I had a very funny experience with this novel. After I posted it to Goodreads I discovered that apparently the paperback version has a rather lurid picture on the cover of a shirtless and very attractive man being caressed by a beautiful woman, definitely bodice-ripper oriented and definitely posted on my Facebook page for all my friends to see. It was embarrassing, to say the least, especially because, although romance drove some of the plot-line, this was primarily a time-travel / historical fiction story. Yes, it definitely included romance, because why on earth would someone be compelled to settle, even temporarily, in to a completely different historical era (1863, to be exact) unless there was love involved? There was also a child who had mysteriously disappeared 5 years before, driving protagonist Laura Truitt's need to investigate the family who lived in her current home 150 years before she did.
What I found especially compelling about this novel is the incredible sense of place. I have grown very fond of time travel (but only into the past), especially when the author researches well and seems to be presenting a true picture of life in the past. Here White brings in concerns about childhood immunizations, personal hygiene, costume, and communications and how they differ from 1863 to modern times. She also endows Laura with a strong sense of responsibility to preserving the past, not changing history if that is even possible. One of the delightful things about the story is Laura's recognition of several civil war officers from her own modern history books and her discovery that sometimes the stories that have been handed down are not quite accurate.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Shadows of the Moon. In fact, it has taken some time for the sensation that I had actually visited the past to wear off! This novel has a bit of everything: romance, tragedy, historical context, intrigue, and family drama. I would highly recommend it for a great weekend read, vacation book, or escape experience.
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