic urban fantasy). She is a two-time Golden Heart finalist and a RITA finalist and has received numerous other awards and honorable mentions.
She is an active member of Romance Writers of America and her local chapter, Dallas Area Romance Authors. A frequent speaker at writers' groups and conferences, she has taught workshops on the creative process, writing techniques, writing paranormal romance, and goal setting.
She lives in north Texas with her husband and a menagerie of critters. She loves reading, taking naps on the sofa with a good football game for background noise, eating chocolate, and playing poker.
Catherine's fun fact: I celebrated the sale of my first book, Shielder, by drinking champagne from a plastic cowboy boot mug. My critique partners brought four of them to my house, along with the champagne. Drinking champagne from those cowboy boot mugs every time one of us sold a book became a tradition, which we still honor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
January 5, 2012
Some of the reviews I read for Shielder and its sequels led me to hope for great things from this series, but so far I am disappointed. There is nothing original about Spangler's science fiction setting, which seemed to be constructed to provide a thin backdrop for the romance. I prefer a little more science fiction in my science fiction romances.
The lack of SF content would have been easier to tolerate if the romance itself had been more compelling. Unfortunately, the author relied on the ever-popular "big misunderstanding/lack of communication" plot device to create tension between her characters. I can accept that Chase McKnight (oh god, that name...) and Nessa have ample cause to distrust each other at first, but they both carry their distrust and uncommunicativeness to unreasonable lengths, in my opinion.
Moreover, although the majority of the novel takes place on board a space ship and therefore focuses on character interactions rather than action sequences, it's surprising how little character development actually occurs. Chase's and Nessa's personalities are defined entirely by past tragedies and present missions, not by any of the ordinary thoughts, pursuits, or pastimes that fill in the corners of a real person's life. At the end of the novel, I found myself wondering what these two people would find to do with themselves or talk about now that their demons had been resolved. I think I would find both of them intollerably boring if I met them in real life.
Finally, I have to mention the epilogue, even though it's a bit spoilery, because it annoyed me so much.
I didn't hate this novel (except for the epilogue), but it really didn't do anything for me, either. I probably won't bother to read the rest of the series.
The lack of SF content would have been easier to tolerate if the romance itself had been more compelling. Unfortunately, the author relied on the ever-popular "big misunderstanding/lack of communication" plot device to create tension between her characters. I can accept that Chase McKnight (oh god, that name...) and Nessa have ample cause to distrust each other at first, but they both carry their distrust and uncommunicativeness to unreasonable lengths, in my opinion.
Moreover, although the majority of the novel takes place on board a space ship and therefore focuses on character interactions rather than action sequences, it's surprising how little character development actually occurs. Chase's and Nessa's personalities are defined entirely by past tragedies and present missions, not by any of the ordinary thoughts, pursuits, or pastimes that fill in the corners of a real person's life. At the end of the novel, I found myself wondering what these two people would find to do with themselves or talk about now that their demons had been resolved. I think I would find both of them intollerably boring if I met them in real life.
Finally, I have to mention the epilogue, even though it's a bit spoilery, because it annoyed me so much.
I didn't hate this novel (except for the epilogue), but it really didn't do anything for me, either. I probably won't bother to read the rest of the series.
October 11, 2014
What a fantastic story! Shielder takes us on an adventure through space, where moons are colonized, planets are trading posts, and starships are the general mode of transportation.
Living on a Shielder colony, and having endured many hardships, Nessa finds herself in a position where day-to-day life feels less than meaningful. She longs to contribute to the community in a way that will make a difference. The Orana virus has plagued her people, and the only hope is a medical facility, far from her colony, where an antidote for the virus may be obtained. Transporting the virus to the medical facility is another story--the Controllers will block any attempt. There is just one way to transport the virus: inside a living host.
Despite the risks, Nessa volunteers to be injected with the virus, and to travel on her own to the medical facility. But when her starship fails in its mission, she becomes stranded in space. Her only hope lies in the hands of the handsome Captain Chase McKnight. With just a few weeks to get to the facility, Nessa is desperate. She accepts Captain McKnight's offer for transportation, while keeping her identity and true mission a secret. But when Nessa discovers her rescuer is a Shadower, a bounty hunter who tracks down Shielders, a whirlwind of events begin to unfold.
Making stops on new planets and colonies along the way, Nessa discovers breathtakingly beauty, and exciting new worlds. Still, space travel holds many risks, especially when you're traveling with a Shadower! And Captain McKnight has his own mission. Unplanned detours take longer than expected, forcing Nessa to admit that time is running out... she must find an alternate means of transport if she is to survive the Orana virus, and to secure the antidote. But the ship's Captain has other plans.
Captain McKnight is the ultimate alpha male, with all the gorgeous physical characteristics we would expect from a lead character in a position of power. But he underestimates Nessa. And despite the fact that these two come from different worlds, an undercurrent of attraction is brewing that neither one can ignore. The chemistry is undeniable, and there is no shortage of steamy romance!
I did find Captain McKnight to be harsher than necessary at times, but as we learn his backstory, his behavior makes sense. Nessa is a great character, with endearing qualities--a very likable character! This story is full of fascinating secondary characters, and an original plot that will keep you hooked to the end! If you're looking for a well written, perfectly paced love story with plenty of adventure, this is it!
To read more, visit my blog! http://www.moonrisebookblog.com
Living on a Shielder colony, and having endured many hardships, Nessa finds herself in a position where day-to-day life feels less than meaningful. She longs to contribute to the community in a way that will make a difference. The Orana virus has plagued her people, and the only hope is a medical facility, far from her colony, where an antidote for the virus may be obtained. Transporting the virus to the medical facility is another story--the Controllers will block any attempt. There is just one way to transport the virus: inside a living host.
Despite the risks, Nessa volunteers to be injected with the virus, and to travel on her own to the medical facility. But when her starship fails in its mission, she becomes stranded in space. Her only hope lies in the hands of the handsome Captain Chase McKnight. With just a few weeks to get to the facility, Nessa is desperate. She accepts Captain McKnight's offer for transportation, while keeping her identity and true mission a secret. But when Nessa discovers her rescuer is a Shadower, a bounty hunter who tracks down Shielders, a whirlwind of events begin to unfold.
Making stops on new planets and colonies along the way, Nessa discovers breathtakingly beauty, and exciting new worlds. Still, space travel holds many risks, especially when you're traveling with a Shadower! And Captain McKnight has his own mission. Unplanned detours take longer than expected, forcing Nessa to admit that time is running out... she must find an alternate means of transport if she is to survive the Orana virus, and to secure the antidote. But the ship's Captain has other plans.
Captain McKnight is the ultimate alpha male, with all the gorgeous physical characteristics we would expect from a lead character in a position of power. But he underestimates Nessa. And despite the fact that these two come from different worlds, an undercurrent of attraction is brewing that neither one can ignore. The chemistry is undeniable, and there is no shortage of steamy romance!
I did find Captain McKnight to be harsher than necessary at times, but as we learn his backstory, his behavior makes sense. Nessa is a great character, with endearing qualities--a very likable character! This story is full of fascinating secondary characters, and an original plot that will keep you hooked to the end! If you're looking for a well written, perfectly paced love story with plenty of adventure, this is it!
To read more, visit my blog! http://www.moonrisebookblog.com
March 25, 2013
It starts out with Nessa, who has always felt less worthy in the eyes of her parents and the rest of the colony. Apart from her brother Jarek, whom she loves dearly she feels like a prisoner. She aches to get out there, and experience new things and make a difference. She volunteers for a mission where she would be injected with the Orana Virus. Where she could serve a purpose for her people and colony, even if it means her death. She wants to be remembered and do something her colony and her parents would be proud of. Jarek protests of course, since he is the only one that truly cares about her; but she goes ahead with it. This is a vital mission, since this virus has infected many, and they must test it so they can find a vaccine. She is put on a ship headed for Sonoma. On the way however, her ship very old gives out, and she is adrift in space.
Chase McKnight, is a controller who has rights in this part of space, and takes her on to his. Also along with her beloved pet, Turi. Who has been a friend to her when she had very few. Chase beams her on board of his ship, very reluctantly and is willing to take her to Sonoma but tells her it will take a week, and she has a month to get there, or she will die with no purpose. Chase is a bounty hunter of Shielders(which is what Nessa is and she knows that she has to withhold it from him. Therefore their journey begins, and as their relationship deepens and their feelings develop; but Chase is denying it to himself. They both know that there is no way for them to fall in love. But one thing happens after another, and they find it helpless to resist against each other and their tender feelings for one another.
This is the first book that I have read from Catherine Spangler, and I absolutely loved this story. It is filled with passion, adventure, mystery, wit and suspense. The humor in this book, is the best, I was laughing all through the book. I found Nessa to be driven young woman, to do anything to reach Sonoma, and her attempts to run away from Chase thoroughly amused me. I was always asking myself Now what is she going to end up doing next? She never ceases to amaze me, I have to say I was never bored while reading this one. Although there were moments that I got confused, for the most part it was a astounding read, that I thoroughly enjoyed!
Chase McKnight, is a controller who has rights in this part of space, and takes her on to his. Also along with her beloved pet, Turi. Who has been a friend to her when she had very few. Chase beams her on board of his ship, very reluctantly and is willing to take her to Sonoma but tells her it will take a week, and she has a month to get there, or she will die with no purpose. Chase is a bounty hunter of Shielders(which is what Nessa is and she knows that she has to withhold it from him. Therefore their journey begins, and as their relationship deepens and their feelings develop; but Chase is denying it to himself. They both know that there is no way for them to fall in love. But one thing happens after another, and they find it helpless to resist against each other and their tender feelings for one another.
This is the first book that I have read from Catherine Spangler, and I absolutely loved this story. It is filled with passion, adventure, mystery, wit and suspense. The humor in this book, is the best, I was laughing all through the book. I found Nessa to be driven young woman, to do anything to reach Sonoma, and her attempts to run away from Chase thoroughly amused me. I was always asking myself Now what is she going to end up doing next? She never ceases to amaze me, I have to say I was never bored while reading this one. Although there were moments that I got confused, for the most part it was a astounding read, that I thoroughly enjoyed!
