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Ice #3
Ice Blue
Museum curator Summer Hawthorne considered the exquisite ice-blue ceramic bowl given to her by her beloved Japanese nanny a treasure of sentimental value—until somebody tried to kill her for it.
The priceless relic is about to ignite a global power struggle that must be stopped at all costs. It's a desperate situation, and international operative Takashi O'Brien has received his directive: everybody is expendable. Everybody. Especially the woman who is getting dangerously under his skin as the lethal game crosses the Pacific to the remote and beautiful mountains of Japan, where the truth can be as seductive as it is deadly….
378 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 27, 2007
99 people are currently reading
2009 people want to read
About the author
Anne Stuart
203 books2,062 followersAnne Stuart is a grandmaster of the genre, winner of Romance Writers of America's prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, survivor of more than thirty-five years in the romance business, and still just keeps getting better.
Her first novel was Barrett's Hill, a gothic romance published by Ballantine in 1974 when Anne had just turned 25. Since then she's written more gothics, regencies, romantic suspense, romantic adventure, series romance, suspense, historical romance, paranormal and mainstream contemporary romance for publishers such as Doubleday, Harlequin, Silhouette, Avon, Zebra, St. Martins Press, Berkley, Dell, Pocket Books and Fawcett.
She’s won numerous awards, appeared on most bestseller lists, and speaks all over the country. Her general outrageousness has gotten her on Entertainment Tonight, as well as in Vogue, People, USA Today, Women’s Day and countless other national newspapers and magazines.
When she’s not traveling, she’s at home in Northern Vermont with her luscious husband of thirty-six years, an empty nest, three cats, four sewing machines, and one Springer Spaniel, and when she’s not working she’s watching movies, listening to rock and roll (preferably Japanese) and spending far too much time quilting.
Anne Stuart also writes as Kristina Douglas.
Her first novel was Barrett's Hill, a gothic romance published by Ballantine in 1974 when Anne had just turned 25. Since then she's written more gothics, regencies, romantic suspense, romantic adventure, series romance, suspense, historical romance, paranormal and mainstream contemporary romance for publishers such as Doubleday, Harlequin, Silhouette, Avon, Zebra, St. Martins Press, Berkley, Dell, Pocket Books and Fawcett.
She’s won numerous awards, appeared on most bestseller lists, and speaks all over the country. Her general outrageousness has gotten her on Entertainment Tonight, as well as in Vogue, People, USA Today, Women’s Day and countless other national newspapers and magazines.
When she’s not traveling, she’s at home in Northern Vermont with her luscious husband of thirty-six years, an empty nest, three cats, four sewing machines, and one Springer Spaniel, and when she’s not working she’s watching movies, listening to rock and roll (preferably Japanese) and spending far too much time quilting.
Anne Stuart also writes as Kristina Douglas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 279 reviews
May 5, 2012
The third book in the Ice series gives us the beautiful and deadly angel, Takashi O’Brien. His mission is to secure an ancient Japanese urn and to eliminate a young woman who knows how to lead a group of doomsday terrorists to a shrine where they plan to start Armageddon. But the man who never fails to carry through on his orders ends up falling in love with the woman he’s supposed to kill.
Honestly, I didn’t like the whole doomsday cult aspect. The bad guy was a loser, and I don’t like lazy, ineffectual bad guys. I can’t stand a villain who gets others to do all his dirty work and mainly stands around posturing. That’s definitely Shirosama. However, I loved the Japanese aspects, and this is the book where I meet my delicious bad boy Reno, who is Taka’s cousin. Taka takes a while to get a handle on. He’s all business, and he seems almost robotic at first. However, it becomes apparent that he can’t maintain that demeanor around Summer. For some reason, she just finds the chinks in his armor. And the more I read, the more I wanted to lick Taka, beautiful scoundrel that he was.
Anne Stuart doesn’t always write the most likable heroines. I don’t hate them, but sometimes I just kind of overlook them and focus on the heroes. Maybe she does that on purpose. I do like that she writes flawed, ordinary girls, because you can relate more to them, then the perfect angel heroines (if any author can get away with those, it’s Julie Garwood). I admit I liked Summer the most out of the heroines in the first three books. She was a reasonable girl, and her reactions and decisions make sense, considering. I think that she’s more mature than Chloe and more logical than Genevieve, but honestly, all the heroines fit their heroes in different ways. I couldn’t see Taka falling for any other heroine the way he does Summer.
If I continue my analogies from the first two Ice books reviews, I’d have to say that Taka is the katana. No, don’t think I’m just saying that because Taka is Japanese. When I think of deadly edged weapons, the most beautiful to be found is the katana. So, if Bastien is the Bowie knife, and Peter is the stiletto, then Taka is the katana.
See and admire:
I searched my heart and asked myself if I could give this book five stars if I didn’t really like the whole bad guy scenario, and if I felt a distance from Taka initially. Ultimately, I feel that this one is a five star book for me. I guess I just go there into ‘the zone’ when I read these books, and even if I have levels of five star-ness in comparison to other books, I can’t give it less. Let’s be honest. If I could imagine being trapped in a scenario with a guy who initially was going to kill me, and still might if the mission requires it (although he’d feel bad about) and still find it hot, I guess I have to say I bought this story, so that’s five stars for me.
Casting Wish List:
Daniel Henney as Taka O’Brien
Kate Winslet as Dr. Summer Hawthorne
Honestly, I didn’t like the whole doomsday cult aspect. The bad guy was a loser, and I don’t like lazy, ineffectual bad guys. I can’t stand a villain who gets others to do all his dirty work and mainly stands around posturing. That’s definitely Shirosama. However, I loved the Japanese aspects, and this is the book where I meet my delicious bad boy Reno, who is Taka’s cousin. Taka takes a while to get a handle on. He’s all business, and he seems almost robotic at first. However, it becomes apparent that he can’t maintain that demeanor around Summer. For some reason, she just finds the chinks in his armor. And the more I read, the more I wanted to lick Taka, beautiful scoundrel that he was.
Anne Stuart doesn’t always write the most likable heroines. I don’t hate them, but sometimes I just kind of overlook them and focus on the heroes. Maybe she does that on purpose. I do like that she writes flawed, ordinary girls, because you can relate more to them, then the perfect angel heroines (if any author can get away with those, it’s Julie Garwood). I admit I liked Summer the most out of the heroines in the first three books. She was a reasonable girl, and her reactions and decisions make sense, considering. I think that she’s more mature than Chloe and more logical than Genevieve, but honestly, all the heroines fit their heroes in different ways. I couldn’t see Taka falling for any other heroine the way he does Summer.
If I continue my analogies from the first two Ice books reviews, I’d have to say that Taka is the katana. No, don’t think I’m just saying that because Taka is Japanese. When I think of deadly edged weapons, the most beautiful to be found is the katana. So, if Bastien is the Bowie knife, and Peter is the stiletto, then Taka is the katana.
See and admire:
I searched my heart and asked myself if I could give this book five stars if I didn’t really like the whole bad guy scenario, and if I felt a distance from Taka initially. Ultimately, I feel that this one is a five star book for me. I guess I just go there into ‘the zone’ when I read these books, and even if I have levels of five star-ness in comparison to other books, I can’t give it less. Let’s be honest. If I could imagine being trapped in a scenario with a guy who initially was going to kill me, and still might if the mission requires it (although he’d feel bad about) and still find it hot, I guess I have to say I bought this story, so that’s five stars for me.
Casting Wish List:
Daniel Henney as Taka O’Brien
Kate Winslet as Dr. Summer Hawthorne
April 3, 2015
Anne Stuart is the bestest. Ever!!!!!!
The end.
November 19, 2015
Ice Blue is the third book in Anne Stuart’s popular Ice series, and another exciting, sexy story. This time we're taken on wild ride as The Committee seeks to thwart a crazy villain’s attempt to “cleanse the world” with fire.
Museum curator Summer Hawthorne considered the exquisite ice-blue ceramic bowl given to her by her beloved Japanese nanny a treasure of sentimental value--until somebody tried to kill her for it. The priceless relic is about to ignite a global power struggle that must be stopped at all costs.Well, I gotta tell you, there’s something wildly addictive about these books – in a twisted kind of way. The villains are always very ambitious in their evil plans for world domination, or as is the case in Ice Blue, True Ascension. In a note from the author, Ms. Stuart gives us a little background to this story:
It's a desperate situation, and international operative Takashi O'Brien has received his directive: everybody is expendable. "Everybody." Especially the woman who is getting dangerously under his skin as the lethal game crosses the Pacific to the remote and beautiful mountains of Japan, where the truth can be as seductive as it is deadly....
The True Realization Fellowship and its leader, the Shirosama, is very loosely inspired by the Aum Shinrikyo cult in Japan and their charismatic leader, Shoko Asahara. Most people remember the sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subways twelve years ago, when terrorist attacks were less common, and there's something about cults, Jonestown and the like, that are macabre and fascinating. Believe it or not, the real characters were just as badly behaved as my fictional ones—sometimes more so. I simply used Aum as a jumping-off point to create my own delusional madman.And what a madman he is! Knowing there are really people out there who believe they are "chosen" to cleanse the world added an element of evil to the story that was chilling.
I still can’t believe that I fall so in love with these “heroes” who are willing to do whatever they have to do to complete their mission, and I do mean “whatever” they have to do. This includes sacrificing the heroine to the bad guys, or as the case may be, in order to make sure the bad guys can’t get their hands on her, killing her himself! Luckily, Fate always steps in just in the nick of time and creates a diversion that allows the hero to put off the inevitable… until the inevitable is no longer, and he realizes that he’s screwed. Because that’s what falling in love is. Screwed.
