Portrait of a Man

After reading this book I realized there was a previous book in this series and I'm going to read that one next. I enjoyed the book for the paranormal and time travel story. I had a slight problem with the main male character, Rourke. He was described as a hardened warrior but always seemed to come up short in his encounters with the very evil Fachan who seemed to be invincable with a whip of all things. Something about that just didn't ring true. Also, Fachan was way over the top as evil...he almost became a joke. All in all this was an enjoyable read and the love scenes were very caring. The ending left open the need for another book to resolve many issues.

Even as a child Alexis Conner found the paranormal fascinating and as a scientist authenticates or debunks the mystical. However even she is a bit taken aback in Philadelphia when a hunk seemingly steps through a portrait of Lincoln and begins kissing her. Later at her apartment Alexis meets Rourke of Calandor, who insists he is from a different world Blackfell. He further explains a portrait of her on his side and that of Lincoln on hers contain a portal between time and space. Furthermore his need for her so deep it enabled him to use the portal to be with her. He and his people need Alexis to come to his realm as she is considered the lone hope to stop a plague destroying his race. PORTRAIT OF A MAN is an intriguing time travel science fiction romance that paints an interesting future of a world in which the scarcity of females has led the gender to become a valuable commodity. The lead pair is delightful as Alexis used to anything under the sun has problems adapting to a distant future that makes the Dark Ages look enlightened. Though well written, this reviewer recommends first reading the previous thriller (see PORTRAIT OF A BRIDE) as explanations of why are more apt to be found in that tale than in this exciting story line. Still Tracy Fobes provides a wonderful "devastated" realm tale. Harriet Klausner