Lawson’s review of Jinx (Bigtime #3) by Jennifer Estep
Paranormal romance released by Berkley Sensation 2 Sep 08

It’s no surprise that I’m a fan of Estep’s Bigtime superheroes. I loved Karma Girl and Hot Mama. She’s got a very creative world and it’s a new take for romance. Even the first person doesn’t bother me. Jinx continues all of this, with keeping in touch with members of the Fearless Five and introducing new supers in the mix.

Jinx follows Bella Bellucci, the sister of Johnny Bellucci, now engaged to Fiona Fine. Bella is used to the superhero life as her grandfather, father and now brother have all been Johnny Angel. She’s hated it all her life, especially because her own power isn’t something really useful to have. Bella has luck, both good and bad, and is kind of a klutz, but designs beautiful, if simple, clothes for her fashion design firm.

While Johnny and Fiona off on a romantic vacation, of course being in a world of superheroes, an übervillain decides to strike. At a fundraiser that Bella helped plan no less. Being the person she is, Bella tries to save some things, including the massive diamond on display, but she gets swept off into safety by the mysterious Debonair.

Bella is kept in his safe house, as it were, and makes it back home, but not without Debonair following her after her escape (he does let her go). Tangled in this is Bella figuring out who Debonair really is and coming to terms with her own power, which she never really has wanted in the first place.

This one, again, is in first person. I would say that it bothered me, except I read through the book rather fast, so it wasn’t a hindrance to the story. Bella is an interesting heroine. She’s got a power, but she doesn’t like it, doesn’t use it in the way one would think of a superpower, and in fact doesn’t really like superheroes. It’s a different take on this world, to see it through the eyes of the cynical person, the one who has to deal with the worrying, the day to day and the fears associated with superheroes.

Because of all that Bella is naturally controlling, anxious and sometimes grating in her ideas of what should go on. Who wouldn’t though, when faced with the things that happen in Bigtime all the time? Add into that an unexpected romance with a superhero and you’ve got a woman who has to make a hard choice. The sweet thing is who Debonair turns out to be as well as how he wins over Bella in the end.

It was also was nice to revisit some secondary characters like the members of the Fearless Five, their alter egos and especially Joanne James, who really shines as a secondary character in Jinx, with her own trials and tribulations, and her kick ass nature. Though she’d been given a hard line in the first two books, her grit and spirit really comes out in this one and it’s good to see a secondary character grow as such.

I would love to go into what’s next, but I’ve been sworn to secrecy *wink*. The different take on the story and the secondary characters help Bella to shine in her tale and give another great story in the Bigtime series. Estep’s writing fits well with her world and paints a vivid picture of heroes, villains, the big city and what it really takes to with all three.

Grade: A-

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Summary:

She never wanted to be a superhero. Too much danger. Too much spandex …Bella Bulluci’s big passion is the arts. Her big pain is being born into a family of superheroes. Of course, Bella might feel differently if her own superpower was one she could control – or at least get some use out of. Instead, her power is one of capricious luck – supercharged telekinesis. In other words, static electricity. Bella knows that’s not a power – just a jinx.

During a gala fundraiser for the local art museum, Bella comes upon two things no Bigtime supergirl should be without: an ubervillain of her very own who plans to steal a priceless gem; and a dashing – if slightly shady – stranger named Debonair. He may have a reputation as a notorious playboy, but the real sparks are going to come from Bella, who’s finally going to learn just how well love and danger can go together …

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series: