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

My hot little hands finally snagged me a copy of Jinx, the latest in Estep’s series of superhero contemporaries.  After staring happily at the book for a few minutes I managed to actually begin reading it.  Shortly after that I finished reading it.  At least, it felt like a short time since Estep delivered just as much excitement and romance as she did in the previous two novels. 

Fashion designer and secret artist Bella Bulluci can’t control her superpower.  Sure, her luck helps her out sometimes, but generally she’s embarrassingly clumsy.  Nor can she control the men in her family from being superheroes – a lifestyle that got her brother killed.  And her grandfather will not reveal the identity of his girlfriend.  What’s a girl to do but control every other aspect of her life?  Bella is deeply repressed, but still likeable.  It’s easy to understand why she feels she needs to control her life, especially in a city as chaotic as Bigtime.

Of course, things are about to spin out of control.  Ubervillian Hangman shows up at the art exhibit Bella coordinated for charity looking to steal the Star Sapphire donated by the richest man in town.  She manages to keep it out of his hands, but then she falls into the hands of art thief Debonair.  Debonair, who deserves his name – a playboy in tight blue black leather that does not look sexy (or so Bella tries to convince herself).

Things may heat up in his Lair of Seduction, but Bella remembers her parents’ tumultuous marriage all too well.  Often I find the psychological hang-ups authors burden characters with to be irksome and irrational.  Bella’s hang-up actually makes sense.  She grew up watching her mother plead with her father not to fight crime, cleaning his wounds one her mother passed away, and then attending his funeral after an ubervillain proved to be faster than his motorcycle.

In addition, I didn’t get frustrated because Debonair didn’t act like a jerk.  He bungled things a bit when he trapped Bella in his lair, but he lets her go.  He constantly gives her room to make her own choices and searches for a solution to their romantic dilemma.  He’s got a giant dash of sweet to go with the sexy.  Half the fun of Estep’s books is her strong characters and she hasn’t lost her touch.

All of the secondary characters shine in their moments.  I know the books are through a woman’s point-of-view, but I’ve wanted Swifte’s story since he first appeared in Karma Girl.  Each book he gets a little more flesh and it just makes me crave more.  Jinx also makes me want to see more of Joanne James, a character previously depicted in a less flattering light.  She becomes awesome in this book and not just because she’s seen through a friend’s eyes.  I to continue reading about her so that I know she gets the ending she deserves.

I would say unfortunately Estep’s next release is not going to be in the Bigtime series, but I would be lying.  The next release is the start of a new series about assassins.  I love books about assassins.  I love Estep’s writing.  I’m totally excited.  That doesn’t mean I don’t want the fourth Bigtime book too.  I’m greedy.

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 here.

Other books in the series: