Hidden

Title: Hidden

Author: Eve Kenin

Published: July 2008

Genre: Futuristic Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Series, Book 2: Could be read out of order. This book is very loosely tied into Book 1, through references to characters/events.

From the Author Site: Tatiana has honed her genetic gifts to perfection. She can withstand the subzero temperatures of the Northern Waste, read somebody's mind with the briefest touch, and slice through bone with her bare hands. Which makes her one badass chick, all right. Nothing gets to her. Until she meets Tristan. Villain or ally, she can't be sure. But one thing she does know: he has gifts too-including the ability to ramp up her heart rate to dangerous levels. But before they can start some chemistry of their own, they have to survive being trapped in an underground lab, hunted by a madman, and exposed to a plague that could destroy mankind.

Review: Hidden was definitely better than Driven! Loved the heroine and hero (T & T). Their attraction was explosive (pun intended). The book takes you back to the post-nuclear holocaust world and the Northern Waste. This time we follow Tatiana (Wizard and Yuriko's lost sister) through her three-step plan to save the world from Gavin Ward and his genetically created plague. The first step of her plan to save the world has her searching for Tolliver. As she searches the Northern Waste, she runs into an unsettlingly attractive man called Tristan and his strange band of followers. And it's lust at first site for both of them.

LOVE Tatiana! A girl after my own heart. I found her three step plans, because more that three steps was too complicated, to be very amusing. In each situation she seemed to make a three step plan of attack/investigation. Her continuing comments of being a late bloomer (due to her late development of powers that both her siblings had and her increasing lust for Tristan) kept me chuckling throughout the book. And she can kick ass! She is definitely not the poor, weak sister/friend as she was described in Driven.

I enjoyed trying to figure out the enigma that is Tristan. He was very much the mysterious stranger. A scientist that is trying to find a cure for a plague as well as a warrior. We know that he is more that he seems through the hints that he drops throughout the story. This keeps both the reader and Tatiana intrigued. His attempts to keep himself sane with the whole we-are-one philosophy was kinda funny. Especially since it kept Tatiana on her toes and as a very literal person myself, I could relate to her confusion.

This was a definitely a page turner. I didn't like having to keep putting it down for mundane things like sleep and work. The story is fast paced and more seamlessly delivered than Driven. I am certainly looking forward to Yuriko's story (I hope its next!).

Keeper?: Definitely

Recommendation: I would recommend it to any who read romance and also to those who enjoy a good action/adventure novel.

Rating: 4.5 of 5

Driven!

Unlike many, I didn't get out to see the Dark Knight (but will indeed see it soon), but did manage to finish a book. ^_~

Title: Driven

Author: Even Kenin

Published: September 2007

Genre: Futuristic Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Series, Book 1

From the Author Site: Raina Bowen knows she can handle herself just fine against anything the harsh Northern Waste throws at her. Until it throws her an enigmatic stranger called Wizard. First, she has to haul him out of a brawl he can't hope to win. And next, her libido is shooting into overdrive at the feel of his hard body pressed against hers on the back of her snowscooter. But there's something not quite right about this guy. Before she can strip bare Wizard's secrets, they're lured into a race for their lives, battling rival truckers, ice pirates...and a merciless maniac with a very personal vendetta.

Review: I really enjoyed the story. Set in a post nuclear holocaust world in the great Northern Waste (couldn't figure out if it was northern Canada or Siberia but exact location doesn't really matter to the story, just that it really really cold). Raina Bowen needs money to hide (both herself and her sister) from a vindictive and outwardly respectable man who virtually owns the Northern Waste. She is depending on a stranger, Wizard, to get her the necessary paperwork she needs in order to have a chance at win the race to Gladow Station with her shipment and get the big cash price. So basically its the Iditarod with semi-trucks, instead of dogs, with the added excitement of being chased by evil ice truckers from hell toting big guns.

Raina Bowen was a good strong female character. She had a hard life growing up with her loser dad, but has manage to stay true to herself. Sweet and soft-hearted at her core with her exterior wrapped with strength and determination and a wicked knife! What did bother me a bit was that here she was a trust-no-one-because-everyone-is-going-to-betray-you gal and all of a sudden she's rubbing elbows with virtual strangers. She comments about it but there was none of the expected wariness in being surrounded by potential betrayers. Granted, they too are wanted, but still it was a bit hard to adjust to her sudden new friends.

I found Wizard (very interesting name) highly amusing. Loved that he was practicing his smiles and trying to get used to emotions. And we can't forget his compliments (what girl doesn't want to be told that her "eyes are appropriately spaced") and courtship gifts of impenetrable titanium body armor! Wizard made me think a lot about Nalini Singh's Judd Laurens from Caressed by Ice. Both are recovering/reforming assassins who used to work for evil. Both are trying to blend with their new environments with some success. Both are trying to deal with emotion and are very literal. Though I think Wizard would win the who's-most-literal contest.

The story overall was intriguing and interesting enough (even with the little bits of annoyance) to keep me flipping the pages. The characters and situations were plausible, for the most part, and appealing to my sense of adventure.

Keeper?: Yes

Recommendation: I would recommend it to any who read romance and also to those who enjoy a good action/adventure novel.

Rating: 4 of 5