Okay, so I’m speaking in generalizations here, this is true, but so far every hero in this series is amazing and I love them for the same reasons I hate them. They’re sexy and they know it. They’re smart and they know it. They’re without heart and conscience and they know it… and they use all of these things to their advantage. So do you see why I have the Love/Hate relationship with these men that I do?
Thankfully the heroines are not TSTL (Too Stupid To Live) though from time to time they do walk the edge. They’re strong, independent, compassionate, wise and insightful. And they have to be all of these things to bring their men out of the dark world they exist in, and into the light. But don’t worry, these gamma males never lose their edge, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
I absolutely adore Takashi and Summer. They’re a perfect match in every way, even more than I could have imagined. Apart they are amazing, but their strengths and their weaknesses complement one another and together they make a perfect, complete whole.
Madame Lambert’s story is next, and I can’t wait to find out what makes her tick!
4.5/5 starts
January 5, 2015
5 stars – Romantic Suspense
"Ice Blue" is another intriguing romantic suspense read in Anne Stuart’s gripping ‘Ice’ series and my favorite of the series so far, which is saying a lot considering the two previous books were wicked good too. I thought Bastien and Peter couldn’t be beat for dark, sexy-as-sin gamma heroes, but Takashi ‘Taka’ O’Brien in "Ice Blue" is positively drool worthy! He’s half American, half Japanese, which is a rare combination for a hero of a romance novel, and he resents his American "gaijin" half. This of course gives him additional material for sexy brooding, which is fine by me!
"Ice Blue" centers on a religious zealot in Japan leading a plot to induce Armageddon. The Committee dispatches undercover assassin Takashi O’Brien to stop the cult using any means necessary, including seducing and/or killing museum curator Summer Hawthorne, who unknowingly holds an ancient Japanese artifact that is a critical piece in the cult’s plot to destroy the world. The sparks between Takashi and Summer are electric and when they finally come together it’s explosive. It just seemed to end much too quickly for me...I wanted more! I’m so glad there are still two more books in the series! Takashi’s volatile cousin Reno was such a mystifying secondary character, and I can’t wait to read his story in "Fire and Ice".
I keep contemplating on what it is exactly that makes the ‘Ice’ series so thrilling, and I think it’s a combination of several things. For starters, Anne Stuart’s love-and-hate’em anti-heroes are truly unique for romance novels, the plots are dark, fast paced, and action packed, the heroines are relatable, imperfect, naïve, vulnerable, yet are strong, beautiful, and persistent enough to thaw the heroes’ ice cold hearts, and the villains are extremely sadistic and malevolent. The books are as compelling as a good suspense thriller movie, like the Bourne movies for instance, and make you wonder what it would be like to be caught up in the violent, turbulent, life-and-death, roller coaster whirlwind with ruthless, cunning, seductive killers like Bastien, Peter, or Takashi. (Or with all three of them at the same time would be my preference...lusty grin!)
"Ice Blue" is a top-notch romantic suspense thriller with a mouth-wateringly sexy gamma hero...5 stars!
"Ice Blue" is another intriguing romantic suspense read in Anne Stuart’s gripping ‘Ice’ series and my favorite of the series so far, which is saying a lot considering the two previous books were wicked good too. I thought Bastien and Peter couldn’t be beat for dark, sexy-as-sin gamma heroes, but Takashi ‘Taka’ O’Brien in "Ice Blue" is positively drool worthy! He’s half American, half Japanese, which is a rare combination for a hero of a romance novel, and he resents his American "gaijin" half. This of course gives him additional material for sexy brooding, which is fine by me!
"Ice Blue" centers on a religious zealot in Japan leading a plot to induce Armageddon. The Committee dispatches undercover assassin Takashi O’Brien to stop the cult using any means necessary, including seducing and/or killing museum curator Summer Hawthorne, who unknowingly holds an ancient Japanese artifact that is a critical piece in the cult’s plot to destroy the world. The sparks between Takashi and Summer are electric and when they finally come together it’s explosive. It just seemed to end much too quickly for me...I wanted more! I’m so glad there are still two more books in the series! Takashi’s volatile cousin Reno was such a mystifying secondary character, and I can’t wait to read his story in "Fire and Ice".
I keep contemplating on what it is exactly that makes the ‘Ice’ series so thrilling, and I think it’s a combination of several things. For starters, Anne Stuart’s love-and-hate’em anti-heroes are truly unique for romance novels, the plots are dark, fast paced, and action packed, the heroines are relatable, imperfect, naïve, vulnerable, yet are strong, beautiful, and persistent enough to thaw the heroes’ ice cold hearts, and the villains are extremely sadistic and malevolent. The books are as compelling as a good suspense thriller movie, like the Bourne movies for instance, and make you wonder what it would be like to be caught up in the violent, turbulent, life-and-death, roller coaster whirlwind with ruthless, cunning, seductive killers like Bastien, Peter, or Takashi. (Or with all three of them at the same time would be my preference...lusty grin!)
"Ice Blue" is a top-notch romantic suspense thriller with a mouth-wateringly sexy gamma hero...5 stars!
August 10, 2016
4.5 stars! Ice Blue is totally cool. ╍●‿●╍
It's love in the midst of ancient ashes, venerable bones, priceless urns, and sacred shrines. Never a dull moment, right up until the Lunar New Year, and -- oh, no!! -- Armageddon!! It's well-paced, suspenseful, a little scary, and soooo sexy. The story flows, from winter in Santa Monica, California to rain-swept Bainbridge Island in Washington State. Then we're off to frozen Tokyo, facing-off with evil. Finally, London, on the verge of spring.
Granted, there are a few bald spots in the plot, and half a dozen typos, but this book is a KICK! It's a mix of Bourne and Bond, with a luscious anti-hero. I liked the first book in the series, Black Ice, with Chloe and Bastien, but I loved this one -- even though Black Ice had a more textured villain, compared to this flat religious lunatic. This book has more relationship development, richer characterization, and a more conflicted romance.
The POV shifts constantly (sometimes too much) between four characters: 1} Dr. Summer Hawthorne, expert in Asian art. 2} Takashi (Taka) O'Brien, undercover agent for The Committee. 3} His Holiness, the Shirosama, insane guru of the True Realization Fellowship. 4} Madame Isobel Lambert, Taka's boss who directs The Committee, a London-based covert special-ops group.
The basic plot: Taka, a sexy half-Japanese / half-Irish-American assassin, feels constantly conflicted about Lambert's order to kill Summer, even though he does .... (no spoiler) ... to save the world from chemical and biological mass murder (reminiscent of the noxious gassing of trains in Japan several years ago). Contrived! There was no need for the (mostly) benign Committee to take such drastic action against an innocent bystander. They could have simply kidnapped Summer and hidden her safely away, keeping her memories and her urn from the psycho, Shirosama.
But I went along for the ride. And what a ride it was! ツ
Summer, upon her first close look at Taka: "Even in the shadows she could see that he was exquisitely beautiful. High, perfect cheekbones, exotic eyes of an indeterminate shade, narrow face and rich, full mouth. His hair was long and silky, black, and he was at least part Asian, despite the fact that he towered over her."
Taka, pondering the kill command the first time: "She had blue eyes, and she was prettier than he’d realized. She didn’t wear make up, and she had a sprinkling of freckles across her nose. He’d never killed anyone with freckles before."
*Evil chuckle* Isn't he just adorable?! An ice-cold killer, and eventually so damn crazy about her! It's just driving him nuts. He ties himself into KNOTS, haha, but once he makes up his mind that he is NOT gonna kill her, he goes all alpha, protective, hot, and sexy. I ❤ him.
It's not an instant attraction. At first, Taka thinks Summer is frumpy and annoyingly stupid. And she is sometimes TSTL.
He's cruel sometimes, but then he's sorry.
And so hot! That scene in the bathroom!!! ツ
And in the end, the sweetest ♥-melting scene, with Taka holding Summer "so tightly a weaker woman might break, whispering to her in Japanese, sweet, loving words, letting her cry."
Awwww!! Hugs all round!
Great secondary characters, especially red-haired bad-boy Reno (Taka's younger cousin) and Jilly (Summer's teenage sister), the stars of book 5, Fire And Ice. I really liked Jilly:
It's love in the midst of ancient ashes, venerable bones, priceless urns, and sacred shrines. Never a dull moment, right up until the Lunar New Year, and -- oh, no!! -- Armageddon!! It's well-paced, suspenseful, a little scary, and soooo sexy. The story flows, from winter in Santa Monica, California to rain-swept Bainbridge Island in Washington State. Then we're off to frozen Tokyo, facing-off with evil. Finally, London, on the verge of spring.
Granted, there are a few bald spots in the plot, and half a dozen typos, but this book is a KICK! It's a mix of Bourne and Bond, with a luscious anti-hero. I liked the first book in the series, Black Ice, with Chloe and Bastien, but I loved this one -- even though Black Ice had a more textured villain, compared to this flat religious lunatic. This book has more relationship development, richer characterization, and a more conflicted romance.
The POV shifts constantly (sometimes too much) between four characters: 1} Dr. Summer Hawthorne, expert in Asian art. 2} Takashi (Taka) O'Brien, undercover agent for The Committee. 3} His Holiness, the Shirosama, insane guru of the True Realization Fellowship. 4} Madame Isobel Lambert, Taka's boss who directs The Committee, a London-based covert special-ops group.
The basic plot: Taka, a sexy half-Japanese / half-Irish-American assassin, feels constantly conflicted about Lambert's order to kill Summer, even though he does .... (no spoiler) ... to save the world from chemical and biological mass murder (reminiscent of the noxious gassing of trains in Japan several years ago). Contrived! There was no need for the (mostly) benign Committee to take such drastic action against an innocent bystander. They could have simply kidnapped Summer and hidden her safely away, keeping her memories and her urn from the psycho, Shirosama.
But I went along for the ride. And what a ride it was! ツ
Summer, upon her first close look at Taka: "Even in the shadows she could see that he was exquisitely beautiful. High, perfect cheekbones, exotic eyes of an indeterminate shade, narrow face and rich, full mouth. His hair was long and silky, black, and he was at least part Asian, despite the fact that he towered over her."
Taka, pondering the kill command the first time: "She had blue eyes, and she was prettier than he’d realized. She didn’t wear make up, and she had a sprinkling of freckles across her nose. He’d never killed anyone with freckles before."
*Evil chuckle* Isn't he just adorable?! An ice-cold killer, and eventually so damn crazy about her! It's just driving him nuts. He ties himself into KNOTS, haha, but once he makes up his mind that he is NOT gonna kill her, he goes all alpha, protective, hot, and sexy. I ❤ him.
It's not an instant attraction. At first, Taka thinks Summer is frumpy and annoyingly stupid. And she is sometimes TSTL.
He's cruel sometimes, but then he's sorry.
And so hot! That scene in the bathroom!!! ツ
And in the end, the sweetest ♥-melting scene, with Taka holding Summer "so tightly a weaker woman might break, whispering to her in Japanese, sweet, loving words, letting her cry."
Awwww!! Hugs all round!
Great secondary characters, especially red-haired bad-boy Reno (Taka's younger cousin) and Jilly (Summer's teenage sister), the stars of book 5, Fire And Ice. I really liked Jilly:
Genevieve breezed into the kitchen..."Tea in the garden, I think. Peter will be home early, and he'll probably bring Isobel. We all need frocks."Content: Explicit sex scenes (three). Violence. Lots of cussing and profanity (not my cuppa). Several typos.
"Frocks?" Jilly echoed with a laugh. "You're not putting me into Laura Ashley -- I'm bigger than you and I fight dirty."
March 4, 2017
My Anne Stuart phase continues....
I loved this series. Yet another beautiful, deadly and so sexy hero...Takashi O'Brien is so fabulous and of course Summer Hawthorne is a woman who ultimately gets what she wants...him!!!!!
I can read these books over and over and still feel the excitement, the thrill of the story.
Ice Blue, 3rd book in Anne Stuart’s Ice Series continues the story of the mysterious Committee agents and it is just as suspenseful and romantic as the previous two books…which I ABSOLUTELY LOVED…and this one is just as amazing.
Summer Hawthorne’s mother, a rich and spoilt woman who has never cared or loved her had been under the influence of an evil Japanese cult and had promised them the priceless blue bowl, that had been given to Summer by her beloved Japanese nanny. They are determined to get the bowl by any means as it has incredible powers unbeknown to Summer.
Takashi O’Brien is a half American/Japanese (he also belongs to the Yakuza – Japanese Mafia…love those tattoos!!!!) and his mission is to get, by whatever means it requires even if having to seduce or kill summer - the bowl before it gets into the cult’s hands – it’s a very powerful relic which could destroy the world.
Summer has a lot of issues which she has to resolve before she can move forward in the growing relationship with the sexy, mysterious, dangerous Takara, who I really loved. He’s such an interesting character…and the secondary characters are very cool….especially Reno, his cousin who will get his own story soon….the scenes in Japan are fabulous….compelling family secrets…
This is a great suspenseful story in the series that take you on a roller coast filled with action, romance and much more
Fabulous read. Can’t wait for the next book.
The Book Description:
Museum curator Summer Hawthorne considered the exquisite ice-blue ceramic bowl given to her by her beloved Japanese nanny a treasure of sentimental value—until somebody tried to kill her for it.
The priceless relic is about to ignite a global power struggle that must be stopped at all costs. It's a desperate situation, and international operative Takashi O'Brien has received his directive: everybody is expendable. Everybody. Especially the woman who is getting dangerously under his skin as the lethal game crosses the Pacific to the
I loved this series. Yet another beautiful, deadly and so sexy hero...Takashi O'Brien is so fabulous and of course Summer Hawthorne is a woman who ultimately gets what she wants...him!!!!!
I can read these books over and over and still feel the excitement, the thrill of the story.
Ice Blue, 3rd book in Anne Stuart’s Ice Series continues the story of the mysterious Committee agents and it is just as suspenseful and romantic as the previous two books…which I ABSOLUTELY LOVED…and this one is just as amazing.
Summer Hawthorne’s mother, a rich and spoilt woman who has never cared or loved her had been under the influence of an evil Japanese cult and had promised them the priceless blue bowl, that had been given to Summer by her beloved Japanese nanny. They are determined to get the bowl by any means as it has incredible powers unbeknown to Summer.
Takashi O’Brien is a half American/Japanese (he also belongs to the Yakuza – Japanese Mafia…love those tattoos!!!!) and his mission is to get, by whatever means it requires even if having to seduce or kill summer - the bowl before it gets into the cult’s hands – it’s a very powerful relic which could destroy the world.
Summer has a lot of issues which she has to resolve before she can move forward in the growing relationship with the sexy, mysterious, dangerous Takara, who I really loved. He’s such an interesting character…and the secondary characters are very cool….especially Reno, his cousin who will get his own story soon….the scenes in Japan are fabulous….compelling family secrets…
This is a great suspenseful story in the series that take you on a roller coast filled with action, romance and much more
Fabulous read. Can’t wait for the next book.
The Book Description:
Museum curator Summer Hawthorne considered the exquisite ice-blue ceramic bowl given to her by her beloved Japanese nanny a treasure of sentimental value—until somebody tried to kill her for it.
The priceless relic is about to ignite a global power struggle that must be stopped at all costs. It's a desperate situation, and international operative Takashi O'Brien has received his directive: everybody is expendable. Everybody. Especially the woman who is getting dangerously under his skin as the lethal game crosses the Pacific to the
September 28, 2015
Why in the world did I postpone reading this book for so long?! It was much better than the first two books in the series! Ice Blue was a captivating story of forbidden attraction and the thrill of danger that kept me hooked and sitting on the edge of my seat right through to the end.
Summer Hawthorne, a museum curator, got the ice-blue ceramic bowl from her beloved Japanese nanny without any knowledge of its history. She was in serious danger from Shirosama, the cult leader who tried to kill her for it.
A cold-hearted killer, an international operative Takashi O'Brien had to stop this bad guy's plans. His mission was to kill Summer before Shirosama got to the bowl. Instead of killing her, he kept saving her life. The more they were on the run together, the more they found it became harder and harder to fight the fierce attraction rising between them.
I would have given this book 5 stars if there had been a little more romance in the story. However, I was very pleased with the conclusion and the ending. This is one of good romantic suspense books the readers shouldn’t miss!
Summer Hawthorne, a museum curator, got the ice-blue ceramic bowl from her beloved Japanese nanny without any knowledge of its history. She was in serious danger from Shirosama, the cult leader who tried to kill her for it.
A cold-hearted killer, an international operative Takashi O'Brien had to stop this bad guy's plans. His mission was to kill Summer before Shirosama got to the bowl. Instead of killing her, he kept saving her life. The more they were on the run together, the more they found it became harder and harder to fight the fierce attraction rising between them.
I would have given this book 5 stars if there had been a little more romance in the story. However, I was very pleased with the conclusion and the ending. This is one of good romantic suspense books the readers shouldn’t miss!
January 12, 2021
Ho ascoltato i consigli di chi ha letto tutta la serie e sono passata direttamente al terzo libro.
Non mi pento della scelta perché se è vero che il secondo era un copia e incolla del primo per situazioni e pensieri, in questo volume ho trovato un netto miglioramento. Sarà anche che qui il protagonista è orientale e ha il suo fascino esotico; sarà che metà della storia è ambientata in Giappone, che trovo di per sé una terra misteriosa sia per usi che costumi; sarà che ho trovato che anche la sotto-trama suspense non è completamente campata in aria, il libro mi è piaciuto.
Summer, la protagonista non mi ha entusiasmata, ma Takashi O'Brien beh! Vale tutto il libro.
"Era l'uomo del museo, quello alto,
con gli occhiali da sole.
Non li indossava più.
...quel tizio era almeno in parte asiatico.
Anche nel buio, si vedeva che era bellissimo.
Zigomi alti, perfetti;
occhi esotici, di una sfumatura indefinita;
viso longilineo;
e una bocca carnosa, sensuale."
Bellissimo, sensuale e aitante, lo si vede già dalla descrizione che ne fa Summer, aggiungete scaltro, coraggioso, alpha...cosa volere di più?
L'ultima parte l'ho trovata troppo cinematografica e un pochino inverosimile, ma rispetto al primo un notevole passo avanti.
Non mi pento della scelta perché se è vero che il secondo era un copia e incolla del primo per situazioni e pensieri, in questo volume ho trovato un netto miglioramento. Sarà anche che qui il protagonista è orientale e ha il suo fascino esotico; sarà che metà della storia è ambientata in Giappone, che trovo di per sé una terra misteriosa sia per usi che costumi; sarà che ho trovato che anche la sotto-trama suspense non è completamente campata in aria, il libro mi è piaciuto.
Summer, la protagonista non mi ha entusiasmata, ma Takashi O'Brien beh! Vale tutto il libro.
