ACE IS WILD

Author: Penny McCall ISBN: 9780425222980 8/2008 SUSPENSE Publisher: BERKLEY

Vivienne Foster is a psychic who’s learned the hard way that cops and lawyers will never take her seriously. But when she starts having visions of U.S. Attorney Daniel Pierce getting murdered, she can’t just sit back and do nothing. Which is how she winds up at the charity bachelor auction where he’s being raffled off, hoping a loaded weapon will make him see the light... Daniel doesn’t relish parading himself in front of a group of wealthy socialites, no matter how worthy the cause. Then he finds himself held at gunpoint—by the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. But when Vivi correctly predicts an attempt on his life, even a hardened skeptic like Daniel has to take notice. To stay one step ahead of the killers on their trail, Daniel and Vivi must first outrun the sexual tension between them—because that may prove the most dangerous risk of all...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Penny McCall writes a great blend of romance and suspense in her latest novel, ACE IS WILD.

Vivienne "Vivi" Foster is a psychic. She's been having visions of Daniel "Ace" Pierce and his untimely demise. Deciding to take matters into her own hands, she sets out to save Daniel from the bad guys by taking him from a charity auction he is involved in. Of course, there is the matter of the gun she points at Daniel during his rescue. And even as Daniel doubts that Vivi is any kind of psychic, after a night spent dodging bullets he rethinks his position on Vivi's gift/curse, depending on who you ask. A former FBI agent and current U.S. Attorney with higher political aspirations, Daniel needs to find out who is after him and fast. Unfortunately, Vivi intends to stick by his side and help. The two find themselves in some close call situations, but it's a laugh minute as they search out the killer.

ACE IS WILD is McCall's third hero-named novel (TAG, YOU'RE IT and ALL JACKED UP). The novels are all connected, with characters from previous ones appearing in the subsequent releases. Even still, ACE IS WILD can be a standalone read that delivers on all accounts: smart and sexy hero/heroine, lots of action, and witty dialogue that keeps the story moving at a fast pace from start to finish.

Vivi was a great heroine to read in that she was going to be the one to save Daniel, not the other way around. She doesn't see her psychic ability as a gift because it has landed her in some tight spots, involved with people that were better left alone. And yet, she accepts it and tries to use it to do the right thing, especially where Daniel is involved. She's smart and thinks fast of her feet, and I absolutely loved that aspect of her personality as it differs so much from my own.

Daniel is a rather staid and reserved hero who seems almost bored with his current occupation as a U.S. Attorney. A knee injury ended his career with the FBI but it is obviously that he would rather be catching the bad guys than making sure they stay behind bars. Yet he, too, accepts his new role, though with this new twist of hired guns after him, he likes getting back into the action of things. And having beautiful and alluring Vivi by his side only makes it that much better.

Though they are opposites, Vivi and Daniel make a good couple as neither is willing to back down from the other. The best part of this novel is the dialogue between the two, which is non-stop sarcasm followed with heated looks. The pages of this novel do sizzle so be ready for a hot read.

Penny McCall does a wonderful job of giving her readers a sexy romance with action-filled suspense that will keep them turning the pages until the very end. ACE IS WILD is definitely a keeper and I can't wait for more from this fabulous rising star of romantic suspense!

Maame Kanbi