In the Shadow of the Moon

by Karen White

Revisit the beginning of New York Times bestselling author Karen White's signature style in one of her earliest novels—a story about a love that defies time...

IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON

When Laura Truitt first sees the dilapidated plantation house, she's overcome by a sense of familiarity. Inside, the owner claims to have been waiting for years and offers an old photograph of a woman with Laura's face. Soon afterwards, when a lunar eclipse inexplicably thrusts Laura back in time to Civil War Georgia, she finds herself fighting not just for her heart, but for her very survival....

Includes an exclusive preview of Karen White's next hardcover

Praise for Karen White

"There is a rhythm to the writing of Karen White. It has a pace, a beat, a cadence that is all its own."—The Huffington Post

"The ultimate voice of women's fiction."—Fresh...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Time Travel, Romance, Civil War, Historical, Fiction, Historical Romance

298 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 14, 2000

About the author

With more than 2 million books in print in fifteen different languages, Karen White is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 34 novels, including the popular Charleston-set Tradd Street mystery series.

Raised in a house full of brothers, Karen’s love of books and strong female characters first began in the third grade when the local librarian issued her a library card and placed The Secret of the Old Clock, a Nancy Drew Mystery, in her hands.

Karen’s roots run deep in the South where many of her novels are set. Her intricate plot lines and compelling characters charm and captivate readers with just the right mix of family drama, mystery, intrigue and romance.

Not entirely convinced she wanted to be a writer, Karen first pursued a career in business and graduated cum laude with a BS in Management from Tulane University. Ten years later, in a weak moment, she wrote her first book. In the Shadow of the Moon was published in August, 2000. Her books—referred to as “grit lit” (Southern Women’s Fiction)—have since been nominated for numerous national contests including the SIBA (Southeastern Booksellers Alliance) Fiction Book of the Year.

Karen’s next book, THAT LAST CAROLINA SUMMER, will be published by Park Row Books in July, 2025.

When not writing, Karen spends her time reading, scrapbooking, playing piano, and avoiding cooking. Karen and her husband have two grown children and currently live near Atlanta, Georgia with two spoiled Havanese dogs.
- See more at: http://www.karen-white.com/bio.cfm#st...

Reviews

[Monica Aplin · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new most-loved book! I read the version of this book found in the collection Spinning the Moon, which includes an updated version of this book and Whispers of Goodbye. I must say that characters and circumstances in any book have never moved me as much as this one. Set primarily in the South during the Civil War, the story highlights the struggles of love and loss during the Civil War, and the lengths many had to go to before they could find any resemblance of a normal life. It was a very dynamic mix of romance, struggle, loss, history, and family mixed with an element of the mysteries of traveling through time to find true love and happiness. The Elliott family's courage and perseverance is beautifully inspirational as is the timeless love and determination between Stuart and Laura...and I just fell in love with Stuart Elliott and longingly wished there were more men this chivalrous and devoted in modern times. Beautiful tale!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved it! If you're a Diana Gabaldon fan, you'll like this too.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful story. I especially enjoyed the history of the Civil War in the north Georgia and Atlanta areas. This is Karen White's first novel, but far from the first of her books that I have read. She has moved on from romance to more modern stories of women's struggles within families and society. I greatly enjoy her locales of South Carolina and north Georgia. I am looking forward to more settings in North Georgia.

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

[Bethany · Rating 1 out of 5]

So this is a complete rip off of Outlander (I know she said Outlander was what inspired her to write, but seriously). How do you write a book of a Civil War apologist? I know there were some bad Yankees, so I can understand writing the villain the way she did. But the author creates a picture of the "benevolent slavemaster" and the main character flat out says "I can't choose sides" in the conflict. Yes, you can. You're a modern woman who learned about the atrocities of slavery. Slavery is never ok. You can fall in the love with the slavemaster if you wish, but don't make excuses for the institution. At least Outlander called out some of the more insidious customs at the time even if she couldn't change them. And on top of that, how do you fall in love with someone who cannot trust a single word you say or any action you take? This book was terrible which stopped me from the reading the other book in anthology.

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't finish. Just got stupider and stupider. And in all honesty, even from page 1 I couldn't identify with the heroine. And the more things that happened, the less I liked her, the hero, the whole book. So, I got 75% of the way and was so fed up I just quit reading it.

[Christa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The older cover of this book is misleading. It doesn’t find the type of book at all. It’s the cover of a poorly written, smutty romance. This story is not that at all. I am glad this book was given a new beautiful, fitting cover; otherwise I never would have picked it to read. :)

I can see the similarities between this story and Outlander. Outlander fans will enjoy this book for sure!

I found the jump back in history interesting, White did a tremendous job not forgetting that her character wouldn’t know how to do certain things bc of coming from a different era. I did find the middle a bit tedious. Over all though a great story! A second book would interesting!

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad but very obvious she had just read outlander. It’s a less gripping version. Normally I love Karen White and I’m glad this wasn’t the first thing I read from her or I wouldn’t have read all the others.

[Stephanie Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why is the cover so awful? This is a decent book and not a romance like the cover suggests. Fast and worth reading.

[Janna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book so so much!!! I listened to the Audible version and it was so well read by the narrator. I fell in love with the characters right away and loved the storyline, even though it’s rather far fetched in many ways. Karen White is one of my all-time favorite novelists because she knows how to create vivid scenes with her descriptive words. This was her first novel.. she sure started out strong! Sometimes it’s nice to just read to escape, and that’s what this book was for me!

[Felicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never would have touched this book with the original cover lol but I read it as part of the rerelease compilation and it was a good story. Different than her more recent novels but the story kept me engaged and I read it in 2 days

[Roxanne B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Time travel. the book I read didn't have this cover ;-) I'm glad because I would have probably not picked it up to read it.

[CeeCee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as part of a newer release set that included this story and another one. If I had honestly seen this original cover, I probably would have passed on it. My opinion only, the original cover doesn’t mesh with the storyline.

I love historical fiction and enjoy a good time traveling story so this sounded right up my alley. I loved it. For the most part. The writing drew me in and kept me turning the pages. Between 40-50% in the story did slow a little for me and I was tempted to skim, but it immediately picked back up.

I know this book has been compared to Outlander (which I haven’t read yet) and that this was Karen White’s first novel. Not being able to compare it personally to Outlander, I think it was a really interesting read.

The storyline was great and the plot was pretty cool. There were a couple things that I didn’t entirely understand (falling deeply in love with someone you did not trust at all) and a few things I would have liked a little more explanation on, but not anything so horrible that I didn’t enjoy the book. I actually read it in one day so clearly I enjoyed it.

If you are looking for an escape from reality then you might like this. Be prepared to feel all the feels. There is sadness, tragedy, happy moments, and you will cry at some point, but it was worth the ride for me.

I am teetering between 3.75 and a solid 4 stars.

[Rachel Cagle · Rating 5 out of 5]

JUST.... WOW! Okay, set the book cover aside for just a moment. When I read the book, it had a picture of a white plantation and not this half-clothed man nonsense. They say don't judge a book by it's cover, which certainly holds true here.
The main character experiences loss, more loss, and then tragedy compounded by loss. They say God does not put more on your shoulders than you can handle, but this poor woman-- how much more can one person take? Within the first 50 pages, she's been dealt with...a lot. And you want to take her hand and tell her everything will be okay. She returns to the site of one of her losses and something crazy happens-- like she gets pushed back into time to the Civil War.
A modern-day woman living in the Civil War era? Talk about a "say whaaaaaaa?" moment. In the historical era, she learns how to adapt to the new constraints. After making friends-- and enemies, she realizes she is not the only time traveler in this era and there are forces working against the Union, using their knowledge of the future to turn the war for the Confederates.
This was a great read and hard to put down. The characters were relatable, and at no point did she rely on the common tropes seen regarding Southerners, plantations, and the Civil War. Rather, she let the story carry itself and chose, instead, to focus on the people and the life they were leading.

[Rusty · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the Shadow of the Moon is a time traveling historical fiction that features love and loss during the Civil War period. The author was reading Outlander just before she began writing at the urging of a good friend. The heroine is Laura Truitt who lives in the twenty-first century and has lost her daughter. Searching for her, Laura suffers a blinding headache, a comet appears and a strange lunar eclipse occurs as her world moves back to Civil War tines. Arriving, she meets Stuart Elliott and his son. Realizing where she is she works to blend into their life, occasionally astounding those around her with knowledge gained from the 21st century.

The reader encounters Civil War history of north Georgia and its chief city, Atlanta. Fascinating characters and strange circumstances merge with fine writing, providing a delightful story. Will Laura find her missing daughter? Will she be able to return to her former life? She fell in love with Stuart so will she want to return to her former life? In the Shadow of the Moon

[Boni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story has more to do with plot, which is immediately intriguing with an elderly home-owner who seems to talk with the dead (her great grandmother). And not getting slowed down by overly descriptive paragraphs adds to the ease of reading this. Despite the heavy subject of family loss, the heroine Laura was written lightheartedly, with a surprising and anachronistic sense of humor and with a positive outlook during her travel through time, feeling spunky enough to quip, mid-journey “And Oz never gave nothing to the Tin Man that he didn’t already have.”

Her romance seemed awkward and out of place, but maybe I haven’t read enough romance novels to be appreciative of the Fabio-type writing. I see now that this is a time-travel/romance book with a civil war setting that brings the historical fiction component of entertainment, so I started enjoying it more with that in mind.

I wish I were smart enough to know i) the meaning of the famous-author quotes at the start of each chapter, and ii) why a small few paragraphs were selected to be written in a much larger font. But despite those mysteries, the plot got better and better, and a few tears were shed along with a few surprises along the way. A great read and some civil war history gently fit into the plot.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Karen's first novel she wrote. She states she had just finished Outlander and decided to write her own stories. I can see how Outlander stirred this story in her mind.
A woman takes her little family to a sacred mountain the night of a lunar eclipse and a comet. Things go strangely wrong. Heavy sleep envelopes them only to awake to find their child missing. Years of searching and nothing.
Life goes on as it does until she decides maybe that mountain had something to do with it She goes back when another eclipse and a comet are due. Only this time SHE is thrust back into time, civil war time. She begins to search for her daughter there.
The owners of the house that takes her in live in the same house she lives in, in the future. While the civil war is active all around her, she tries to figure out what has happened, what is happening and what will.
It is a very good story that I cannot say anymore without spoiling it for the reader. You may not be able to find this book to read but you can if you look for the book SPINNING THE MOON. There you will see 2 novels. her first 2. Both excellent reads.

[Pernette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I had read the best of Karen White but this book was fantastic. It may be my new favorite Karen White book. Laura Truitt, every bit a 21st century woman, world collides with a family in the War of Northern Aggression times. How it happened Laura does not understand but believes it has something to do with her missing daughter. The Elliott family does not know Laura's secrets but know that she is searching for her missing daughter. As Laura spends time with the Elliott's at their plantation home (that will become her home in the future) she begins to understand a little more what is happening to her and her missing daughter. With Laura's knowledge of history she can provide information to the Elliott's regarding the war and how to survive but she dares not say too much for fear of changing the future. There are many twists and turns in this story and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Karen White should write more of this genre. Highly recommend it.

[Kasey Tross · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been a few months since I've read this, so take this review with a grain of salt, but while I enjoyed it, I remember feeling like there were a few loose ends and inconsistencies that bugged me. The plot was really cool, the storyline was fantastic, but when we discussed it in book club, we kept saying, "But what about (fill in the blank)?" And we'd all look at each other and shrug and say, "Oh, well."

As a writer who critiques others' works and who has had my work picked apart by others, I think that this story would have benefited from several rounds of beta readers to iron out these issues- they were minor, but enough to be distracting. Just a little bit of extra editing could have turned this into a 4- or 5-star rating for me, because as I said, it was a really fun story.

[Emily Ullrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an incredible surprise from Karen White! I’ve read all of her more recent novels and came across this in “Spinning the Moon,” not quite sure what to expect from her very first novel. I’m definitely a Karen White fan and i absolutely loved this! I actually listened to it on audio. If you’re an audiobook fan, I highly recommend listening to this novel as opposed to reading it. The narrator did a phenomenal job of making you feel as if you’re truly in Civil War era Georgia. I didn’t want it to end and I typically plow through books, whether I’m reading or listening. I’m not sure how her original version differs from the revised edition in “Spinning the Moon,” but i loved what I read/heard!

