The Medusa Seduction

Sophie Giovanni is just minding her own business. She's living her life and trying to build up her courage again after a devastating injury ends her career as a downhill skiing competitor. One day after her jog, she gets grabbed on her way back to the apartment and her new life begins.

Brian Riley is a Special Forces Op who has recently been informed of a planned terrorist attack and must do whatever it takes to stop it. Sophie was good friends with the terrorist when they were little, until his family returned to the Middle East and they lost touch. She also happens to be the only person alive outside of the terrorist's inner circle, who knows what the terrorist looks like.

Brian must do whatever it takes to convince Sophie to help stop the threat and train her for the mission. He never expected that his greatest challenge would be suppressing the passion between them.

The Medusa Seduction is a fast paced and suspenseful story. After all, there's nothing like an imminent terrorist threat to really dial up the sense of urgency we have to have in a suspense novel. We find plenty of passion and emotion here as well, with the immediately intense relationship between Brian and Sophie.

One interesting thing about this book is how it reads as two separate parts of a single story. The first half of the book is where the relationship blossoms with remarkable depth and our fearless couple give in to their passion. This portion of the book moves a little slower and is all about Brian trying to resist his impulses where Sophie is concerned and her training in preparation for their pending operation. I loved getting a little glimpse inside the world of Special Forces this way.

The second half of the plot moves much faster as we work towards taking down our villain. After the training is complete and the mission becomes even more crucial, we race along to the dramatic conclusion. Here is where the Medusas really pop up, though we do see them briefly here and there in the first half of the book. The nail biting tension mounts as we wait to see if our heroes will be successful.

Cindy Dees does an incredible job of blending romance and suspense. We don't have any instances of "Oh the bad guy is trying to kill me, let's have sex!" This happens far too often in romantic suspense and often just tries to suspend my belief a little too much, ruining the book. All of the scenes that progress the relationship, and yes of course, the sex, occur at appropriate times and they really bring the tension between Brian and Sophie to a boil. The passion is hot and sexy, without getting in the way of the suspense.

I love everything I have ever read by Cindy Dees and The Medusa Seduction is no exception. I can only sit here and say... "It's how long until the next book?!?" Way to go Cindy! I can't wait to see where you and the Medusas will take me next.