Sandy M’s review of Blaze of Memory (Psy/Changeling Series, Book 7) by Nalini Singh
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 3 Nov 09

Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling series has become one of my all-time favorites. With this latest installment, I’ve learned it doesn’t matter who she makes her hero and heroine, I’m going to love it. I thought I would be disappointed that a changeling wasn’t in the spotlight this time around. I couldn’t have been more wrong. In fact, Blaze of Memory has now become my favorite of the series — all because she made me cry.

And I mean cry. Sobbing. I didn’t just tear or mist up. I flat out cried as I read those wonderful, heart-wrenching scenes at the end of the book. But I guess I should talk about the beginning and middle of the story first.

Dev is the director of the Shine Foundation that takes care of those Psy who chose not to undergo silence when first introduced. He keeps his people safe and out of today’s Psy’s hands the best he can. He’s become hardened, about to lose himself to the job and his gift until he meets Katya, who he’s suspicious of in the beginning. But the more he learns about her and her current plight, the more his feelings come to the surface.

She’s a Psy and she’s been tampered with by one of her own. Her mind has been so interwoven into itself she doesn’t remember anything about her or her life when she regains consciousness after her ordeal. Dev refuses to let her out of his sight, wanting to keep her near for Shine and ultimately for himself. Together they begin to unravel the mystery of Katya and how to keep her alive when they do find the answer.

Throughout all of this we get vintage Singh when it comes to the love scenes, the danger, the mystery, and, of course, the changelings and the Psy. Dev and Katya are terrific together. They grow from suspicious of each other to respect to love for one another. The sex is tender and hot. The mystery is unique and dangerous. And I enjoyed seeing all of my old friends from previous books, finding out how they’re doing.

But it’s the end of the book, near the end of Katya’s life, that makes this book so special. Dev has finally come to face the fact he needs Katya in his life, he loves her, against all odds. And now he’s going to lose her, there’s nothing he can do about it either. He’s helpless. And the way Singh writes those scenes doesn’t just pull at your heart, it tugs and tugs until there’s no more to tug on. I’ve cried here and there over a few books in the 35 plus years I’ve been reading romance, but I’ve never, never cried like did with these scenes.

Ms. Singh has it all as an author. She’s right up there with the best of them, and I anticipate every book with her name on it. If you haven’t started this series yet, you are definitely missing some terrific reads. I highly recommend this book and this series to anyone and everyone.

Grade: A+

Read Gwen’s and LynneC’s review.

Summary:

Dev Santos discovers her unconscious and battered, with no memory of who she is. All she knows is that she’s dangerous. Charged with protecting his people’s most vulnerable secrets, Dev is duty-bound to eliminate all threats. It’s a task he’s never hesitated to complete…until he finds himself drawn to a woman who might yet prove the enemy’s most insidious weapon.

Stripped of her memories by a shadowy oppressor, and programmed to carry out cold-blooded murder, Katya Haas is fighting desperately for her sanity itself. Her only hope is Dev. But how can she expect to gain the trust of a man who could very well be her next target? For in this game, one must die…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series: