It's All About the Women! Silhouette Bombshell: A Review of the Line
AUTHOR: Jody Wallace

From the female James Bond in CODE NAME: DOVE to the lone wolf retribution specialist in KISS OF THE BLUE DRAGON, the heroines in Silhouette Bombshell cover a lot of ground. Although most of the protagonists belong to various organizations, eventually there will be Bombshell novels about all types of women. The connection? These aren?t women in jeopardy. They save other people from jeopardy.

I?ve just finished the first eight Bombshell novels (July & August 04) and thought I?d do a report of the line as a whole instead of individual reviews--it?s faster and it gives me more opportunity to make sweeping generalizations *grin*. I?ve gotten a couple books for my keeper shelf--which is a joke, because I have more of a keeper attic at this point; a couple more books good or different enough to recommend to my mother, the world?s pickiest reader; and a couple books I could take or leave. I found nothing I?d describe as a ?tosser? (my mother?s term for about 3/4 of everything she reads).

Naturally, I read the books with paranormal elements first and found them to be well-done overall, maybe better than the ?vanilla? books. But that might just be my preferences kicking in. I like the touch of paranormal in this line because these are beyond-real books, even when they have pragmatic characters, and the paranormal added to that larger-than-life feel. The paranormal elements are on the lighter side and do not overwhelm the stories.

Other similarities in the line: the plots and characters, even in the futuristic, are grounded in 2004-ish mentality. The heroines should feel familiar and contemporary to readers without coming across like chick lit protagonists or anything close to ditzy. (Though the heroine in GET BLONDIE does goof a few times.) Even when said heroine is a top-secret spy who jets around the world, she has humanizing factors that allow readers to appreciate her differences--and her similarities. Angel Baker from KISS OF THE BLUE DRAGON probably has the smartest mouth of the first eight Bombshell ladies, but even she has a serious undercurrent. Though action is predominant, these aren?t particularly fluffy books. A few I?d even call dark.

Some of the books have more traditional romance interaction between the hero and heroine (GET BLONDIE, DAUGHTER OF DESTINY), but the majority strike out in an entirely new direction: the female action-adventure, with nods toward romantic relationships but plots that revolve around saving the world, or some segment of it. As I?ve watched other reviews and responses, I?ve seen a few readers surprised by this because they prefer the romance to be paramount. They prefer more scenes with the hero and heroine together, more relationship building, and so on. You may not know whether you?ll be partial to the reduced emphasis on romance until you try it. Which I highly recommend you do! I enjoyed these books and feel they?re an inventive addition to the women?s fiction genre.

One thing I noted is that a high proportion are the beginning of a series that either revolves around the heroine or the central plot/mystery -- like KISS OF THE BLUE DRAGON, which is the first Angel Baker book, or PROOF and ALIAS, which are the first two Athena Force novels. Not surprising: when you create characters with personalities this spiky, this colorful, readers (and editors) tend to want more. As I commented earlier, a large number of these books feature women specifically trained for combat or espionage instead of everyday Janes. Please note that in our recent interview with Silhouette Bombshell editor Julie Barrett, she said she?d be interested to see more manuscripts featuring ordinary women shoved into extraordinary circumstances as they discover the Bombshell within. So I expect to see more books about Jane Doe in the future--instead of Jane Bond.

The thing about the Bombshell novels, my friends, is they are selling out. As category novels, reprints aren?t as likely as with single title books. They go on sale in brick and mortar stores for a month, so if you want the books, you?ll need to be a bit aggressive about buying them. Since I believe readers who typically favor single title fiction would enjoy this line, books that sell out in a couple weeks may be a new experience. Think of them as limited editions. You can also order them online at the eHarlequin website, other online bookstores, and through the monthly Bombshell subscription service, where you?ll get all four each month.

In Silhouette Bombshell, it?s all about the women. And what women they are!

I have defined the books in the following ways: Who?s the heroine (her name, her basic job); what?s she like (her past, her personality and her defining characteristics that influence the way she acts throughout the book); who?s her honey (for the romance readers or just readers who like some eye candy); whose butts get kicked (villains, bystanders, sparring partners, deserving inanimate objects); where the heroine travels (how much of the globe gets trotted in the heroine?s quest to kick butts); my favorite things about the book (the kudos, the things that make the book stand out); and other comments (things I found problematic or other readers might find problematic, plus general comments like how much romance was in the book, etc.)

