Isle of the Crescent Moon — Melissa R.L. Simonin

Lizbeth Edwards is blissfully enjoying her return trip from abroad aboard the RMS Gargantuan until she discovers her family is intent on marrying her off to Maximillian Turner, the son of their good friends and a stranger to her. Neither she nor her family realize that Max, as unaware as Lizbeth was to their families' plot until just moments ago, is on the ship and standing at the railing nearby as she exclaims furiously, “Maximillian Turner, indeed!” Lizbeth proceeds to air her grievances to Max, having no idea to whom she is speaking. He is shocked and alarmed to hear of their families' intentions and quickly decides the irrepressible Lizbeth is far more excitement than he can manage in a day and wonders what on earth his family can be thinking. Whatever it is, it makes no difference. This is the twentieth century, after all! Wishing to spare himself a dose of her wrath, Max chooses not to enlighten her as to his identity. A chain of events result in Max and Lizbeth disembarking prematurely and rather abruptly from the ship. It may be the twentieth century but it is also 1910, and all that will matter to her family, his, and the society in which they live is that they spent the night alone, even if it is on a lifeboat lost at sea. Max resigns himself to the inevitable. The only way to save Lizbeth from undeserved scorn is to marry her once they are rescued. The two find themselves stranded on a crescent shaped island, alone, or so they at first believe. They come to discover that the occupants of the island which come and go are to be greatly feared, as are the creatures that live there. Max and Lizbeth must rely on each other for survival, and he comes to realize she is nothing like the girl he thought her to be when they met onboard the ship. He finds himself in love with her, and is now anxious rather than reluctant to marry her. If he is to do that, he must find a way of rescue to save them from the island and its inhabitants before its too late.