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).

Seduced by the Storm by Sydney Croft     **29 JULY 2008**

This is the 3rd book in the ACRO series! We have reviews for both books (hint: click on the tag that sez Sydney Croft). I ::hear:: this cover. Is it not the most?! Book sounds grand.  Read on for the blurb and an excerpt…

     Danger is the ultimate aphrodisiac.

     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.

E-X-C-E-R-P-T

SEDUCED BY THE STORM

Wyatt did not like Sean Stowe. Didn’t like, didn’t trust and sure, Wyatt could say that about most people but this Sean guy made Wyatt take his non-trust issues to a new level. ACRO had determined that he was a high-ranking Itor agent, but his exact talents remained a mystery.

Didn’t matter. Weather machine was getting taken out today. No exceptions. His escape route was all mapped out, dive equipment ready – and although he’d never heard back from ACRO about the code he’d transmitted, a code that could indicate Itor’s immediate plans for the weather machine, his gut told him that waiting any longer wasn’t a good idea.

He rounded the corner of the dive platform and stopped dead.

Faith Black was standing on the platform – not the safest place to be given that the approaching storm had stirred up the ocean swells just feet below, but he already knew the woman was anything from safe.

He hadn’t stopped thinking about her since he’d kissed her goodnight. Thought about her all the way back to the crap motel room, dreamed about her, jacked off thinking about her in the shower and found himself hard again almost immediately.

Then he’d thought about stopping by her hotel room early this morning, but instead took the early flight to the rig to check things out. Thought about Faith some more. Wished there was some way he could make her remember the sex they’d had.

“Hey,” he called. “You’re too close to the edge.”

She turned on one high booted heel to face him. Hot mama in all leather and shit, the breath sucked right out of him.

Faith, at least, had her mouth partially hanging open too, but she got it together quickly. More so than he did. He was happy in the knowledge that she’d remember nothing beyond their time in the bar, and a little sad as well. None of them ever did. All part of the gift and the curse of the sexual portion of his gift.

“Still running from your ex?” he asked and she smiled, that killer smile she’d used on him last night.

“Not exactly. This is part of my job.”

“You don’t look like a roughneck.”

“You don’t either, but you are,” she countered as she moved away from the edge and closer to him. “As for me, I’m an auditor for the company that owns the platform. Here to check the books.”

“I don’t know too many accountants who wear leather.”

“Glad I could be your first.”

“I hope I’m around next time you need to get away from your ex. Although I sure wish you hadn’t left in such a hurry.”

“You were the one who left my bed – and I don’t remember anything rushed about last night.”

“You remember?”

She bit her bottom lip and he had a hard time not taking her, right here and now against the pipes. “Of course I remember.”

Something was wrong. Really motherfucking wrong.

“Are you trying to play it cool or were you drunk the other night? You didn’t seem it. Do you want me to talk about it – remind you how often we enjoyed each other?”

He blinked and she continued, “In the hot tub, in the shower, again on the bed…”

The thunder, which had been merely a distant rumbling minutes earlier grew louder. More forceful.

As the wind picked up, the platform began to shake and shudder, and Faith held the metal railing behind her for support. Wyatt grabbed the same railing, one hand on either side of her, his body protecting her from the rain that began to fall nearly sideways.

“I don’t want you with other men,” he said suddenly, because whenever he was feeling strongly enough about something those thoughts tended to fly the fuck out of his mouth.

Faith stared at him, again as if he was crazy. Didn’t matter – when his feelings pulled him, he went with it. But before she could answer him, the platform’s alarms began to ring.

“What’s wrong?” Faith asked.

“Could be a blowout,” he said.

“Len’s not coming up!” Don shouted from the upper portion of the platform. “He went down to fix one of the leg floats. He should’ve been up by now – he’ll be out of air soon.”

Len was one of the divers – a job Wyatt would’ve much preferred, and had the training for, thanks to his SEAL days. But being under the water most of the time on this hunk of junk would not be conducive to destroying the weather machine from hell.

“Why the hell was he down there alone?” Wyatt demanded.

“Clarence didn’t feel well. It was calm as shit ten minutes ago – the weather wasn’t supposed to turn like this.”

The way this storm was behaving, it had to be man-made.

Yeah, that weather machine had to go, and soon. But right now, there was a man down and Wyatt had too much training to ever leave a man behind. He knew that no one else on the dive team was going to volunteer to go, either, even though they wanted to. They weren’t rule breakers and refused to go against the foreman most of the time. Pussies.

“I’ll go,” Wyatt said. “Get me a drysuit, fins and a weight belt.”

“You can’t go until we unload the tanks and rebreathers off the supply boat. Give it ten minutes,” Don said.

“He might not have ten minutes.”

“There’s no other choice. He’s too deep.”

“I’ll free dive.”

“Are you fucking insane?”

“Yes,” he said calmly.

He yanked on the equipment Don brought him without further argument and prepped to head into the swirling ocean.

He looked at Faith. “Stay under the deck. Hang on tight – it’s going to be wild.”

“Are you sure you should be doing this on your own?” Faith’s voice held an urgency, let him know she heard what he’d told her about not being with anyone else. And she liked it. “Wyatt, it’s dangerous.”

“So am I, Faith,” he drawled. “So am I.”