Femme Fatale (Feature Anthology) [Mass Market Paperback]

In Shaken and Stirred, British agent Bethany Riggs finds herself framed for murder and running from the CIA when a Russian informant dies. The Russian woman had been betrayed by her terrorist lover, and sought both safety and revenge by coming to Beth. Instead, the informant found herself at the wrong end of sniper's rifle. Now MI-6 Agent Jason Chandler believes Beth killed the Russian, and follows the British spy through the streets of Cape Town in pursuit of the computer keycard to the terrorist's computer system. Beth and Jason find themselves at cross purposes even as they seek the same goals. A fast paced plot and pulsating chemistry keeps the story lively even as their chemistry really turns up the heat. Beth and Jason are evenly matched for wit and drive, allowing them both extraordinarily strong parts in the story. While the first story I've read by Doranna Durgin, it certainly will not be the last!

In The Get-Away Girl, Kylee Swain uses her career as a stuntwoman as cover for her covert work for Stony Man. Stony Man assigns Kylee to obtain the computer of a programmer with connections to an international terrorist. Accustomed to life on the edge, Kylee still finds herself surprised when a sniper attempts to kill her while filming a stunt driving a car. An Australian mercenary and former CIA agent, Mick Stone is the programmer's bodyguard and has no intention of allowing Kylee fulfill her mission, whatever it might be. As these powerful characters clash, the result is fascinating spin on a traditional storyline. Kylee's career as a stuntwoman adds zest to this tale as she controls dangerous and deadly situations with finesse. Mick's Australian flair adds a touch of the exotic, even if occasionally overdone, resulting in a sexy hero worthy of Kylee's style. Author Meredith Fletcher's flair for creating tense situations and unexpected danger results in a memorable tale.

In End Game, Victoria Grayson works undercover in the Cayman Islands trying to bring down a powerful drug lord. Her assignment forces her to cross paths with a former contact, DEA Agent Bishop Tyler, who knows her under a very different cover. As staid as Victoria is flamboyant, Bishop determinedly works toward closing a case of his own. Fans of Virginia Kantra will recognize her characteristic flair for witty dialogue and scintillating chemistry. While her tale is flavored by more conventions of serial romance, she successfully skirts the temptation to allow her heroine tearful recollections of the past. Instead, Victoria emerges with the strength her name suggests.

Powerfully rendered, the heroines of FEMME FATALE lend the product line a remarkable freshness and unsurpassed dynamism. FEMME FATALE is an outstanding anthology that comes very highly recommended. If this anthology recommends their new series of intriguing tales with tough heroines entitled Bombshells, then it should be a tremendous success.