Sandy M’s review of The Storm that is Sterling (Zodius, Book 2) by Lisa Renee Jones
Paranormal Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 1 Nov 11

This series is already picking up speed quite nicely, moving along at a good pace to keep things interesting and intriguing. And Sterling. Wow, he’s so complex that he’s nearly very simple to figure out. But just when you think you do have him figured out, as his heroine Becca can attest, he throws you a curve you never see coming.

While I enjoyed the first book in the series, The Legend of Michael, it’s bogged down at times with too much info and not enough dialogue. This book is filled with terrific dialogue, mostly between Sterling and Becca, and has a fresher feel while still jolting you with danger and thrills throughout. This is the Lisa Renee Jones I’ve read before.

Sterling and Becca knew each other in high school. He finally asks her out back then, after a particularly fruitful day of computer hacking, but it’s also his last endeavor at that activity, and the beginning of the end of his date with Becca – he’s caught and given a deal to join the military where he can put his technological skills to better use. Fourteen years later fate throws Becca back into his path to help in the fight against a new drug that is killing those who are coerced into using it.

Having her hopes dashed once again for a cure to her cancer, Becca returns home from Germany only to have her life thrown into more chaos, once by the high school boy who has grown into a remarkably handsome man and then by the evil that forces her addiction to ICE, a derivative of the original alien DNA Sterling and other soldiers were injected with, which subsequently cures her disease but leaves her facing death anyway. She wants to trust Sterling, but that’s difficult with such insidious evil that’s after her, making it look as though Sterling is on their side.

But when these two finally find the trust they need to come together, they work well side by side and they make love beautifully. Sterling believes Becca is his lifebond, but when she doesn’t show the necessary bond markings, he still refuses to let her go. Becca refuses to put Sterling at any more risk, so she keeps secrets from him that would change everything for them, but she’s not willing to take any chances with his life. What I like about all of that is these two talk to each other. Yes, there are secrets, but as their trust and love grow, they become more open with one another and work together, despite Sterling’s alphaness. His gentleness knows no bounds where Becca is concerned.

All of the secondary characters, and then some, from the first book are back for more trouble, either taming it or wreaking it. Ms. Jones does a terrific job with Dorian, Adam’s son, both evil personified, and I can’t wait to see what their end will eventually be, good or bad. The rift between Sterling and Damion is interesting and gives those scenes between them an extra intenseness. In fact, Damion’s story is next up, so it’s nice to get to know him a bit better now.

I’m glad the tone of the series has taken a different course with this book. This is a much faster read and, therefore, more enjoyable. It’s so far a very good series, different from other concepts out there right now. I look forward to finding out what happens.

Grade: B+

Summary:

Adam, the leader of the evil Zodius soldiers has developed a street drug from his newborn’s DNA that is so addictive that he could easily created a worldwide dependency on him as the only source, as withdrawal kills the user. This drug will give Adam the power to rule the entire population if his plan for mass distribution is achieved. Sterling, and a brilliant, cancer stricken scientist, must stop Adam before it’s too late. But can Sterling trust this woman when he discovers this drug might be her only way of surviving cancer?. Is he in bed, and in love, with the enemy?

The Hero: Sterling

He was created, molded, formed from life, love, and misery…

Lethally daring. Ruthlessly passionate. He invites death to his door. Welcomes it with each breath he draws, each step he takes. And thus he is danger. A volatile storm that will sweep across the calm realms of humanity and shake it to the depths of its core. And that storm is…Sterling.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series: