Entangled

Toymaker, kidTek, has been the victim of industrial espionage. This is more serious than one would imagine since black ops has projects hidden from view in the company’s R & D labs. It’s CEO, Kiera Stevens, is determined to safeguard the company that she has inherited from her father. In view of the true danger and possible ramifications of this breach, the best in the field is brought in to tighten security and to catch the perpetrators.

John Atlantis, or Lantis as he is known by reputation and to friends, left black ops behind in favor of going into private security consultancy. An adept and the owner of Depth Security, Lantis agrees to take on the task necessary as a favor to his ex-partner. While trying to accomplish the upgrade in security, the complicated spell cast yields an unexpected result. Lantis and Kiera find themselves entangled, suddenly sharing a psychic link.

Having had an immediate attraction to each other, they explore the limits of this new phenomenon. However, intrigue is never far away and they must steel themselves and be ever vigilant for not only is kidTek seemingly targeted by spies but Kiera is being followed and may be in personal danger.

Lantis is a rather dominant hero made all the more appealing for his touches of vulnerability and for his innate respect for the heroine. All too often we see heroes who dismiss their partner’s wishes and intelligence in a bid to portray mastery in all aspects of the relationship. Kiera is herself a delight to read. Very much the confident CEO, for all of her recent lack of male relationships she is also very much a strong and confident woman. There is no out-of-character misunderstanding or other uninspired plot devices thrown at the reader. It was enthralling to watch the experimentation of the effects of entanglement on these two personalities.

Ms. Dante has crafted a richly detailed and unique version of Earth where magic and technology blends. Wielding her vocabulary with great precision, one could not help but be pulled into the storyline immediately. The issue of industrial espionage in Entangled was written with an in-depth view and with fine logic adding a wonderful credibility to the plot. If there is anything in which to cavil, it would be the long, descriptive sex scenes that occasionally overwhelmed the rest of the narrative. When the culmination of the tale came, it was an emotion wringing, tension wrought climax.

Speaking of climax, the loves scenes were numerous and incendiary. Readers may need to take precautions to avoid scorched fingers. In truth, it would be a small price to pay to read such a delightful work. This is a fresh voice and definitely erotic romance for the intelligent woman. Ms Dante is an author to watch.

September 2006