LauraD’s review of Seduced by the Storm (ACRO Book 3) by Sydney Croft
Paranormal romance from Delta 28 Jul 08

I’ve read and enjoyed the first two books in Sydney Croft’s ACRO series, so I was quite eager to get my paws on the third installment. While paranormals are usually hit or miss with me, her slightly alternate version of our world, in which there are men and women trained to make use of their extrasensory abilities in extreme areas such as controlling storms, or mind control, is really interesting. Plus, there is usually lots of action and smokin’ hot sex.

Well, I’m not giving anything away by telling you that there is plenty of both in this book. Actually, sex is the hero’s special ability. Hero Wyatt Kennedy works for the Agency for Covert Rare Operatives (ACRO), and he’s also telekinetic. ACRO has sent him to pursue a machine that they believe can control the weather. Along the way, he encounters Faith Black, to whom he is instantly attracted – not knowing that Faith is also an agent for a different group. Faith is after the weather machine as well; her sister has been kidnapped and the machine is going to be the ransom. They each find themselves playing an undercover role on an oil rig in the middle of the ocean, with Faith’s evil ex in possession of the weather machine.

Wyatt is tormented by his past, and boy does he have a past. I’ve got to wonder what kind of bad day the author was having to give a guy this much baggage to haul around. But he does get to have a sex mojo, and that’s gotta be fun. Yes, that is what it’s called in the book. “Sex mojo.” He can attract anyone, give them the best lovin’ they’ve ever had, but they won’t remember him the next day. Which means he is always alone.

Faith is the exception.  After an initial and blistering one-night-stand, she remembers Wyatt and can’t help but fall for him. Faith is dragging around her own suitcase of problems, but is much more in control of her special abilities than Wyatt is. She’s a very strong heroine, but full of secrets, including her sister’s kidnapping.

Seduced by the Storm tries to both tell Faith and Wyatt’s story, and tie up several other ACRO storylines. There is a lot going on in this book, and I found myself going back and re-reading sections to make sure I understood what was exactly was happening at ACRO’s headquarters, or with any of the several couples in play. Different kinds of special abilities, at least two running storylines other than the main one, and appearances by almost every previous character, fill Seduced by the Storm further than I enjoyed.

Wyatt and Faith are a very sexy couple, and the first night they spend together is a page scorcher. Once they realized that they were both agents, working in competition, their relationship turns into a game of emotional and sexual tug-of-war. Wyatt is trying hard to do his job, and Faith is determined to save her sister. Without spoilers it’s hard to give reasons, but I found the HEA a bit unbelievable.

If you’ve been reading the ACRO series, you’ll certainly want this one. Wyatt and Faith may be the main storyline, but you will finally get resolution for Devlin and Oz. Annika and Creed return, and readers may or may not be pleased with where this book leaves them. Of course, there can’t be bad weather without Remy. However, if you haven’t read a Sydney Croft, I’d suggest starting with a different title.

Grade: C+

Blurb: 

They met in a steamy Florida bar-then spent a night of mind-bending passion. Two secret agents who each possess unique telekinetic gifts-and whose combined sexual powers leave neither of them unscathed. For ex-Navy SEAL Wyatt Kennedy, assigned by the Agency for Covert Rare Operatives to the most treacherous mission of his career, the woman in black leather and lace has just become more than a one-night stand. Because Faith Black is the sole barrier to the success of his mission-and not even Wyatt’s legendary seduction skills can penetrate her deep cover.

Faith’s psychic gifts make her one of the world’s most dangerous women-but she hides a secret pain she shares with no one. Until Wyatt. And Faith has an agenda of her own: using her unique powers to save someone close to her-a move that pits her against a man she thought she’d never see again. For as a deadly hurricane is unleashed across the eastern seaboard, desire reignites between Faith and Wyatt, exposing secrets that thrust them both into harm’s way. With the hurricane sweeping closer-and their erotic hunger for each other growing-these two wary hearts must come together to heal, to trust . . . and to harness the power of a storm that could consume everything in its path.

Read an excerpt (scroll down).