Title: Covenants
Author: Barbara Karmazin
Published in 2003 by Atlantic Bridge - Epublishing
Genre: Science Fiction/Futuristic Suspense
ISBN: 1-931761-74-4
In the town of Lacrimas in North Carolina, live the Harkers. A race of people similar yet intricately different then the average human beings. Led by Lilith Harker, head of their Caterdru, they are the only 5 remaining within their sisterline. They are also the last of all sisterlines. A proud race of people held intact by strong and powerful oath bonds. Nathaniel Harker wants nothing more than to keep his family intact. As guardian, he insures the continued existence of their kind by his powerful protection. With his furred skin and fangs, he is known to all that gaze upon him as the haunt of Harker Lands. At this point of their lives the Harkers realize that they need allies or they face a certain extinction. Lilith's not having any children has kept their numbers too few. Her burden as leader is heavy as she is the last female of childbearing age within her Caterdru. It is decided that they will sell some of their land, and strengthen past covenants, to assure their future.
The Harkers rely on the town of Lacrimas for their monetary as well as peaceful existence. Shiloh Harker, Lilith's oath brother, makes mechanical gadgets and machinery that is invaluable in the year of 2042. His Yada's are a household name yet few have seen their elusive creator. Their Great Aunt Elizabeth is the oldest of their sisterline but has deferred leadership to the much stronger Lily. She also knows that Kurt Walker's attraction for Lily will align them with an influential ally. Nathaniel is perhaps the biggest mystery of all and the one that everyone has reason to fear. The Harkers rely on their telempathic abilities to communicate with each other. It is this that alerts them when a family member is in danger or needs to share his emotions. Kurt has been in love with Lily forever. As usual, he wears his heart on his sleeve, yet still finds himself pushed away when he gets too near. Not even gifts seem to sway the dominant woman who seems to want for nothing, but the closeness of her family. They are a matriarchal culture where the females have always decided on what was best for their clan.
Bridget O'Keefe is a physician who has just accepted a 3 year position in Lacrimas. She was hired by Kurt walker to head the new clinic he recently built. At first perplexed by Kurt, she doesn't understand if he is attracted to her or the tight lipped Lily who seems to want nothing to do with him. Bridget needs this job to pay off her medical school debts. Before coming to Lacrimas, Bridget specialized in genetic research at Duke. She later finds out that her boss Debbie has ties to the Harkers that go way back to the days of bigotry and hatred. Covenants that once exacted, cannot ever be broken. As Debbie fills Bridget in on the lore of the swamps and the strange Harkers, Bridget finds herself mystified. She hungers for more knowledge of the creature known as the haunt. Not knowing that he is already closer to her in more ways than she could have imagined. Not aware that he has already glimpsed her beauty, and is just as captivated.
As Bridget finally meets the Harkers, she finds friendships as well as undisguised attractions. When Shiloh get a local woman pregnant it seems as if the Harkers are jeopardized. But old pacts once again arise and new covenants are formed that adds strength to the sisterline. Bridget finds herself struggling to make sense of all she sees. She is bought into a family of seeming misfits who are all determined to live, love and remain a family. Renowned for their sexual prowess the Harker men have attracted their women for ages. With Bridget, there is no exception. Especially when she finds out that she too carries a trait, and is indeed one with the covenant. Upon becoming oath sister to Lily she finds herself around the ghost like Nathaniel. She finds herself craving his nearness and reveling in his strong and wondrous touch.
As Bridget is drawn into and made a part of the Harker Caterdru, she has to make choices that will affect her for the rest of her life. The Harkers are not all that they appear to be. They are more, and have been so for centuries. Bridget finds herself feeling all of their emotions as wave after wave of sensations course through her aroused flesh. She finds that of all the Harkers, Nathaniel’s heated caresses are what she desires most. Bridget feels that loving Nathaniel won't be easy, but it is a price she is willing to pay. Complications arises when Shiloh also lets her experience the passion he feels for her too. As the family bonds ever closer in the face of a terrible accident, they realize that the true tests of their continued existence is before them There is also the threat of a new evil closing in around the Harkers. Word of a new DNA strain gets out, and evil men move in to take what is not theirs. Can Bridget and the Harkers rely on those in Lacrimas who owe their families the covenant price? Barbara Karmazin Has written a new kind of novel wonderment that once it grabs your attention, will not let go easily.
I must say that I was shocked, terrified, amazed and downright just flabbergasted at everything I read within the pages of the COVENANT. To say that it is a new kind of romantic, futuristic and sci-fi concept, would be the understatement of the year. I give the author tons of credit because not once did I stray from the telling of her tale. In fact, I had to know exactly what it was that I happened to stumble upon in the town of Lacrimas. The results are surprising and literary ingenuity at it's best. The COVENANT draws the reader into a world of diverse ethnic cultures and situations, that seem taboo and should be off limits. This was a very new kind of read for me, and I'm still not fully recovered from an ending that basically took me by surprise. I recommend COVENANT because despite all the myth and legend entailed, it is one extraordinarily written and well thought out read. The characters are all extremely likeable and I even found myself turned on by the "hairy" Nathaniel. A man who looked like a beast, yet had the most sensually hypnotic soul of them all. Written by Barbara Karmazin and published by Atlantic Bridge in 2003, COVENANT exacts a fee that this reviewer has paid with pleasure.
Happy reading,
Joann Ruffen
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