February 18, 2014
*spoilers*
Good book, except for the epilogue which just really annoyed me. Nessa still trying to get her parents and peoples approval, when she should have realised that she never needed it in the first place.
And how is it a happy ending that after saving their race her parents are willing to accept her, after abandoning her when she was 12 for TEN YEARS! It would have been better if they had tried to acknowledge her and Nessa had just been like screw you, you wanted me dead! (They did, at one point she thinks how only her brother saved her from being killed.) Oh and dont get me started on the forced sterilisation! A better ending would have been her fixing that or just being happy somewhere else.
Anyways my other issues were I wanted to know more about the controllers, and also why Nessa's epilepsy and injured leg meant she was ostracised from her society in such a brutal way.
Good book, except for the epilogue which just really annoyed me. Nessa still trying to get her parents and peoples approval, when she should have realised that she never needed it in the first place.
And how is it a happy ending that after saving their race her parents are willing to accept her, after abandoning her when she was 12 for TEN YEARS! It would have been better if they had tried to acknowledge her and Nessa had just been like screw you, you wanted me dead! (They did, at one point she thinks how only her brother saved her from being killed.) Oh and dont get me started on the forced sterilisation! A better ending would have been her fixing that or just being happy somewhere else.
Anyways my other issues were I wanted to know more about the controllers, and also why Nessa's epilepsy and injured leg meant she was ostracised from her society in such a brutal way.
May 18, 2014
Found this book too thin on the background, details and character building. The epilogue was a total downer - you do not seek approval from your abusers.
October 6, 2022
Nessa, belittled by her people for her health issues, allows herself to be injected with a deadly virus. She sets out for a scientific colony where they might be able to synthesize a cure. Along the way, she runs into trouble and is rescued by Chase McKnight. However, he’s a Shadower who hunts Shielders like her. Unable to reveal her identity or the reason for her urgency, she resists his appeal as she strives to reach her target before sickness overwhelms her. Even when Chase believes she has betrayed him, she cannot reveal her true feelings or her mission. Meanwhile, Chase is bedeviled by the woman who seeks escape in his arms at night and tries to elude him during the day. Why does she continue to deny their destiny together?
April 22, 2016
The first book in the series, Shielders, by Catherine Spangler. Nessa is an outcast to her people so it made sense for her to volunteer to take the deadly virus to the Shielder medical lab on the planet Santerra. Unfortunately, her outdated ship breaks down and leaves her stranded. Luckily, she is found by Shadower Chase McKnight. She must keep her identity a secret or he would surely take her to the Controllers. The Controllers are the ones who created the virus that is killing her people.
It really wasn't bad and I think I will probably continue this series. But it started slow for me and I didn't feel the author gave enough backstory to understand the conflict. Nor did I really understand the reason Nessa was an outcast other than she wasn't perfect and had minor health issues. Then there is Chase. Again, not enough backstory to understand where he was coming from. But the story did pull me in after a while and I ended up enjoying it.
It really wasn't bad and I think I will probably continue this series. But it started slow for me and I didn't feel the author gave enough backstory to understand the conflict. Nor did I really understand the reason Nessa was an outcast other than she wasn't perfect and had minor health issues. Then there is Chase. Again, not enough backstory to understand where he was coming from. But the story did pull me in after a while and I ended up enjoying it.
November 9, 2015
I'm probably being generous since I'm reviewing this immediately after finishing it and the end is usually the most exciting part of the book for me. I contemplated not finishing it a few times since it was just OK and I have too many other books to read, but I was curious enough to see how things played out. Pretty predictably, I must say; pretty much exactly as I anticipated. This book was basically a routine romance set in space. There was a lot about Chase and Nessa's relationship that I did not like especially in the first half of the book, but then it got a little better. There was a lot of backstory about Shielders and Controllers missing which left the story feeling a bit one-dimensional. Overall, I didn't hate it, but I can't say I really like it a lot either.
May 10, 2015
I read this series a long time ago and loved it. When I saw the first 4 books were available for kindle I snapped up all of them. Now I'm enjoying a leisurely re-read and falling in love all over again.
December 5, 2014
2 1/2
A nice romance, but it didn't work for me that well.
A nice romance, but it didn't work for me that well.
February 6, 2024
Always on the lookout for a good sci-fi romance series, I was excited to find the Shielder books. Book 1 gets off to a good start. Excellent premise. Technically good writing. Interesting characters. However, the so-called hero, Chase, seems snarky and kind of mean, right from the get go. Okay, I thought, at that point he didn't trust Nessa and had his own worries, so I figured we were starting off with his worst, and we'd see him evolve and grow, showing his true colors as the story advanced. Sadly, he gets worse instead of better.
He is verbally and emotionally abusive, he is physically abusive, quick to grab Nessa, one time holding her by the neck nearly strangling her. Gee, that darn temper. Then, the icing on the cake, and the scene that made me hate Chase and hate this book and move it to the DNF list - he rapes her.
