Snake Eyes is the third book in Melissa Pearl's Masks' series. And what a rollercoaster of a ride it was to read this book! About halfway through the book, I wanted to throw my iPad across the room. I was so angry with what was happening to the characters in the book! But I knew Melissa would not let me down. By the time I finished the book, all I could say was, "Holy Crap on a Cracker!"
Caity and Eric just finished a wonderful summer together, which they deserved after what they went through in Two-Faced. They are back at UCLA and it's the beginning of Caity's sophomore year. She and Nicole are roommates once again and things are looking great! The year looks to be even better when Eric and Dale end up with an empty bedroom in their house and ask Caity and Nicole to move in with them.
Unfortunately, Kaplan, the FBI agent we love to hate, chooses that moment to show up and coerce Caity into helping her with another case. This one involves Diego Mendez, a man involved in human trafficking. Caity has seen the news reports of the kidnapping and disappearances of these girls. She is heartbroken over what is happening and can't find a way to say no to Kaplan. What Caity doesn't realize is the devastating effect that decision will have on her relationship with Eric.
Kaplan tells Caity she cannot move in with Eric. And since Nicole is moving out, Kaplan arranges for Mendez's daughter Quella to become Caity's new roommate. This leads to numerous problems for Caity and Eric, and things only go from bad to worse between the two of them. Kaplan has forbidden Caity to tell Eric what she is doing so she must lie to him. Given Eric's trust issues, he cannot help but doubt everything about his relationship with Caity.
It was at this point in the book that I about lost it. I was so angry with Kaplan and quite frustrated with both Caity and Eric. But when things took a turn for the worse for Caity and Eric, it also ratcheted up the action in the book and I couldn't put it down.
I've always said I like a good mystery with a healthy dose of romance. This one had both - it's just that the romance occurred in the beginning and all the action and mystery was in the last half of the book, leaving you with a MAJOR cliffhanger ending. It's a good thing Book 4, Poker Face, comes out next month!
If you enjoy romance, mystery, and even some international intrigue (habla español?), then get yourself a copy of Snake Eyes!