Saturday 18 August 2007

Edge of Danger by Cherry Adair

I had trouble reading this book with any kind of enjoyment.

First. I do not. Have never. Bought into the love affair that many female american romance writers have with all things scottish. I haven't even watched Braveheart. And I especially abhor the scotts brogue they all love to write. I view it with the same contempt as if they put pidgen english into their writing and we all know they would never dare do that. (A scottish servant features in this story.)

Second. The hero. The drooling, salivating, personal-space invading A.H. hero. Obviously. He has psychic abilities. And he is some sort of special special agent for Uncle Sam. His mission is to retrieve information about a sooper dooper A.I. robot from the heroine. So how does he do that? Well he psychically invades her mind while she is sleeping and gives her hot urges. He voyeuristically watches her during the day while she is working, making sure to lust over every female inch of her beautiful body while doing so. And his excuse. She's his LifeMate. Someone aught to tell that slobbering, disgusting p.o.s that those are the techniques and mindset of a sadistic torturer not a potential lover. Other, more polite, reviewers have used the phrase 'mind-rape.'

But all of that pales into insignificance because eventually the plot resorts to the use of magic. (sigh) I cannot believe that an adult author is writing a novel for adults with a plot that involves magic. Magic is not a viable problem-solving strategy. That's why it appeals to children.

I almost wish I was illiterate. Then I wouldn’t have read this utter tripe. Another novel that takes too many left-curves. Eventually the reader sees the sheer rubbish of it all.

Readers should be aware that there is a high use of profanities in this novel. They are used as adjectives, adverbs, verbs and nouns. Lovely.

Finally. In the mid-80s Stephanie James (aka JAK) wrote some excellent romances for Silhouette featuring wizards and successful women. They did not involve any magic whatsoever and were all the better for it.

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