Having announced he is her master because he has done so much for her, she owes him, and is his slave - he orders her to strip and rapes her. Afterward she is devastated and runs back to her quarters to shower. He has the nerve to be angry with her for leaving, and proceeds to get in the shower to show her how he would have made it good for her if she had stayed. OMG this makes me so angry, it turns my stomach. Eff this book. DNF!
He is verbally and emotionally abusive, he is physically abusive, quick to grab Nessa, one time holding her by the neck nearly strangling her. Gee, that darn temper. Then, the icing on the cake, and the scene that made me hate Chase and hate this book and move it to the DNF list - he rapes her.
Having announced he is her master because he has done so much for her, she owes him, and is his slave - he orders her to strip and rapes her. Afterward she is devastated and runs back to her quarters to shower. He has the nerve to be angry with her for leaving, and proceeds to get in the shower to show her how he would have made it good for her if she had stayed. OMG this makes me so angry, it turns my stomach. Eff this book. DNF!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2021
I enjoyed this!
It's definitely a space adventure/romance. It's definitely a little weird.
This was written in the 90s, and it does feel that way. The conflicts are a bit contrived and very much based in a lack of communication. That lack of communication does sort of make sense since these two are originally enemies. Below the spoiler, I'm going to give an example of how the conflict is talked about.
It's definitely a space adventure/romance. It's definitely a little weird.
This was written in the 90s, and it does feel that way. The conflicts are a bit contrived and very much based in a lack of communication. That lack of communication does sort of make sense since these two are originally enemies. Below the spoiler, I'm going to give an example of how the conflict is talked about.
September 28, 2017
Perfectly pleasant sf romance; I hadn't read it before but I felt like I had, if that makes any sense. Thinly sketched setting, and the author went for the virginal, I-do-not-understand-this-thing-you-call-sex heroine rather than a more self-sufficient one; the heroine spent a lot of time, even after having sex with the hero, assuming that she was so ugly and undesirable that he couldn't actually want to have sex with her. The plot, like the setting, was thin and involved a couple of adorable children. The epilogue . Fine overall.
January 4, 2020
Very limited science fantasy elements, space ships and alien cultures. The writing did not give the characters any real depth, it was too simple. What we know about the heroine's culture is they are awful people, who ostracised her, and sterilised her - and her parents shunned her. So the h is pathetic, but also self sacrificing, super super smart and so full of goodness that the H couldn't resist her almost child-like body. Yuck, just no. Luckily for the H, he too was one dimensional, also pathetically wallowing in guilt because he's a man who failed to save his family. Space offered no escape for this OTT drama.
September 30, 2017
Initially I was a little skeptical of this novel. I'm not a big fan of martyrlike, sick heroines but Nessa surprised me with her strength. she constantly defied Chase's orders and did what she needed to do to help her people. I loved that Chase kept her safe and provided medical attention even when she betrayed him several times. I feel in love with the way he cared for those two kids and saw beauty and strength in Nessa. Chase and Nessa's love and compassion for each other and others made this a winner for me. Look forward to reading the others.
December 29, 2021
Did not finish at about 25% in. I've had this on my tbr list for what feels like ages. I wish I'd left it there!
Pretty disappointing - FL is has the same amount of spine as a lettuce leaf and is just about as interesting. ML is supposed to be a brooding hero, I guess. But when I stopped reading he didn't have my much personality or motorvation to actually do any of his actions
Pretty disappointing - FL is has the same amount of spine as a lettuce leaf and is just about as interesting. ML is supposed to be a brooding hero, I guess. But when I stopped reading he didn't have my much personality or motorvation to actually do any of his actions
April 23, 2018
the idea of the story is fine.
but static (main and supportive) characters, abrupt and literally impotent romance sequences (he doesn’t give her orgasms until their third coupling, but it’s always barely a few sentences), & convenient clichés that rely on tiring tropes?
thanks, but no thanks.
but static (main and supportive) characters, abrupt and literally impotent romance sequences (he doesn’t give her orgasms until their third coupling, but it’s always barely a few sentences), & convenient clichés that rely on tiring tropes?
thanks, but no thanks.
January 6, 2018
The plot line had great potential but this book was not for me. There were certain elements of the characters that I really enjoyed but as a whole it didn’t come together for me.
August 31, 2018
Fabulous!! I loved the Sentinel Series and I have no doubt the Shielder Series will be equally as good or better. 10+stars.
