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book cover Limecello’s review of Unleashing the Storm (ACRO, Book 2) by Sydney Croft
Paranormal romance released by Delta 26 Feb 08

This is the second book in the ACRO series (Agency for Covert Rare Operatives). For some reason I thought it was about two different characters, but I enjoyed it all the same. The characters are unique and creative, and I’m enjoying the books by Sydney Croft.

This book didn’t deal so much with physical storms, as internal ones. As a result, Tom Knight, better known as “Ender,” and Kira Donovan have an interesting time. Kira is a powerful animal psychic, and once a year, she goes into heat. To add yet another layer unto such an inconvenience, if she doesn’t have sex, she’ll die. Tom, is just a jerk.

Tom is sent to find Kira, and convince her to join ARCO. His orders are to recruit her within 48 hours, or kill her. It sounds harsh, but if she doesn’t join the good guys, the threat she provides is too high. The problem is, Kira doesn’t know about Tom’s orders, or how dangerous she really is. I’m mentioning this aspect of the story, because it was a source of frustration for me. It’s used near the end for a dramatic confrontation, but the scene lost some of it’s punch for me because I spent the majority of the book being annoyed by it.

I absolutely loved the second half of the book, and all the secondary characters and their stories. The book is very well written, engaging, and emotional. That being said, let me explain my issues with the first part. Tom and Kira have sex. A lot of sex – but there’s no emotional connection. Not only do they not trust each other, but it seems that they might actively dislike each other. Personally, that was not fun to read. Angry sex is all well and good, but generally that involves two people who have a preexisting emotional connection – they’re just upset at the moment. Kira and Tom, are purely physical.

Once the relationship begins to develop, however, the characters and their personalities emerge as well. The conflict and trials they go through are enthralling, and constantly serve to draw the two of them together. I enjoyed watching how Tom and Kira slowly fell in love. It was also fun once the two of them came into contact with other people, and Ender became possessive. I was amused. It seems confusing, because while with Kira, Tom is Tom, but with others, and back at ARCO, he’s all Ender. Really – read it to find out.

I liked Tom a lot more than Kira. Interesting because, Tom really is cold. Kira, however, annoyed me. She definitely wasn’t a wilting heroine, but she was stubborn, and so set on being independent that she put herself, and others in harm’s way. Personally, I view that as being TSTL as well – just in the opposite direction we’re used to. I can understand why she felt and acted the way to a certain degree – but the result was that it took me a lot longer to get into the book.

I think it’s important to remember this book is the second in a series. I enjoyed reading it, but think I would have enjoyed it less, and gotten rather lost if I hadn’t read the first. The secondary characters and their stories (there are about six of them that are important) have great stories – but they’re really introduced in book one. I liked how well developed the characters were – not just emotionally, but how they had an entire history. I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next book. And I want Annika and Creed’s story!

LimecelloGrade: B-

Feel the heat. Hear the roar. The fever has begun.

There’s a storm rising. Electricity crackles in the air. For Kira Donovan, it’s that time of year again: when the need floods her flesh, when almost any man-the bigger and the stronger the better-will do. For Kira, an animal psychic, the heat is a matter of life and death, and this year it has come at just the right time. Tom Knight, a natural born predator, has arrived at her isolated Idaho farm-for reasons all his own…

At first Kira isn’t interested in Knight’s motives. She only needs him-his body, his hands, his scent. But soon, through a daze of desire and distrust, Kira discovers Knight’s world-the world of a covert operative, one man among dozens of secret agents waging an astonishing global war. Knight’s mission is to bring Kira–kicking and screaming if necessary–into the Agency for Covert Rare Operatives and harness her extraordinary gift. He never expected the powerful emotions she would ignite in him, or the fierce desire to keep her safe from harm. For as darkness gathers around them, Kira is feeling the heat once again, leading them both on a wild ride of delicious thrills…and terror beyond imagining.

Read an excerpt here.

To read all the posts and reviews about this book and others in the series, click on the ACRO Series tag below.