Sandy M’s review of Caressed by Ice (Psy-Changelings Series, Book 3) by Nalini Singh
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 4 Sep 07

Don’t ask me how I somehow missed reading this book back when it was released. It’s the only one of the series I haven’t read, and, as much as I love the series, it baffles me too how this one slipped by me. But I finally remedied that, and I’ve vowed not to let such a thing ever happen again with one of the Psy-Changelings books.

While this book is not my favorite of the series, it’s still a pleasure reading Ms. Singh’s writing.  She could probably write a book about the dictionary and it would be worth reading. For some reason, though, Judd as a hero didn’t quite grab me as other heroes, Lucas or Dorian, for example, but he is an interesting character and I enjoyed watching his logic erode when he eventually is unable to resist Brenna’s love. The process he goes through near the end when he finally relents and decides to take the risk of freeing himself of Silence is so very intriguing, learning how the Psy had conditioned his mind and the depth of that conditioning is simply amazing.

Both he and Brenna are mega tortured souls; his due to Silence and the lengths his superiors went to in making him the perfect killing machine and Brenna’s due to her attack by a madman who physically and mentally tortured before her rescue. She ended up with many residual fears, but the most fascinating to me was the loss of her shifting ability. All readers of this series know of Dorian’s latency which prohibits him from shifting, so it was only logical Brenna seek him out to ask questions and learn whatever possible from him.

Another intriguing concept for this couple was the fact that though they love one another, there isn’t the mating bond as with most mated pairs, and I liked the twist Ms. Singh comes up with for that. Of course, these are just a couple of things that stand out, but the book is full of fascinating happenings and this review would go on for pages just to cite them all.

I was glad to see the DarkRiver cats were included as much as possible here, though the story centered on the SnowDancer wolves. I did enjoy getting to know more of the wolves better, especially Riley and Drew, Brenna’s brothers. Which reminds me of the life-saving procedure Judd performed at one point on Drew.  My heavens, what a scene. It amazes me what this author comes up with in each succeeding book. I think of the characters left, I’m looking forward to Hawke’s book, especially after what was revealed about him in a scene with Brenna.

This series gets better with every book, as evidenced by Hostage to Pleasure, the book right after this one. Ms. Singh has one fascinating mind and I, for one, am so glad she’s chosen to write romances and share her talent and imagination with us.

Grade: A-

Read Gwen’s review here.

Summary:
Explore new heights of sensuality in this return to the world of the Psy—where two people who know evil intimately must unlock the good within their icy hearts…

As an Arrow, an elite soldier in the Psy Council ranks, Judd Lauren was forced to do terrible things in the name of his people. Now a defector, his dark abilities have made him the most deadly of assassins—cold, pitiless, unfeeling. Until he meets Brenna…

Brenna Shane Kincaid was an innocent before she was abducted—and had her mind violated—by a serial killer. Her sense of evil runs so deep, she fears she could become a killer herself. Then the first dead body is found, victim of a familiar madness. Judd is her only hope, yet her sensual changeling side rebels against the inhuman chill of his personality, even as desire explodes between them. Shocking and raw, their passion is a danger that threatens not only their hearts, but their very lives…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series: