Date published: September 2008
ISBN: 978-0-345-49990-5
Paranormal Romantic Suspense
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by Gina
Simon Blackthorne, that is Blackthorne with an “e”, is on a vacation, of sorts in the African county of Mallaruza where his long time friend Abi Bongani is running for re-election as his country’s president. With his wizard powers a bit on the fritz, some R&R in the seaside country may be the ticket he needs. Then again, maybe not.
After losing her public relationships job in Atlanta, Kess Goodall has traveled to Mallaruza to help Abi with his campaign. In Kess’ eyes, Abi is practically a saint with all he is doing to try to help the impoverished country survive. With the election just around the corner the outbreak of an unknown virus that is killing people by the thousands is causing a PR nightmare for Kess. Yet, she wouldn’t be at the top of her PR game if she didn't see a silver lining in Abi’s tireless work to find a cure. While Abi waits day after day for relief supplies and aide, Kess travels with the doctors to the outlying villages to help as best she can. It is during one quick stop in the capitol that Kess encounters Simon and despite her best intentions she falls under his spell. And it’s not a wizard’s spell. It’s the kind of spell we’d all like to fall under when we meet the person of our dreams.
Kess, however, is not the woman of Simon’s dreams. No. Simon’s some day woman is tall, dark haired, the picture of perfection and he’s going to live with her in his cozy house in Montana. Kess is a fiery red head with an impulsive nature. Not at all what he wants in his life. So why does he want her with every fiber of his being? It isn’t long before Kess is his every waking thought and he’ll risk anything to keep her safe, even laying his life on the line with a wizard more powerful than any he has known before.
Cherry Adair is back and in seconds hits her stride in NIGHT FALL, the first of the T-FLAC psi Fall series. While I am not a fan of wizards, Simon has long piqued my interest. His special skill is intriguing and one I wouldn’t mind having—he has a second self, called Nomis, who can stand in for him when he needs to be in two places at once. This story was well considered, with minute details thoughout and I could feel the pangs of insecurity Kess felt every time Simon encountered a woman who sure fit his “one day woman” image.
There were a few times that I had to go back and see what I missed because of what seemed to be a gap in the story. They are small and don’t detract from the telling, just there teasing me. For instance, when Simon is fighting Jobert, the really bad, really powerful wizard, there is a moment when Kess pulled the bad guy’s power. Nothing is said after the fact. When someone close to Simon is killed, he’s dead and that’s that. No remorse, no thinking back on where the wrong turn happened. He just moves on to the next scene.
I kept expecting one of the other Psi operatives to make an appearance and it was great when Simon holds his own. What I liked was how when his powers are failing he remembers what Kess had asked him about who would he be if he didn't have them. He would still be a T-FLAC operative and he’d still have those skills. What was so good about this story is that it could have been the paranormal it is or a really super romantic suspense. It’s a story that pleases both sides of the fence and then some. I look forward to digging into NIGHT SECRETS, book 2 of this new series.
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