Countdown by Michelle Maddox

Countdown
Michelle Maddox
SHOMI – Dorchester Publishing
July 29, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-505-52755-4

From the back cover:
THREE
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Kira Jordan wakes up in a pitch-black room handcuffed to a metal wall. She has 60 seconds to escape. Thus begins a vicious game where to lose is to die.

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TWO

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The man she’s been partnered with—her only ally in this nightmare—is a convicted mass murderer. But if he’s so violent, why does he protect her? And stranger still, what is it behind those haunted sea-green eyes that makes her want to protect him?

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ONE

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No one to trust. Nowhere to run. And the only hope of survival is working together to beat the

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COUNTDOWN

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My thoughts:
When Kira Jordan wakes, it’s to find herself handcuffed to a wall in the dark with no recollection of where she is or how she ended up there. The small-time thief is soon surprised to find that she hasn’t been left there alone, and the man she’s been stuck with is in worse shape than she is.

Rogan Ellis was an inmate serving a multiple life sentence for murder and rape when he’s forced into Countdown, a game that will either save him or leave him dead. If he and Kira can make it through the final level they’ll have a fresh future, freedom he thought he’d never see again.

Their first step is to get free of their restraints, but in order to do that one will have to trust the other to trade a key. They must stay together and work as a team to survive carrying out their instructions to each level, because their host has added a nasty little surprise for them if they try to separate. As the game progresses, Kira begins to suspect that Rogan knows much more about the game than he’s let on, and she intends to get some answers.

A new release in the SHOMI line, Countdown is a familiar concept with qualities that are fresh and unique. As Kira comes to accept her role in the deadly game she plays, her connection to Rogan continues to grow and confuse her. For Rogan, his past his twisted past weighs heavily on his mind, but a glimmer of hope and his determination to control his own future will get him through. Ms. Maddox molds a world where advanced technology can easily help or hurt those exposed to it. The story moves at a quick pace with danger around every turn. The characters are well defined and believable in their quest. The mixture of sarcastic humor and chemistry between the main characters will draw the reader deeper into the story, and the suspense of what the next level may hold will keep you at the edge of your seat. Countdown is an action packed taste of future possibilities.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Serpent's Kiss by Alex Archer

Serpent’s Kiss
Rogue Angel, Book 10
Alex Archer
Gold Eagle – Worldwide
January 8, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-373-62128-6

Having just uncovered a sacrificial pit on a dig along the coast of India, Annja Creed finds herself fighting for her life while she saves the people around her. A storm coming in is enough to destroy an archaeological dig site, but it’s a tsunami that hits and washes everything away. In the aftermath, the team begins to find objects washing up in the shallow water that indicates that there may be a shipwreck nearby. The craftsmanship with images of a half-human, half-snake Naga are too intriguing to pass up. Now Annja will do everything she can to get the funding they need to explore the local waters and find the location of the ship.

The sea is a dangerous place, and for Annja and the crew diving to discover the history of a shipwreck it could turn deadly. Modern-day pirates are aware of what she’s found and they want the treasures for themselves. It seems that they’re sure there is a hidden city within uncharted interior and Annja has managed to find the only surviving proof that it exists. When they get what they want and finally arrive at their destination what awaits them will not just surprise them, it won’t let them go. Only the strong will survive.

Serpent’s Kiss is the tenth installment of the Rogue Angel series. Annja Creed has the protection of Joan’s sword at her fingertips, and with the trouble that seems to find her it’s what often keeps her alive. Alex Archer pens a tale filled with dangerous adventure and amazing discoveries. With action that never stops, this intriguing page-turner will sweep readers up in its mysteries and leave them craving Annja’s next quest.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Unleashing the Storm by Sydney Croft

Unleashing the Storm
ACRO Series, Book 2
Sydney Croft
Delta – Bantam Dell
February 26, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-385-34081-6

Being an animal whisperer has put Kira Donovan in many a bad spot, so she’s spent much of her time on the run. It’s May, and she’s just begun the weeks of her heat, the need to be with a man is so strong that for Kira it’s literally life and death. Lucky for her she’s just hired two new men to help with the animals at the sanctuary and while Derek would suit her needs, it’s Tom who truly captures her attention.

Tom Knight is reluctantly following orders when he heads out to bring Kira in to work for ACRO or eliminate her. When he arrives he finds that their fears were for good reason. Kira’s already a target for Itor who, unlike ACRO, has plans to use Kira for a very evil purpose. Understanding her need to mate when her body insists on it, Tom has little trouble getting close to his target. Now he’ll just have to convince her that the only safe option she has is to join ACRO, without getting too attached to her himself.

Unleashing the Storm is the second book in the ACRO series. Kira has never known a life where she’s been accepted just as she is. In Tom’s arms Kira may find exactly what she’s yearned for, but Tom will take a bit more convincing. Ms. Croft builds a strong world for her characters to grow in while providing interesting backgrounds and intriguing talents for each. The tale of Dev and Oz continues through this installment and I look forward to seeing more of them in the next book as well. The third book, Seduced by the Storm, is currently scheduled for July 2008.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

The Powers That Be by Cliff Ryder

The Powers That Be
Room 59, Book 1
Cliff Ryder
Gold Eagle – Worldwide Library
January 8, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-373-63265-7

Overseen by the International Intelligence Agency, and sanctioned to deal with global threats, Room 59 takes up the fight where governments don’t dare go. So when the director, Kate Cochran, receives a report of trouble in Paradise, the Room 59 team is called into action for the possibilities of a rogue double agent and an unknown party planning to launch an incursion in Cuba.

When Colonel Jonas Schrader, the section head in Eastern Europe, is contacted in regards to the double agent and the possibility that there are more problems in the making, he offers his help. Not being his area of expertise, this is a surprise to Kate, but she can also see where he could be useful in the mission. The operatives soon head out with Jonas positioned in Florida gathering information and Marcus in Cuba.

Something big is about to go down unless Room 59 can stop it. A difficult decision hangs in the balance for Jonas, because he has a much deeper connection to someone involved. At any other time his orders to terminate the subject would not give him pause, but now it may be the hardest choice he’s had to make.

The Powers That Be is the first book in the Room 59 series. Given the green light on a new mission, Kate Cochran sets the team in position for their new assignment and must rely on the operatives to make the right decisions. While continually updated with new information, one wrong move in the field risks discovery and a blown cover can lead to a painful death. Mr. Ryder creates an incredibly realistic world for his fictional characters and supports it with enough detail to enable easy visualization. The storyline is intriguing and the non-stop action will keep readers engaged from the first page.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews