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ACRO #6
Taken by Fire
HIS MISSION WAS TO DESTROY HER.
BUT DESIRE GOT IN THE WAY.
A product of genetic manipulation, Melanie Milan shares a body with her malevolent sister, Phoebe. A sleek, blond predator with a heart of pure darkness, Phoebe puts their body through the wicked underbelly of sex for thrills—when she’s not igniting her pyrokinetic skills for an evil organization bent on taking over the world. Melanie rarely gets out to play—much less fall in love. But that changes when rival ACRO agent Stryker Wills shows up, with a mission to terminate the woman who torched his partner.
An operative with rare abilities, Stryker soon realizes that the woman he’s about to kill isn’t the murderous fire starter he’s been hunting. But he does want her. Melanie, with the power to ice anything in her path, is heating things up in ways that are setting fire to his blood. As long as Melanie stays in control, she is his best ally to bring down her sister and stop hellish havoc from being unleashed. Walking a tightrope of longing and hate, Stryker and Melanie begin to understand that true power lies in sweet surrender to each other, to the flames between them, to the erotic adventure that’s joined their hearts and abilities to become their salvation—and perhaps the world’s.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
BUT DESIRE GOT IN THE WAY.
A product of genetic manipulation, Melanie Milan shares a body with her malevolent sister, Phoebe. A sleek, blond predator with a heart of pure darkness, Phoebe puts their body through the wicked underbelly of sex for thrills—when she’s not igniting her pyrokinetic skills for an evil organization bent on taking over the world. Melanie rarely gets out to play—much less fall in love. But that changes when rival ACRO agent Stryker Wills shows up, with a mission to terminate the woman who torched his partner.
An operative with rare abilities, Stryker soon realizes that the woman he’s about to kill isn’t the murderous fire starter he’s been hunting. But he does want her. Melanie, with the power to ice anything in her path, is heating things up in ways that are setting fire to his blood. As long as Melanie stays in control, she is his best ally to bring down her sister and stop hellish havoc from being unleashed. Walking a tightrope of longing and hate, Stryker and Melanie begin to understand that true power lies in sweet surrender to each other, to the flames between them, to the erotic adventure that’s joined their hearts and abilities to become their salvation—and perhaps the world’s.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
304 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2011
18 people are currently reading
1459 people want to read
About the author
Sydney Croft
15 books606 followersSydney Croft is the alter-ego of two published authors who came together to blend their very different writing interests into adventurous tales of erotic paranormal fiction. Together, they developed a world where people with extraordinary abilities, like the power to control storms, could live and work with others like them. The series has been described as "Erotica meets the X-Men," and is unique in its own "erotic super hero romance" niche.
The authors behind Sydney Croft live in different states and communicate almost entirely through email, though they often get together for conferences and book signings.
Stephanie Tyler
Larissa Ione
The authors behind Sydney Croft live in different states and communicate almost entirely through email, though they often get together for conferences and book signings.
Stephanie Tyler
Larissa Ione
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
September 10, 2015
4.5 Stars
This review was posted at Under The Covers
SOME SLIGHT SPOILERS
I am so sad to see this series end. It really doesn't have to! There are still so many stories that they could create! Please, please, please! Or maybe write a spin-off series??? Something!! That's the end of my fangirl moment.
Taken by Fire is mainly the story of Stryker. He has such a cool power, he can affect basically earth, so watch out you don't piss him off or you may cause an earthquake! He is assigned to kill Melanie/Phoebe, the chick with two personalities that killed Akbar in the forest at the end of the last book. He watched as his friend burned in front of him, so this mission is personal for him. He wants to squeeze the life out of her!
Except once he finds her she explains to him about her dual personality. Can he believe her? There are actually two people living inside her body thanks to an Itor experiment, Phoebe is the bad one, and Melanie is the good one. Phoebe is out most of the time and has abused Melanie for a long time. Phoebe is the Itor agent, Melanie doesn't know anything. They each have a different power, Phoebe is fire, Melanie is ice. And yes, they find out that she's Alek's daughter (head of Itor), which of course makes Dev change his plans and decide to just bring her in, not kill her.
She needs sex to recharge her powers and when they find themselves in a situation where he needs her to get them out of a bind, he is the only choice for sex. After that first time, which was rough, she admits that even though her body might've not been, she was actually a virgin, and yes, Oz's prediction comes back to mind "You will marry a virgin."
He quickly starts developing feelings for Melanie, and after those first few rushed times, which were still pretty hot, there's more of a connection between them. Can I just say that even though this book was just a tad less creative in the sex department, at least with the main characters, they still had some hot scenes. They joined the mile high club and almost brought down the plane with both their powers; the back of an SUV after playing and training with her powers; he sits down at the kitchen table to have dessert *THUD*
So yeah, I liked the main characters in this one. I felt bad for Melanie, I hated Phoebe she was a total bitch! And let me warn you, Phoebe does get a little rough and there might be some scenes where you can't believe they went that far with what she was allowed to do, but that was still ok with me.
Now let me get to my favorite characters of ACRO. In every book, Creed&Annika and Dev&Gabe&Oz were also reason enough for me to keep reading. Their side storylines are amazing in my opinion. I did feel a lack of Creed and Annika in this book, we didn't get a lot of time with them and I missed them. Annika is pregnant, Creed is stressing out about Oz's vision that she would die if she has his child, Annika is pissed at Stryker for sleeping with Akbar's killer. But we didn't see a lot of Creed/Annika time.
Dev... He was my favorite character in this book! He is so intense, emotionally raw and devastatingly hot! Gabe is actually more the romantic and wants more from Dev than a booty call. Dev has to learn to cope with that and to give Gabe what he needs while still dealing with the takedown of Itor and his newly found sister(s) in ACRO's custody. Some of the best sex, and almost sex scenes in this book are Dev & Gabe's. Oh.My.Gawd!!!!!! HAWT! That's all I got to say. You have to read it! And yes, there is a threesome in this one! Oz gets to have a body for just one night!!!! *THUD*
The last two or three chapters of this book had me in tears... constantly. I cried for everyone! I'm tearing up again now. It seemed like there would be no resolutions or happy endings for anybody, and my heart was breaking. It was a great ending! Full of emotion, full of action. The ACRO family is all there. But I still don't want it to end! I can't let go!
Favorite quotes:
"I'd miss my own crowning to be the King of England to be with you." - Stryker
Because he's yours, Oz whispered in his ear, even though he remained where Gabe could see him across the room. Always was - I just kept him safe for you.
"We're all a bunch of goddamned heroes." - Stryker
"You be safe out there, Gabriel. You hear me?"
"Yeah, I hear you. I think I finally fucking hear you," Gabe whispered in his ear. "When I finish, I'm going to fuck you into the mattress."
This review was posted at Under The Covers
SOME SLIGHT SPOILERS
I am so sad to see this series end. It really doesn't have to! There are still so many stories that they could create! Please, please, please! Or maybe write a spin-off series??? Something!! That's the end of my fangirl moment.
Taken by Fire is mainly the story of Stryker. He has such a cool power, he can affect basically earth, so watch out you don't piss him off or you may cause an earthquake! He is assigned to kill Melanie/Phoebe, the chick with two personalities that killed Akbar in the forest at the end of the last book. He watched as his friend burned in front of him, so this mission is personal for him. He wants to squeeze the life out of her!
Except once he finds her she explains to him about her dual personality. Can he believe her? There are actually two people living inside her body thanks to an Itor experiment, Phoebe is the bad one, and Melanie is the good one. Phoebe is out most of the time and has abused Melanie for a long time. Phoebe is the Itor agent, Melanie doesn't know anything. They each have a different power, Phoebe is fire, Melanie is ice. And yes, they find out that she's Alek's daughter (head of Itor), which of course makes Dev change his plans and decide to just bring her in, not kill her.
She needs sex to recharge her powers and when they find themselves in a situation where he needs her to get them out of a bind, he is the only choice for sex. After that first time, which was rough, she admits that even though her body might've not been, she was actually a virgin, and yes, Oz's prediction comes back to mind "You will marry a virgin."
He quickly starts developing feelings for Melanie, and after those first few rushed times, which were still pretty hot, there's more of a connection between them. Can I just say that even though this book was just a tad less creative in the sex department, at least with the main characters, they still had some hot scenes. They joined the mile high club and almost brought down the plane with both their powers; the back of an SUV after playing and training with her powers; he sits down at the kitchen table to have dessert *THUD*
So yeah, I liked the main characters in this one. I felt bad for Melanie, I hated Phoebe she was a total bitch! And let me warn you, Phoebe does get a little rough and there might be some scenes where you can't believe they went that far with what she was allowed to do, but that was still ok with me.
Now let me get to my favorite characters of ACRO. In every book, Creed&Annika and Dev&Gabe&Oz were also reason enough for me to keep reading. Their side storylines are amazing in my opinion. I did feel a lack of Creed and Annika in this book, we didn't get a lot of time with them and I missed them. Annika is pregnant, Creed is stressing out about Oz's vision that she would die if she has his child, Annika is pissed at Stryker for sleeping with Akbar's killer. But we didn't see a lot of Creed/Annika time.
Dev... He was my favorite character in this book! He is so intense, emotionally raw and devastatingly hot! Gabe is actually more the romantic and wants more from Dev than a booty call. Dev has to learn to cope with that and to give Gabe what he needs while still dealing with the takedown of Itor and his newly found sister(s) in ACRO's custody. Some of the best sex, and almost sex scenes in this book are Dev & Gabe's. Oh.My.Gawd!!!!!! HAWT! That's all I got to say. You have to read it! And yes, there is a threesome in this one! Oz gets to have a body for just one night!!!! *THUD*
The last two or three chapters of this book had me in tears... constantly. I cried for everyone! I'm tearing up again now. It seemed like there would be no resolutions or happy endings for anybody, and my heart was breaking. It was a great ending! Full of emotion, full of action. The ACRO family is all there. But I still don't want it to end! I can't let go!
Favorite quotes:
"I'd miss my own crowning to be the King of England to be with you." - Stryker
Because he's yours, Oz whispered in his ear, even though he remained where Gabe could see him across the room. Always was - I just kept him safe for you.
"We're all a bunch of goddamned heroes." - Stryker
"You be safe out there, Gabriel. You hear me?"
"Yeah, I hear you. I think I finally fucking hear you," Gabe whispered in his ear. "When I finish, I'm going to fuck you into the mattress."
December 17, 2021
Stryker (causes earthquakes) and Melanie/Phoebe (dual personality in one body, Phoebe the bad one who creates fire and Melanie the good one who creates ice)
April 21, 2012
What a great series and fantastic ending to wrap it all up. So, so good!
July 3, 2011
Oh boy, what a fantastic ride this series was, and what a perfect ending for it. I loved EVERY freaking page of Taken by Fire. This book was definitely the master piece of the series, totally exceed every other book in it. The ACRO series was outstanding and so different from all the other series in this genre.
This book was just sublime, and it finally gave us a closure to all that had been developing since book 1, a flawless closure by the way. It just could't have gone any better than it did. I freaking cried with this book, which is something that hasn't happened to me with a book since so long I can't even remember the last time it happened. So many truths get revealed, so many lives get at risk, and the plot just couldn't help to get even better than what it already was... So how are we suppose not to ADORE this book? If you guys liked the previous books in this series you're gonna LOVE this one. This series has been growing on me with each new book and after the last couple of books I just got addicted to it, but nothing had prepared me for the amazing time I had reading this last book. PERFECTION. Sigh, I just wish this series didn't have to end but it really was the perfect ending and another book would just ruin that. So I will congratulate both authors to be able to realize the perfect timing to finish it.
In this last installment we get to read about Stryker and Phoebe/Melanie. I must admit I had been dying to read about this 2 characters for way too long, I just adored them both since we met them in the previous books. Both characters are amazing on their own, from their personalities to their reactions. But together they are even better, they had a great chemistry. Then we get to read about Dev and how he finally got his well deserved HEA. We also get a little glimpse of every single character we met in the previous books. Again ---> excellence, that's what we got form this book. So be ready for a lot of drama, action and romance. This book has everything it needs to keep you glued to the chair. Sigh. I'll miss this series so much, it really had something different from all the rest, which was what I adored the most about it. I just know I wont be able to find it anywhere else. 10 points for originality.
This book was just sublime, and it finally gave us a closure to all that had been developing since book 1, a flawless closure by the way. It just could't have gone any better than it did. I freaking cried with this book, which is something that hasn't happened to me with a book since so long I can't even remember the last time it happened. So many truths get revealed, so many lives get at risk, and the plot just couldn't help to get even better than what it already was... So how are we suppose not to ADORE this book? If you guys liked the previous books in this series you're gonna LOVE this one. This series has been growing on me with each new book and after the last couple of books I just got addicted to it, but nothing had prepared me for the amazing time I had reading this last book. PERFECTION. Sigh, I just wish this series didn't have to end but it really was the perfect ending and another book would just ruin that. So I will congratulate both authors to be able to realize the perfect timing to finish it.
In this last installment we get to read about Stryker and Phoebe/Melanie. I must admit I had been dying to read about this 2 characters for way too long, I just adored them both since we met them in the previous books. Both characters are amazing on their own, from their personalities to their reactions. But together they are even better, they had a great chemistry. Then we get to read about Dev and how he finally got his well deserved HEA. We also get a little glimpse of every single character we met in the previous books. Again ---> excellence, that's what we got form this book. So be ready for a lot of drama, action and romance. This book has everything it needs to keep you glued to the chair. Sigh. I'll miss this series so much, it really had something different from all the rest, which was what I adored the most about it. I just know I wont be able to find it anywhere else. 10 points for originality.
July 5, 2011
4 1/2 stars.
I have SO thoroughly enjoyed this series! They're HOT, probably more on the erotic side than a typical pnr, action packed and suspenseful...everything that i LOVE in my books! This one, for me, was just as great as the rest of them...it started pretty much where the last one left off..with Stryker on the "hunt" for Phoebe for having killed his best friend. The whole dual personality/twin storyline was great..Phoebe was pure evil!..and Mel was the sweet "twin"...it was interesting to hear how those two came about...and very sad for Mel..how she'd been treated by her sister and father all her life. We were, once again, given a very yummy hero in Stryker! I really liked him with Mel...he started out on his mission with only one thought..to kill Phoebe...but once he realized that Mel was for real...and really had no involvement in his friend's death..he became very protective of her and i loved that, especially since she'd pretty much been alone all her life! Those two were great together!
I also thought we were given pretty good closure for Dev and Gabe and Annika and Creed, although i do wish we could have had a little bit more time w/ those two couples....and i liked being able to "catch up" w/ couples from past books..whether they showed up to join in on a mission or we were just given a verbal update. There were even a few moments in this book that i felt were pretty emotional, for all couples involved...but like someone else said...
I'm actually very sad that this series is over...it's one i always looked forward to! :( Here's hoping that the talented writing team of Stephanie Tyler and Larissa Ione will collaborate again in the future, as Sydney Croft, to bring us either an ACRO spin off series or something else equally as exciting as this series has been!
I have SO thoroughly enjoyed this series! They're HOT, probably more on the erotic side than a typical pnr, action packed and suspenseful...everything that i LOVE in my books! This one, for me, was just as great as the rest of them...it started pretty much where the last one left off..with Stryker on the "hunt" for Phoebe for having killed his best friend. The whole dual personality/twin storyline was great..Phoebe was pure evil!..and Mel was the sweet "twin"...it was interesting to hear how those two came about...and very sad for Mel..how she'd been treated by her sister and father all her life. We were, once again, given a very yummy hero in Stryker! I really liked him with Mel...he started out on his mission with only one thought..to kill Phoebe...but once he realized that Mel was for real...and really had no involvement in his friend's death..he became very protective of her and i loved that, especially since she'd pretty much been alone all her life! Those two were great together!
I also thought we were given pretty good closure for Dev and Gabe and Annika and Creed, although i do wish we could have had a little bit more time w/ those two couples....and i liked being able to "catch up" w/ couples from past books..whether they showed up to join in on a mission or we were just given a verbal update. There were even a few moments in this book that i felt were pretty emotional, for all couples involved...but like someone else said...
I'm actually very sad that this series is over...it's one i always looked forward to! :( Here's hoping that the talented writing team of Stephanie Tyler and Larissa Ione will collaborate again in the future, as Sydney Croft, to bring us either an ACRO spin off series or something else equally as exciting as this series has been!
July 7, 2011
Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
4.5/5:
For this last installment in the wonderful ACRO series, I’m going to do a little different format for the review. By now, we all know that this is the final showdown with the big bad Alek, head of Itor, and the book had 3 storylines going, our lead couple Stryker and Melanie, Annika and Creed and finally Dev. This review will focus on the characters, their place in this book and the overall series.
Stryker & Melanie
I’ve been looking forward to Melanie’s story for quite awhile and it doesn’t disappoint. Melanie shares a body with her sister Phoebe. They are not split personalities, but 2 separate individuals, who have to share a body. Only one person can come out at a time and they are total opposites. Phoebe, to put it very mildly is a total crazy psychopath. She’s an agent with Itor, Alek’s daughter and wants nothing more than to see ACRO and especially Dev go down in flames. She hates Melanie with a passion and is just a horrible person. Her talent is fire, whereas Melanie’s is ice and when Phoebe’s in control she’s out for blood. Melanie is the sweetest person and has been trapped in a life she desperately wants out of. Phoebe has so many enemies that when Melanie is in control of their body, she can’t leave the house for fear of those enemies mistaking her for Phoebe. She has her gift of turning everything and everyone into blocks of ice, but beneath that, she’s not a fighter. She longs for a normal life, one with a husband, kids, a career, but with having to share a body with Phoebe she can’t risk having any of that. Phoebe would destroy any life Melanie tried to make for herself out of spite.
Enter Stryker. He’s out to get Phoebe who killed his partner and when he finally catches up to her, its Melanie he faces. It takes him quite awhile to reconcile the fact that they are 2 very different women and while he’s falling in love with Melanie, he still wants to end Phoebe. Melanie teams up with ACRO in the hopes of finding a way to keep Phoebe from taking over permanently. Dev wants to use her to help bring an end to Itor, and I wanted Melanie to just be happy! It’s a tough road for Stryker and Melanie, Phoebe does her best to ruin everything for between them and have I mentioned that she is 100% evil? There’s one scene specifically that shows the length that Phoebe will go to ruin Melanie. I don’t want to spoil the scene, but the total sum of everything she does in that moment shows how full of hate Phoebe is. It was a hard scene to read, and makes it clear that Phoebe has no conscious, no care for anyone if they stand in the way of what she wants.
Stryker and Mel go through a lot of angst, and I wondered throughout most of the book how it was going to be possible for their relationship to work. They're a great couple to cheer for and as is the case in all the previous ACRO books, sex plays a huge role, not only with how it’s needed to counter the agents extraordinary abilities, but what starts out as sex by necessity turns into so much more.
Creed & Annika
Hands down, they are my favorite ACRO couple. At one time, I longed for them to have their own full book, but it’s almost better that we got their supporting storyline running through the entire series. We had Oz’s vision coming to the forefront in this story and their ending was so emotional and perfect, I couldn’t have hoped for anything more for this couple. Thinking about where Annika was at the beginning of the series to now being on her way to motherhood, committed to Creed, having a family that includes Dev, she���s come a long way. It made me laugh to read about her waddling around when we’re so used to her running around and kicking ass.
Annika eyed the couch and then decided that if she sat, she’d be turtled and never get up again.
Creed goes through the emotional wringer in this one. He worries about Oz’s vision of Annika, his child’s birth, things that happen during the final few scenes and finally losing someone who’s very close to him. If ever a couple deserved an HEA, it’s Creed and Annika.
Dev & Gabe (& Oz)
Gabe has stuck by Dev through quite a bit, even when Dev couldn’t and wouldn’t give all of himself to Gabe, he still loved him and waited. Waited for that time when Dev would finally be able to move past the loss of Oz and open himself up to finding love again. Oz played such a wonderful role in this story and was the driving force of finally giving Dev closure and bringing Dev and Gabe together for good. The path was rocky, as it always is, but in their final scene I had tears threatening to fall and was cursing Oz for making me grab the tissues! Dev deals with so much pressure running ACRO and worrying that each decision he makes could lead to being the wrong one for his agents and with Gabe and eventually Melanie, he’s found a soft place to land. He’s only ever longed for love and family and in the end he’s surrounded by it, more than he probably ever hoped he would be. It’s of course not easy getting there for him and those around him, but if ever a guy needed some happiness, it’s Dev.
While this story focused on Stryker and Melanie and their relationship, the final showdown with Alek and Itor didn’t disappoint. We get to see all the ACRO agents in action and they all come out blazing with their special abilities. I also love that we get a really nice final scene, giving us a little bit of info about where each of our favorite ACRO couples are, their families and perhaps if Larissa Ione and Stephanie Tyler ever give Sydney Croft a chance to spinoff or continue this series, we may have met the next generation of ACRO agents by books end.
4.5/5:
For this last installment in the wonderful ACRO series, I’m going to do a little different format for the review. By now, we all know that this is the final showdown with the big bad Alek, head of Itor, and the book had 3 storylines going, our lead couple Stryker and Melanie, Annika and Creed and finally Dev. This review will focus on the characters, their place in this book and the overall series.
Stryker & Melanie
I’ve been looking forward to Melanie’s story for quite awhile and it doesn’t disappoint. Melanie shares a body with her sister Phoebe. They are not split personalities, but 2 separate individuals, who have to share a body. Only one person can come out at a time and they are total opposites. Phoebe, to put it very mildly is a total crazy psychopath. She’s an agent with Itor, Alek’s daughter and wants nothing more than to see ACRO and especially Dev go down in flames. She hates Melanie with a passion and is just a horrible person. Her talent is fire, whereas Melanie’s is ice and when Phoebe’s in control she’s out for blood. Melanie is the sweetest person and has been trapped in a life she desperately wants out of. Phoebe has so many enemies that when Melanie is in control of their body, she can’t leave the house for fear of those enemies mistaking her for Phoebe. She has her gift of turning everything and everyone into blocks of ice, but beneath that, she’s not a fighter. She longs for a normal life, one with a husband, kids, a career, but with having to share a body with Phoebe she can’t risk having any of that. Phoebe would destroy any life Melanie tried to make for herself out of spite.
Enter Stryker. He’s out to get Phoebe who killed his partner and when he finally catches up to her, its Melanie he faces. It takes him quite awhile to reconcile the fact that they are 2 very different women and while he’s falling in love with Melanie, he still wants to end Phoebe. Melanie teams up with ACRO in the hopes of finding a way to keep Phoebe from taking over permanently. Dev wants to use her to help bring an end to Itor, and I wanted Melanie to just be happy! It’s a tough road for Stryker and Melanie, Phoebe does her best to ruin everything for between them and have I mentioned that she is 100% evil? There’s one scene specifically that shows the length that Phoebe will go to ruin Melanie. I don’t want to spoil the scene, but the total sum of everything she does in that moment shows how full of hate Phoebe is. It was a hard scene to read, and makes it clear that Phoebe has no conscious, no care for anyone if they stand in the way of what she wants.
Stryker and Mel go through a lot of angst, and I wondered throughout most of the book how it was going to be possible for their relationship to work. They're a great couple to cheer for and as is the case in all the previous ACRO books, sex plays a huge role, not only with how it’s needed to counter the agents extraordinary abilities, but what starts out as sex by necessity turns into so much more.
Creed & Annika
Hands down, they are my favorite ACRO couple. At one time, I longed for them to have their own full book, but it’s almost better that we got their supporting storyline running through the entire series. We had Oz’s vision coming to the forefront in this story and their ending was so emotional and perfect, I couldn’t have hoped for anything more for this couple. Thinking about where Annika was at the beginning of the series to now being on her way to motherhood, committed to Creed, having a family that includes Dev, she���s come a long way. It made me laugh to read about her waddling around when we’re so used to her running around and kicking ass.
Annika eyed the couch and then decided that if she sat, she’d be turtled and never get up again.
Creed goes through the emotional wringer in this one. He worries about Oz’s vision of Annika, his child’s birth, things that happen during the final few scenes and finally losing someone who’s very close to him. If ever a couple deserved an HEA, it’s Creed and Annika.
Dev & Gabe (& Oz)
Gabe has stuck by Dev through quite a bit, even when Dev couldn’t and wouldn’t give all of himself to Gabe, he still loved him and waited. Waited for that time when Dev would finally be able to move past the loss of Oz and open himself up to finding love again. Oz played such a wonderful role in this story and was the driving force of finally giving Dev closure and bringing Dev and Gabe together for good. The path was rocky, as it always is, but in their final scene I had tears threatening to fall and was cursing Oz for making me grab the tissues! Dev deals with so much pressure running ACRO and worrying that each decision he makes could lead to being the wrong one for his agents and with Gabe and eventually Melanie, he’s found a soft place to land. He’s only ever longed for love and family and in the end he’s surrounded by it, more than he probably ever hoped he would be. It’s of course not easy getting there for him and those around him, but if ever a guy needed some happiness, it’s Dev.
While this story focused on Stryker and Melanie and their relationship, the final showdown with Alek and Itor didn’t disappoint. We get to see all the ACRO agents in action and they all come out blazing with their special abilities. I also love that we get a really nice final scene, giving us a little bit of info about where each of our favorite ACRO couples are, their families and perhaps if Larissa Ione and Stephanie Tyler ever give Sydney Croft a chance to spinoff or continue this series, we may have met the next generation of ACRO agents by books end.
June 28, 2011
4.5 stars
This is the last book in ACRO series, and it needs to come with a WARNING: m/m/m scene present. I know it might not sit well with some people. I read m/m romance religiously, but still I think that kind of warning is a must, right?
Oh, and also WATCH OUT FOR SPOILERS EVERYWHERE ON THIS POST ^_^. I cannot help myself.
Okay, after get that out on the way, OMG, this one ROCKS so BAD! It's probably my second favorite after Seduced by the Storm. For me personally, it is probably due to:
(1) It is basically focus on ONE main couple: Stryker and Melanie. Unlike book #4 and #5 where the secondary couples sort of sharing the spotlight as well. Oh, there is some side story of the continous life between Dev and Gabe as well as Creed and Annika, but the portion of their love story feels just the right amount (we'll go to that later).
I think the story of Melanie, who shares her body with Phoebe, is just unique and enganging. Mel's personality is so different to Phoebe, it's like comparing day and night. Mel has this innocence flair with her, a kindred heart, while Phoebe is a cunning bi*ch. So I totally enjoy the process of Stryker, trying to separate the two, then realize how Mel is her own personality (despite sharing body with Phoebe) and falls in love with the girl with ice ability. There are some tender moments between the two as well as some teasing times that bring smile to my face (like when Mel creates an ice dildo!). I love every minute of reading them together.
(2) Devlin FINALLY moves forward in his relationship with Gabriel. And it's just about darn time!! I don't like Dev keeping Gabe's at arms length. The young man might be trouble-maker in the beginning, but I believe he understands Dev just like Oz did. Plus Gabe shows that he is as important as any ACRO agent with his ability. So Devlin saying "I love you" to him just makes me happy like a little girl. The m/m/m scene (which involves Oz, in one supernatural way) doesn't disturb me as much because Oz is a part of Dev, just like Gabe is now.
(3) Annika has her baby. And she says "yes" to Creed's proposal *sigh*
(4) All of the ACRO agents that appeared in the previous books are present, and it wraps the story nicely. Love the ending, feels peaceful, and content, and at the same time, a sign that life moves on for ALL of them.
My only complaint related to the story, I think, will be the climax part. I think the death of Alex, Itor's leader, is a bit anticlimatic. I sort of wanting a HUGE scene over it :p.
I can't believe there will be no more books *pout*. I hope this is not the ending of Sydney Croft's writing though (please, Larissa, Stephanie, keep working together!)
This is the last book in ACRO series, and it needs to come with a WARNING: m/m/m scene present. I know it might not sit well with some people. I read m/m romance religiously, but still I think that kind of warning is a must, right?
Oh, and also WATCH OUT FOR SPOILERS EVERYWHERE ON THIS POST ^_^. I cannot help myself.
Okay, after get that out on the way, OMG, this one ROCKS so BAD! It's probably my second favorite after Seduced by the Storm. For me personally, it is probably due to:
(1) It is basically focus on ONE main couple: Stryker and Melanie. Unlike book #4 and #5 where the secondary couples sort of sharing the spotlight as well. Oh, there is some side story of the continous life between Dev and Gabe as well as Creed and Annika, but the portion of their love story feels just the right amount (we'll go to that later).
I think the story of Melanie, who shares her body with Phoebe, is just unique and enganging. Mel's personality is so different to Phoebe, it's like comparing day and night. Mel has this innocence flair with her, a kindred heart, while Phoebe is a cunning bi*ch. So I totally enjoy the process of Stryker, trying to separate the two, then realize how Mel is her own personality (despite sharing body with Phoebe) and falls in love with the girl with ice ability. There are some tender moments between the two as well as some teasing times that bring smile to my face (like when Mel creates an ice dildo!). I love every minute of reading them together.
(2) Devlin FINALLY moves forward in his relationship with Gabriel. And it's just about darn time!! I don't like Dev keeping Gabe's at arms length. The young man might be trouble-maker in the beginning, but I believe he understands Dev just like Oz did. Plus Gabe shows that he is as important as any ACRO agent with his ability. So Devlin saying "I love you" to him just makes me happy like a little girl. The m/m/m scene (which involves Oz, in one supernatural way) doesn't disturb me as much because Oz is a part of Dev, just like Gabe is now.
(3) Annika has her baby. And she says "yes" to Creed's proposal *sigh*
(4) All of the ACRO agents that appeared in the previous books are present, and it wraps the story nicely. Love the ending, feels peaceful, and content, and at the same time, a sign that life moves on for ALL of them.
My only complaint related to the story, I think, will be the climax part. I think the death of Alex, Itor's leader, is a bit anticlimatic. I sort of wanting a HUGE scene over it :p.
I can't believe there will be no more books *pout*. I hope this is not the ending of Sydney Croft's writing though (please, Larissa, Stephanie, keep working together!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2011
Please tell me this isn't the end....seriously.
I love this series, mainly because I'm a huge X-Men nerd so add that and hot, amazing, sexy characters who mostly gain their powers by having earth shattering orgasms, you've got one happy camper.
I'm guessing this is the last book since it answered a lot of questions and ended some fantastic story lines. *sigh* I did sob through the last 50 or so pages.
The writing is awesome, which isn't surprising considering who's behind the books. This is one series I would wait in line for, I just enjoy the rawness and action. I'm not your typical girly girl who is into a book for the romance. I want not only heated romance but give me, action, violence, angst, conflict, comedy, drama, horror, and this series gave it all! Nothing like the smell of napalm in the morning, right? *wink*
Dev is an amazing character who had my heart from the go. The dynamics between him and Oz, Gabe, Marlena, Annika and anyone else is just right on. He's the perfect leader for ACRO, he's strong, loyal, fair, just, intelligent, I could go on and on about him.
Annika and Creed's story was by far my favorite and I was so happy they were a part of every book. Creed is not only delicious physically, but his heart is 10 sizes too big!! He and Annika were made for each other, literally! This book really caused me some emotional damage though with these two, I'll leave it at that.
The Pheobe/Mel story was interesting as well. I love "merged twin" idea and darkness versus light. Stryker and Mel's story was heart wrenching, and beautiful. I also think they are two of my favorite characters.
Again, I really hope this isn't the end. My inner nerd is dying for more!
I love this series, mainly because I'm a huge X-Men nerd so add that and hot, amazing, sexy characters who mostly gain their powers by having earth shattering orgasms, you've got one happy camper.
I'm guessing this is the last book since it answered a lot of questions and ended some fantastic story lines. *sigh* I did sob through the last 50 or so pages.
The writing is awesome, which isn't surprising considering who's behind the books. This is one series I would wait in line for, I just enjoy the rawness and action. I'm not your typical girly girl who is into a book for the romance. I want not only heated romance but give me, action, violence, angst, conflict, comedy, drama, horror, and this series gave it all! Nothing like the smell of napalm in the morning, right? *wink*
Dev is an amazing character who had my heart from the go. The dynamics between him and Oz, Gabe, Marlena, Annika and anyone else is just right on. He's the perfect leader for ACRO, he's strong, loyal, fair, just, intelligent, I could go on and on about him.
Annika and Creed's story was by far my favorite and I was so happy they were a part of every book. Creed is not only delicious physically, but his heart is 10 sizes too big!! He and Annika were made for each other, literally! This book really caused me some emotional damage though with these two, I'll leave it at that.
The Pheobe/Mel story was interesting as well. I love "merged twin" idea and darkness versus light. Stryker and Mel's story was heart wrenching, and beautiful. I also think they are two of my favorite characters.
Again, I really hope this isn't the end. My inner nerd is dying for more!
July 5, 2011
**4.5 stars**
For the first 85%, I would have only given the book 4 stars but the last 15%? OMG definitely 5+ stars. The last part was so good and so emotionally draining. Definitely a good way to end the series.
But back to the beginning....this, of course, is the story of Stryker and Mel who met in the last book in the Amazon when Mel's other half, Phoebe, killed Stryker's friend. Stryker has been on the hunt for Phoebe and finds Mel instead.
Stryker and Mel are just so sweet together even if it takes Stryker a while to realize it...understandably. And Poor Mel....she's been through so much and hasn't really been able to experience much. I loved that Stryker saw that and did things to remedy it. The food thing was so cute! And the icicle scene? wowza!
So being the last book in the series, there is the wrap up with the big baddie and his gang and there's updates on all the other couples. Lots of good stuff and some stuff was a bit contrived but had to be in order to get all those HEA's!!
Great series...a bit heavy on the sex, and the sex is right up front and in your face but at least there is some romance!
Best line:
"F*ck Disneyland. Because all in all, ACRO was the happiest damned place on earth."
For the first 85%, I would have only given the book 4 stars but the last 15%? OMG definitely 5+ stars. The last part was so good and so emotionally draining. Definitely a good way to end the series.
But back to the beginning....this, of course, is the story of Stryker and Mel who met in the last book in the Amazon when Mel's other half, Phoebe, killed Stryker's friend. Stryker has been on the hunt for Phoebe and finds Mel instead.
Stryker and Mel are just so sweet together even if it takes Stryker a while to realize it...understandably. And Poor Mel....she's been through so much and hasn't really been able to experience much. I loved that Stryker saw that and did things to remedy it. The food thing was so cute! And the icicle scene? wowza!
So being the last book in the series, there is the wrap up with the big baddie and his gang and there's updates on all the other couples. Lots of good stuff and some stuff was a bit contrived but had to be in order to get all those HEA's!!
Great series...a bit heavy on the sex, and the sex is right up front and in your face but at least there is some romance!
Best line:
"F*ck Disneyland. Because all in all, ACRO was the happiest damned place on earth."
July 6, 2011
OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! The ending of this book/ series was the best ending I have EVER read. Fantastic, phenomenal, Amazing, I am totally floored. The team of Sydney Croft did not leave me hanging one bit. They ended this series wrapped with a nice tidy bow leaving me completely satisfied.
Now I'm sad because yes it's over but it went out with a bang.
OK, now that I'm done with all that let me just say that if you have not read this series and you like your romances action pack, with really cool hero's and heroines that have special abilities like the X-Man series and LOTS of scorching hot love scenes in everyone I urge you to give this series a try. Out of the 6 book's in this series only one fell short for me and I still enjoyed that one too. I must say that yes, you need to start at book one and work your way to the end to truly enjoy this series.
I must again thank my friend Tiffany for recommending this series to me years ago, THANKS TIFFANY :) I hope your enjoying book 6 as much as I did.
Now I'm sad because yes it's over but it went out with a bang.
OK, now that I'm done with all that let me just say that if you have not read this series and you like your romances action pack, with really cool hero's and heroines that have special abilities like the X-Man series and LOTS of scorching hot love scenes in everyone I urge you to give this series a try. Out of the 6 book's in this series only one fell short for me and I still enjoyed that one too. I must say that yes, you need to start at book one and work your way to the end to truly enjoy this series.
I must again thank my friend Tiffany for recommending this series to me years ago, THANKS TIFFANY :) I hope your enjoying book 6 as much as I did.
July 7, 2011
What a fantastic read!!! Taken by Fire is the final installment of the ACRO series, and I am very sorry to see this series end.
I don't normally write reviews with spoilers but this one can't be written without spoilers.
This series started out a bit rocky for me. I mean come on, a dude who constantly needs to get himself off during a storm or he could die?! And of course he stumbles upon a woman who is oh-so-happy to help him out! LOL!! Yes, the first book was cheeserrific, but the subsequent installments just kept getting better and better as we learned more about ACRO and its soldiers and its number one nemesis Itor.
Most of the time I looked forward to the side-stories within the books. Most specifically Dev and his personal drama with Oz and Gabriel or Creed and Annika. This time around we didn't have much of those back-stories, just enough to close up the loose ends. And I was OK with that. The main story of Stryker and Melanie/Phoebe rocked and rolled (pun intended ;) ) so much that once I got into the story I put all other stuff in life aside and couldn't stop reading.
Yes, Stryker did seem to fall for Melanie VERY fast, but hey, they all do. And of course he fell HARD!! Constantly worrying about Melanie's well being, his own inability to completely trust her and wondering where her next threat would come from, whether it be Itor, her sister Phoebe or his own fellow soldiers of ACRO.
Melanie certainly grew a set just in time. Recognizing the fact that she would never truly be free of her sister she came out of her shell and lived in the moment knowing she was mostly going to die in the end. She fought hard to protect Stryker, who was the first person since her mother, to give a damn about her. Knowing Itor for the sick organization it was, she did every thing in her power to help take it down. I'm glad she was able to get her ultimate wish, unfortunately at cost others lives.
Dev...what a complex and lovable, tough-as-nails character with the heart of a teddybear. I think his love triangle with Oz and Gabriel was sewn up pretty well. Although the scene around 80% was a bit far-fetched. But, this is erotic PNR and anything can happen! ;) Just glad he and Gabriel were able to come to an understanding and be happy and Oz was able to see the love of his life was in a good place before saying good-bye.
Creed and Annika, my absolute favorite couple in this entire series. Loved that Creed is a sensitive romantic goth while Annika was a smartass, immature bad-ass. They both grew and matured throughout the series, especially Annika and I was very happy to see their baby safely born. I about lost my shite when Annika was shot and decided to go to heaven to be with her mom and dad. Not that I was disappointed with her decision, but because I couldn't believe the whole thing was happening.
Thank goodness for Faith and Wyatt...again another far-fetched 'we've come to save the day' moment but HELL YES! Faith and Wyatt saved the freakin' day!!!! For a bit there, like the last 15% of the book, I didn't think I'd get all my happy endings. Yes, I was completely sucked into the story and too busy wiping away tears and blowing my nose to stop and think that surely the authors wouldn't kill off a couple heroines....everything will work out in the end. Thank goodness it did!!! I would have hated to throw my kindle across the room!!!
I don't normally write reviews with spoilers but this one can't be written without spoilers.
This series started out a bit rocky for me. I mean come on, a dude who constantly needs to get himself off during a storm or he could die?! And of course he stumbles upon a woman who is oh-so-happy to help him out! LOL!! Yes, the first book was cheeserrific, but the subsequent installments just kept getting better and better as we learned more about ACRO and its soldiers and its number one nemesis Itor.
Most of the time I looked forward to the side-stories within the books. Most specifically Dev and his personal drama with Oz and Gabriel or Creed and Annika. This time around we didn't have much of those back-stories, just enough to close up the loose ends. And I was OK with that. The main story of Stryker and Melanie/Phoebe rocked and rolled (pun intended ;) ) so much that once I got into the story I put all other stuff in life aside and couldn't stop reading.
Yes, Stryker did seem to fall for Melanie VERY fast, but hey, they all do. And of course he fell HARD!! Constantly worrying about Melanie's well being, his own inability to completely trust her and wondering where her next threat would come from, whether it be Itor, her sister Phoebe or his own fellow soldiers of ACRO.
Melanie certainly grew a set just in time. Recognizing the fact that she would never truly be free of her sister she came out of her shell and lived in the moment knowing she was mostly going to die in the end. She fought hard to protect Stryker, who was the first person since her mother, to give a damn about her. Knowing Itor for the sick organization it was, she did every thing in her power to help take it down. I'm glad she was able to get her ultimate wish, unfortunately at cost others lives.
Dev...what a complex and lovable, tough-as-nails character with the heart of a teddybear. I think his love triangle with Oz and Gabriel was sewn up pretty well. Although the scene around 80% was a bit far-fetched. But, this is erotic PNR and anything can happen! ;) Just glad he and Gabriel were able to come to an understanding and be happy and Oz was able to see the love of his life was in a good place before saying good-bye.
Creed and Annika, my absolute favorite couple in this entire series. Loved that Creed is a sensitive romantic goth while Annika was a smartass, immature bad-ass. They both grew and matured throughout the series, especially Annika and I was very happy to see their baby safely born. I about lost my shite when Annika was shot and decided to go to heaven to be with her mom and dad. Not that I was disappointed with her decision, but because I couldn't believe the whole thing was happening.
Thank goodness for Faith and Wyatt...again another far-fetched 'we've come to save the day' moment but HELL YES! Faith and Wyatt saved the freakin' day!!!! For a bit there, like the last 15% of the book, I didn't think I'd get all my happy endings. Yes, I was completely sucked into the story and too busy wiping away tears and blowing my nose to stop and think that surely the authors wouldn't kill off a couple heroines....everything will work out in the end. Thank goodness it did!!! I would have hated to throw my kindle across the room!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2012
FABULOUS!!! What a PERFECT ending to a wonderful series!! This book was fantastic from start to finish.
I didn't know what to expect from Stryker at the outset of this book because when we saw him last, his best friend and mentor had just been killed, and he was on a path of vengeance. Fast forward eight months, and we find him closing in on Abkar's murderer, Phoebe. What Stryker finds, however, is Melanie, Phoebe's sister. The two of them are indeed sisters and not multiple personalities, but they share a body due to experimentation at the hands of daddy-dearest, Alek ~ the leader of Itor and Dev's father and arch-enemy. So, expecting Stryker to be a completely tried-and-true alpha whose anger knows no limits, I was surprised to find that yes, while very alpha, he was still open-minded, considerate, warm, and thoughtful. Of course, it took awhile for Mel to see this side of him, but even before he began to care for Mel, the witty banter that took place between them was too cute for words.
Once Stryker realized that Mel was all good, and once they fell for each other, those two were off the charts hawt! He was so good to her, and let's just say that I'll never look at a waterfall again without thinking about those two. As far as main book couples in this series, Wyatt and Faith are still my absolute favorite, but Stryker and Mel come in in a very close second.
So much happens in this book...the final showdown with Itor, a baby for Annika and Creed, and resolution with Dev, Gabe, and Oz. Without giving too much away, I'll just say that it has been a joy to watch all of these characters throughout the whole series, and the events that happened with all of them in this book were wonderful, heart-wrenching, and perfect, all at the same time.
I truly hope that even though this series is finished, Croft might give us something in the future to let us know how our beloved ACRO agents are doing.
I didn't know what to expect from Stryker at the outset of this book because when we saw him last, his best friend and mentor had just been killed, and he was on a path of vengeance. Fast forward eight months, and we find him closing in on Abkar's murderer, Phoebe. What Stryker finds, however, is Melanie, Phoebe's sister. The two of them are indeed sisters and not multiple personalities, but they share a body due to experimentation at the hands of daddy-dearest, Alek ~ the leader of Itor and Dev's father and arch-enemy. So, expecting Stryker to be a completely tried-and-true alpha whose anger knows no limits, I was surprised to find that yes, while very alpha, he was still open-minded, considerate, warm, and thoughtful. Of course, it took awhile for Mel to see this side of him, but even before he began to care for Mel, the witty banter that took place between them was too cute for words.
Once Stryker realized that Mel was all good, and once they fell for each other, those two were off the charts hawt! He was so good to her, and let's just say that I'll never look at a waterfall again without thinking about those two. As far as main book couples in this series, Wyatt and Faith are still my absolute favorite, but Stryker and Mel come in in a very close second.
So much happens in this book...the final showdown with Itor, a baby for Annika and Creed, and resolution with Dev, Gabe, and Oz. Without giving too much away, I'll just say that it has been a joy to watch all of these characters throughout the whole series, and the events that happened with all of them in this book were wonderful, heart-wrenching, and perfect, all at the same time.
I truly hope that even though this series is finished, Croft might give us something in the future to let us know how our beloved ACRO agents are doing.
July 7, 2011
I wish I could give it more than 5 stars. The book was just FANTASTIC. Without a doubt, one of the best books I've read this year. However, it is bittersweet because it was the last of the series, but Sydney Croft went out with bang. All the past characters were included and I remembered how much I adored the ACRO world. The guys are hot and alpha and the women have strong personalities and know how to hold their own when it comes to kicking some major ass. I cannot recommend this series enough to anyone who enjoys reading paranormal with lots of action and HAWT lovin'. Because of this series, I have become huge fans of Larissa Ione and Stephanie Tyler and my wish is that they find a publisher willing to work with them and that their collaboration continues with future series.
August 30, 2013
A great ending to a wonderful series.
February 9, 2017
Review originally posted at RabidReads.com.
4.5 stars
This book wraps up the ACRO series. There is another book after this one, but it is more of a stand-alone set in this world, and not really part of the overall story arc. Both of our main characters in this book were in the previous book, Tempting the Fire.
Stryker can affect the earth, like cause earthquakes. This can be really helpful as long as he doesn’t lose control. This story starts off with him in Rome. He doesn’t like to be in cities like that because he could accidentally destroy structures that are ancient. He’s searching for Phoebe to kill her. She did something truly horrible in the previous book.
Phoebe is an ITOR agent, and not just any agent, but the daughter of the leader. Oh, and she shares her body with Melanie, an innocent in this story and her twin. They were genetically made in a lab that forces the two to share their body. We are not talking split personally, though they are confused of that all the time, but truly two people who each have time controlling their body.
Imagine Stryker’s surprise when he shows up to kill Phoebe only to find Melanie, who is obviously not the same person. There are some definite trust issues that Melanie is just Phoebe acting really well and trying to infiltrate ACRO. Once Melanie earns Stryker’s trust, she still has to earn everyone’s at ACRO. She also really wants to get kill her sister, which is really hard, since they share the same body.
This was a great wrap up to the series. The overall story arc ended really well between ACRO and ITOR. There are some characters who still had part of their stories that needed to be wrapped up. Annika and Creed’s story wraps up really well. Oz’s prediction lingers for a while, but is finally shown. Then there is Oz and his connection to Dev and Gabe. I felt this ended really well and even had my eyes watering.
If you haven’t tried this series, I highly recommend it. It has an X-Men feel to it. There are two groups of humans with special abilities. ARCO fights for the side of good for all. ITOR is all about evil and profit. They even worse than Magneto’s group in the X-Men in that they just want to destroy everything. The characters in this series are really great. Many, like Dev, Annika and Creed, have a large part throughout the entire series. Others have a book of their romance and then fall back to being secondary characters in the other books.
Best book in the series.
4.5 stars
This book wraps up the ACRO series. There is another book after this one, but it is more of a stand-alone set in this world, and not really part of the overall story arc. Both of our main characters in this book were in the previous book, Tempting the Fire.
Stryker can affect the earth, like cause earthquakes. This can be really helpful as long as he doesn’t lose control. This story starts off with him in Rome. He doesn’t like to be in cities like that because he could accidentally destroy structures that are ancient. He’s searching for Phoebe to kill her. She did something truly horrible in the previous book.
Phoebe is an ITOR agent, and not just any agent, but the daughter of the leader. Oh, and she shares her body with Melanie, an innocent in this story and her twin. They were genetically made in a lab that forces the two to share their body. We are not talking split personally, though they are confused of that all the time, but truly two people who each have time controlling their body.
Imagine Stryker’s surprise when he shows up to kill Phoebe only to find Melanie, who is obviously not the same person. There are some definite trust issues that Melanie is just Phoebe acting really well and trying to infiltrate ACRO. Once Melanie earns Stryker’s trust, she still has to earn everyone’s at ACRO. She also really wants to get kill her sister, which is really hard, since they share the same body.
This was a great wrap up to the series. The overall story arc ended really well between ACRO and ITOR. There are some characters who still had part of their stories that needed to be wrapped up. Annika and Creed’s story wraps up really well. Oz’s prediction lingers for a while, but is finally shown. Then there is Oz and his connection to Dev and Gabe. I felt this ended really well and even had my eyes watering.
If you haven’t tried this series, I highly recommend it. It has an X-Men feel to it. There are two groups of humans with special abilities. ARCO fights for the side of good for all. ITOR is all about evil and profit. They even worse than Magneto’s group in the X-Men in that they just want to destroy everything. The characters in this series are really great. Many, like Dev, Annika and Creed, have a large part throughout the entire series. Others have a book of their romance and then fall back to being secondary characters in the other books.
Best book in the series.
July 7, 2011
Wanted to add that there was a rape scene in this book. So be aware. It caught me off guard.
What a friggin cool ass ending! You know, having one person share a body with two people is just so darn interesting. It's amazing what lab experiments can accomplish in the land of ACRO.
Melanie and Phoebe. God what a piece of work Phoebe was eh? We meet her at the end of the last book, where she So the hunt for her begins by Stryker.
What Stryker doesn't know, is that there really are two separate women sharing a body, not just some perceived mulitple personality disorder. it was interesting to watch him and Melanie get together, and him fighting his feelings for her, and reconcile what happened to Akbar.
The climax felt rushed with Alek, but overall I was satisfied with the conclusion of this chapter of ITOR Vs ACRO.
For a while I wasn't sure how Stryker and Melanie were going to have a HEA, and how and what Larissa and Stephanie do, is awesome, in a warped way :lol:
Annika and Creed have come a long way, and I loved getting glimpses into their lives, and my heart ached for them towards the end.
Dev and Gabe. I'm a little upset about what happens with their storyline. I gotta say it. But, ah well. What happens but hey, kudos to Ms Ione and Ms Tyler for going that route. I'm still trying to figure out the logistics of it :scratches head:
I'm happy with the end, but also happy it's over, does that make sense? There was a LOT of sex. Like a lot, lot. but hey, it's all good baby!
I'll be back with some quotes :)
What a friggin cool ass ending! You know, having one person share a body with two people is just so darn interesting. It's amazing what lab experiments can accomplish in the land of ACRO.
Melanie and Phoebe. God what a piece of work Phoebe was eh? We meet her at the end of the last book, where she So the hunt for her begins by Stryker.
What Stryker doesn't know, is that there really are two separate women sharing a body, not just some perceived mulitple personality disorder. it was interesting to watch him and Melanie get together, and him fighting his feelings for her, and reconcile what happened to Akbar.
The climax felt rushed with Alek, but overall I was satisfied with the conclusion of this chapter of ITOR Vs ACRO.
For a while I wasn't sure how Stryker and Melanie were going to have a HEA, and how and what Larissa and Stephanie do, is awesome, in a warped way :lol:
Annika and Creed have come a long way, and I loved getting glimpses into their lives, and my heart ached for them towards the end.
Dev and Gabe. I'm a little upset about what happens with their storyline. I gotta say it. But, ah well. What happens but hey, kudos to Ms Ione and Ms Tyler for going that route. I'm still trying to figure out the logistics of it :scratches head:
I'm happy with the end, but also happy it's over, does that make sense? There was a LOT of sex. Like a lot, lot. but hey, it's all good baby!
I'll be back with some quotes :)
There was nothing leisurely about this session, and that was fine with her. They'd sated one hunger but fueled another, and this was a main dish of raw need with a side of naughty
You'd be surprised what happens when you let someone inside,Devlin. But you already knew that."
"No, Phoebe's not," Stryker agreed, right before he cocked his arm back and punched Maurice in the mouth, shattering his front teeth.
He took immense satisfaction in making sure Maurice swallowed all the pieces before he pushed him aside, watching in fascination as the man's arms broke off as he fell.
July 4, 2011
Wow this was a spectacular finish to a great series. When I read the first book I really struggled but kept going as was assured by a member on here (thanks Auntee :) )that it was an excellent read and a great series and I am glad that I did go on to read them all.
I don't really do many reviews but felt that I needed to comment on this one - especially as I had commented on the first one in the series. I also don't want to give too much away but will suggest that you have a box of tissues handy when you read it as you will cry - well I certainly did anyway :)
ACRO is a brilliant series and is definately worth a read so if you haven't read them yet what are you waiting for :)
I don't really do many reviews but felt that I needed to comment on this one - especially as I had commented on the first one in the series. I also don't want to give too much away but will suggest that you have a box of tissues handy when you read it as you will cry - well I certainly did anyway :)
ACRO is a brilliant series and is definately worth a read so if you haven't read them yet what are you waiting for :)
July 2, 2011
5 stars – Erotic Paranormal Romance
January 29, 2012
Fan-freaking-tastic!!! This series got better and better with each book!
July 26, 2022
Melanie and Phoebe are twin sisters sharing the same body due to medical experiments by Itor. Mel has long been terrorized by evil Phoebe and their father, the head of Itor. Stryker is the ACRO agent sent to avenge his friend’s murder by Phoebe. So, what’s the sex/superpower twist for this book in the series? Phoebe is pyrokinetic and Mel is her opposite, capable of sending cold blasts at targets. The fastest way for Mel/Phoebe to recharge is through sex. Stryker causes earthquakes with his emotions. Natural earthquakes and paranormal manipulation of nature (like when Mel uses her powers) Make Stryker insatiable with lust. But back to the romance, this was a heartfelt end to the ACRO series that wrapped up the other characters as well. I read the ebook. 4/5
February 9, 2012
I have hesitated to pick up this final chapter in the absolutely phenomenal erotic paranormal suspense series by two amazing NYT-bestselling authors writing as one, not because I wasn't looking forward to reading it or because I feared the grand finale wouldn't live up to the excellence of the rest of the series. On the contrary, I knew the explosive conclusion would be powerful and pull out all the stops, but I didn't want to think of this series ending.
This wildly unique series about a secret government organization operated by agents with special abilities like superstrength or the ability to control the weather is akin to the X-Men, but surpasses that series in every way. Each super ability and the way the romantic couples have come together because of complementary abilities in some way has been so creative and nothing short of brilliant. The series has taken major risks, killing off main and popular characters for the greater good of character development and the story overall. The ACRO organization has faced truly evil and outrageous villains, namely at the hands of rival organization, Itor. There have been couples that have had their stories told as secondary romantic relationships, over the course of several books, the most popular being my personal favorite, Creed and Annika.
The series is highly erotic, which is why it really fits into a niche category, but it is vastly under-appreciated and -recognized. More than ever before, sex really has a purpose in this romance series. The final book showcases the great final battle between ACRO and Itor. At the heart of it are the two rival leaders, who happen to be father and son. And the heroine of the last book is the two leaders' daughter and sister, respectively, Melanie, who faces a situation unlike any I've ever seen in romance: she shares a body with her evil twin Phoebe. The good guys have a major ax to grind with Phoebe for killing one of their own in the previous book. Leading the charge is ACRO agent, Stryker. He's out for blood and hates Melanie upon meeting her, thinking she's her sister. Mel has been living a terrible existence, suffering at the hands of the evil sibling she literally can't get away from. She wants to help ACRO, but problem is Stryker doesn't trust her and they're in a race against time, since Itor has finally unveiled their big weapon which will wipe out much of humanity, and along the way, Mel and Stryker are constantly having to fight Phoebe. And then there is the pull they feel for each other, an undeniable attraction as Mel longs to find someone to put her trust in and Stryker fights the draw he feels towards someone so contradictory, but so perfect for him.
Everything I've loved about the series is here: returns of old favorites, nearly all of them in some capacity; updates on the stories that have preceded this one; crisp, clever writing with the twists and turns that has been a trademark of the series all along; real chemistry and love and sizzling sex scenes; and the sense of community and organization you get from the entire ACRO team. The most difficult thing about reading the book is having to say good-bye. These characters really feel like old friends.
My only minor complaints are I wish there'd been another 50 pages or so to really wrap things up in more detail since the ending packed so much and it all ended rather abruptly. And a small quibble about the ending for my favorite couple in all of romance, Creed and Annika. When we meet them back in the first book, something hit me hard, a love for these two who fit together so well even though they fought it every step of the way and their connection couldn't really be explained. The ghost whisperer and the girl with the ability to fry anything and everything with massive electricity flowing through her veins. They were drawn to each other, literally couldn't deny it. The pregnancy storyline that started in the previous book and concludes here wasn't my first choice for the way I hoped they'd go since in many ways it seemed to eclipse all the heat and fire that fueled their story in the beginning, but what really bugged me in this last and final book was there wasn't much romantic interaction between the two. I understand there was a lot going on, of course, but I missed this about them, and at the very least, I wish we'd have gotten a pregnancy love scene or something out of the deal. The series' end is a little more bittersweet knowing there aren't any truly melting romantic scenes between Creed and Annika in this last book. Not that their story doesn't end well or come full circle, I just wish we'd gotten even more of it. However, it is fitting that the book's final scene and final conversation is between the two of them, since they really helped carry a beautiful series unlike any ever written in romance.
This wildly unique series about a secret government organization operated by agents with special abilities like superstrength or the ability to control the weather is akin to the X-Men, but surpasses that series in every way. Each super ability and the way the romantic couples have come together because of complementary abilities in some way has been so creative and nothing short of brilliant. The series has taken major risks, killing off main and popular characters for the greater good of character development and the story overall. The ACRO organization has faced truly evil and outrageous villains, namely at the hands of rival organization, Itor. There have been couples that have had their stories told as secondary romantic relationships, over the course of several books, the most popular being my personal favorite, Creed and Annika.
The series is highly erotic, which is why it really fits into a niche category, but it is vastly under-appreciated and -recognized. More than ever before, sex really has a purpose in this romance series. The final book showcases the great final battle between ACRO and Itor. At the heart of it are the two rival leaders, who happen to be father and son. And the heroine of the last book is the two leaders' daughter and sister, respectively, Melanie, who faces a situation unlike any I've ever seen in romance: she shares a body with her evil twin Phoebe. The good guys have a major ax to grind with Phoebe for killing one of their own in the previous book. Leading the charge is ACRO agent, Stryker. He's out for blood and hates Melanie upon meeting her, thinking she's her sister. Mel has been living a terrible existence, suffering at the hands of the evil sibling she literally can't get away from. She wants to help ACRO, but problem is Stryker doesn't trust her and they're in a race against time, since Itor has finally unveiled their big weapon which will wipe out much of humanity, and along the way, Mel and Stryker are constantly having to fight Phoebe. And then there is the pull they feel for each other, an undeniable attraction as Mel longs to find someone to put her trust in and Stryker fights the draw he feels towards someone so contradictory, but so perfect for him.
Everything I've loved about the series is here: returns of old favorites, nearly all of them in some capacity; updates on the stories that have preceded this one; crisp, clever writing with the twists and turns that has been a trademark of the series all along; real chemistry and love and sizzling sex scenes; and the sense of community and organization you get from the entire ACRO team. The most difficult thing about reading the book is having to say good-bye. These characters really feel like old friends.
My only minor complaints are I wish there'd been another 50 pages or so to really wrap things up in more detail since the ending packed so much and it all ended rather abruptly. And a small quibble about the ending for my favorite couple in all of romance, Creed and Annika. When we meet them back in the first book, something hit me hard, a love for these two who fit together so well even though they fought it every step of the way and their connection couldn't really be explained. The ghost whisperer and the girl with the ability to fry anything and everything with massive electricity flowing through her veins. They were drawn to each other, literally couldn't deny it. The pregnancy storyline that started in the previous book and concludes here wasn't my first choice for the way I hoped they'd go since in many ways it seemed to eclipse all the heat and fire that fueled their story in the beginning, but what really bugged me in this last and final book was there wasn't much romantic interaction between the two. I understand there was a lot going on, of course, but I missed this about them, and at the very least, I wish we'd have gotten a pregnancy love scene or something out of the deal. The series' end is a little more bittersweet knowing there aren't any truly melting romantic scenes between Creed and Annika in this last book. Not that their story doesn't end well or come full circle, I just wish we'd gotten even more of it. However, it is fitting that the book's final scene and final conversation is between the two of them, since they really helped carry a beautiful series unlike any ever written in romance.
October 9, 2011
I have loved this X-rated X-Menish series from the very first book. I loved the way the books were written with the main focal hero and heroine’s story and then all the secondary romances that was there. I really hate that this is the last book for this series. I truly hope that Larissa Ione and Stephanie Tyler do a spin off series or perhaps they will flash forward and do another generation of these extremely hot, overly sexual, operatives with rare abilities.
I impatiently waited for Taken by Fire. I knew after Stryker watched Phoebe kill his best friend that he would be out for vengeance in the most violent way possible. I like Stryker’s character. He was born and raised ACRO. His parents are ACRO operatives. He has always had the love and support of not only family but also the other member of ACRO. He was also perfect for Melanie.
After being introduced to this pair of women sharing a body in Tempting the Fire, I knew Melanie/Phoebe was going to bring an interesting dose of drama to this book. Melanie and the lack of control and worth that was her life had me cheering her to a happy ending without Phoebe. Phoebe has harmed herself knowing that it would do more damage to her sister that she shares the body with. Melanie having lived the majority of her life with no one to care about her well-being but herself sees ACRO as an opportunity to save herself from herself.
Stryker has a hard time believing that Melanie and Phoebe are two different people. He has an even more difficult time believing that Melanie wants to help ACRO. He knows that this person killed his closest friend. He was there and saw it happen. The trust issues are tremendous. Melanie wants a better life for herself. She knows that getting Stryker to trust her is the key. These two worked so well as a couple. They brought the best out in one another.
I wanted Devlin to have his own book from the moment he was introduced. I have been very happy with the generous helpings of Dev throughout the series. He had a major role in this installment of the series. Since he is the man who runs ACRO he had an instrumental role in the Itor takedown. He also gets some much needed Oz closure and an incredible happy ending. Gabe has really evolved as a man worth having in his life.
My disappointments fall to Itor and Alek’s demise. It seemed to happen way too smoothly and quickly. After this many books/years of Devlin and his crew trying to take these people down all they ever needed was just one of Itor’s operatives to flip. I guess I was just expecting more. I also expected Phoebe to cause more damage in the sabotaging of Melanie and Stryker’s relationship. Don’t get me wrong Phoebe caused major damage, but it was mostly ACRO overall damage. Phoebe was very late in the game on her caustic destruction.
Be sure to have a box of tissues on hand for the last few chapters of the book. VERY EMOTIONAL and the absolute perfect ending for this awesome series!
I impatiently waited for Taken by Fire. I knew after Stryker watched Phoebe kill his best friend that he would be out for vengeance in the most violent way possible. I like Stryker’s character. He was born and raised ACRO. His parents are ACRO operatives. He has always had the love and support of not only family but also the other member of ACRO. He was also perfect for Melanie.
After being introduced to this pair of women sharing a body in Tempting the Fire, I knew Melanie/Phoebe was going to bring an interesting dose of drama to this book. Melanie and the lack of control and worth that was her life had me cheering her to a happy ending without Phoebe. Phoebe has harmed herself knowing that it would do more damage to her sister that she shares the body with. Melanie having lived the majority of her life with no one to care about her well-being but herself sees ACRO as an opportunity to save herself from herself.
Stryker has a hard time believing that Melanie and Phoebe are two different people. He has an even more difficult time believing that Melanie wants to help ACRO. He knows that this person killed his closest friend. He was there and saw it happen. The trust issues are tremendous. Melanie wants a better life for herself. She knows that getting Stryker to trust her is the key. These two worked so well as a couple. They brought the best out in one another.
I wanted Devlin to have his own book from the moment he was introduced. I have been very happy with the generous helpings of Dev throughout the series. He had a major role in this installment of the series. Since he is the man who runs ACRO he had an instrumental role in the Itor takedown. He also gets some much needed Oz closure and an incredible happy ending. Gabe has really evolved as a man worth having in his life.
My disappointments fall to Itor and Alek’s demise. It seemed to happen way too smoothly and quickly. After this many books/years of Devlin and his crew trying to take these people down all they ever needed was just one of Itor’s operatives to flip. I guess I was just expecting more. I also expected Phoebe to cause more damage in the sabotaging of Melanie and Stryker’s relationship. Don’t get me wrong Phoebe caused major damage, but it was mostly ACRO overall damage. Phoebe was very late in the game on her caustic destruction.
Be sure to have a box of tissues on hand for the last few chapters of the book. VERY EMOTIONAL and the absolute perfect ending for this awesome series!
June 21, 2011
WARNING: This is the sixth and final book from the ACRO Series by Sydney Croft (Larissa Ione and Stephanie Tyler). Although you could read this book as a stand alone... please don’t. This series is so worth a read - it’s only 6 books! (You can read more about the entire series at my blog.) Taken By Fire is the PERFECT series finally and you would miss out on so much if you read only this book. With that in mind, this review contains SPOILERS from the first 5 books, so move forward at your own risk!
I joked on Twitter about how hard it is to write reviews for books you love - my solution... here is my review: THIS BOOK ROCKS... READ IT. That is all. Okay, so I need to say more, I know. First, the primary love story of Mel and Stryker... it was so hot! I loved the internal (and external) struggles that they both experience - I could feel Stryker’s turmoil as he attempted to reconcile falling for the (sister of the) woman who killed his partner in cold blood. Their relationship is really well written - I didn’t feel any sparks between the two in the beginning, and I’m not meant to... they find their way together as they open up to each other and learn to trust.
Now for “everything else...” My favorite couple, Annika and Creed, are fairly front and center. We found out in the last book that Annika is pregnant, and that the ghostly Oz (brother of Creed and former love of ACRO leader, Dev) predicted that if Annika has Creed’s baby she will die. Then there is ACRO leader, Dev... oh Dev. I LOVED Dev and Oz together. Ms. Croft BROKE MY HEART in an earlier book, but now Dev has Gabe. The book contains wonderful story lines for both subplots. Please bring tissues! Also... Warning to all: This book is HIGHLY erotic and includes several HOT smex scenes, to include a m-m-m threesome.
Taken By Fire wrapped up everything from the first 5 books while giving hope for the future generations. It truly was everything you expect and want from a series finale (and never seem to get). I was emotionally drained by the time I finished... Cursed out the authors a few times... but it was an amazing journey. Every loose was end tied up in a uniquely fitting way. Yes, there are happy endings, but they aren’t forced and did not feel contrived. I’ve said this before, but it is worth repeating: Sydney Croft is a master of sensual story-telling, and the ACRO series is in a league of its own.
My Rating: 5 Stars Personal favorite - a must read (A+)
(But you must read the ENTIRE series!)
FOR MY FULL REVIEW, please visit my blog: http://twimom227.blogspot.com/2011/06...
I joked on Twitter about how hard it is to write reviews for books you love - my solution... here is my review: THIS BOOK ROCKS... READ IT. That is all. Okay, so I need to say more, I know. First, the primary love story of Mel and Stryker... it was so hot! I loved the internal (and external) struggles that they both experience - I could feel Stryker’s turmoil as he attempted to reconcile falling for the (sister of the) woman who killed his partner in cold blood. Their relationship is really well written - I didn’t feel any sparks between the two in the beginning, and I’m not meant to... they find their way together as they open up to each other and learn to trust.
Now for “everything else...” My favorite couple, Annika and Creed, are fairly front and center. We found out in the last book that Annika is pregnant, and that the ghostly Oz (brother of Creed and former love of ACRO leader, Dev) predicted that if Annika has Creed’s baby she will die. Then there is ACRO leader, Dev... oh Dev. I LOVED Dev and Oz together. Ms. Croft BROKE MY HEART in an earlier book, but now Dev has Gabe. The book contains wonderful story lines for both subplots. Please bring tissues! Also... Warning to all: This book is HIGHLY erotic and includes several HOT smex scenes, to include a m-m-m threesome.
Taken By Fire wrapped up everything from the first 5 books while giving hope for the future generations. It truly was everything you expect and want from a series finale (and never seem to get). I was emotionally drained by the time I finished... Cursed out the authors a few times... but it was an amazing journey. Every loose was end tied up in a uniquely fitting way. Yes, there are happy endings, but they aren’t forced and did not feel contrived. I’ve said this before, but it is worth repeating: Sydney Croft is a master of sensual story-telling, and the ACRO series is in a league of its own.
My Rating: 5 Stars Personal favorite - a must read (A+)
(But you must read the ENTIRE series!)
FOR MY FULL REVIEW, please visit my blog: http://twimom227.blogspot.com/2011/06...
August 24, 2011
This book was very hard for me to rate. The sex scenes were amazing and anything Stryker or Devlin wwere in was a 5 but it just moved too fast to the point where it was unrealistic...not that creating an earthquake is, but still there was not a lot of build up. It went from zero to a hundred very fast and even though I like that in certain parts as in sex scenes, it doesn't work when building relationships or making connections. that being said it was still a good book and the ongoing Devlin Gabe story was fantastic.
Stryker and Mel/Phoebe was very touching. the way Stryker was able to forgive and love Mel and the way he did it was so sweet it made me cry at times. Mel was tortured and starved by her dual person Phoebe and her Dad. Stryker was able to love her regardless and gave her so much, when he made the promise that she would never go hungry I was very touched. The sex between them was amazing, when he said "Let me in" (pg 252/253) touching the glass that seperated them I was dieing inside! they are just so hot!
Devlin..where to begin with him? I love this character and the M/M threeway was surprising. Gabe and Devlin are electric together and Oz saying goodbye was so sad, I really wanted that story to go on and on forever. The dialogue what little of it went on *wink wink* kept it exciting you just never knew what Devlin would do or say. The ending was perfect for them and i was happy with the outcome they both deserved.
I really wanted this book to be longer to give the characters more time to develop but it was a great read and the ACRO team is a story I will always love to read.
Stryker and Mel/Phoebe was very touching. the way Stryker was able to forgive and love Mel and the way he did it was so sweet it made me cry at times. Mel was tortured and starved by her dual person Phoebe and her Dad. Stryker was able to love her regardless and gave her so much, when he made the promise that she would never go hungry I was very touched. The sex between them was amazing, when he said "Let me in" (pg 252/253) touching the glass that seperated them I was dieing inside! they are just so hot!
Devlin..where to begin with him? I love this character and the M/M threeway was surprising. Gabe and Devlin are electric together and Oz saying goodbye was so sad, I really wanted that story to go on and on forever. The dialogue what little of it went on *wink wink* kept it exciting you just never knew what Devlin would do or say. The ending was perfect for them and i was happy with the outcome they both deserved.
I really wanted this book to be longer to give the characters more time to develop but it was a great read and the ACRO team is a story I will always love to read.
July 23, 2011
Flat out one of the best books in the ACRO series. Stryker - oh my lord I kept telling my BFF that she is going to love meeting him.
Stryker is an ACRO agent whose talent is to produce earthquakes. He lost his best friend in the jungle, killed by an ITOR agent, in the last book. Then Stryker meets Melanie - the other half of the ITOR agent and cannot help but fall in love. Such a dichotomy to be in love with the same (sort of) person who killed your best friend. But Stryker sees through Phoebe to Melanie.
Stryker is strong, gorgeous and so so sexy......some of the scenes written between the two main characters did indeed set the pages on fire.
Dev and Gabes story continues along so nicely in the book along with the other favourites - Creed, Annika, Ender and of course Oz. This book had me in tears towards the end - so touching and heart rendering. The authors have done such a good job of wrapping it all up so nicely.
Seriously guys couldnt you have written a few more - so sorry to leave this series behind.
Stryker is an ACRO agent whose talent is to produce earthquakes. He lost his best friend in the jungle, killed by an ITOR agent, in the last book. Then Stryker meets Melanie - the other half of the ITOR agent and cannot help but fall in love. Such a dichotomy to be in love with the same (sort of) person who killed your best friend. But Stryker sees through Phoebe to Melanie.
Stryker is strong, gorgeous and so so sexy......some of the scenes written between the two main characters did indeed set the pages on fire.
Dev and Gabes story continues along so nicely in the book along with the other favourites - Creed, Annika, Ender and of course Oz. This book had me in tears towards the end - so touching and heart rendering. The authors have done such a good job of wrapping it all up so nicely.
Seriously guys couldnt you have written a few more - so sorry to leave this series behind.
June 14, 2015
The final in this series and it did not disappoint This Reader. Taken by Fire picks up right where book #5 left off. Stryker hunting down Phoebe, the fire b****. He found her right away and the book kept a nice steady pace. Some of the recapping with previous stories I found boring, but was a nice refresher, too.
I've tried, but do not like Devlin. Didn't care for he and Gabe's drama when they had a larger portion of the stories in earlier books and my opinion did not shift in this story, either. Something about the whole m-m thing is just something I don't want to see what happens behind closed doors, nor do I want to read about their relationship/ trust issues. I skipped over a great deal of this in the book.
Annika still needs to grow up. The small portion that she was in this one, she still got on my nerves.
Really liked Melanie and Stryker together. The ending had me in tears. Can't say more without spoilers.
This book had a lot of sizzle that is expected in this series.
I've tried, but do not like Devlin. Didn't care for he and Gabe's drama when they had a larger portion of the stories in earlier books and my opinion did not shift in this story, either. Something about the whole m-m thing is just something I don't want to see what happens behind closed doors, nor do I want to read about their relationship/ trust issues. I skipped over a great deal of this in the book.
Annika still needs to grow up. The small portion that she was in this one, she still got on my nerves.
Really liked Melanie and Stryker together. The ending had me in tears. Can't say more without spoilers.
This book had a lot of sizzle that is expected in this series.
September 29, 2011
It was like someone was yanking his nuts out of his body through his throat. "Again," he rasped, because said testicles were lodged in his esophagus.
~Stryker
I am so sad to have reached the end of this series. Fingers crossed for a spinoff because there are so many more stories to tell. A new generation of agents, hybrid agents at that. Would make for an amazing tale.
When you mix a Telekinetic and a Excedosapien with super strength, you get Stryker. Stryker is a son of ACRO of sorts. Born and raised on the compound, both parents are ACRO agents. As a child, Stryker put a whole new meaning to "terrible two's". Just one temper tantrum away from bringing a whole building down...or worse. Stryker is an elementalist. He can bring forth earthquakes, volcanos, Tsunamis, mudslides and even avalanches. Natural disasters, that powerful force, also pulls at his sex drive.
Read the rest of my review at http://prufreads.blogspot.com/
~Stryker
I am so sad to have reached the end of this series. Fingers crossed for a spinoff because there are so many more stories to tell. A new generation of agents, hybrid agents at that. Would make for an amazing tale.
When you mix a Telekinetic and a Excedosapien with super strength, you get Stryker. Stryker is a son of ACRO of sorts. Born and raised on the compound, both parents are ACRO agents. As a child, Stryker put a whole new meaning to "terrible two's". Just one temper tantrum away from bringing a whole building down...or worse. Stryker is an elementalist. He can bring forth earthquakes, volcanos, Tsunamis, mudslides and even avalanches. Natural disasters, that powerful force, also pulls at his sex drive.
Read the rest of my review at http://prufreads.blogspot.com/
July 4, 2011
Erotic Romance
The ACRO series is a guilty pleasure even if it has certain elements(m/m) I would normally avoid but a friend gushed about it and I got into it. This is the last book of the series and I loved it. Stryker goes after Phoebe/Melanie who killed his mentor and instead finds the other twin Melanie, who is good and battered and tortured. I liked their story how angry and even mean Stryker is at the beginnng, how Mel comes onto her own and takes control.
I love my favorite Annika and Creed and they have their baby. Even Dev and Gabe get their HEA but that Oz thing made me uncomfortable and was unnecessary.
All in all the ACRO series has been so good. The final ITOR showdown takes place. It was okay and then I also didn't like the scene with Phoebe and Stryker, rest all the book was full on action and passion.
The ACRO series is a guilty pleasure even if it has certain elements(m/m) I would normally avoid but a friend gushed about it and I got into it. This is the last book of the series and I loved it. Stryker goes after Phoebe/Melanie who killed his mentor and instead finds the other twin Melanie, who is good and battered and tortured. I liked their story how angry and even mean Stryker is at the beginnng, how Mel comes onto her own and takes control.
I love my favorite Annika and Creed and they have their baby. Even Dev and Gabe get their HEA but that Oz thing made me uncomfortable and was unnecessary.
All in all the ACRO series has been so good. The final ITOR showdown takes place. It was okay and then I also didn't like the scene with Phoebe and Stryker, rest all the book was full on action and passion.
March 13, 2018
Even though its been a long time since I read the previous book in this series, it wasn't a problem. They give enough background and it talked about some previous characters that I remembered but it didn't matter if I forgot. What makes the romance story so great, in this book and the others, is that they want and need their mates with such passion. It is like they cannot help how much they love, which also makes the sex scenes hot and romantic all at once. Croft can write stellar sex scenes and this book is no different!
December 27, 2011
This was a solid book, one of the best stories in the series.
I didn't particularly like the Mel/Phoebe character, Phoebe was too evil and Mel too blah. But I kinda liked Stryker and I loved the Creed/Annika and Devlin/Gabriel side stories.
That threesome? Hawt!
I also loved the way the characters of the previous books appeared and were integrated in this story. Wyatt and Faith, especially.
The last chapter was beautiful, a great way to close the series.
I'm really glad I read these books. A big "thank you" to texxie for recommending the series to me.
I didn't particularly like the Mel/Phoebe character, Phoebe was too evil and Mel too blah. But I kinda liked Stryker and I loved the Creed/Annika and Devlin/Gabriel side stories.
That threesome? Hawt!
I also loved the way the characters of the previous books appeared and were integrated in this story. Wyatt and Faith, especially.
The last chapter was beautiful, a great way to close the series.
I'm really glad I read these books. A big "thank you" to texxie for recommending the series to me.
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