I hope you find the following mini-reviews useful in choosing which Bombshells to try, but you?d better hurry! Like I said, some of them have already sold out, and you?re going to have to beg, borrow and steal to get them--okay, not steal, or Angel Baker will come after you.

AKA GODDESS by Evelyn Vaughn

Heroine?s Job: Magdalene Sanger is a professor of comparative mythology. Heroine?s DC (Defining Characteristics): a member of a world-spanning secret society of women involved in protecting the goddess grails; a mature individual with an emotionally healthy upbringing (the upbringing makes her sorta unique in the Bombshell line); brave in the face of overwhelming odds; good at inventive escapes; first person voice is very down-to-earth Who?s the Honey: Alex Stuart, aka Lex Luthor, a long-time friend and oft-time lover whom she grew up with and almost married. Because he?s sneaky and thinks he knows more than she does, he?s hard to trust--and hard to resist. Butts Kicked: tons of rotten men who want to steal the grail plus the hero (at least metaphorically)
Locations Visited: England, France, United States--and all museums in between
Kudos: Probably my favorite of the Bombshells so far. Plotted smoothly and very well paced, plus the female-empowering alternate mythology embodies the Bombshell line. There is an underwater scene I don?t think I?ll ever forget. All in all, the book was...cleansing.
Comments: This reader was not quite clear exactly what the goddess cups actually *did*, and it seemed to be vital to the story. Use of backstory flashbacks may disrupt the flow for some readers. This seems to be the first in a series.

ALIAS by Amy J. Fetzer

Heroine?s Job: Darcy Allen Steele, Hairdresser, sorta PI and Athena graduate Heroine?s DC: abused by psycho Hollywood husband who tried to kill her when she was preggo, has a toddler, in hiding from hubby, has alcoholic mom, went to school for acting, very good at disguises, helps abused women escape from their husbands Who?s the Honey: Jack Turner, bounty hunter and sometimes PI partner; Kel Adams, photographer Butts Kicked: a wifebeater or two including her husband, some of her husband?s employees, a pimp, but not the dogs! Locations Visited: all over the Southwestern US, from Texas to California
Kudos: A second absorbing entry in the Athena force series, this one is a more fast-paced and cinematic than the first. A solid read. I have already bought EXPOSED, the next book.
Comments: Since I did read the first one first, I don?t know how this would stand alone in the Athena continuity. The heroine?s reasons for going into hiding without legal counsel weren?t entirely convincing to me.

CODE NAME: DOVE by Judith Leon

Heroine?s Job: Nova Blair is a top CIA agent and a world-class photographer. Heroine?s DC: sexually abused as a girl; hard-edged; only takes certain missions; strikingly beautiful; very physically fit and polished; loves earrings Who?s the Honey: Two possibles: the man she?s assigned to spy on and her cocky new partner Butts Kicked: some terrorists, various occupants of the villain?s stronghold including the primary villain, a mad scientist or two Locations Visited: California, Alaska, Germany, England, Virginia
Kudos: Heroine is a dedicated servicewoman and does not shy from doing difficult things that need to be done. The partner-hero grows on you. The hero and heroine didn?t get out of their adventures flawlessly, like in some spy flicks. ID of villain kept me guessing.
Comments: Heroine reads like a female James Bond more than the other books, including her willingness to have sex for her country. Some readers have not enjoyed this aspect of the book. The villain?s plot is a tad far-fetched and there are some science-paranormal elements. This seems to be the first in a series.

DAUGHTER OF DESTINY by Lindsay McKenna

Heroine?s Job: Kai Alseoun is a former Navy pilot.
Heroine?s DC: Native American who deserted her heritage; her mother was a medicine person and wanted to train her while her father was an abusive drunk; was in foster care from early adolescence on; was falsely BCD?d due to an incident involving a superior officer groping her Who?s the Honey: Jake Stands Alone Carter, her best friend from the res who also joined the military but stuck with his spiritual heritage Butts Kicked: her former superior officer, two helicopters Locations Visited: North Carolina, Australia, Montana
Kudos: explores Native American and other Indian heritage and spirituality, involves several geographical locations in Australia that are unique and interesting, and great secondary camels!
Comments: Author headhops and infodumps. An entire secret agency is formed to fund the heroine?s mission in a way that?s convenient instead of convincing. The romantic relationship reads more like trad romance than other Bombshells, for readers who prefer that (though it?s sweet, not sexy). This is the first in a series, Sisters of the Ark.

GET BLONDIE by Carla Cassidy

Heroine?s Job: Cassandra Newton is a cop who used to work for SPACE (super-secret agency). Heroine?s DC: one of the best cops on the force as well as in SPACE; deserted by her mother and left to fend for herself on the streets; sexually threatened by a stepfather; trained by a kindly former stuntman to be a stunt person during her teen years; went to a Police Academy; scared of bugs Who?s the Honey: Kane McNabb, her ex-lover in the Agency whom she left in the hospital when he was wounded on their last case together; she feels that their love was what got him hurt Butts Kicked: a street punk, the villain?s bodyguard, another guard, the villain Locations Visited: Kansas City
Kudos: For readers who prefer romance-based adventure to action-adventure, this book reads more like a romance. Many readers have commented that the villain is thoroughly creepy. It was different from the other books in that it had an ending that didn?t seem to be series-bait; not every book can be a series.
Comments: Some Bombshells are chosen for their assignments because they appeal sexually to the male villain. This may or may not detract from the empowerment for some readers. In this book the heroine was more squeamish about that aspect than in CODE NAME: DOVE. The snippets of interior monologue relating to the heroine/hero?s feelings for each other become repetitious.

KISS OF THE BLUE DRAGON by Julie Beard

Heroine?s Job: Angel Baker is a Certified Retribution Specialist. Heroine?s DC: Loves 1950?s kitsch and sex-bots who look like Bogie; has a loony, free-spirit of a mom so she tries to be super-practical; denies her psychic powers; was abused in foster care as a child
Who?s the Honey: Detective Riccuccio Marco, assigned to reopen a case she was involved in and work with her to find her mother Butts Kicked: below-ground Shadowmen, Cyclops, few cops, evil Mafiya members, other gang members, a jerk who abused his wife Locations Visited: Above ground 2100 Chicago, below-ground 2100 Chicago
Kudos: Decent futuristic setting, female in an interesting and non-traditional job, strong secondary characters, exciting plot
Comments: As noted in a previous review, the book could have had a more ?futuristic? feel. This seems to be the first in a series.

PROOF by Justine Davis

Heroine?s Job: Alexandra Forsythe is a forensic scientist for the FBI--Scully!--and graduate of Athena Academy
Heroine?s DC: meticulous, serious, comes from old money with a stuffy mom and great grandpa, has a dull fianc?, mature, loves horses Who?s the Honey: Justin Cohen, FBI (Mulder!) Butts Kicked: Justin Cohen, FBI
Locations Visited: Arizona, DC
Kudos: well-written, thorough, intricate plotting, lots of characters to root for, story has depth and does not pull its punches
Comments: Text somewhat bogged down by the requirements of being the first in the Athena Force series--lots of teasers for later stuff, things that seem like they?ll matter in this book but don?t. Rift between heroine and former friend is weak.

URBAN LEGEND by Erica Orloff

Heroine?s Job: Tessa Van Doren, nightclub owner
Heroine?s DC: vampire who only kills rotten humans; tries to avoid loving humans since they don?t live as long as she does, though she has many human friends; has to fight against a natural vampiric urge to be chaotic but her personality is very human, almost nurturing, unless you?re evil, and then she eats you. Who?s the Honey: Detective Tony Flynn, assigned to investigate the murders of drug dealers that seem connected to her club Butts Kicked: drug dealers, evil vampires including the honcho vamp Marco (Tessa?s ex-lover), countless zombies Locations Visited: New York City nightclub scene, a couple graveyards and warehouses
Kudos: paranormal elements integrated well without overwhelming the story; hero seems like a realistic guy; backstory with villain makes the villain?s motivation believable
Comments: The fight scenes felt a little rote and the heroine definitely favored the ?roundhouse kick?. The author?s version of vampires contained little that was new.