Helpful Score: 5
Liu became one of my favorite authors as soon as I began reading her first book, Tiger Eye. She is a relatively new author, all of whose books so far involve characters who work for Dirk & Steele, an undercover paranormal organization / detective agency. Supporting characters in Liu's books frequently turn up or have previously been in primary roles in other books in the Dirk & Steele series. I like learning more about the other characters and their back stories. Maggie Shayne does the same thing with vampire characters in her Twilight series. However, each novel will stand alone without having read any of the others.
Most of Liu's paranormals are shape changers or have psychic abilities. With Dirk & Steele as the Good Guys, we now begin to see that there might be an organization of paranormal Bad Guys.
"Fast paced. Likable characters. A story that sucks you in right away and is hard to put down. Liu doesn't write 'bodice rippers,' but there's plenty of romance." I can (and do) say that about all of her books. This one is a great book. After being a bit disappointed by #3, I felt like I had come homeas soon as I started reading.
Most of Liu's paranormals are shape changers or have psychic abilities. With Dirk & Steele as the Good Guys, we now begin to see that there might be an organization of paranormal Bad Guys.
"Fast paced. Likable characters. A story that sucks you in right away and is hard to put down. Liu doesn't write 'bodice rippers,' but there's plenty of romance." I can (and do) say that about all of her books. This one is a great book. After being a bit disappointed by #3, I felt like I had come homeas soon as I started reading.
Helpful Score: 4
This is a book from the Dirk & Steele series. Dirk & Steele are like a detective agency that only employs paranormal detectives and often work undercover for both civilians and the U.S. government. The main character Blue, has the ability to use electricity as a very powerful weapon. He can also scan any object with his mind to reveal its contents. Blue's evil father blackmails him into finding his brother, Daniel, who has not been seen in several years.
Blue gets a tip that Danniel is working at a circus in Las Vegas. When he gets there he gets to see a hi-wire act done by Iris, a shapeshifter (large cat). She also does an interaction act with her 2 large cats which she often sleeps with in their cages. Blue is quickly smitten by Iris' lithe, catlike body and vulnerability. He quickly secures himself a job at the circus as a handyman. And, they both start falling in love but neither one speaking about it yet.
Iris ends up kidnapped by a ruthless crimelord, Santoso, who is himself under the leadership of a mysterious man. They're mostly involved in the slave trade and selling black market human organs but have many other smaller illegal businesses. Iris is much sought after because of her shapeshifting ability. Santoso wants to have sex with Iris and then wants to sell her to the highest bidder. Then he comes up with an even crueler idea on how to use Iris.
Blue, with 2 other Dirk & Steele detectives frantically tries to reach Iris in time. To further complicate matters, Iris' mother, Elena, who disappeared 5 years ago, pops up on the scene. She's been working undercover in Santoso's part of the organization. Elena is a lot harder than Iris but loves her daughter and will do anything to keep her alive.
This story keeps moving with enough twists and turns that kept me in suspense. I liked the character of Blue. Though he's not a man for much conversation, his actions and thoughts show him to be a compassionate man who has had plenty of suffering in his life. Iris took a little longer for me to get used to. At first she seemed hardbitten but as the story went on I saw she was that way on the outside because of her past and her mother abandoning her. As the story continues, Iris becomes a kinder, gentler person, someone easy to sympathize with. As for the Dirk & Steele agency, I found the idea of a detective agency made up of paranormals fascinating and look forward to reading more of this series.
Blue gets a tip that Danniel is working at a circus in Las Vegas. When he gets there he gets to see a hi-wire act done by Iris, a shapeshifter (large cat). She also does an interaction act with her 2 large cats which she often sleeps with in their cages. Blue is quickly smitten by Iris' lithe, catlike body and vulnerability. He quickly secures himself a job at the circus as a handyman. And, they both start falling in love but neither one speaking about it yet.
Iris ends up kidnapped by a ruthless crimelord, Santoso, who is himself under the leadership of a mysterious man. They're mostly involved in the slave trade and selling black market human organs but have many other smaller illegal businesses. Iris is much sought after because of her shapeshifting ability. Santoso wants to have sex with Iris and then wants to sell her to the highest bidder. Then he comes up with an even crueler idea on how to use Iris.
Blue, with 2 other Dirk & Steele detectives frantically tries to reach Iris in time. To further complicate matters, Iris' mother, Elena, who disappeared 5 years ago, pops up on the scene. She's been working undercover in Santoso's part of the organization. Elena is a lot harder than Iris but loves her daughter and will do anything to keep her alive.
This story keeps moving with enough twists and turns that kept me in suspense. I liked the character of Blue. Though he's not a man for much conversation, his actions and thoughts show him to be a compassionate man who has had plenty of suffering in his life. Iris took a little longer for me to get used to. At first she seemed hardbitten but as the story went on I saw she was that way on the outside because of her past and her mother abandoning her. As the story continues, Iris becomes a kinder, gentler person, someone easy to sympathize with. As for the Dirk & Steele agency, I found the idea of a detective agency made up of paranormals fascinating and look forward to reading more of this series.
Helpful Score: 1
A Dirk and Steele Agenxy paranormal romance. Typical fare for this author. Everyone's a little too perfect for my tastes, which I find rather boring, but Liu keeps me interested with her flare for description.
Helpful Score: 1
This book was exciting all of the way through. I sat up several nights reading as I couldn't put it down. I am waiting anxiously for the next in the series.
Helpful Score: 1
I love these books, and this one was really good. Great hero and heroine. There were some returning characters, but you could still read it alone.
