I loved the instant antagonism that Butcher placed between her characters. It’s always best to believe in the forces that try to keep two lovers apart. Stupidity and selfishness are big reasons to keep the characters apart in romance novels that I read, yet some writers continue to use them. I totally bought into Butcher’s scenario, and she builds up the reasons for Caleb’s presence there -- because of that history -- instead of letting it just sit there.

The romance elements of the story are incredibly hot. Butcher takes her time to build those up as well. Nothing happens too quickly in the novel, and readers aren’t kept waiting too long.

In addition, Butcher is a fine action writer as well. In the action scenes, she proves herself time and time again. The choreography is great, and her military thinking and jargon is dead-on. There isn’t much in the way of action for a long time, but when she gets to it, the result is deadly earnest.

Even more, Butcher’s backstory with the villains and Caleb’s special forces friends is marvelous. The creepy intensity of the woman who’s out for Lana’s blood is awesome, as well as the head of the Swarm. And there are enough other things going on that a small puzzle of who’s doing what to whom builds up as well. I loved Caleb’s friend Grant, and I hope he ends up getting featured in her third book.

Butcher is an excellent romance writer. If you haven’t picked her up, you should. Her first book, No Regrets, is still on the shelves as well.