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Viral Agents #1
Agent Zero
An agent risks everything for a love he shouldn't feel in New York Times bestselling author Lilith Saintcrow's thrilling new romance!
After barely surviving an IED, former US Army soldier Reese was whisked away by a shadowy agency and genetically enhanced. Now a "Super Agent"--smarter, faster, stronger, deadly--Reese executes his missions with precision. But when he's inexplicably drawn to a down-on-her-luck waitress, Reese learns he's not the emotionless man he once thought.
One minute, Holly Candless is getting fifty-buck tips from her favorite hunky customer. The next, she's kidnapped, injected with something and rescued by Reese. Suddenly, they're on the run from the very government agency that wants Reese reprogrammed--and Holly dead. Keeping Holly alive is not only Reese's primary mission-it's his sole chance at love...and survival.
After barely surviving an IED, former US Army soldier Reese was whisked away by a shadowy agency and genetically enhanced. Now a "Super Agent"--smarter, faster, stronger, deadly--Reese executes his missions with precision. But when he's inexplicably drawn to a down-on-her-luck waitress, Reese learns he's not the emotionless man he once thought.
One minute, Holly Candless is getting fifty-buck tips from her favorite hunky customer. The next, she's kidnapped, injected with something and rescued by Reese. Suddenly, they're on the run from the very government agency that wants Reese reprogrammed--and Holly dead. Keeping Holly alive is not only Reese's primary mission-it's his sole chance at love...and survival.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 2015
14 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
About the author
Lilith Saintcrow
140 books4,510 followersLilith Saintcrow was born in New Mexico, bounced around the world as a child, and fell in love with writing stories when she was ten years old. She and her library co-habitate in Vancouver, Washington.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 3, 2015
Good SF, I don't know about the Romance
An interesting SF read with some cool tropes on display. The Romance side is a little odd. Very stalker-like with impulse control issues. The story flows well and the writing is good. I just don't think this is very romantic.
I do look forward to the next in the series, though. A deeper examination of the virus and its impact would interest me.
An interesting SF read with some cool tropes on display. The Romance side is a little odd. Very stalker-like with impulse control issues. The story flows well and the writing is good. I just don't think this is very romantic.
I do look forward to the next in the series, though. A deeper examination of the virus and its impact would interest me.
August 12, 2015
The premise of this book is very interesting- a virus given to humans and then bonds with their DNA to alter it. It's very much like spiderman being bitten by a radioactive spider. However, it's a big confusing at times to put together what's going on within the story because of the style of writing and I got a bit annoyed with the heroine of this story. It really irritated me that she just accepted what life gave her and never thought to fight. Instead she just gave up.
September 29, 2015
Awesome read. The hero was so in love with her, she was the only woman he wanted. It was cute to watch him drink coffee at the restaurant where she's a waitress and try to work up the courage to talk to her.
I really liked the slow build of the romance and how they both fell in love with each other.
It looks like the hero's friend will be getting a book next.
I really liked the slow build of the romance and how they both fell in love with each other.
It looks like the hero's friend will be getting a book next.
July 3, 2017
Read: December 2015
Once I picked this book up, I couldnt put it down. Reese is a super engineered spy/soldier who finds himself falling for Holly who works as a waitress in a diner. Holly has some secrets of own and is scared to get close to anyone new.
As usual with Lilith Saintcrow, there was so much more going on here than just the romance. The science fiction element with the nanotechnology is a strong element to the story and the super-soldier program that Reese belongs to is fascinating, as are the other characters we meet behind the scenes in the program, such as Trinity and Cal. Saintcrow does a nice job of setting up for book two while still finishing Reese and Holly's story in a satisfying way.
I'm now very much looking forward to reading Agent Gemini.
Rating: 5/5 stars, best of 2015
Once I picked this book up, I couldnt put it down. Reese is a super engineered spy/soldier who finds himself falling for Holly who works as a waitress in a diner. Holly has some secrets of own and is scared to get close to anyone new.
As usual with Lilith Saintcrow, there was so much more going on here than just the romance. The science fiction element with the nanotechnology is a strong element to the story and the super-soldier program that Reese belongs to is fascinating, as are the other characters we meet behind the scenes in the program, such as Trinity and Cal. Saintcrow does a nice job of setting up for book two while still finishing Reese and Holly's story in a satisfying way.
I'm now very much looking forward to reading Agent Gemini.
Rating: 5/5 stars, best of 2015
April 1, 2022
3.5 stars
February 24, 2026
Quick read, pretty decent.
December 14, 2016
Good story, with a bit of a science fiction feel to it, almost a combination of Spiderman and the Six Million Dollar Man. Reese is a soldier/spy who has been genetically enhanced by the introduction of a virus into his system. His senses, intelligence, and strength are all incredible. He and several others like him are all part of a secret government agency. In this book, Reese has become fascinated by a waitress at a local diner that he visits between assignments. Something about Holly soothes him after particularly rough missions. He doesn't really talk to her, just watches her and leaves.
Holly is alone in the world after her father's death and her divorce from her husband. She hasn't had an easy life. Her military father died of cancer, likely caused by his time in the military. She watched him fight both the disease and the system that should have helped him. After helping put her husband through medical school, he asks for a divorce just as she finds out that there may be something wrong with her too.
Holly is a little freaked out by Reese and the way he watches her, but he's never actually done anything wrong. She gets the feeling that maybe he's just a bit shy. One day he finally asks her to have coffee with him somewhere other than the diner. Though wary, she says yes. Their plans are interrupted when a normal check-in/check-up turns into an attempt to kill him. Worried about Holly's safety after another attempt on him, he discovers that she's been taken, drugged and questioned, and is about to be killed to cover it all up. He rescues her and they go on the run.
I liked the development of their relationship. Reese is super protective and will do whatever he must to keep Holly safe. His supersensitive nose detects a scent about her that he just can't resist, like it is calling just to him. His feelings for her grow stronger, but he worries that the things he has done will make it impossible for her to return those feelings. Ever since Holly found out that she is sick, she has kept people at a distance. She doesn't want any of them going through what she did with her father. She quickly discovers that Reese won't be pushed away, and realizes that she likes the feeling of being cared for by him. A surprise event changes her prognosis, and makes it possible to think about a future, if they can get away from those who are after them. I loved the ending, as Reese is still endearingly awkward about expressing his feelings.
The suspense of the story is really interesting and intense. The agents are supposed to do their jobs without any "emotional noise", ie. conscience, feelings of love, sorrow, guilt, etc. Anyone who develops these tendencies gets reprogrammed or "liquidated". When a doctor who knew only a small part of what was happening learns the truth, he goes off the deep end and decides to eliminate the carriers of the virus. Of course, those in charge can't have that, but their attempts to fix the problem only make things worse. One of the other agents is sent to track down Reese and Holly, but he's actually on their side and has his own agenda. There is also a female agent whose point of view we also get, who really illustrates the effects and pitfalls of the program. She turns out to be much more important than suspected at the beginning. The pursuit of Reese and Holly is intense, and the final confrontation still leaves some questions unanswered.
Holly is alone in the world after her father's death and her divorce from her husband. She hasn't had an easy life. Her military father died of cancer, likely caused by his time in the military. She watched him fight both the disease and the system that should have helped him. After helping put her husband through medical school, he asks for a divorce just as she finds out that there may be something wrong with her too.
Holly is a little freaked out by Reese and the way he watches her, but he's never actually done anything wrong. She gets the feeling that maybe he's just a bit shy. One day he finally asks her to have coffee with him somewhere other than the diner. Though wary, she says yes. Their plans are interrupted when a normal check-in/check-up turns into an attempt to kill him. Worried about Holly's safety after another attempt on him, he discovers that she's been taken, drugged and questioned, and is about to be killed to cover it all up. He rescues her and they go on the run.
I liked the development of their relationship. Reese is super protective and will do whatever he must to keep Holly safe. His supersensitive nose detects a scent about her that he just can't resist, like it is calling just to him. His feelings for her grow stronger, but he worries that the things he has done will make it impossible for her to return those feelings. Ever since Holly found out that she is sick, she has kept people at a distance. She doesn't want any of them going through what she did with her father. She quickly discovers that Reese won't be pushed away, and realizes that she likes the feeling of being cared for by him. A surprise event changes her prognosis, and makes it possible to think about a future, if they can get away from those who are after them. I loved the ending, as Reese is still endearingly awkward about expressing his feelings.