"Era l'uomo del museo, quello alto,
con gli occhiali da sole.
Non li indossava più.
...quel tizio era almeno in parte asiatico.
Anche nel buio, si vedeva che era bellissimo.
Zigomi alti, perfetti;
occhi esotici, di una sfumatura indefinita;
viso longilineo;
e una bocca carnosa, sensuale."
Bellissimo, sensuale e aitante, lo si vede già dalla descrizione che ne fa Summer, aggiungete scaltro, coraggioso, alpha...cosa volere di più?
L'ultima parte l'ho trovata troppo cinematografica e un pochino inverosimile, ma rispetto al primo un notevole passo avanti.
November 19, 2019
This book didn't quite grip me as much I had hoped, going by its high ratings.
My first book in the ‘Ice series’ left me with some vague and mixed feelings. It's not a bad book at all but I wanted more - especially in the first half. I was left with a feeling that nothing much was happening even as lotsa real time action was going on and the h/H were running all over the place to escape brainwashed cult members
The half Japanese H, Taka is not really an antihero but more of a reluctant/pushed-into-it hero. He imbues the book with his perpetual coldness and indifference which would be okay to push up the angst and keep things edgy, but it didn't work (at least not for 70% of the book) as it leaves you craving for just a little bit of what’s really missing here – romance.
So while the characterization of a cold assassin/operative was perfect, it needed some complexity as well.
Same goes for the h, Summer. She is an interesting character with a perfected indifference to everything around her. But! For instance, I would have liked her to show more concern (if not emotion) at a close friend's death. She's an independent, calm 28 year-old working as a curator in southern California with an elaborately disturbed past. She wears unattractive and drab clothing and has had only one sexual relationship (with a very nice guy) and now has time only for work and friends. So her unpretentious, drably-clothed, softly-unfit self contrasts sharply with the very beautiful, physically primed, sharply dressed walking-sex-god H. No wonder he mentally sneers at her and is baffled by his body’s response to her.
What brings them together is a murderous doomsday Japanese cult out to destroy the world and whose half crazed leader, the Shirosama wants something the h has - an ancient urn given to her by her Japanese nanny for safe keeping. Also the nanny may have passed on some information about a hidden ancient temple, which may be present in the h’s subliminal consciousness.
The H’s orders are to eliminate the h and so prevent the Shirosama from being able to complete the rites for his ritual suicide (for which he needs the urn and info about the temple’s location) and the ensuing mass destruction by his followers.
So he kidnaps her to pump information and then kill her, but something or the other (mostly his strangely rebellious inner self) keeps thwarting his plans to kill her. But his stony, detached persona and her dispassionate go-along-with-whatever self didn't make for a great romance reading. His various attempts to drown or throttle come to a naught as he couldn’t go ahead with it, but he is not above using his ‘ninja-ish’ techniques to afflict pain as punishment or even giving her some sex as he is confident he can make her cold self enjoy it.
The last part, when they go off to Japan finally gave me hope for this relationship and we had some lighter moments and then the ending was lovely with the H completely redeemed in my eyes!
Reno and Jilly tantalized with the promise of a scorching chemistry and I will definitely read their book.
My first book in the ‘Ice series’ left me with some vague and mixed feelings. It's not a bad book at all but I wanted more - especially in the first half. I was left with a feeling that nothing much was happening even as lotsa real time action was going on and the h/H were running all over the place to escape brainwashed cult members
The half Japanese H, Taka is not really an antihero but more of a reluctant/pushed-into-it hero. He imbues the book with his perpetual coldness and indifference which would be okay to push up the angst and keep things edgy, but it didn't work (at least not for 70% of the book) as it leaves you craving for just a little bit of what’s really missing here – romance.
So while the characterization of a cold assassin/operative was perfect, it needed some complexity as well.
Same goes for the h, Summer. She is an interesting character with a perfected indifference to everything around her. But! For instance, I would have liked her to show more concern (if not emotion) at a close friend's death. She's an independent, calm 28 year-old working as a curator in southern California with an elaborately disturbed past. She wears unattractive and drab clothing and has had only one sexual relationship (with a very nice guy) and now has time only for work and friends. So her unpretentious, drably-clothed, softly-unfit self contrasts sharply with the very beautiful, physically primed, sharply dressed walking-sex-god H. No wonder he mentally sneers at her and is baffled by his body’s response to her.
What brings them together is a murderous doomsday Japanese cult out to destroy the world and whose half crazed leader, the Shirosama wants something the h has - an ancient urn given to her by her Japanese nanny for safe keeping. Also the nanny may have passed on some information about a hidden ancient temple, which may be present in the h’s subliminal consciousness.
The H’s orders are to eliminate the h and so prevent the Shirosama from being able to complete the rites for his ritual suicide (for which he needs the urn and info about the temple’s location) and the ensuing mass destruction by his followers.
So he kidnaps her to pump information and then kill her, but something or the other (mostly his strangely rebellious inner self) keeps thwarting his plans to kill her. But his stony, detached persona and her dispassionate go-along-with-whatever self didn't make for a great romance reading. His various attempts to drown or throttle come to a naught as he couldn’t go ahead with it, but he is not above using his ‘ninja-ish’ techniques to afflict pain as punishment or even giving her some sex as he is confident he can make her cold self enjoy it.
The last part, when they go off to Japan finally gave me hope for this relationship and we had some lighter moments and then the ending was lovely with the H completely redeemed in my eyes!
Reno and Jilly tantalized with the promise of a scorching chemistry and I will definitely read their book.
February 18, 2013
5++ stars
So. Damn. Good!!
Each 'Ice' book just gets better and better and every time I finish one, I have a new favorite. Anne Stuart knows how to deliver chilling suspense, but what really makes these books stand out are her ruthless anti-heroes.
This time we get Takashi O'Brien's story, a half-Japanese, half-Irish secret agent who can blend in anywhere. While Taka doesn't come across as quite as cold as Bestien or Peter, he's still pretty damn lethal and actually comes the closest to killing his lady... for the greater good of course. Yet, there was also a tenderness about Taka - especially in his inability to follow through with Summer's assassination. Unlike with the previous 'Ice' guys, there was never a time I hated Taka... he had me from the beginning. But the first time the incredibly sweet endearment "Su-chan" slipped out, it was a true panty-melting experience!
Taka O'Brien:
So. Damn. Good!!
Each 'Ice' book just gets better and better and every time I finish one, I have a new favorite. Anne Stuart knows how to deliver chilling suspense, but what really makes these books stand out are her ruthless anti-heroes.
This time we get Takashi O'Brien's story, a half-Japanese, half-Irish secret agent who can blend in anywhere. While Taka doesn't come across as quite as cold as Bestien or Peter, he's still pretty damn lethal and actually comes the closest to killing his lady... for the greater good of course. Yet, there was also a tenderness about Taka - especially in his inability to follow through with Summer's assassination. Unlike with the previous 'Ice' guys, there was never a time I hated Taka... he had me from the beginning. But the first time the incredibly sweet endearment "Su-chan" slipped out, it was a true panty-melting experience!
Taka O'Brien:
January 7, 2020
Better than Book 1 & 2
3.5 Stars
What is it with these ditzy female MCs who are intent on dying?
Anne provides great action, interesting storylines, good mystery, but then she drops in these featherbrained heroines. It's not cute, nor endearing. Although Summer was not as brainless as Chloe and Genevieve, she still had a death wish.
3.5 Stars
What is it with these ditzy female MCs who are intent on dying?
Anne provides great action, interesting storylines, good mystery, but then she drops in these featherbrained heroines. It's not cute, nor endearing. Although Summer was not as brainless as Chloe and Genevieve, she still had a death wish.
February 7, 2019
Δεύτερη φορά που το διάβασα και ήταν το ίδιο καλό!!
(Η κριτική που ακολουθεί είναι από την πρώτη φορά που το διάβασα αλλά δε θα την αλλάξω)
*******************************
It only took three books for me to say this: I am a huge fan of Anne Stuart. She really knows how to write great story with the most complicated and interesting characters! And, believe me, this story has it all: a sexy as hell man who can do anything to complete his mission, the Japanese version of doomsday, a woman who falls in love with the wrong-but-at-the-same-time-right man and many other things! What’s not to like?
Summer thought that the ceramic bowl she had from her nanny was just something pretty to remember her. She couldn’t be more wrong because this is a precious artifact and a dangerous weapon in the hands of a madman. Takashi wants to stop this madman and he doesn’t care how many dead bodies he will leave behind.
I liked Summer a lot. Sure, she had some faults but, if I have to be honest, I must say that after learning a couple things for her mother, I truly believe that Summer turned out to be just fine. She’s trying very hard to be strong and she loves her baby sister very much. She’s afraid to feel passion and she need someone to take care of her and to let her be herself.
Takashi was…amazing! Yeah, I know he’s a coldhearted killer but his thoughts for Summer sometimes were simply poetic. I found adorable the fact that he wanted to be her erotic mentor (in a way)! He’s more than smart and brave and a man who will be honest where it counts.
A great story with non-stop action and a must-read for all the fans of this genre!
(Η κριτική που ακολουθεί είναι από την πρώτη φορά που το διάβασα αλλά δε θα την αλλάξω)
*******************************
It only took three books for me to say this: I am a huge fan of Anne Stuart. She really knows how to write great story with the most complicated and interesting characters! And, believe me, this story has it all: a sexy as hell man who can do anything to complete his mission, the Japanese version of doomsday, a woman who falls in love with the wrong-but-at-the-same-time-right man and many other things! What’s not to like?
