Interesting world- mismatched protags.November 3, 2008 I really love Showalter's Lords of the Underworld series. Since the next won't be out for awhile, I'm doing my best to hit her back list. Playing with Fire came out a couple years back and at the time I remember it getting a generally good reception around the review blogs. Although I can't say as it hit as high for me as The Lords, I found it to be an all right read- but probably only if you're a hardcore paranormal romance fan like me!
In Playing with Fire our heroine, Belle Jamison, is secretly dosed with a formula that brings about superpowers, when a mysterious man in a lab coat runs into the coffee shop she's currently working at. Some menacing secret agent bad guys are chasing the guy and feisty Belle steps up to assist.
Only Belle has no idea the stranger has spiked her mocha latte with a formula that is about to turn her world upside down until she wakes up days later with a dark sexy stranger standing over her.
Sexy PSI Superagent Rome Masters is tasked to neutralize Belle if she displays any of the superpowers that will quite possibly allow her to control the elements- The effect of the particular formula given to her.
Unfortunately, is she ever displaying them. (Fire shoots out her eyes, wind shields arise and she can freeze with just one touch.) The only problem? Rome doesn't want to kill this feisty intriguing woman. So rather than bringing her in, he kidnaps her under the guise of aiding him in saving his daughter. Hijinks ensue, as she learns to control her new found powers and they work to evade the bad guys who are out to destroy them both.
Okay, I had a few issues with this one. Mostly, Belle was way to smart-alleky for my taste. I just couldn't see what would make the brooding, sexy Rome fall for a silly girl like her. Because of this, I never really felt their connection was true and thereby couldn't really get into it like I should have. It's an interesting world Ms. Showalter's playing; it reminded me quite a bit of the tv show Heroes. But this one I can't really say will be my favorite of the lot- which I DO plan on reading!
So bad i couldn't even finish!September 6, 2008 I bought this book for a quick read for a long drive. Well, it's been 3 months since that car trip and the quick read has turned into one of the worse books i have ever read. I'm amazed that it's getting such good reviews! I haven't finished the book, so i won't comment about the ending, but the characters that have been introduced have been flat, boring, and stereotypical. The story was corny, but it could have worked if the characters weren't so predictable. The female, Belle, was your typical obnoxious sassy leading female! She uses cliche's like no ones business, and i t so annoying i kept hoping that she would set herself on fire! She actually said this line in the book, "Don't make me go PMS on your a**!" I'm sorry but who says things like that? What woman would say that? If i had not read another of showalters book before, i might have thought that it was a man trying to delve into the woman's psyche and that was all he could come up with. Not only was the leading lady horrible lady, but the 'chemistry' between the Belle and her love interest was so contrived that it was laughable. How could anyone be attracted to that annoying female? It was just horrible book, plain and simple. I regret not keeping my receipt so that i could have returned it and gotten my money back. Save yours and don't buy this one.
Great book!August 23, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I thought this book was terrific. This was the first Showalter book I read and started me reading her others. Also I am looking forward to more books to this sieries because there is clearly potential here.
Playing With FireAugust 6, 2008 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Corpse Whisperer Let me start off by saying I'm not a fan of first person. So I was initially put off when I first picked up this book. But I gave it a second try and I'm glad. The story of a barrista who suddenly has contol of the four elements really sucked me in. I really felt for her. She was never very good at anything and now she had to conquer not just one super power, but four. Had me laughing out loud sometimes. cmr
Great FirstMay 4, 2008 My paranormal romance book club chose this book as its first read. None of the members, including myself, had ever read anything by or had ever heard of Gena Showalter before. We chose this book based solely on a starred review read elsewhere. I have not met to discuss the book with the other members yet so I don't know how they felt about the book. But For me, the book proved to be a perfect first pick. It kind of reads like an X-Men novel for adult females. It moved along quickly but was easy to keep up with. It also has some gritty, but I felt appropriate, language. And of course, it being a romance novel it has sex scenes. However, they are very [very ;P] well written. And I certainly loved the writting style of the novel. All-n-all: I will definitely be reading more from Ms. Showalter and would recommend her to anyone who is looking for an easy summer read.
