Reviewer Comments: Callie Jordan has had to make her own way in the world since she was left at an orphanage as an infant. She doesn’t have anyone to rely on (well, except for her best friend, DeeDee) and has done everything herself. Sure, the place she lives isn’t great and she doesn’t drive a nice car or have a lot of money in the bank, but she achieved it on her own. Callie works at the local zoo and is in charge of the petting zoo part. She loves the animals, but could do without the children that come through each day. Callie is just waiting for the day when she is promoted to the big cats. She especially loves Sheba, the jaguar. Callie connects with Sheba and thinks of the cat as one of her best friends. Things are fairly normal for Callie until she runs into an unknown black jaguar at Sheba’s cage and then the jaguar turns into a man who follows her home.
Prince Rogar Valkyir from New Symtaria, another planet, has been sent to locate the descendants of Symtarians who were sent to find new planets to live on when Old Symtaria was in danger. He knows that some of the Symtarians made it to Earth where they mated with Earthlings and had half-breed children. Rogar knows that having these children return home will strengthen their planet and make life better for everyone. Now he just has to convince Callie that she is one of them and that shape-shifting is a natural part of who they are.
On the surface of this book, it all seems a bit far-fetched. Ms. Kelley definitely has an enormous imagination, but she makes all the pieces fit together. Ms. Kelley is able to create a fantasy world that completely works. I don’t think anyone else could blend shape-shifting with aliens and write such a compelling story. Everything comes together and makes a complete whole. If you are new to the science fiction sub-genre of romance, Ms. Kelley’s books are the perfect starting place.
From the very beginning, this story drew me into the world of Callie and Rogar. Callie is a compelling character because she is so real. She is the woman who has had a rough time of things and her only escape is in the romance novels that she reads (which of us can’t relate to the escapism of romance?). Callie is independent and meets life on her own terms. She does what she needs to. When her romantic hero comes to life, Callie is distrusting and unsure of his intentions. She questions what he wants, but then comes to believe in her inner voice. Rogar, despite being from a different planet and having skills that no Earth man would have, is a real romantic hero. He will do anything to protect Callie and to help her accept who she is. I loved every minute of this story.
