Playing with Fire & Twice as Hot

Product Details

• Pub. Date: September 2006
• Publisher: Harlequin
• Format: Mass Market Paperback, 384pp

• Series: Tales of an Extraordinary Girl Series, #1
• ISBN-13: 9780373771295
• ISBN: 0373771290

Synopsis

Earth, Wind & Fire aren't just a band anymore . . .

Used to be my greatest achievement was holding a job more than three days. Now suddenly I can shoot fireballs, chill your drink, or blow-dry your hair at fifty paces with a blink of my eye!

It all started when this crazy scientist dropped something in my Grande Mocha Latte. Of course I got wicked sick. Next morning I'm waking up with this total hottie bending over me. He tells me 1)his name's Rome Masters, 2)he's a government agent and 3)I can control the four elements with a thought.

He seems even less pleased by my (apparently irreversible) transformation than I am . . . Because now he'll have to kill me.

Gena Showalter is one of my favorite writers. Her stories are always captivating, and Playing with Fire is no exception. Belle can be hard to stand sometimes but, she did grow on me. There was never a dull moment, and Belle's comebacks are classic. She has a soft heart, but is upfront and tells it like it is. Her dad raised her alone after her mother died, but he almost worked himself into an early grave. So as soon as Belle was old enough, she made him quite his job and she's looked after him ever since. Although in the past few months she  has been unable to hold down a job longer than a week. When we meet Belle, she's working in a coffee shop. After running late, again, she convinces her boss to let her keep her job. Having a perky chest comes in handy for her and her pervert boss. Belle goes on break, when a mad man rushes into the shop and pleads for help. Everyone is shocked, especially when the CIA shows up to apprehend the man. Unbeknown to Belle, her coffee has been spiked with a special enhanced drug. It makes her very sick and after a few days she wakes up to find a seriously hot man in her room. Enter Rome Masters, alpha male extraordinaire. Rome is there to 'neutralize' Belle, in case her powers are out of control. After a while though, he realizes he can't hand her over to his boss, and they go on the run. Rome is one guy you really want to take home. He's sexy, mysterious, dominating, a little scary, and only has eyes for Belle. I think they make a great couple. He's serious and she's flippant. They both care greatly for the one's they love, and would do anything for them. Rome says he's going to help her, but has an ulterior motive. They find it hard to trust one another, but they need each other to survive. The bantering between them is funny and sweet, but never goes overboard. I like that once Rome gives his word he sticks to it.Their journey together is entertaining, and the ending made me happy. If I hadn't known their was a second part to Belle and Rome's story I would have been seriously disappointed. Playing with Fire kept me hooked from beginning to end. 

I give it 41/2 Spiders out of 5.

I will post a review for Twice as Hot a little later.