Dark Rival

August 27, 2007
In Joyce's second Masters of Time novel (after Dark Seduction
), New York heiress Allie Monroe hides her secret life as a Healer, sworn to defend the innocent and fight a plague of demons as a member of the shadowy Center for Demonic Activities. When an ageless Highlands warrior, Black Royce, comes from the past to protect her, Allie's world is thrown into turmoil. Despite mutual attraction, overwhelming guilt over his first wife's death has left Black distant and afraid; when they finally do give in to passion, Black is murdered immediately after. Desperate for a way to change things, Allie goes back in time, to the year 1430, to find Royce, win his cold heart and save him from his fate. Though her world of Healers and Masters is rich and the plot well-handled, Joyce relies too often on the time travel mechanism (and its attendant vagaries) to do her heavy lifting. Still, the supporting characters are excellent, the sex scenes are plentiful (though at times illogical), and the plot thick, making this sophomore series entry a fine entertainment, sure to gratify fans of the bestselling kickoff.

Starred review from September 15, 2007
In Joyceslatest installment inthe Masters of Time series, New Yorker Allie Monroe, a healer, is detecting the presence ofanevil force. She vows to stop it andto help its victims. Soon Royce, avery manly Scot, appears to help her, and soon they are time traveling to his castle in Scotland.They are hugely attracted to one another, and owing to his status as a Master and hers as a healer they have an almost insatiable sex drive. But the demon who has been stalking Roycefights him to the death. Allie thenbegs a friend of Royce to take her back in time so she can prevent the fatal battle. Now she is in the same castle, but in the year 1430. She must get to know Royce all over again and convince him to let her into his life and his heart. This Royce is a very stubborn medieval man who vows to protect Allie, but also not to touch her. Joyces fascinating, dramatic paranormal romancehas something for everyone, from time travel and the supernatural to brawny Highlanders and plenty of sensuality.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)