After seeing so much talk about Anne Stuart’s interview, I finally decided to read Black Ice, which has been languishing in my TBR for more than six months. I’m glad I did, because I enjoyed the book: 4 out of 5.

Living paycheck to paycheck in Paris, American book translator Chloe Underwood would give anything for some excitement and passion–even a little danger. So when she’s offered a lucrative weekend gig translating at a business conference in a remote chateau, she jumps at the chance to shake things up.

Then by chance Chloe discovers her employers are anything but the entrepreneurs they appear, and suddenly she knows far too much. Her clients are illegal arms dealers, and one of them is ordered to kill her. But instead, Bastien Toussaint drags Chloe away, and the next thing she knows she’s on the run with the most terrifying and seductive man she’s ever met. What were his motives–and would she live long enough to find out?

One of the biggest strengths of the book lies in its uniqueness–Bastien and Chloe are far from your typical hero and heroine. Bastien more so than Chloe, and watching his character evolve from someone who is cold, cynical, and uncaring to someone who is capable of love is fascinating to watch.

Chloe also changes during the course of the novel–she’s grows tremendously from someone who is a bit naive to a strong survivor.

There’s a rather famous (infamous?) scene where Bastien walks away when he knows that something bad is happening to Chloe. Things I’d heard about the scene were one reason I put off reading this book. In the end, I was disturbed by the scene, but not as much as I anticipated. Not sure why, other than that all the hype about it prepared me for it, and also made me expect something worse.

In any case, Black Ice is well worth reading, especially if you enjoy unconventional stories. I’m now reading Cold As Ice, the next in the series.

I took a week-long vacation in San Jose with a friend. We had a lot of fun, especially at the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose and the beach in Santa Cruz.

The front of the Winchester House.

Yes, these stairs go straight to the ceiling. There’s also a door that leads to a two-story drop. And windows in the floor of the conservatory. It’s a fascinating house.

I enjoyed wading in the ocean. I wish I could go back!

I’ll get back to writing reviews soon (I hope). I’m participating in National Novel Writing Month again this year, so it’s keeping me pretty busy.