Sandy M’s review of High Passion (Adrenaline Search & Rescue, Book 2) by Vivian Arend
Contemporary Romance published by Berkley 3 Sep 13
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was looking forward to this one to see how the rest of the search and rescue team take on love while working a very dangerous job. While High Passion is a good story, it doesn’t hit the same high notes for me as High Risk.
Devon and Alisha have been teammates since training and joining Lifeline together. They’re friends, are usually paired together when working, and they each have their own reasons for keeping their attraction for the other under wraps. But then on a rescue Alisha panics when they’re caught in the middle of a flash flood. Devon knows he should report the incident to the team, but they agree if they do extra practice and Alisha doesn’t panic again, all is well. Only problem is, I have a difficult time with this idea. Alisha is good at her job. Very good. She takes pride in her abilities and competence, so much so she refuses to go back home to her wealthy family, who are all waiting for her to get that silly climbing business out of her system.
So the fact she panics just doesn’t seem true to her character. It seems this is used as a way to throw her and Devon together so their relationship can move forward. No reason is given for this attack. It would have made more sense if Alisha’s mind is on something else – say the jerk who shows up on her doorstep demanding she come home – and she’s taken by surprise when something like the flash flood happens. Or something similar. There’s also nothing else in the story about the panic attack other than their few practice sessions and discussions. She gets through those sessions and the end. No more is said.
Beyond that blip, however, once Devon and Alisha take that step into a no-strings affair, the combustion between them throws heat off the pages. Intense and inventive, these two have very healthy appetites and aren’t afraid to go for what they want with each other. They do have to be careful, though. Their actions can cause disaster when working, not only for themselves but the rest of their team too. So their professionalism while on the job is quite authentic. But then we hit another blip.
Victor is the aforementioned jerk and works for Alisha’s father. When he blows into town out of the blue, he gives her a story about her father acting funny, doing strange things and the like. When she believes she’s taken care of the issue, at least to her satisfaction, Victor continues to harass her. And she continues to put up with it, meeting him when he wants, listening to his spouting all kinds of BS. Not once does Alisha think she needs Devon with her or some other kind of protection against the man. Again, this is not true to her character. Her team should be made aware of someone like this hanging around, pestering, stalking, things that can cause all of them trouble they don’t need.
Despite these things, though, I like the rescue situations, as well as the action at the end when the mysterious and dangerous happenings to the team comes to a head and the villain is revealed. Ms. Arend does a terrific job keeping the intensity and danger front and center during these times. That’s what I really loved about High Risk, and it’s just as exciting in this book.
So a couple of issues, but, all in all, as I mentioned at the beginning, a good story with likable characters. The next book in the series, High Seduction, is already on the shelves, and I’m hoping to get to it soon.
Grade: B+
Summary:
Alisha Bailey left a life of privilege for the dangerous but thrilling world of search and rescue. Denying the lure of attraction to her teammate is another sacrifice she’s made to prove to everyone—including her family—that she’s more than a pretty face or a business commodity.
Since their training days, Devon Leblanc has used the competitive fire between them to hide his fascination with the petite beauty. When a natural disaster forces their rivalry aside, heated passion finally flares between them. Sexual pleasure slowly gives way to a new appreciation for each other’s skills—on the field and in the bedroom.
But when unexplained accidents begin happening to the Lifeline team, their newfound unity may be their only hope for survival…
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
