Butterfly Scales

Jamal, a police detective for the Tampa PD, is devastated to learn that his sister is the most recent victim of a serial kidnapper. Young women of color are disappearing with no clues to the suspect’s motivation. Jamal is convinced that an alien race, the Lepids, are somehow involved, as the trademark of the kidnapper is an iridescent butterfly scale. When he enlists the help of Laura, a woman capable of interpreting for the Lepids, he believes that together they can figure out this mystery.

Laura is tired and worn out. The last thing she wants to do is return to the draining existence of “feeling” the emotions of the Lepids, also knows as Butters. However, when she finds out that her husband has been murdered and she may be the next victim, her only option is to work with Jamal. Together, Jamal and Laura must undergo dangerous investigative techniques to find out why women are being kidnapped. Amidst their research, they must also conquer societal derision against interracial couples, their own growing attraction, and Laura’s fragile ability that she believes prevents her from ever knowing true love.

Butterfly Scales by Evangeline Anderson is a story of unexpected forbidden love, in the midst of a precarious situation. Ms. Anderson has developed an eerily familiar world, where race continues to divide people based on class and social status, and although the world has modernized to programmed cars and outerspace interactions, humans are still looking for the basic needs of love, happiness and success. Jamal and Laura are well matched, each ostracized for various reasons, and yet each very capable of moving beyond common prejudices to find real love. I enjoyed the depth of the characters even as the intriguing plot drew my attention about scientific possibilities and discoveries. I recommend this story for those who like their romance a bit sweet, spicy and mixed in with fun, futuristic elements.

Reviewed by: Jacque