August 11, 2019
No too deep a plot but an ok read
March 21, 2021
I lived through the 90s and I've read plenty of dubcon before but this is
February 8, 2017
Shielder (Shielder, #1)
Leonessa dan Ranul; a 22 year old Shielder woman, who seeks the approval of her people. Abandoned and outcast at the age of 12 because of a medical condition that shows itself in seizures, she lived for the last 10 years on her own in a cot next to her city. On top of that she is disfigured by a severe leg injury that left her with a limb. Her only visitor in all that time was her brother. A deathly virus threatens the Shielder people and she volunteers for a dangerous mission to save her people, which involves an injection with the virus and 4 weeks to get to secret lab on another planet in hope to develop an antidote. If she fails it’s her death sentence.Shadower Captain Chase McKnight; a gruff, harsh and grumpy man with an mysterious past and only one thing on his mind: vengeance. He’s a bounty hunter and on his way to catch the really bad dudes. And he is supposed to be her enemy.On his way to earn another bounty he receives Nessa’s distress signal after her spaceship crashed and reluctantly decides to take her with him after she tells him she’s a pilgrim on her way to religious festivities. He promises to get her to a spaceport, which is in the vicinity to the planet with the religious festivities and the planet with the lab.Since she can’t tell him the real reason for her journey and the urgency to get to her destination in time and his reluctance to make a beeline for the spaceport, they are bound for a whole lot of trouble, misunderstandings, developing feelings and other complications. (I especially loved the fun Nessa’s pet brought on board. Specifically that one time when they thought it was dead and he tried to replace it. He totally missed that these pets bind to the first person that touches them, which proved to be a problem, since he was allergic to them.)I also liked the interactions with Sabin. He also kept secrets from his friend Chase. At first he was kinda hostile against Nessa but I thought after a while that he might be a case of tough on the outside, soft on the inside, same as Chase, because he kept her secrets and kind of supported her.I loved this book and how the author slowly developed the bond between the two main characters. I loved the back and forth created by both their secrets but eventually everything worked out fine. What I disliked a bit was that at the end, after the virus breaks out in Nessa, everything felt rushed. Granted we get to know Chase’s past but how they were able to cure her case of Orana and how they developed the antidote is handled within a few pages. Could have been handled better.I also disliked her visiting her colony and parents again with Chase and the children to see if they approved of her success. That simply rubbed me the wrong way.I would recommend it to people who like science fiction with a good romance ark, fantastic world building and a whole lot of aventures and action.
Leonessa dan Ranul; a 22 year old Shielder woman, who seeks the approval of her people. Abandoned and outcast at the age of 12 because of a medical condition that shows itself in seizures, she lived for the last 10 years on her own in a cot next to her city. On top of that she is disfigured by a severe leg injury that left her with a limb. Her only visitor in all that time was her brother. A deathly virus threatens the Shielder people and she volunteers for a dangerous mission to save her people, which involves an injection with the virus and 4 weeks to get to secret lab on another planet in hope to develop an antidote. If she fails it’s her death sentence.Shadower Captain Chase McKnight; a gruff, harsh and grumpy man with an mysterious past and only one thing on his mind: vengeance. He’s a bounty hunter and on his way to catch the really bad dudes. And he is supposed to be her enemy.On his way to earn another bounty he receives Nessa’s distress signal after her spaceship crashed and reluctantly decides to take her with him after she tells him she’s a pilgrim on her way to religious festivities. He promises to get her to a spaceport, which is in the vicinity to the planet with the religious festivities and the planet with the lab.Since she can’t tell him the real reason for her journey and the urgency to get to her destination in time and his reluctance to make a beeline for the spaceport, they are bound for a whole lot of trouble, misunderstandings, developing feelings and other complications. (I especially loved the fun Nessa’s pet brought on board. Specifically that one time when they thought it was dead and he tried to replace it. He totally missed that these pets bind to the first person that touches them, which proved to be a problem, since he was allergic to them.)I also liked the interactions with Sabin. He also kept secrets from his friend Chase. At first he was kinda hostile against Nessa but I thought after a while that he might be a case of tough on the outside, soft on the inside, same as Chase, because he kept her secrets and kind of supported her.I loved this book and how the author slowly developed the bond between the two main characters. I loved the back and forth created by both their secrets but eventually everything worked out fine. What I disliked a bit was that at the end, after the virus breaks out in Nessa, everything felt rushed. Granted we get to know Chase’s past but how they were able to cure her case of Orana and how they developed the antidote is handled within a few pages. Could have been handled better.I also disliked her visiting her colony and parents again with Chase and the children to see if they approved of her success. That simply rubbed me the wrong way.I would recommend it to people who like science fiction with a good romance ark, fantastic world building and a whole lot of aventures and action.
October 15, 2013
Not *quite* a 4 but close enough.
The good news - a futuristic with no noticeable Star Wars influence. Yay.
Alright. Our h is...epileptic I guess, and was severely injured at 12 when she had a seizure. Her people don't have the resources to support those who are...damaged, so she's cast out. At 12. At least she wasn't euthanized. Someone engineered a virus that's specific to her people so she volunteers to be a host and carry said virus to a lab somewhere far away. In an ancient shuttle that breaks down 2 days out.
Enter our H. Because of his apparent occupation, she does not trust him with knowledge of what she is, or what her real mission is. And...he's taking his own sweet time to take her where she needs to go. It's almost a comedy of errors - she tries several times to sneak off so she can hopefully gain passage (she's on a time limit here). One time she saves his life, the other, she acquires a couple of kids of her own race from a slaver. And that time had the amusing side effect of his trying to replace her apparently dead pet with another and inadvertently bonding it to him - problem since he's allergic to them.
Eventually, she steals his ship - this means war - and they're both taken into detention. He assumes it's because of her but it's not. He's alerted to the virus and a cure is created at the 11th hour.
There were moments where I was convinced our h was TSTL - he told her those places were not safe, yet she left the ship anyway. OTOH, her presence was fortuitous in both instances. So... I'm torn. I find it irritating when heroines do that - go exactly where they were told not to go due to risks involved. Then again...she did keep someone from sneaking up on him, and she did rescue those kids, so...
The H...admitted that he was afraid to face his failure - he was a famous Dr who'd thrown in the scalpel after the same person engineered a virus that killed of his people - he was unable to stop it and couldn't handle it. At least he did face himself eventually.
Issues... there was a distinct lack of world building. What is a Shielder? What are Controllers? What...? WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!?!?!?
I'm used to the modern series. The first one, the story is often sacrificed to world building (wish they'd just make book 1 longer buuut), and only later books are so story driven (unless you're certain authors who can't seem to stay focused and thus have bits and pieces of *everything* scattered in each book.) This... lack of info is jarring. Frustrating too. Ah well; one can hope the other 4 books in the series manage to leak enough details that I can figure it out before I finish the series.
The good news - a futuristic with no noticeable Star Wars influence. Yay.
Alright. Our h is...epileptic I guess, and was severely injured at 12 when she had a seizure. Her people don't have the resources to support those who are...damaged, so she's cast out. At 12. At least she wasn't euthanized. Someone engineered a virus that's specific to her people so she volunteers to be a host and carry said virus to a lab somewhere far away. In an ancient shuttle that breaks down 2 days out.
Enter our H. Because of his apparent occupation, she does not trust him with knowledge of what she is, or what her real mission is. And...he's taking his own sweet time to take her where she needs to go. It's almost a comedy of errors - she tries several times to sneak off so she can hopefully gain passage (she's on a time limit here). One time she saves his life, the other, she acquires a couple of kids of her own race from a slaver. And that time had the amusing side effect of his trying to replace her apparently dead pet with another and inadvertently bonding it to him - problem since he's allergic to them.
Eventually, she steals his ship - this means war - and they're both taken into detention. He assumes it's because of her but it's not. He's alerted to the virus and a cure is created at the 11th hour.
There were moments where I was convinced our h was TSTL - he told her those places were not safe, yet she left the ship anyway. OTOH, her presence was fortuitous in both instances. So... I'm torn. I find it irritating when heroines do that - go exactly where they were told not to go due to risks involved. Then again...she did keep someone from sneaking up on him, and she did rescue those kids, so...
The H...admitted that he was afraid to face his failure - he was a famous Dr who'd thrown in the scalpel after the same person engineered a virus that killed of his people - he was unable to stop it and couldn't handle it. At least he did face himself eventually.
Issues... there was a distinct lack of world building. What is a Shielder? What are Controllers? What...? WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!?!?!?
I'm used to the modern series. The first one, the story is often sacrificed to world building (wish they'd just make book 1 longer buuut), and only later books are so story driven (unless you're certain authors who can't seem to stay focused and thus have bits and pieces of *everything* scattered in each book.) This... lack of info is jarring. Frustrating too. Ah well; one can hope the other 4 books in the series manage to leak enough details that I can figure it out before I finish the series.
April 19, 2012
This is an EXCELLENT romantic suspense SCI-FI book. There’s so few of them out there that they are a rare find and “Shielder” is a gem!
STORY SYNOPSIS:
This girl was shunned and threatened with execution by her own family for the audacity of having epilepsy. She was cast out and suffered alone since she was 12, Her colony needed someone willing to transport a dangerous virus inside a living host to scientists who could find a cure.
Nessa volunteers to save the colony. En route, to the scientists, her space ship breaks down. She’s rescued by bounty hunter Chase. They’re attracted to each other. Problem is, she has literally 3 weeks to get to her destination or she dies, and she can’t trust her handsome bounty hunter cause she’s a Shielder, a secret race of people that the bounty hunter is charged with locating and turning in for extermination. Plus Chase keeps promising to set her down on a planet with transport connections so she can get to her destination, but knowing nothing of her deadline, he keeps getting sidetracked with his own bounty hunting and his personal vendetta.
What a great set up right?
OPINION:
This is a throughly enjoyable book, but it did make me angry. Good writing does do that sometimes right? I was angry at her family. How could they turn their back on their 12 year old daughter? She was grievously injured in an accident, but they did nothing to help her. Parents are supposed to be willing to give their lives for their children, not cast them aside as unworthy when they are ill or weak. I don’t think her colony was worth saving, if they treat their members like that. But apparently Nessa did.
This is good book. It’s part of a series, but can easily be read as a stand alone. If you like romantic suspenseful science fiction, this series is for you. Just try to choke down your revulsion for the cover.
STORY SYNOPSIS:
This girl was shunned and threatened with execution by her own family for the audacity of having epilepsy. She was cast out and suffered alone since she was 12, Her colony needed someone willing to transport a dangerous virus inside a living host to scientists who could find a cure.
Nessa volunteers to save the colony. En route, to the scientists, her space ship breaks down. She’s rescued by bounty hunter Chase. They’re attracted to each other. Problem is, she has literally 3 weeks to get to her destination or she dies, and she can’t trust her handsome bounty hunter cause she’s a Shielder, a secret race of people that the bounty hunter is charged with locating and turning in for extermination. Plus Chase keeps promising to set her down on a planet with transport connections so she can get to her destination, but knowing nothing of her deadline, he keeps getting sidetracked with his own bounty hunting and his personal vendetta.
What a great set up right?
OPINION:
This is a throughly enjoyable book, but it did make me angry. Good writing does do that sometimes right? I was angry at her family. How could they turn their back on their 12 year old daughter? She was grievously injured in an accident, but they did nothing to help her. Parents are supposed to be willing to give their lives for their children, not cast them aside as unworthy when they are ill or weak. I don’t think her colony was worth saving, if they treat their members like that. But apparently Nessa did.
This is good book. It’s part of a series, but can easily be read as a stand alone. If you like romantic suspenseful science fiction, this series is for you. Just try to choke down your revulsion for the cover.
September 26, 2023
Nessa, an outcast in her shielder colony due to physical impairment and a seizure disorder volunteers to be a live carrier of a deadly virus off world in hopes that a vaccination can be created. After her derelict shuttle breaks down in the middle of outer space she is picked up by shadower Chase McNight. Using the cover as a religious pilgrim, she begs Chase to take her so she can make a very important ceremony on time. While Chase agrees, he has his own agenda and after several delays, Nessa is desperate to reach her final destination before the Orana virus goes live. Nessa therefore must struggle between trying to survive the virus and her growing attraction toward Chase.
I enjoyed this book for several reasons. For the most part the writing was well done which made it a quick read. And I just love a tragic heroine who struggles against an impossible deadline. I also am a sucker for the big strong just as tragic hero who has a shadowy past that is only overcome by some really good loving. One of the few fatal flaws here was the insistence to call Nessa an innocent woman-child. At the age of 22, it’s hard to consider a full grown adult a woman-child; even if she is petite. Small-bones just doesn’t make someone a child or even child-like. And while she is innocent in the ways of men, she is not innocent in the way of life. For someone who had become outcast at the age of 12, and had to struggle just to survive on her own, there is no way to remain so completely unworldly.
I therefore give this book 3.5 stars. It would have been a 4 or 4.5 without the mention of the “woman-child”
I enjoyed this book for several reasons. For the most part the writing was well done which made it a quick read. And I just love a tragic heroine who struggles against an impossible deadline. I also am a sucker for the big strong just as tragic hero who has a shadowy past that is only overcome by some really good loving. One of the few fatal flaws here was the insistence to call Nessa an innocent woman-child. At the age of 22, it’s hard to consider a full grown adult a woman-child; even if she is petite. Small-bones just doesn’t make someone a child or even child-like. And while she is innocent in the ways of men, she is not innocent in the way of life. For someone who had become outcast at the age of 12, and had to struggle just to survive on her own, there is no way to remain so completely unworldly.
I therefore give this book 3.5 stars. It would have been a 4 or 4.5 without the mention of the “woman-child”
June 19, 2013
Shielder is the first book in Catherine Spangler's well-loved Shielder sci/fi romance series. It's been years since I first read Shielder, and it was thoroughly enjoyable to reread this wonderful book.
The heroine, Nessa, although physically flawed, is able to shield her mind from the murderous Controllers who have created a lethal virus specifically designed to kill only Shielders. In Nessa's rather primitive colony, which is in hiding from the Controllers, Nessa is shunned for her defects. But when there is an outbreak of the deadly Orana virus, Nessa, desiring to be worthy in her people's eyes, volunteers to be injected with the virus and journey to another planet, using the cover of a pilgrim, to a more advanced Shielder facility where a vaccine could be developed to save her colony.
Time is critical as the virus spreads throughout Nessa's body, and she encounters a variety of obstacles in trying to reach the Shielder facility on Sonoma. Her ship breaks down and she is rescued by Chase, a shadower, employed by the Controllers to hunt down Shielders.
They journey together and have many ups and downs as their relationship runs the gamut of emotions from fear and anger to desire and love as their adventure progresses. This book has everything: passion, suspense, humor, action, and adventure.
The only "bad" thing about Shielder is the tropic-isle-type cover foisted on the author by her publisher. But I refuse to count that against this well-written, wonderful book!
The heroine, Nessa, although physically flawed, is able to shield her mind from the murderous Controllers who have created a lethal virus specifically designed to kill only Shielders. In Nessa's rather primitive colony, which is in hiding from the Controllers, Nessa is shunned for her defects. But when there is an outbreak of the deadly Orana virus, Nessa, desiring to be worthy in her people's eyes, volunteers to be injected with the virus and journey to another planet, using the cover of a pilgrim, to a more advanced Shielder facility where a vaccine could be developed to save her colony.
Time is critical as the virus spreads throughout Nessa's body, and she encounters a variety of obstacles in trying to reach the Shielder facility on Sonoma. Her ship breaks down and she is rescued by Chase, a shadower, employed by the Controllers to hunt down Shielders.
They journey together and have many ups and downs as their relationship runs the gamut of emotions from fear and anger to desire and love as their adventure progresses. This book has everything: passion, suspense, humor, action, and adventure.
The only "bad" thing about Shielder is the tropic-isle-type cover foisted on the author by her publisher. But I refuse to count that against this well-written, wonderful book!
June 16, 2016
This book I give a 2.5 rating.
As a whole, the book starts with a fairly credible situation, (though maybe for me it was difficult to understand the entire issue in the beginning with her parents and clan about the way she was because it had never been her fault in the first place,) but going in after those first chapters of the book I was somewhat skeptical.
The writing was actually pretty good, which is where my middle of the boat rating comes from. Other than that, I am missing originality, the real reason they "fall in love" - because it's almost like insta-hate-but-wait-I-can't-control-myself kind of love/lust, and plausibility. We've seen space books with romance and miscommunication as the main problem to solve in a book, so I wanted to see more with this one (though I'm not completely sure what I was thinking when I read the synapse and still decided to give it a read...). While there were tidbits of the book that had new things I hadn't yet seen, in my opinion I just felt that the overall plot/issue of the book had been done and done again many times before (and I haven't read many, or so I think).
I probably won't be continuing on to read the other books in the series.
As a whole, the book starts with a fairly credible situation, (though maybe for me it was difficult to understand the entire issue in the beginning with her parents and clan about the way she was because it had never been her fault in the first place,) but going in after those first chapters of the book I was somewhat skeptical.
The writing was actually pretty good, which is where my middle of the boat rating comes from. Other than that, I am missing originality, the real reason they "fall in love" - because it's almost like insta-hate-but-wait-I-can't-control-myself kind of love/lust, and plausibility. We've seen space books with romance and miscommunication as the main problem to solve in a book, so I wanted to see more with this one (though I'm not completely sure what I was thinking when I read the synapse and still decided to give it a read...). While there were tidbits of the book that had new things I hadn't yet seen, in my opinion I just felt that the overall plot/issue of the book had been done and done again many times before (and I haven't read many, or so I think).
I probably won't be continuing on to read the other books in the series.
November 10, 2017
Shielder is a little gem of futuristic romance. I found myself rooting for the young heroine Nessa dan Ranul, as she leaves her world behind to find the cure for the virus that is killing her people, the Shielders. When she hitches a ride with bounty hunter Chase McKnight, her efforts are both helped and hindered by him. Bounty hunters can make good money by turning in any Shielder they run across. While Nessa must keep her identity secret from Chase, she is also learns to appreciate Chase's bedside manor and good looks.
I really enjoyed the romance, the action and the overall story of Nessa's pursuit of a cure for her people, even though they have rejected her. The story also had some fine secondary characters, especially, Sabin, Chase's partner.
How I came to read this book - I had entered a giveaway for the book, and since I did not win, I probably never would have looked at it again. But because of the giveaway, I connected with the author, Catherine Spangler, so I kept the book on my To-Read shelf. I'm so glad I did!
I really enjoyed the romance, the action and the overall story of Nessa's pursuit of a cure for her people, even though they have rejected her. The story also had some fine secondary characters, especially, Sabin, Chase's partner.
How I came to read this book - I had entered a giveaway for the book, and since I did not win, I probably never would have looked at it again. But because of the giveaway, I connected with the author, Catherine Spangler, so I kept the book on my To-Read shelf. I'm so glad I did!
April 18, 2015
This is my review from 2003:
I really liked this book. Nessa, the heroine, is a cripple and for that she is banned by her own people, including her parents! She is a shielder, a race on the brink of extinction. The shielders are hunted down and killed by an evil dominion that rules the galaxy. When her help is needed for a dangerous mission, Nessa takes off in an old spaceship and encounters Chase. The story is really heartbreaking sometimes and also very original (I loved her pet). The love story between Nessa and Chase is convincing and there is enough action in the novel too. I liked this first book even better than the second book, Shadower (which actually takes place before this one)and the third, Shamara. But they are all 3 very good!
I really liked this book. Nessa, the heroine, is a cripple and for that she is banned by her own people, including her parents! She is a shielder, a race on the brink of extinction. The shielders are hunted down and killed by an evil dominion that rules the galaxy. When her help is needed for a dangerous mission, Nessa takes off in an old spaceship and encounters Chase. The story is really heartbreaking sometimes and also very original (I loved her pet). The love story between Nessa and Chase is convincing and there is enough action in the novel too. I liked this first book even better than the second book, Shadower (which actually takes place before this one)and the third, Shamara. But they are all 3 very good!
February 27, 2014
I really wanted to like this book but I didn't.
There are many reasons why didn't like this book I don't think that I truly liked either of the characters. Another reason was it just repeated over and over again that she needed to go somewhere and he wouldn't take her there over and over. I personally like my female characters to be strong and not weak like Nessa. I don't mean physically either I just meant mentally. All she would focus on was that she wasn't pretty and that no man would want her etc. Nessa really needs a backbone.
There are many reasons why didn't like this book I don't think that I truly liked either of the characters. Another reason was it just repeated over and over again that she needed to go somewhere and he wouldn't take her there over and over. I personally like my female characters to be strong and not weak like Nessa. I don't mean physically either I just meant mentally. All she would focus on was that she wasn't pretty and that no man would want her etc. Nessa really needs a backbone.
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