Genre: Romantic Suspense
Setting: Paradise, Arizona
POV: 3rd Person
Sensuality: Warm
Violence: Some, but most of it occurs off page
Format: Digital
Source: A digital ARC courtesy of Harlequin via NetGalley
My Grade: B
White Heat is the first book in Brenda Novak’s new Deptartment 6 Hired Guns trilogy. The books will be released back-to-back between August and October 2010.
Rachel Jessop and Nate Ferrentino both work as operatives for a private security company named Department 6. In their latest assignment, they’re required to go undercover to investigate some mysterious goings on in a religious cult.
The Church of the Covenant is a relatively new religious group which is led by the charismatic Ethan Wycliff. They’ve established themselves in a small ghost town in the Arizona desert, the appropriately named Paradise. Law enforcement officials have become increasingly concerned about the group’s alleged debauched practices, particularly since they were accused of attempting to stone a woman to death. They’ve also been implicated in the disappearance of a local girl.
Due to Wycliff’s wealth and influence, the police have made no headway with the investigation. Rachel and Nate hope they will be more successful. Their aim is to pose as potential new members and try to infiltrate the group. Pretending to be a married couple is particularly difficult for Rachel and Nate as they had a disastrous one-night stand several months previously, and have avoided one another ever since.
Their investigation develops an added complication when Ethan Wycliff takes a special interest in Rachel and decides that she is to be the Chosen One who will bear his son and heir.
White Heat is a fast-paced romantic suspense. The plot is interesting and I found the description of life within a cult frighteningly credible. Ethan was clearly an egomaniac, and I found the depiction of his quiet sidekick, Bart, far scarier.
Rachel and Nate worked well as a couple, but I would have preferred just a little more time devoted to the development of their characters. Their romance blossomed rather quickly against the background of murder and mayhem.
This quibble aside, White Heat was a compelling read. It’s bound to appeal to readers who like action-packed romantic suspense which isn’t depressingly dark.
I like the premise of the Department 6 Hired Guns series. I’ve already requested the next title in the trilogy, Body Heat, and I’m looking forward to reading it.
Note: White Heat will be released by Mira on 27 July 2010
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Thanks for the nice review, Sarah. I’m glad your looking forward to BODY HEAT, which is my personal favorite in the series.
Also wanted to invite you to my Twitter party on Thursday, August 4th, 8 – 10 p.m. eastern time. If you can make it, definitely register at my site beforehand (brendanovak.com). Everyone who does receives a snail mail party pack containing raffle tickets for the three iPads and other goodies I’ll be giving away, a pair of Brenda Novak 3D glasses to be able to view the WHITE HEAT trailer in 3D (link is under the 2D version on my site), a $1 off coupon for the book, a 30% off coupon for “White Heat” shade of lip gloss created exclusively for me by Three Custom Color Specialists, a high-end make-up company in NY, and a reminder card.
@Brenda Novak: Apologies, Brenda – I missed your comment. Thanks for the invitation!
And, yes, I did enjoy Body Heat! I preferred it to White Heat, actually. Rod and Sophia are excellent characters.
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