TEST
If you like fast-moving stories that combine James Bond-like intrigue with romance, have I got a treat for you! Hot as Ice, the latest in retired Air Force officer Merline Lovelace’s Code Name: Danger series, is a fun story that I devoured in one sitting, and requires only a bit of suspension of disbelief. 
Major Charles Stone is the Iceman – a U-2 pilot who had disappeared in 1956 and is found 46 years later in the Arctic ice, perfectly preserved. So well preserved, in fact, that scientists are able to revive him. Diana Remington is a biologist assigned to work with the Iceman, and to monitor him for the super top-secret agency for which she is an operative. She is also supposed to find out what happened on the day of his flight.
Once I got over the idea of thawing out a guy who has been frozen for nearly 50 years, I really enjoyed the story. My favorite parts all revolved around Charlie’s adjustment to the modern world. He’s freaked out by much of the modern technology, but like a real flyboy, salivates to get at the new aircraft. He also thinks that 2002-model female underwear is a vast improvement over 1956 vintage. But parts of his readjustment are genuinely touching as well, as he desperately searches once-familiar places like Edwards Air Force Base and Santa Monica pier for the few recognizable landmarks remaining. And his quest for his buddies from 1956 left an actual lump in my throat.
Diana is a bit sketchier as a character. She has a comfortable dating relationship with someone named Allen but Charlie lights fires inside her that she never dreamed existed. Although it’s clear that Allen isn’t a forever guy in her life, some readers might still be uncomfortable with the depth of her involvement with Charlie before she’s officially broken it off with Allen.
The spy/suspense plot more or less overwhelms the romance in Hot as Ice; I was far more interested in the resolution to the mystery of Charlie’s doomed flight and the modern-day skullduggery going on around it than in Charlie and Diana’s relationship. The sex is hot when it finally happens, but I wasn’t as sure as the characters that love had followed from it. Even that’s not enough to keep this from my keeper shelf. The story was so satisfying otherwise, I decided that if I could suspend my disbelief over a guy being revived after half a century on ice, I could also give the relationship the benefit of the doubt.
The best part about Hot as Ice is that it was only my first foray into the Code Name: Danger series. The first chapter introduces several characters who obviously have already had their stories told; long-time fans will welcome the glimpse of their happily-ever-afters in action. Yet as a new reader, the catch-up was fairly painless and I never felt too confused once I plunged into the main story. The last chapter nicely sets up the plot of another book as well, which was good news to me. I’m thoroughly hooked on Code Name: Danger now, and look forward to reading the rest of the series.
(Note: Dangerous to Hold, out this month, and Dangerous to Know, due in July, are 2-in-1 volumes from Silhouette which reprint earlier stories in the series.)
Grade: A-
Book Type: Series Romance
Sensuality: Hot
Review Date: 21/02/02
Publication Date: 2002/02
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Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.