Review: Caressed By Ice (Psy-Changeling #3) by Nalini Singh

September 4th 2007 by Berkley Sensation

Nalini Singh explores new heights of sensuality, returning to the world of the Psy - where two people who know evil intimately must unlock the good within their icy hearts...

As an Arrow, an elite soldier in the Psy Council ranks, Judd Lauren was forced to do terrible things in the name of his people. Now he is a defector, and his dark abilities have made him the most deadly of assassins - cold, pitiless, unfeeling. Until he meets Brenna...

Brenna Shane Kincaid was an innocent before she was abducted - and had her mind violated - by a serial killer. Her sense of evil runs so deep, she fears she could become a killer herself. Then the first dead body is found, victim of a familiar madness. Judd is her only hope, yet her sensual changeling side rebels against the inhuman chill of his personality, even as desire explodes between them. Shocking and raw, their passion is a danger that threatens not only their hearts, but their very lives...

Chas's Review:
Rating: 4/5 stars

Nalini's world is unique and I can see why her fan base is overwhelming.

Caressed by Iced is titled perfectly.  Judd is all ice.  His personality and demeanor is a result from the project called Silence.  Silence is something I am not even going to attempt to explain but I will say that Judd possesses a lethal mind that can kill with a thought.  Therefore, Silence has been a way to keep his power leashed.
Judd and his family are thought of as long dead by the Psys who would otherwise hunt and terminate them all because of the abilities they all possess.  They have found refuge in a Shifter pack, the SnowDancers.  Judd, unexpectedly finds something else in the SnowDancer compound-- Brenna.

What I really enjoyed about the romance in Caressed is the opposite natures of Judd and Brenna.  Brenna craves and needs touch while Judd is trained to have little physical contact unless you are an assignment to be eliminated.  Reading how the author breaks down Judd's character to make him more man and less machine is riveting. 

Another enjoyable aspect is the plot and setting.  The setting is all too familiar but the twist that Nalini writes into the world gives it that 'extra something' needed in a good read.  The plot allows for a wrong verses right and a mixing of boundaries..... it's a wonderful set up to cheer for the underdog.

All in all, fantastic read and definitely worth a read.  The review after this one, I skipped to book ten so I could read Hawke and Sienna.  I will post it in the coming day so check back for that.  I noticed that I skipped book two but that was pure accidental.  I was too eager to move on in the series. Feel free to link your review of this title in the comments.


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Links to related reviews:
Slave to Sensation (Psy-Changeling #1)
Kiss of Snow (Psy-Changeling, #10)
Angels' Blood (Guild Hunter, #1)

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