Product Description

Playing with Fire

Earth, Wind & Fire aren't just a band anymore . . .

Used to be my greatest achievement was holding a job more than three days. Now suddenly I can shoot fireballs, chill your drink, or blow-dry your hair at fifty paces with a blink of my eye!

It all started when this crazy scientist dropped something in my Grande Mocha Latte. Of course I got wicked sick. Next morning I'm waking up with this total hottie bending over me. He tells me 1)his name's Rome Masters, 2)he's a government agent and 3)I can control the four elements with a thought.

He seems even less pleased by my (apparently irreversible) transformation than I am . . . Because now he'll have to kill me.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #241324 in Books
• Published on: 2006-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 384 pages

From Booklist
*Starred Review* Belle Jamison has been a waitress, maid, odometer tweaker, assembly line worker, professional clown, and towel girl. Now a self-proclaimed "coffee wench" at Utopia Cafe, she is again on the verge of unemployment. Just as she sits down for her long-overdue break, a man in a white lab coat rushes through the cafe with what appear to be government agents on his heels. The substance he sneaks into Belle's grand mocha latte changes her life forever: the new Super Belle can control the four elements--earth, wind, fire, and water. Hunky Rome Masters is an agent from PSI (Paranormal Studies and Investigations) sent to "neutralize" (read kill) Belle. Instead, Rome, who has a secret of his own, falls for the feisty waitress, and soon both of them are on the run. The versatile Showalter takes the nail-biting elements of her exciting paranormals (Enslave Me Sweetly, 2006) and blends them with the wit and humor of her contemporary romances (Animal Instincts, 2006) to make a delicious offering spiced with the best ingredients of both. Shelley Mosley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
"Sexy, funny and downright magical!" -- USA Today bestselling author Katie MacAlister

About the Author
Gena Showalter sold her first book at the age of 27 and now, four years later, is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thirteen books, with eleven more on the way in a thrilling blend of genres: breathtaking paranormal and contemporary romances, cutting edge young adult novels, and stunning urban fantasy. 

Her novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine, MTV, Seventeen Magazine, and have been translated in French, Italian and Korean.  The critics have called her books "sizzling page-turners" and "utterly spellbinding stories", while Showalter herself has been called ?a star on the rise?. 

Customer Reviews

When Life's not Quite Exciting Enough...
Along come mad scientists, secret sub-government agencies and...control over the four elements? In a non-stop thrill of a laughter-inducing ride, one simple gal just trying to make a buck finds out there's more to life than coffee and the next lame job. Only problem is, will her new talents consume her, or will she master the potentially volatile forces?

Belle Jamison needs a new job to support not only her needs, but those of her elderly father too. She's trying extra hard not to screw up the job she has currently as well as the interview she's got later the same day. Only problem is she's a bit of a smart alec and she's hanging by a thread because of it. When a man bursts into the coffee shop where she works, begging for help, it's Belle who catches his eye. Hours later, after being detained by some pretty convincing agents, Belle's not feeling so hot. All she had was a mocha latte, so why the sudden flu-like symptoms? In a haze, she stumbles through her interview and barely makes it home where she collapses. The next morning doesn't bring any relief and to make matters worse, there's a hot man at her side--only his hotness is not the issue--his wanting to kill her is. With new powers come all new problems and Belle has to find a way to get back to simple `ole her. Only, she might be starting to like the new her...

Belle's story is in first person, so anyone not fond of those need be aware of this. Belle is perhaps one of my most favorite female leads I've ever encountered in a romance. She's determined, loyal to the good side and she knows what she wants and goes after it. Plus, she's got some faults and she's not afraid to admit it. It's the combination of her pluses and minuses that make her so unique. The dialogue throughout, with whomever she interacts with, is riddled with laugh-out-loud wit and I was very impressed with how the secondary characters shown through. Rome's role as hero was no less emphasized than Belle's and he is hot, hot hot! The addition of his family lent the story a desperate feel at times as he and Belle strive to make the world a safer place for people like them. If you are a fan of first person comedy/paranormal romances, heroines that save the day make you smile, heroes that make you sigh and a great cast of secondary characters, then I can't recommend this one enough. The plot wraps up very nicely, but sounds as if it might continue with more? Either way, I was thrilled and would love to see more if Ms. Showalter chooses to do so.

Consistantly Showalter!
Gena Showalter kicks off a new paranormal series with "Playing with Fire." Like many of her other novels, this story is told in the first-person perspective. But, please don't let this tiny detail distract you! Showalter is Queen of the first-person narrative. Throughout the book, she balances the protagonist's voice (Belle) with the rest of the characters. So, even though Belle's character/personality is put in the fore-front, Showalter does not neglect to develop each of the (important) supporting characters - specifically, Rome Masters.

"Playing with Fire" starts normally enough - a typical work day for Belle: wake up (late), go to work (late), charm boss, and then, for God's sake, keep from getting fired. On this average day, the narrator's life is flipped up-side-down when a distressed scientist slips one of his latest concoctions into her drink. From just one sip of her mocha latte, Belle goes through a fantastical transformation from human to superhuman. And as if the physiological change wasn't enough to kill her, she soon discovers that her new abilities might.

Enter Rome Master:

His mission is to find Belle, and neutralize her if indeed she is exposed to the scientist's experiment. As it turns out, she is compromised - but Rome doesn't have the heart to bring her in for experimentation. Instead, he enlists her help - and for payment, Rome will in turn teach Belle how to control her newfound powers.

As per Showalter's style, the heroine is a feisty piece of work; she is comical, sarcastic, and sensitive. As for the hero, Rome is very much the alpha male, with a touch of vulnerability that makes him irresistible. I simply loved experiencing the connection between Belle and Rome; both characters have a strong sense of family loyalty and honor; but not only that, they also possessed a strong passion and undisclosed love for each other.

I've been a fan of Showalter's ever since reading "Enslave Me Sweetly" and "Awaken Me Darkly." And like those preceding novels, this book did not disappoint me. As far as I'm concerned, Showalter is a sure thing. Her name alone is enough for me to purchase all her books.

Non-stop action!!!
My friend and i both read this book and we LOVED IT!!!!! there was action, comedy, romance and other great things, complete with a perveted kid you gotta love and the 'hot' ex. the love between Belle and Rome was really good. i couldn't put the book down!