Summer thought that the ceramic bowl she had from her nanny was just something pretty to remember her. She couldn’t be more wrong because this is a precious artifact and a dangerous weapon in the hands of a madman. Takashi wants to stop this madman and he doesn’t care how many dead bodies he will leave behind.
I liked Summer a lot. Sure, she had some faults but, if I have to be honest, I must say that after learning a couple things for her mother, I truly believe that Summer turned out to be just fine. She’s trying very hard to be strong and she loves her baby sister very much. She’s afraid to feel passion and she need someone to take care of her and to let her be herself.
Takashi was…amazing! Yeah, I know he’s a coldhearted killer but his thoughts for Summer sometimes were simply poetic. I found adorable the fact that he wanted to be her erotic mentor (in a way)! He’s more than smart and brave and a man who will be honest where it counts.
A great story with non-stop action and a must-read for all the fans of this genre!
February 20, 2015
1.5
I've read the first two books in this series and liked them (the first more than the second). I knew what I am getting into when I started reading Ice Blue. In Ice series the hero is never a true hero until the very end and comes very close to being a villain. At least it is the case with the first two books. The point is, they come very close to it, in Bastien's case he even goes a bit over the line once or twice, but not the whole damn book. Just to be clear: I do not mind this type of hero (I loved her The House of Rohan series), but this one didn't have any character. Unless you consider physical perfection a character trait.
I don't feel very generous in this case though. I got tired of how hot, handsome, perfect, beautiful and so on Takashi O'Brien is. I mean, you create this exotic man and beat the readers over their heads with it. I got it the first four or five times how beautiful he is!
I never felt the connection between the two characters. How many times we get Takashi's physical description, that many times we are told how smart Summer is. And, God, how she tried to show us the exact opposite.
For some unexplained reason, the guy doesn't kill her right away and at least five times he is thinking how extraordinary that is. He doesn't get it. Me neither. Then I read this 'He was the King of Death, and she was his consort.' Cheesy at best. And it happens early in the book.
I haven't tried those captor/captive romances, but I am sure the characters have more chemistry between them there than in this book. Maybe if these two had more depth and if physical appearance wasn't so important, then their romance just might be a bit more believable.
As for the suspense part, it was ridiculous. Not the topic itself. There is nothing funny about crazy doomsday cult that wants to repeat the Tokyo subway sarin attack, only on a larger scale. The leader is completely mad, he drinks the ashes of his ancestor and wishes to cleanse the world. His followers are even worse. They pay for his bathwater and drink it. That attempt to make it so evil was funny.
So, a few issues: there is no believable connection between them, too many times we are told how he looks and how smart she is, Takashi crosses the line more than it is necessary for the story, the way he 'fixes' some of her issues with sex is pretty insulting (to put it mildly), the suspense is ridiculous. This isn't all but it explains why I didn't like it.
Overall, I liked the first book the most. If I had to find one redeeming thing about Ice Blue, it would be it is fast-paced. I won't stop with the series, but this book wasn't for me.
I've read the first two books in this series and liked them (the first more than the second). I knew what I am getting into when I started reading Ice Blue. In Ice series the hero is never a true hero until the very end and comes very close to being a villain. At least it is the case with the first two books. The point is, they come very close to it, in Bastien's case he even goes a bit over the line once or twice, but not the whole damn book. Just to be clear: I do not mind this type of hero (I loved her The House of Rohan series), but this one didn't have any character. Unless you consider physical perfection a character trait.
I don't feel very generous in this case though. I got tired of how hot, handsome, perfect, beautiful and so on Takashi O'Brien is. I mean, you create this exotic man and beat the readers over their heads with it. I got it the first four or five times how beautiful he is!
I never felt the connection between the two characters. How many times we get Takashi's physical description, that many times we are told how smart Summer is. And, God, how she tried to show us the exact opposite.
For some unexplained reason, the guy doesn't kill her right away and at least five times he is thinking how extraordinary that is. He doesn't get it. Me neither. Then I read this 'He was the King of Death, and she was his consort.' Cheesy at best. And it happens early in the book.
I haven't tried those captor/captive romances, but I am sure the characters have more chemistry between them there than in this book. Maybe if these two had more depth and if physical appearance wasn't so important, then their romance just might be a bit more believable.
As for the suspense part, it was ridiculous. Not the topic itself. There is nothing funny about crazy doomsday cult that wants to repeat the Tokyo subway sarin attack, only on a larger scale. The leader is completely mad, he drinks the ashes of his ancestor and wishes to cleanse the world. His followers are even worse. They pay for his bathwater and drink it. That attempt to make it so evil was funny.
So, a few issues: there is no believable connection between them, too many times we are told how he looks and how smart she is, Takashi crosses the line more than it is necessary for the story, the way he 'fixes' some of her issues with sex is pretty insulting (to put it mildly), the suspense is ridiculous. This isn't all but it explains why I didn't like it.
Overall, I liked the first book the most. If I had to find one redeeming thing about Ice Blue, it would be it is fast-paced. I won't stop with the series, but this book wasn't for me.
January 6, 2012
Wow!
I wanted to end my 2011 reading year with a bang, so I had intentionally saved this one for New Years reading. Ice Blue did not disappoint....it was a great way to end 2011:)
How does this author do what she does, repeatedly, with the same type of gamma hero, and still keep things new, unique, and special from book to book. Man I wish I could have coffee with Anne Stuart!
Ice Blue tells the story of Takashi and Summer. I have to be completely honest...I wasn't sure how I would like a Japanese/American hero. It just isn't done and I've never read a hero like this before. Well I am here to say...I like, I like, I like:)
Ice Blue has the scariest and most insane villain yet. Religious cults and plots to destroy the world are explored as Taka and Summer race to subvert disaster from happening. In some ways, I feel that Taka is the most ruthless and cold of all the Ice heroes. Bastian and Peter were both ruthless killers that could've killed their ladies, but I really thought that Taka WAS going to kill Summer. His feelings for Summer were more deftly hidden than those of Bastian and Peter towards their ladies. There were MANY moments in Ice Blue that I felt as if Summer was not going to make it out alive (even though this goes against Romance 101!)
Summer seemed real to me. I felt that her actions and behaviors fit her situation and her personality. She broke my heart. Her past history of childhood abuse and the loss of her beloved Hana was absolutely heartbreaking and made me love her and want happiness for her.
Taka was a little tougher....but I loved him for it. In someways, too ruthless for my taste, but on the other hand, tender and passionate at just the right moments. The ending was fabulous and I loved the final pages...however, now I'm dying for Jilly and Reno's story!
This was a complete winner for me. I simply cannot decide on my favorite book of this series. It's like Neapolitan ice cream...you need all three flavors, and you definitely need all the books of this series!
Brilliant.
I wanted to end my 2011 reading year with a bang, so I had intentionally saved this one for New Years reading. Ice Blue did not disappoint....it was a great way to end 2011:)
How does this author do what she does, repeatedly, with the same type of gamma hero, and still keep things new, unique, and special from book to book. Man I wish I could have coffee with Anne Stuart!
Ice Blue tells the story of Takashi and Summer. I have to be completely honest...I wasn't sure how I would like a Japanese/American hero. It just isn't done and I've never read a hero like this before. Well I am here to say...I like, I like, I like:)
Ice Blue has the scariest and most insane villain yet. Religious cults and plots to destroy the world are explored as Taka and Summer race to subvert disaster from happening. In some ways, I feel that Taka is the most ruthless and cold of all the Ice heroes. Bastian and Peter were both ruthless killers that could've killed their ladies, but I really thought that Taka WAS going to kill Summer. His feelings for Summer were more deftly hidden than those of Bastian and Peter towards their ladies. There were MANY moments in Ice Blue that I felt as if Summer was not going to make it out alive (even though this goes against Romance 101!)
Summer seemed real to me. I felt that her actions and behaviors fit her situation and her personality. She broke my heart. Her past history of childhood abuse and the loss of her beloved Hana was absolutely heartbreaking and made me love her and want happiness for her.
Taka was a little tougher....but I loved him for it. In someways, too ruthless for my taste, but on the other hand, tender and passionate at just the right moments. The ending was fabulous and I loved the final pages...however, now I'm dying for Jilly and Reno's story!
This was a complete winner for me. I simply cannot decide on my favorite book of this series. It's like Neapolitan ice cream...you need all three flavors, and you definitely need all the books of this series!
Brilliant.
May 9, 2022
4.5 Evil Phophet Stars!!
Half-Japanese, half-American deadly Committee Agent Takeshi “Taka” O'Brien meets his match in Summer Hawthorne, a museum curator who unbeknownst to her is in possession of an antique Japanese bowl and kimono her beloved childhood nanny left to her upon her death.
The Bowl is wanted by a Japanese prophet who has many followers and needs the bowl to fulfill his “destiny”. The committee gets involved when they learn of his plans which include the plan of mass destruction and millions of deaths if not stopped.
When the Prophets followers kidnap Summer, Taka rescues her to get his hands on the ancient items before the prophet can carry out his plans. However, once Taka has the items in his hands he, for the first time ever, struggles with his conscience when orders call for him to eliminate Summer. Summer definitely spins his world out of control and she maddeningly gets under his skin leaving him reeling. Slowly (very slowly) his cold heart and veneer melts.
Another Anne Stuart wild ride that will keep you enthralled till the very end!!
*Originally read September 2011
Half-Japanese, half-American deadly Committee Agent Takeshi “Taka” O'Brien meets his match in Summer Hawthorne, a museum curator who unbeknownst to her is in possession of an antique Japanese bowl and kimono her beloved childhood nanny left to her upon her death.
The Bowl is wanted by a Japanese prophet who has many followers and needs the bowl to fulfill his “destiny”. The committee gets involved when they learn of his plans which include the plan of mass destruction and millions of deaths if not stopped.
When the Prophets followers kidnap Summer, Taka rescues her to get his hands on the ancient items before the prophet can carry out his plans. However, once Taka has the items in his hands he, for the first time ever, struggles with his conscience when orders call for him to eliminate Summer. Summer definitely spins his world out of control and she maddeningly gets under his skin leaving him reeling. Slowly (very slowly) his cold heart and veneer melts.
Another Anne Stuart wild ride that will keep you enthralled till the very end!!
*Originally read September 2011
March 21, 2008
Loved this one too, of course! Anne Stuart's 'Ice' series is just so compelling. This one involves a crazy religious cult leader intent on taking over the world and the undercover operative sent to stop him. Takashi O'Brien is yet another one of Anne Stuart's heroes who uses sex as a weapon, and museum curator Summer Hawthorne is the woman who tries hard to resist him. These two were so hot together; my only complaint is there just wasn't enough! By the time they finally admit they can't live without the other--you're at the end of the book! But a very hot story anyway--well worth your time!
September 17, 2017
A reread for me and I upped it to 5 stars,Taka and Summer are one of my favorite couples by this author.
August 23, 2010
I know this series is very popular, but I just can't seem to get into it so much. I tried the first, Black Ice, and never finished it. But, since I've seen many good reviews for these books, I decided to give it another shot. I DID finish this one- but I still found myself not fully engaged.
Summer Hawthorne has something that others want- a priceless Japanese artifact that prophecy foretold will bring about Armageddon. To her it's just a precious gift from a beloved Nanny who passed away years ago, but her selfish Hollywood mother has promised it to the leader of a cult that is more sinister than anyone realized.
But Summer isn't no dummy, no one's going to get their hands on it if she can help it. She decides to holds off the leader of the cult, The Shirosama, by exhibiting it in art display, to buy more time in protecting it. Only the game turns dangerous the very night of the Exhibit when she's kidnapped and thrown into the back of trunk by unknown assailants. She doesn't die though, instead she's rescued by a beautiful stranger who's own motives are murky at best.
Takashi O'Brien has a mission. Get his hands on the artifact and destroy it before The Shirosama gets ahold of it - and kill Summer before she can talk. But the cool, level-headed Taka finds both aspects of the mission difficult. Especially when he discovers Summer has secretly hidden the true artifact and replaced it with a fake ... or two. Plus, he's finding he has no desire to eliminate her much to his dismay.
Yep, the attraction he feels toward her is as unwanted as it is irresistible and it will lead them across the world to the source of the artifacts beginnings and to a showdown with the deranged Shirosama that will probably end their association when Taka's original intentions are revealed, if not end their lives.
You'd think this book would have had what it takes to hold my interest. An Eastern setting that I always find difficult to resist, an enigmatic beautiful hero and a feisty heroine.
And yet, as I mentioned before, I found myself skimming at different times. The plot was plausible enough, but it lacked tension. There was no time that I didn't believe they would win and make it out alive- Taka was just too good at what he did. A thriller needs moments of questioning the survival of the protags to make it truly good and it was missing here.
Still, Taka and Summer were too sexy together for me to not finish it! So I'm giving it a 3 out of 5.
That said, I don't think I'm going to continue on in this series. I'm not one bit interested in The Ambiguous Committee- the group of people that this series is centered around- and there's just too many other books out there that I want to get too!
Summer Hawthorne has something that others want- a priceless Japanese artifact that prophecy foretold will bring about Armageddon. To her it's just a precious gift from a beloved Nanny who passed away years ago, but her selfish Hollywood mother has promised it to the leader of a cult that is more sinister than anyone realized.
But Summer isn't no dummy, no one's going to get their hands on it if she can help it. She decides to holds off the leader of the cult, The Shirosama, by exhibiting it in art display, to buy more time in protecting it. Only the game turns dangerous the very night of the Exhibit when she's kidnapped and thrown into the back of trunk by unknown assailants. She doesn't die though, instead she's rescued by a beautiful stranger who's own motives are murky at best.
Takashi O'Brien has a mission. Get his hands on the artifact and destroy it before The Shirosama gets ahold of it - and kill Summer before she can talk. But the cool, level-headed Taka finds both aspects of the mission difficult. Especially when he discovers Summer has secretly hidden the true artifact and replaced it with a fake ... or two. Plus, he's finding he has no desire to eliminate her much to his dismay.
Yep, the attraction he feels toward her is as unwanted as it is irresistible and it will lead them across the world to the source of the artifacts beginnings and to a showdown with the deranged Shirosama that will probably end their association when Taka's original intentions are revealed, if not end their lives.
You'd think this book would have had what it takes to hold my interest. An Eastern setting that I always find difficult to resist, an enigmatic beautiful hero and a feisty heroine.
And yet, as I mentioned before, I found myself skimming at different times. The plot was plausible enough, but it lacked tension. There was no time that I didn't believe they would win and make it out alive- Taka was just too good at what he did. A thriller needs moments of questioning the survival of the protags to make it truly good and it was missing here.
Still, Taka and Summer were too sexy together for me to not finish it! So I'm giving it a 3 out of 5.
That said, I don't think I'm going to continue on in this series. I'm not one bit interested in The Ambiguous Committee- the group of people that this series is centered around- and there's just too many other books out there that I want to get too!
September 11, 2012
Really cool book. Once again with Anne Stuart's trademark hearless bastard hero. Takashi is Japanese, which is so different. I love how every book this lady writes has a completely different setting and feel, and it also changes multiple times throughout the book. I never get bored.
Takashi (Taka)...what can I say? Exotic half white, half Japanese, tall, smooth skin and ruthless. Though he is still lacking the edge that Bastien had. He is, I think, just a hair more emotional than either Peter or Bastien. And I say this only because the ending had a gut wrenchingly emotional moment. The ending from the first two books was a bit abrupt, so this was definitely a plus. It felt like there was more closure for this couple.
One thing I like about a series is how you get to see previous couples, so I want to mention that while we don't get any Bastien and Chloe here, we do get a bit of Peter and Genvieve. Loved the scenes with them. They are so obviously in love and comfortable with each other.
Another great book from Anne Stuart! One of the most intense series...I usually get to a point in a book that I'm ready for some resolution, or I'm counting down pages so I can get to the HEA or move on to the next book. Not so with these. I could read until I go blind and still want more.
Takashi (Taka)...what can I say? Exotic half white, half Japanese, tall, smooth skin and ruthless. Though he is still lacking the edge that Bastien had. He is, I think, just a hair more emotional than either Peter or Bastien. And I say this only because the ending had a gut wrenchingly emotional moment. The ending from the first two books was a bit abrupt, so this was definitely a plus. It felt like there was more closure for this couple.
One thing I like about a series is how you get to see previous couples, so I want to mention that while we don't get any Bastien and Chloe here, we do get a bit of Peter and Genvieve. Loved the scenes with them. They are so obviously in love and comfortable with each other.
Another great book from Anne Stuart! One of the most intense series...I usually get to a point in a book that I'm ready for some resolution, or I'm counting down pages so I can get to the HEA or move on to the next book. Not so with these. I could read until I go blind and still want more.
September 4, 2009
Wow! What a book! Sit back and get comfy, this is a long review.
Summer Hawthorne is a museum curator and is in possession of a beautiful ice blue colored bowl her Japanese nanny gave her years ago before she died. Hana (her nanny) had really been more like a mother to Summer and her little sister Jilly than her own mother, who was more concerned with her wealth and looks. So when Summer's mother promises her bowl to a guru of the latest celebrity religion that she belongs to, Summer puts it in a collection at her museum to keep it out of his hands. What Summer doesn't know (or her mother) is that the bowl is actually priceless and holds the key to a location in Japan that will usher in a man made Armageddon by the leaders of this fanatic cult/religion her mother belongs to.
While at a party at the museum, both the guru and another man watch Summer closely, looking for a way to get the bowl from her. The other man is Takashi O'Brien, an enforcer for a highly classified and undercover organization based in London. Taka (as he is known) is half Japanese, half American and was sent on this mission to retrieve the bowl and eliminate Summer if necessary. After the party Summer is taken hostage by the guru's goons and Taka "saves" her and returns her home. He then proceeds to attempt to kill her himself by drowning her in a hot tub, only to have unwanted second thoughts, so he revives her. And just in time because the guru's goons have come to Summer's house looking for the bowl. Summer has had copies made of the bowl and the one at the museum was a forgery. She has hidden the real bowl somewhere safe, not trusting her mother or museum security.
And this begins a fantastic trip across the country and across the world to Japan, first in search of the bowl and then to Japan to try and prevent the guru's cult from locating the hidden shrine in Japan.
Summer is a good heroine. She's been through ALOT in her life and has suffered greatly because of it. She can't cry anymore. Not since the death of her beloved Hana years ago. Even when she goes through tremendously scary events in this book, she laughs or screams, but never cries. To her crying is the ultimate fall and she feels she can't fall any further than she already has. And she's a realist. When things come to a head and she realizes Taka is going to kill her, she accepts it, knowing that there is nothing she can do to stop him. Summer has a lot of emotion inside her and she loves deeply those that she loves. Thinking she is about to die, her last thought is "at least I know my sister is safe".
