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Jul 21, 2008

Isis FG rated it:

Weird book. Not really bad, but not exactly good. Just...weird.

Why? Because the whole book is so cold-blooded. I think the only character that had any heart or soul was Chloe. And I'm not exactly sure how rational she was considering she fell for Sebastien. Not that I really disliked Sebastien. He was rather interesting, but he seems more the type for some really great sex than for love and family. He's also one you probably wouldn't want to turn your back on because he's a c More...

8 comments like (13 people liked it)

Apr 11, 2009

Shawna rated it:

5 stars – Romantic Suspense

This book is hard to rate/review because it’s so different from the typical romantic suspense novel and much darker, which isn’t a bad thing at all, but makes it more challenging to describe. I had read a lot of the reviews describing Bastien as the ultimate gamma hero, and boy is he ever! I’m not sure what I was expecting, maybe a Jason Bourne type assassin, but Bastien makes Bourne look like the Easter bunny! He’s brutally cold, ruthless, calculating, man More...

6 comments like (19 people liked it)

Apr 01, 2008

Kathrynn rated it:

This book was unique to any other romantic suspense I've read because the main male character, Bastien, was a ruthless killer who worked for a spy organization that believed in killing--or allowing to be killed--a few innocent people for the good of the "whole." But, this organization was full of backstabbers (literally) and they didn't trust one another.

Chloe was a nice character who got herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. There is torture, a lot of killing, More...

4 comments like (7 people liked it)

Jul 17, 2008

Celeste rated it:

WOW! Loved Bastien in Black Ice! This book was non-stop action, I couldn't put it down, I started it at noon and finished it that same night around 8pm (that includes being at work and making dinner for my husband!). I now have to go get more Anne Stuart books!

6 comments like (5 people liked it)

Jan 19, 2011

Mshj rated it:

I have really enjoyed a couple of Anne Stuart's historical books so I thought I'd try a contemporary. I think that this is in the romantic suspense genre. I have read plenty of thrillers so that I would have thought that combining the two genres would work for me. Unfortunately this book really disappointed me.

I had a couple of problems- the thriller aspect felt like a pastiche- you know- someone who has seen too many Bond films rather than someone writing imaginatively but with a More...

1 comment like (4 people liked it)

Feb 11, 2012

Hannah rated it:

Black Ice is a tough book to review. Most of the time I was reading this book, I couldn't decide whether I loved or hated it. It started out a bit slow, and there were too many plot inconsistancies. I also had trouble getting attached to (or even tolerating) the characters at first. One thing that particularly threw me off balance was that, although this book is classified as a romance novel, it did not read like one. Since I read mostly romances, I was expecting to see more of the reassuri More...

1 comment like (3 people liked it)

Mar 13, 2008

Auntee rated it:

I'm so glad I finally read this one! Just excellent--I really enjoyed it! Bastien was such a bad boy hero (unlike any I've ever read). I was so glad that Chloe was able to melt that 'black ice' around his cold heart! This book was just non stop action--I can't wait to read the rest in the series! Thanks, Eastofoz, for the recommendation!

3 comments like (6 people liked it)

Jun 26, 2010

Erika rated it:

I am not even sure if I liked this book! It was compelling in a sinister, weird and dark sort of way, but the plot was just silly and unrealistic, and the "hero" was totally an anti-hero, which generally I don't have a problem with, but he was Cold, I mean really cold and detached. Sociopath. That is Sebastian/Bastien/Jean-Marc/Etienne. Chloe was cute in a pure and innocent way, although, seriously? She fell in love with the person who practically raped her, lied to her, punched he More...

2 comments like (4 people liked it)

Jul 06, 2008

ElaineY rated it:

I have never read this author before and I'm still trying to figure out how Black Ice got such rave reviews. Some unrealistic scenarios are to be expected in this genre but Black Ice is so implausible that it prevented me from enjoying any part of it.

Stuart makes Chloe Underwood sound more like a heroine from an early Mills & Boons novels. Think virgin schoolmarm on her first trip abroad and totally clueless about everything. Everything about her is inconsistent and I couldn't help b More...

0 comments like (12 people liked it)

Oct 28, 2010

TJ rated it:

Yep, I'd say Ms. Stuart can write contemporaries, and can she ever write romantic/suspense! This is one of the best RS books I have read in a LONG time! It reminded me of the James Bond film "Casino Royale". The Hero is the same type, he does his job, using whatever means is necessary, killing whoever gets in his way, he has no real value on his own life - only as much as it pertains to finishing his task. Then a completely innocent young woman inadvertently gets caught in the middle. More...

18 comments like (4 people liked it)

Dec 17, 2009

Amy rated it:

Best 25 cents I ever spent at the library in the used books bin!
My first Anne Stuart - really fun, I practically devoured it in one sitting.
I kind of imagine Bastien as Clive Owen... that that is wonderful.

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Oct 20, 2011

Thea rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 08, 2011

Vi rated it:

This is my first book from this author after hearing about her regencies and her non-traditional heroes. Bastien is supposed to be working undercover for a top-secret organization for maintaining world-peace at any cost. Chloe works as a translator for children's books in Paris. She takes a weekend job as a translator for a discussion. She stumbles into a discussion way over her head and the rest of the book is on her survival from the rest of the gang with the help of Bastien. Stuart wries exce More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Sep 29, 2010

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" rated it:

There is something to be said for rereads. I read this one more slowly this time, savoring the language and the scenes. I love dessert. It's my favorite meal. And I always eat my dessert very slowly. Sadly, I read this so fast the first time, since Ms. Stuart hadn't put out a book a while before this one, too fast to truly take in and appreciate all the nuances. This time, I tried to treat Black Ice as if it was a dessert to be savored. And indeed, it was like the most seductive, decadent kin More...

35 comments like (31 people liked it)

Jan 23, 2011

✿Michelle✿ rated it:

I finished reading this one, and I loved it! I'd even like to see Black Ice turned into a movie. At first I was thinking that Bastien was a real butthole, and that there wasn't ANYTHING he could do to redeem himself. But then things kept happening, and then we get a glimpse into his background, so it was easier to accept him, and appreciate him for being the flawed hero he was as the story progressed. There were some major twists just when I thought I knew what was happening. I was pleasantly More...

5 comments like (6 people liked it)

Mar 15, 2011

Eggletina rated it:

I really shouldn't like this book. It's full of gaping plot holes, is really rather preposterous if you want to think about it logically, and some of the dialogue is rather silly in that way of cheesy action/adventure thrillers. However, I was able to suspend belief and just have fun with it ... kinda like watching a Die Hard film in that way. Bastien reminded me a bit of Richard Gere in American Gigolo and many others have commented about him being like James Bond on crack. Part of the fun is w More...

0 comments like

Oct 03, 2011

Shelley rated it:

Let me just start by saying that romantic suspense isn't really my thing, and while I find it interesting that Anne Stuart writes heroes so bad they're almost villains, I have a hard time seeing them as romantic hero material.

That said, I gave this a try for a library school class on genre fiction, and I flew through it in about three hours during which I didn't want to do anything but keep reading-- even though I thought Chloe was too stupid to live and Sebastian was borderline soci More...

0 comments like

Sep 21, 2011

Kathy rated it:

First in the Ice suspense series.

The Story
Chloe so adores living in Paris. It's so worth the crappy job translating children's stories into French. Even if she has to share a tiny apartment with the irresponsible, oh-so-chic Sylvia. Then Sylvia convinces her to take a translating job over the weekend at a chateau in the country.

Unfortunately for Chloe, the reason the consortium wants Sylvia as a translator is because she is too self-absorbed to see what's going on under More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Sep 02, 2011

Sam rated it:

I've had these books on my shelf forever as I had picked them all up at a used book store as a set. I'm glad I finally got around to reading it. It was fast paced, interesting characters and it was hard to put down.

Chloe Underwood is living in Paris translating children books and bored wishing for more sex and violence in her world. The cosmos were listening. . . .

She is asked by her flamboyant roommate to cover her for the weekend for a translation job at French Chate More...

0 comments like

Jun 13, 2011

Persiphone rated it:

This was my second Anne Stuart book. And as the first (historical romance) i found this too... sadly lacking. The plot could have been good, but then i caught so many loop holes in it ! Also it seemed, in her books Stuart tends to try too hard to make her heroes ultra - ultra - Alpha. So much so that they lose any trace of humanity at all. Not saying that i don't like HEROES OF THIS KIND, I DO ! They make for a very very interesting read. But i want to see in them a vulnerability that may be hid More...

0 comments like

Jan 08, 2011

Kristi rated it:

Chloe Underwood is an American book translator who lives in Paris, and learns that you really need to be careful what you ask for. You just might get it. She's wishing she could have some passion and a little violence in her life, and that's exactly what she gets.

She steps in for a freelance job for her roommate, and stumbles upon a really unsavory group of characters. Enter Bastien Toussaint. He's an undercover agent of some sort. Whether he's good or bad seems to be dependent on w More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Nov 08, 2010

Maldivianbookreviewer rated it:

Woohoo! Sign me up for the next Gamma Hero! Seriously Bastien just kicked ass with all my emotions and definitely invaded my heart with his ruthless determination that his woman would stay alive no matter what!
I can't help but listen to Truly, Madly, Deeply by Savage Garden and sigh over Bastien.
Someone who can make my legs go weak with what he has to say is definitely worth my time.
A quote from the book which I just found to be wonderful is included below.
“If this were a di More...

0 comments like

Aug 07, 2010

An Abundance of Books rated it:

I originally saw this book on somebody's blog (unfortunately I couldn't find it again) and it sounded good. But now that I've finished, I just kind of giggle every time I look at the book. In fact, I'm having a hard time writing a review because I keep laughing.
So, Chloe is an underpaid translator working in Paris (cool job), when her well heeled roommate, Sylvia, talks her into taking a weekend translating job. The job pays very well, should be easy, it's in the country and sure to be bor More...

0 comments like (5 people liked it)

Mar 09, 2010

Catherine rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

0 comments like (6 people liked it)

Jul 26, 2011

Daffodil rated it:

This book has all the elements of some of my favorite action/thriller movies:

World-weary cynic ready to be "retired" after years of living under various identities. Check.
Naively innocent American stumbles in with no understanding of the situation. Check.
Little difference between the bad guys and good guys running things. Check.
Plot just a little out there, edging of unbelievable. Check.
Cynic saves naif against better judgement and quickly comes to v More...

0 comments like

Mar 17, 2011

Laddie rated it:

This was my first Anne Stuart book. I started the book wanting to love it because I like when the assassin finds True Love. It gets capitalized because when someone who's a cold-blooded killer opens their heart, it's a big deal.

Bastien Toussaint is beyond an assassin. He's the kind of guy who will stab you in the ear with an ice pick while having sex with you and then get himself off while still in the same room with your dead body. By the way, he stabbed you in the ear so that he wo More...

0 comments like

Jan 22, 2011

Jennifer rated it:

This is the first "romantic suspense" novel I have ever read. It was also a very different thing for me from Anne Stuart's period romances which I have enjoyed alot. I did enjoy this book but it left me a little unsatisfied as well. I think I have different standards for suspense novels than I do for romances and I am not really sure how those genres fit together. To me, a good suspense novel can have a little romance in it, and a good romance novel should always have some suspense, bu More...

0 comments like

Mar 03, 2010

KarenH rated it:

I was a little out of my element with this book. I like contemporaries to be straight-up romance - no espionage, organized crime, or terrorists. Or so I thought. Bastien, the French hero in Black Ice, is a smuggler, a spy, a trained killer, a practiced playboy and a master of character disguise. A man of few words, he is ruthless, cold, calculating and indifferent. He is a man with a death wish...an oxymoron complementing his impressive resume as it is the reason he is still alive. To feel...to More...

15 comments like (9 people liked it)

Feb 20, 2010

Rachel rated it:

Love love loved this book! It was like The Bourne Identity meets Mission Impossible but with more romance. The hardened enigmatic hero was dark and mysterious but showed just enough vulnerability and depth to where you could buy the lead heroine falling for him in the end. Tons of action and UST throughout the entire book. Once I finished this one I couldn't wait to run out and buy the rest in the series! Is definitely on my list of rereads as well.

1 comment like (3 people liked it)

Jan 14, 2011

Jana (That Artsy Reader Girl) rated it:

I liked it... I just would have appreciated a little less use of the f-word. The author threw these out like beads at Mardi Gras and I felt like they were uncharacteristically placed sometimes. It was like she was throwing them in, hoping she'd appeal to a specific audience over another... Like movie companies out there who throw a scene in because they WANT an R-rating. It was a good story, but the vulgar language bugged me a lot.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)