Napa, California, the Present; 1500 Miles Away and 160 Years in the Past

Carrie Taylor is an incurable romantic. She has ended a disastrous relationship with Dean, who only wants her as a wife so he can get a promotion at the law firm where he works. Carrie doesn't have to work, but she enjoys being around people, so she has a job as a receptionist.

Carrie is an inveterate reader of romances and often indulges in daydreams of the perfect man, although she is sure no man like the one she wants exists. Maria, one of Carrie's friends at work, invites her out for lunch one day, and afterwards they go to Carrie's favorite shop, Treasures Antique Store, in downtown Napa. Carrie has made several purchases there and is good friends with Arthur Merle, the owner. On this day, he gives Carrie an old photo of a group of American Indians.

Every other man, real or imagined, is gone from Carrie's mind when she sees the handsome warrior in the picture. It is his image that replaces all others in her daydreams. Shortly, she becomes obsessed with him and returns to the shop to ask Mr. Merle if he has any information about the man. All Mr. Merle can tell her is that his name is Black Eagle.

Carrie starts dreaming of him. Far away and in the past, lonely Black Eagle dreams of a strange place and a beautiful white woman. Both of them are beyond surprised when Black Eagle appears in Carrie's bedroom and is no longer in the photo. Black Eagle is the absolute epitome of all of Carrie's fantasies.

Not knowing how much time they will have together, Black Eagle -- or Blake, as Carrie introduces him to everyone -- slowly acclimates himself to twenty-first century living. The two fall hopelessly in love, but what will happen if they are once more separated by time? And what happens when Dean decides to force Carrie into marriage? And what does Mr. Merle know that no one else does?

THE PHOTOGRAPH is so romantic it made my heart go pitter-pat. Black Eagle and Carrie are meant for each other. They share a love that transcends time and space and is sweet, gentle, and all-encompassing in its intensity. Regan Taylor knows all the right buttons to push in this lovely, passionate story as she takes us on a journey of discovery and dreams with style and grace. Her characters are quite believable, and I found no flaws with the logic presented. Carrie's roommate, Molly, and her boyfriend, Vincent, are good friends to Carrie and Black Eagle and help them stay safe. Such good surprises await the reader who settles down with this book. It is the kind that one keeps on the favorites shelf to be read again and again. I recommend it.

Vi Janaway