Pure Dynamite

by Lauren Bach

Masquerading as a prisoner, FBI Special Agent Adam Duval is forced to kidnap and secretly protect the beautiful Dr. Renata Curtis when his cellmate, and subject of his domestic terrorist investigation, is badly injured during their prison break. Original.

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Contemporary

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 2004

About the author

Kathy Holzapfel (pronounced hole-zaf-el) has been writing fiction since childhood. Her first romantic suspense novel, LONE RIDER, was published by Warner Books, now Hachette, in 2001, under the pseudonym Lauren Bach. She published three more Bach novels with Warner and Kensington Books.

In 2009, Kathy kicked off a new series of romantic thrillers written under the pseudonym, Cate Noble. Book one of the trilogy, DEAD RIGHT, was nominated for a Romantic Times Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice Awards. Publisher’s Weekly called DEAD RIGHT “impressive.” Her most recent release, DEADLY GAMES, wraps up the saga of three missing CIA agents.

A certified Life Strategies Coach and former accountant, Kathy is passionate about the craft of writing and personal achievement. She smiles a lot and is a member of International Thriller Writers, Crossroads Writers Conference, and Apex Writers. Kathy writes full time and resides in Alabama.

Reviews

[Alex (HEABookNerd) · Rating 5 out of 5]

PURE DYNAMITE was an excellent suspense romance that kept the tension high and the emotions right at the surface. Books where one character kidnaps the other are always a risk for me in terms of a believable love story but Lauren Bach does an amazing job of creating the relationship between Renata and Adam. The chemistry builds slowly between them, but I loved the believable pace and I never felt like Renata's feelings were only a result of the circumstances. Instead, I could clearly see how Renata began to fall for Adam even when she thought he was a convict.

Adam was an excellent hero who is strong and protective with just enough of an edge. He doesn't want to kidnap Renata and he certainly doesn't want to hurt her but he has to maintain his dangerous reputation in front of Lyle. The struggle that Adam goes through was written so well and I loved the contrast between the dangerous convict Adam has to play and the gentleman he actually is. Renata is also a great character and even though she's stuck in an impossible situation she never gives up. Renata's strength is clear from the beginning and I loved her fire and intelligence.

There's a lot of story packed into PURE DYNAMITE and I didn't want to stop reading because I was so invested in the story! It's definitely one of my top favorites.

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Favorite Quotes:

Kissing her had been a huge mistake. When he thought it would quench his desire, it had fanned it. Had threatened to erode what precious little control remained.

[Haylee Black]

Dnf

[Dipa M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could not understand some things- the characters behaved strangely given the circumstances. And the end was super cheesy as well.

Anyway, great chemistry between the two. So 3-stars.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay, enjoyable read. Some of my issues I had were with the pacing that tended to slow way down at some points. Almost making it impossible to continue, because at those points I was dying of boredom. For 2/3's of the book the pacing tended to fluctuate enough where when it would pick up, I'd get my hopes up thinking things were going to finally, finally, get interesting. It doesn't though, unfortunately. At least not until the final third. Then things really pick up and start getting good. It almost had me questioning if I was reading the same book!

Another issue I had was with the characters. I hated Renata and all the little TSTL moments she had. And she had some doozies, such as trying to stab an armed man with a scalpel with another armed man around the corner, or jumping out of a 2-story window or the big one; climbing in and buckling her seat belt in a car that has a gas leak and a fire after the accident. Really? Really?! I also didn't care for Adam, who's name happens to change at the end of the book (really hate when that happens). I just couldn't really buy into his reasoning behind keeping Renata in the dark about who/what he really is. As for the romance between the two, I didn't believe it. There wasn't much tension there for me. It came off as just a case of Stockholm Syndrome and nothing more.

The saving graces were the suspense plot and dialog. Both were done very well. The suspense was great at the end and had the pacing off the charts it was so fast, if only it had been like that the whole book! But that is what made this book enjoyable for me. The plot worked very well. Overall, while the book was okay, I'm happy that I'm done with it.

[Trigger Warning Database]

Trigger & Content Warnings

Child abuse mentioned

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this story because I wanted to read a RS and I had never heard of Lauren Bach until now. Plus, this was rated the highest of all her books. My three stars are based on the suspense.

The Good

The suspense was fairly decent. Adam, his captive doctor, Renata, and Lyle were on the run. Outside forces indicated Adam was being set up. When the author followed that line of thinking, the pacing was good.

The Bad

For Adam, it was insta-lust. Whenever Adam and Renata were in the shower. I found what happened hard to believe.

The Ugly Lyle: he was irritating to no end but I know he was written that way for a reason. I just didn't like his character. Also, one minute he was shot with an infected wound and 103 fever and, in the next moment, all he thought of was a BJ. So much so, he had one of his ladies bring a box of condoms to one of their mysterious meeting spots.

And the epilogue? I saw no purpose to it.

[Pamela(AllHoney) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adam Duval is an undercover FBI agent sent to prison to gain the trust of Lyle McEdwin. They break out of prison and on the run and Lyle is injured. Adam does what he must - kidnap Dr. Renata Curtis.

Overall, a good read. Action packed and suspenseful, along with a good balance of romance.

[Nikel27 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read