Pretty good read. Nate finally grew on me. I didn't care for him at first. But he wasn't the most disgusting pig in this book. Nate and Rachel are undercover detectives infiltrating a cult in Arizona who's various rituals are merely excuses for drug filled gang rapes. The cult leader sees Rachel and immediately wants her to be the "Vessel" that bares his child. Nate must act to save her before losing her. There's action and excitement, but it's hard getting past the depravity of this cult. It's amazing what people convince people to do in the name of a false prophet. ( )

White Heat
3 Stars

Similar premise to Cheyenne McCray's Chosen Prey although the balance between the romance and suspense is slightly off.

The cult and its leader are suitably creepy and depraved but the only reason they pose a threat is because Nate and Rachel are so woefully unprepared for their assignment. The lack of background on Department 6 and its operatives, the wobbly professionalism of the undercover agents and the heroine's somewhat TSTL actions all undermine the promise of the plot.

Nate and Rachel's romance is also weak. They have intense chemistry but it remains unfulfilled as they are constantly at each others' throats and their love scenes fizzle out completely. Nate's reasons for initially rejecting Rachel are never sufficiently explained and his transition from holding her at arms length to accepting that he loves her is sudden and lacking foundation.

This is my first Brenda Novak and it was entertaining enough to continue with the series. ( )

Brenda Novak is one of the best writers of romantic suspense that I have read. Her plot lines are believable and have detail that other writers miss. I had read this book in paperback when it first came out but have purchased for my Kindle & decided to re-read it.

Department 6 is a secretive security agency. This is book 1 in the series and involves a religious cult. Rachel & Nate infiltrate the cult as a married couple to try to find out what all the cult is involved in. This detail on the cult & their practices was well thought out. While Rachel & Nate were forced to stay close together, their chemistry went off the charts.

Once I picked this book up again, I couldn't stop until I was done. The twists & turns keep you guessing & the romance keeps you hoping they will find a way to stay together. Loved it! ( )

Well I ended up really enjoying this one and now I can't wait to read the next one in the trilogy!

I enjoyed Brenda's mix of romance and suspense very much but I'll say that there was MORE suspense/thriller to it than romance.

It was good though, because there was a ton of tension building between the two main characters which made you want to keep reading.

I liked the story line a lot! I've always found cult behavior quite interesting so this book kept my mind racing.

Overall, I had no complaints about this one and breathed a sigh of relief at the end since I was so "nervous" for the characters LOL! I can't wait to read the next one! ( )

A somewhat disappointing outing from the usually solid Novak. Rachel and Nate are members of a private security firm, sent to investigate a shady cult that has set up shop in a remote corner of Arizona. An unfortunate sexual encounter early in their professional relationship makes their current undercover assignment posing as a married couple quite fraught. And the cult is even worse than imagined.

A minor point, but the desert setting is depicted all wrong. Unlike more humid places, deserts cool off fast at night. And sweat dries much too fast to roll down one's face.

Add half a star if you're not thoroughly bored with evil-cult plots. ( )