Takashi O'Brien is an amazing character. I think I could read this book 3 or 4 times and come away with something new each time. He is half Japanese, half gaijin (white person) and is somewhat of an outcast in his traditional Japanese family. His grandfather and uncle are both Yakuza (Japanese mafia). He has an arranged marriage-to-be waiting on him at home....the perfect Japanese wife. And he's a killer. He doesn't necessarily like to kill but he kills when its necessary. And if killing Summer to save thousands of people from death is what it takes, he will do that too. The problem is Summer. He doesn't count on the way she makes him think and feel inside. He doesn't understand it and it bothers him. He attempts to kill her several times and each time he changes his mind and "saves" her. When the guru's goons almost kill her in the airport, he is so rattled he can't function. Taka is a man who has emotion but doesn't know what to do with it, because he has worked for so long in an emotionless occupation.
The time in Japan is fascinating. The foods and the clothes and people. Watching Taka in his element, and out of his element when it comes to Summer is great. When he finally starts to show some outward affection for Summer it is shocking. Calling her Su-chan, which is a term of endearment in Japan, in front of his cousin is breathtaking.
And the HEA (happily ever after) is set up so perfectly, and done so well you can't help but cry. I absolutely loved it!
(Rated R for violence and sexual content)
Summer Hawthorne is a museum curator and is in possession of a beautiful ice blue colored bowl her Japanese nanny gave her years ago before she died. Hana (her nanny) had really been more like a mother to Summer and her little sister Jilly than her own mother, who was more concerned with her wealth and looks. So when Summer's mother promises her bowl to a guru of the latest celebrity religion that she belongs to, Summer puts it in a collection at her museum to keep it out of his hands. What Summer doesn't know (or her mother) is that the bowl is actually priceless and holds the key to a location in Japan that will usher in a man made Armageddon by the leaders of this fanatic cult/religion her mother belongs to.
While at a party at the museum, both the guru and another man watch Summer closely, looking for a way to get the bowl from her. The other man is Takashi O'Brien, an enforcer for a highly classified and undercover organization based in London. Taka (as he is known) is half Japanese, half American and was sent on this mission to retrieve the bowl and eliminate Summer if necessary. After the party Summer is taken hostage by the guru's goons and Taka "saves" her and returns her home. He then proceeds to attempt to kill her himself by drowning her in a hot tub, only to have unwanted second thoughts, so he revives her. And just in time because the guru's goons have come to Summer's house looking for the bowl. Summer has had copies made of the bowl and the one at the museum was a forgery. She has hidden the real bowl somewhere safe, not trusting her mother or museum security.
And this begins a fantastic trip across the country and across the world to Japan, first in search of the bowl and then to Japan to try and prevent the guru's cult from locating the hidden shrine in Japan.
Summer is a good heroine. She's been through ALOT in her life and has suffered greatly because of it. She can't cry anymore. Not since the death of her beloved Hana years ago. Even when she goes through tremendously scary events in this book, she laughs or screams, but never cries. To her crying is the ultimate fall and she feels she can't fall any further than she already has. And she's a realist. When things come to a head and she realizes Taka is going to kill her, she accepts it, knowing that there is nothing she can do to stop him. Summer has a lot of emotion inside her and she loves deeply those that she loves. Thinking she is about to die, her last thought is "at least I know my sister is safe".
Takashi O'Brien is an amazing character. I think I could read this book 3 or 4 times and come away with something new each time. He is half Japanese, half gaijin (white person) and is somewhat of an outcast in his traditional Japanese family. His grandfather and uncle are both Yakuza (Japanese mafia). He has an arranged marriage-to-be waiting on him at home....the perfect Japanese wife. And he's a killer. He doesn't necessarily like to kill but he kills when its necessary. And if killing Summer to save thousands of people from death is what it takes, he will do that too. The problem is Summer. He doesn't count on the way she makes him think and feel inside. He doesn't understand it and it bothers him. He attempts to kill her several times and each time he changes his mind and "saves" her. When the guru's goons almost kill her in the airport, he is so rattled he can't function. Taka is a man who has emotion but doesn't know what to do with it, because he has worked for so long in an emotionless occupation.
The time in Japan is fascinating. The foods and the clothes and people. Watching Taka in his element, and out of his element when it comes to Summer is great. When he finally starts to show some outward affection for Summer it is shocking. Calling her Su-chan, which is a term of endearment in Japan, in front of his cousin is breathtaking.
And the HEA (happily ever after) is set up so perfectly, and done so well you can't help but cry. I absolutely loved it!
(Rated R for violence and sexual content)
March 6, 2013
3 STARS
Getting into a romantic suspense series, I can only imagine how tough it is for the author to keep the material fresh and cracking. I mean, how many ways can you really make the cold, distant and hot alpha male hero fall for the innocent yet "independent" heroine while he repeatedly attempts and fails to kill her before it goes stale?
Thus far, with this series, I'm getting a bit frustrated.
The thing with this genre is, I have to believe the circumstances are dire. The tension and suspense should be palpable as the story unfolds. It's tough for the 3rd book in a series because you've somehow seen the cards up the author's sleeve and one starts to compare the tricks in this book with the previous installments. Sadly, there's very little variation: crazy megalomaniac villain wants to wreak havoc in the world and the Committee's operatives have to stop them on time.
Pshh.
I have no issues with the characters, save for their near threadbare backgrounds (which is also an on-going motif of Anne Stuart's I've noticed). I even like Taka better than the other heroes, mostly because he's a little bit more whipped than the others and doesn't throw a sh*t fit (much) over it, taking it out on the heroine:
"She'd managed to braid her long hair again, but it was coming loose, tangling on her shoulders. He wanted to untie her hair and bury his face in it, breathe in the smell of it. Hell, it probably smelled of smoke and ashes from the explosion they'd just barely managed to outrun. Her skin would smell of fear. But he wanted to drown in it anyway."
Neither Peter nor Bastien were ever that eloquent with how much they want the girl. Mostly their thoughts are bothered and bewildered that translates to beastly actions towards the heroine in the early stages of their borderline abusive courtships (that's a lot of B-words right there). Taka's no softy but he's leaning towards a more conventional romantic hero. Summer, as the heroine, did an okay job at not being annoying.
"She stepped out of the shower, glancing at the reflection in the mirror, and for a moment she was shocked by what she saw. She looked different. Healthy and glowing despite the trauma of the last few days. She looked like someone who'd found what she'd been missing all her life."
Okay maybe she may have taken a bit of that magic sex juice (removes eye bags, weight issues and first-degree burns apparently) but she was mostly tolerable throughout the book. The Committee on the other hand just glugged an entire barrel of pfffts. You're a bad-ass, international, super secret organization, with a cellphone that can probably fly a plane at the press of a button The goodreads app do a better job at giving notifications, and that's saying something.
I loved when the story was taken to Japan and would've wished for a bit more of Reno and Taka's yakuza connections in the story. Unfortunately, this book further highlighted the author's continuing fail at delivering a good climactic end. I fell asleep in the middle of the pivotal scene between Shirosama, Taka and Summer, mostly because everything was bogged down by predictability and a messy narrative of what the eff is going on.
I'm going to put some distance between me and these extreme alphas for a while. I can only suspend disbelief for so long.
Getting into a romantic suspense series, I can only imagine how tough it is for the author to keep the material fresh and cracking. I mean, how many ways can you really make the cold, distant and hot alpha male hero fall for the innocent yet "independent" heroine while he repeatedly attempts and fails to kill her before it goes stale?
Thus far, with this series, I'm getting a bit frustrated.
The thing with this genre is, I have to believe the circumstances are dire. The tension and suspense should be palpable as the story unfolds. It's tough for the 3rd book in a series because you've somehow seen the cards up the author's sleeve and one starts to compare the tricks in this book with the previous installments. Sadly, there's very little variation: crazy megalomaniac villain wants to wreak havoc in the world and the Committee's operatives have to stop them on time.
Pshh.
I have no issues with the characters, save for their near threadbare backgrounds (which is also an on-going motif of Anne Stuart's I've noticed). I even like Taka better than the other heroes, mostly because he's a little bit more whipped than the others and doesn't throw a sh*t fit (much) over it, taking it out on the heroine:
"She'd managed to braid her long hair again, but it was coming loose, tangling on her shoulders. He wanted to untie her hair and bury his face in it, breathe in the smell of it. Hell, it probably smelled of smoke and ashes from the explosion they'd just barely managed to outrun. Her skin would smell of fear. But he wanted to drown in it anyway."
Neither Peter nor Bastien were ever that eloquent with how much they want the girl. Mostly their thoughts are bothered and bewildered that translates to beastly actions towards the heroine in the early stages of their borderline abusive courtships (that's a lot of B-words right there). Taka's no softy but he's leaning towards a more conventional romantic hero. Summer, as the heroine, did an okay job at not being annoying.
"She stepped out of the shower, glancing at the reflection in the mirror, and for a moment she was shocked by what she saw. She looked different. Healthy and glowing despite the trauma of the last few days. She looked like someone who'd found what she'd been missing all her life."
Okay maybe she may have taken a bit of that magic sex juice (removes eye bags, weight issues and first-degree burns apparently) but she was mostly tolerable throughout the book. The Committee on the other hand just glugged an entire barrel of pfffts. You're a bad-ass, international, super secret organization, with a cellphone that can probably fly a plane at the press of a button The goodreads app do a better job at giving notifications, and that's saying something.
I loved when the story was taken to Japan and would've wished for a bit more of Reno and Taka's yakuza connections in the story. Unfortunately, this book further highlighted the author's continuing fail at delivering a good climactic end. I fell asleep in the middle of the pivotal scene between Shirosama, Taka and Summer, mostly because everything was bogged down by predictability and a messy narrative of what the eff is going on.
