Meet Isobel Lambert, head of a top-secret international crime-fighting organization. She's a level-headed leader, she's cool and capable and efficient. She has ice water running in her veins, she's a stone-cold killer, yet she's judicious and lets the innocent live, she's awesome.
Or at least she WAS, in the previous books in the "Ice" series. Now it's finally time for Isobel's story to be told, and what a disappointment!
What happened to you, Isobel? Where is the efficient, calm, rational woman who gets the job done?
Meet Killian, evil bad boy run amok. He's beautiful, he's deadly, he always gets the upper hand. Killian and Isobel have unfinished business. When the two run into each other, the sparks ought to fly, but instead all I get is frustration. Killian comes along and our efficient, cold, rational, emotionless leader Isobel vanishes, leaving a fairly useless damsel in her place, who's only along for the ride.
Thrill to scenes of Killian taunting Isobel about their angst-filled past! Gasp in awe as Isobel passively lets him! Prepared to be astonished at the level of dimwitted wittering Isobel generates as Killian proves just how eeeevil he is, and how useless Isobel is!
Oh well. Aside from the disappointing characterization of Isobel, the angst-filled romance is pretty fun. Killian is a truly ruthless and tortured anti-hero, and is completely obsessed with Isobel, although he refuses to admit just how obsessed with her he is. Pretty yummy. His story arc, while predictable, is still fun and enjoyable. Another bad boy killer par excellence tamed by the love of his life. If only Isobel were equally awesome. Now that would be a book to savor!