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

VERY reminiscent of Outlander, but that is understandable given that White wrote this after finishing Outlander and needed more; a feeling I completely understand. "Believable" time travel notion, although Laura does a less believable job of fitting into 1850 America, still using slang and being a much more outspoken, strong modern woman. She is also accepted to readily by the family that finds her That being said though, a nice romance novel with some history thrown in. The electricity between Laura and Stuart grows nicely throughout the book and leaves you wanting more of their story.
If you liked Outlander, put this one on your list too.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually listened to Spinning the Moon which are two of Karen White's first books combined under a new title. Still don't understand why as they appear to have nothing in common. So, I broke it down and just listened to her first book, In the Shadow of the Moon. I almost returned it to the library when I saw the cover! Thankfully for my taste, the story was nothing like the cover. There may have been a couple love scenes but this is not at all how I pictured Stuart. I like time travel books and enjoyed how this one played out. Just dragged a bit near the end as if trying to make it longer.

[Kmt1944 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Karen White's first book and now published in a a dual book called SPINNING THE MOON, which also contains her second book, WHISPERS OF GOODBYE which I have yet to read. I have read most of her books and was pleasantly surprised at how good her very first one was. Time travel back to the time of the Civil War made for a wonderful story with many interesting characters. Will be reading the second book and rating it separately. She has continued to improve as a writer and I'm so glad these two novels were released again.

[Rebecca Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not usually read historical fiction, but since this one was by my favorite author, Karen White, I decided to give it a read. I sure am glad I took a chance on this novel. In a word...Fantastic. The premise was well thought out and written and the heroine Laura was very relatable. I found myself asking all the time; What would I do in her position? Needless to say this book left me in tears at the end. If you want to know if they were happy or sad tears you will have to read the book. You will be glad you did.

[Kathy Cooley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must say if I had seen the cover of this novel as represented on Goodreads, I would have never picked it up, so I'm glad it didn't have that cover! This was a great book, as I understand it, Karen White's first. My only complaints are A) the book shifted gears in a couple of places that felt rather jarring, like the author wasn't sure exactly what kind of book she was writing; and B) the main couple has the same argument ad nauseum. Come on guys, if you love each other, you really should be able to get past it. Otherwise, a great effort.

[Carolynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The description doesn’t do it justice. I’ve listened to this as an audiobook multiple times and cannot get enough of the beauty, the history, the characters, the story and the man. It would be a fantastic movie if it were exactly as written like the book the help. Word for word. The original cover is unappealing as it reminds me of something my granny would read but the two books together Spinning the Moon is what drew me in. My new favorite!! I recommend as audiobook the accents are amazing! This coming from a Georgia girl.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

My understanding is this is Karen White’s first book and I am absolutely blown away. The complexity of the story and the richness of the characters is so well done and even the supernatural elements seem believable. I’m not a super fan of time travel but this was so interesting. I won’t give too much away, as I had no idea what was going to happen and it made me literal yell out loud “how is this going to work out?” For much of the book I was on the edge of my seat. Karen White is brilliant and I am lining up her backlist for binge right away!

[Crystal J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an avid reader of Karen White so I jumped at the chance to read one of her first novels. From the first page to the last, I couldn't put this book down. The mystery wrapped up in bits of history and magic gripped me from beginning to end. I was overcome with book withdrawals the moment the story ended. If you love stories with a blend of romance, history, topped with magic, you will fall in love with Laura Truitt's story. A gripping novel.

[Robin Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I never would have read it if I had seen the cover - gosh! I listened on Audible. It was ok. It held my interest but there were a few too many dramatic situations and the heroine was a bit unrealistic in my opinion. Also, it never explained who Pamela was. Was she a relative? Why did she say to Laura, “Do you really not know who i am?” Why did she have the birthmark too? I felt like I was left hanging about her.

[Mary Shreffler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura was caught by the lunar moon and her sweet baby was gone. Laura searched but realized she and her daughter traveled in time over hundred years back in time. Laura finds her and finds a new life with a love that's lasting. Laura marries Stuart but knows she can't stay in 1861 because she needs c section to deliver her baby. Going forward she has her son but then returns to her loving husband