I'm going to put some distance between me and these extreme alphas for a while. I can only suspend disbelief for so long.
July 28, 2008
Wow! Having read the first two books in this series, I knew to expect a very mean hero, but wow, what a cold-hearted killer this hero was. Very unlikable for 90% of the book. The heroine was not one of my favorites either. Having said that, the h/h worked well together and the STORY was wonderful. Lots of twists and turns and well thought out events.
I couldn't put this one down for too long. Excellent romantic suspense (with minimal romance). I enjoy this author's books, but can't take them in consecutive order because the hero's are so mean. I have to be in the mood for this type of read to enjoy it.
I couldn't put this one down for too long. Excellent romantic suspense (with minimal romance). I enjoy this author's books, but can't take them in consecutive order because the hero's are so mean. I have to be in the mood for this type of read to enjoy it.
February 9, 2018
I really enjoyed the two first books in the series, but this one came a bit short. The murderous cult plot was a bit far fetched for me, the hero just came too close to kill the heroine for my comfort, call me squeamish , and then she didn't seem to have any pride or self preservation instincts. In short he was too cold, she was too stupid and the story was too feeble.
Maybe it just wasn't my day. I'll try something more frivolous next ;)
Maybe it just wasn't my day. I'll try something more frivolous next ;)
October 5, 2025
3 good reads = 5 stars
(pre-2017, 2017, 2022)
Takashi aka Taka (32): Committee operative. Half Japanese/half American. Related to members of the Yakuza, Japan's organized crime family.
Summer (28): Museum curator. Owner of an important Japanese urn. Holds the key to the location of an ancient Japanese shrine.
The Plot: The Shirosama, leader of the True Realization Fellowship (a doomsday cult), plans to perform an ancient ritual to bring about Armageddon. His goal is to cleanse the world, leaving only the pure souls alive. Taka is sent to retrieve a Japanese urn and gather information from Summer. He is also instructed to kill her afterward, to stop the Shirosama from using her to carry out his evil plans.
🇹🇭🇪 🇬🇴🇴🇩:
❤ The MCs' Relationship. It's definitely a slow-burn, with the I-love-yous said near the end. My favorite part is their reconciliation in the last chapter.
❤ Taka proves to be a tough and capable agent. He’s the only H so far who actually plans to kill the h, but is stopped for various reasons. He also uses pain to get info. from her. Why is this good? Because it shows he’s a dangerous killer—exactly what he’s supposed to be. Bastien in book one is still my #1 favorite, but Taka is near the top of the list.
❤ Reno, Taka's cousin. He's definitely a unique character, both in looks and personality. Sadly, I didn't care for his book, partly due to the annoying h. 😥
🇹🇭🇪 🇧🇦🇩:
🖤 Multiple POVs. There are more than I wanted: Along with the MCs, there is The Shirosama, Isobel Lambert (Committee head), and Jilly (Summer's sister). The author is setting up future books.
🖤 Storytelling through inner monologue. The MCs' thoughts slowed the pace and made some parts feel dull. I wanted more action and dialogue, along with suspense in this so-called romantic suspense!
🖤 The Villain. He’s a one-dimensional fanatic with little real power. His plans fail repeatedly, making him seem weak and ineffective. Both he and the villain in book 2 had grand plans to destroy the world but were too inept to succeed.
Summer's TSTL Moments:
I wish there were more books with anti-heroes who are a bit scary, but do the right thing in the end.
(pre-2017, 2017, 2022)
Takashi aka Taka (32): Committee operative. Half Japanese/half American. Related to members of the Yakuza, Japan's organized crime family.
Summer (28): Museum curator. Owner of an important Japanese urn. Holds the key to the location of an ancient Japanese shrine.
The Plot: The Shirosama, leader of the True Realization Fellowship (a doomsday cult), plans to perform an ancient ritual to bring about Armageddon. His goal is to cleanse the world, leaving only the pure souls alive. Taka is sent to retrieve a Japanese urn and gather information from Summer. He is also instructed to kill her afterward, to stop the Shirosama from using her to carry out his evil plans.
🇹🇭🇪 🇬🇴🇴🇩:
❤ The MCs' Relationship. It's definitely a slow-burn, with the I-love-yous said near the end. My favorite part is their reconciliation in the last chapter.
❤ Taka proves to be a tough and capable agent. He’s the only H so far who actually plans to kill the h, but is stopped for various reasons. He also uses pain to get info. from her. Why is this good? Because it shows he’s a dangerous killer—exactly what he’s supposed to be. Bastien in book one is still my #1 favorite, but Taka is near the top of the list.
❤ Reno, Taka's cousin. He's definitely a unique character, both in looks and personality. Sadly, I didn't care for his book, partly due to the annoying h. 😥
🇹🇭🇪 🇧🇦🇩:
🖤 Multiple POVs. There are more than I wanted: Along with the MCs, there is The Shirosama, Isobel Lambert (Committee head), and Jilly (Summer's sister). The author is setting up future books.
🖤 Storytelling through inner monologue. The MCs' thoughts slowed the pace and made some parts feel dull. I wanted more action and dialogue, along with suspense in this so-called romantic suspense!
🖤 The Villain. He’s a one-dimensional fanatic with little real power. His plans fail repeatedly, making him seem weak and ineffective. Both he and the villain in book 2 had grand plans to destroy the world but were too inept to succeed.
Summer's TSTL Moments:
I wish there were more books with anti-heroes who are a bit scary, but do the right thing in the end.
November 24, 2010
I had a hard time rating this one. It's obviously much better than the last "Ice" installment but I still hate the formula of "hero" sent to murder the "heroine"-treats her abominably-she falls in love-he gives in-the end. In "Ice Blue" the hero even tries to finish the job - three times! Luckily something happens to stop him each time. I guess I just can't fathom any woman actually falling in love with a man she knows will kill her, after he abuses her and in a matter of days. Hey, maybe it is just me...Taken in light doses, rather than one after the other, this series might set a little easier
So why the 4 stars? Anne Stuart can write edge of your seat suspense very well and the ending was actually somewhat satisfying for once.
So why the 4 stars? Anne Stuart can write edge of your seat suspense very well and the ending was actually somewhat satisfying for once.
July 23, 2013
Fast reading, nonstop action-packed installment mixed with the believable, original, emotional relationship that grew between the hero and the odd woman he must eliminate. Great characterization including that of the villain. I can’t get enough of this author’s antiheroes.
HERO is a Warrior, an operative working for a secret organization, one of the best in his field because of his cold-blood and strong hold on his feelings, the few left by the nonloving people who raised him. In order to save the world from a fanatical new religion leader, he must kill a woman who keeps eliciting the oddest emotions from him, and changing his loyalties.
SCENES/CONTENT: few/hot
GENRE/TONE: contemporary/action
LENGTH: 308 pages
HERO is a Warrior, an operative working for a secret organization, one of the best in his field because of his cold-blood and strong hold on his feelings, the few left by the nonloving people who raised him. In order to save the world from a fanatical new religion leader, he must kill a woman who keeps eliciting the oddest emotions from him, and changing his loyalties.
SCENES/CONTENT: few/hot
GENRE/TONE: contemporary/action
LENGTH: 308 pages
September 28, 2010
Excellent and exciting.
Taka, a spy for the British, is supposed to kill Summer, an American girl. He plans to kill her, but keeps delaying it. The bad guys, a religious cult, also want to kill her, but Taka keeps saving her from them. It is full of suspense, danger, and a couple of sex scenes. The sex scene on page 323 is great! There is a happy ending. This is the third book in her "Ice" series. I loved it. Sexual content: strong.
Taka, a spy for the British, is supposed to kill Summer, an American girl. He plans to kill her, but keeps delaying it. The bad guys, a religious cult, also want to kill her, but Taka keeps saving her from them. It is full of suspense, danger, and a couple of sex scenes. The sex scene on page 323 is great! There is a happy ending. This is the third book in her "Ice" series. I loved it. Sexual content: strong.
dnf
May 13, 2015DNF at 50%
I couldn't connect with the characters and couldn't care less about their HEA. I guess it's time to move on...
I'm also done with this series; these gamma males just aren't my cuppa tea!
I couldn't connect with the characters and couldn't care less about their HEA. I guess it's time to move on...
I'm also done with this series; these gamma males just aren't my cuppa tea!
August 18, 2010
Suspense and romance - great fun.
July 10, 2022
Qué perra tienen los héroes de esta serie, qué manía de estar pensando en matar a la heroína. Sigue el mismo planteamiento que las anteriores: chica inocente metida en un lío internacional a la que el chico de la película tiene que matar pero que acaba no haciéndolo y enamorándose.
Ella es Summer Hawthorne, conservadora de museo y que tiene el macguffin de esta historia, una preciosa urna vidriada azul. Takashi O'Brien es el asesino con la misión de quitarla de en medio.
Así que una novela de suspense romántico igual que las otras: entretenidísima, suspende trepidante y con un atractivo héroe intercultural, tan llamativo que eclipsa por completo a Summer.
Crítica más amplia, en mi blog.
Ella es Summer Hawthorne, conservadora de museo y que tiene el macguffin de esta historia, una preciosa urna vidriada azul. Takashi O'Brien es el asesino con la misión de quitarla de en medio.
Así que una novela de suspense romántico igual que las otras: entretenidísima, suspende trepidante y con un atractivo héroe intercultural, tan llamativo que eclipsa por completo a Summer.
Crítica más amplia, en mi blog.
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