The suspense of the story is really interesting and intense. The agents are supposed to do their jobs without any "emotional noise", ie. conscience, feelings of love, sorrow, guilt, etc. Anyone who develops these tendencies gets reprogrammed or "liquidated". When a doctor who knew only a small part of what was happening learns the truth, he goes off the deep end and decides to eliminate the carriers of the virus. Of course, those in charge can't have that, but their attempts to fix the problem only make things worse. One of the other agents is sent to track down Reese and Holly, but he's actually on their side and has his own agenda. There is also a female agent whose point of view we also get, who really illustrates the effects and pitfalls of the program. She turns out to be much more important than suspected at the beginning. The pursuit of Reese and Holly is intense, and the final confrontation still leaves some questions unanswered.
March 17, 2016
4.5 actually. That was v. good. I picked it up after several readers were talking about it.
It's like they found the virus in Doom only it doesn't work at all on most (it kills them), and the survivors are supermen (and women). It's also like an STD, though the other person won't survive the infection unless they're a mate.
Guess what the h is?
The government (or someone) came up with this and implemented it. No clue how they picked their "volunteers" but if the H's account is any indication, it was much like one cyborg series - the recruit was severely injured/dying and had nothing to lose. The small issues they didn't quite account for were that the super agents were like everyone else - they had a conscience, and when the "emotional noise" started to interfere with the ability to do their job, they were eliminated. They also didn't account for the transference aspect, so when a woman that was associated with one was found to have it, they wigged out.
Our story exists because the h smells good to the H, so he's been watching her for some time. A Dr on the program didn't know what was actually going on, and when he finds out, he tries to take out the H. Someone grabs the h for questioning, the H rescues her, and they take off. Another agent is on their tail, but he has some issues too (a girl he was associated with was killed).
Transference occurs, saving the h's life (she's terminally ill). The other agent, having ditched his own tail, shows up. They get captured - after the h has recovered - and they escape.
The H was not the brightest crayon in the box prior to being recruited, and as a result, is somewhat lacking in social skills (he was apparently low enough IQ to be institutionalized). It's like someone gave the virus to Forrest Gump actually. So at times, he's smart, but dumb. It does improve intelligence. The government wants him back though because he held off the emotional noise the longest. Duh, he was the most lacking to begin with.
The h's ex informed her that he wanted a divorce the day she first got a clue that she was sick. I was a bit puzzled by a few statements there. I got the impression she never told him, but he'd said he'd handle the treatments (he was in med school). Since then, she's spent some time keeping everyone at arms' length - to protect them from themselves supposedly.
It's like they found the virus in Doom only it doesn't work at all on most (it kills them), and the survivors are supermen (and women). It's also like an STD, though the other person won't survive the infection unless they're a mate.
Guess what the h is?
The government (or someone) came up with this and implemented it. No clue how they picked their "volunteers" but if the H's account is any indication, it was much like one cyborg series - the recruit was severely injured/dying and had nothing to lose. The small issues they didn't quite account for were that the super agents were like everyone else - they had a conscience, and when the "emotional noise" started to interfere with the ability to do their job, they were eliminated. They also didn't account for the transference aspect, so when a woman that was associated with one was found to have it, they wigged out.
Our story exists because the h smells good to the H, so he's been watching her for some time. A Dr on the program didn't know what was actually going on, and when he finds out, he tries to take out the H. Someone grabs the h for questioning, the H rescues her, and they take off. Another agent is on their tail, but he has some issues too (a girl he was associated with was killed).
Transference occurs, saving the h's life (she's terminally ill). The other agent, having ditched his own tail, shows up. They get captured - after the h has recovered - and they escape.
The H was not the brightest crayon in the box prior to being recruited, and as a result, is somewhat lacking in social skills (he was apparently low enough IQ to be institutionalized). It's like someone gave the virus to Forrest Gump actually. So at times, he's smart, but dumb. It does improve intelligence. The government wants him back though because he held off the emotional noise the longest. Duh, he was the most lacking to begin with.
The h's ex informed her that he wanted a divorce the day she first got a clue that she was sick. I was a bit puzzled by a few statements there. I got the impression she never told him, but he'd said he'd handle the treatments (he was in med school). Since then, she's spent some time keeping everyone at arms' length - to protect them from themselves supposedly.
January 2, 2016
This is a romance book but much deeper than your typical contemporary romance.
I really enjoyed the character development of Reese and Holly. There was just enough information about the super solider project without becoming incredibly boring. I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Holly and Reese. They were able to grow closer together and really were a team by the end. I am a sucker for the broken-people-who-are-able-to-find-love story line and that is what this story is about.
I have to say I am really hoping there will be more books about more of the agents. I enjoyed the world that Ms.Saintcrow created and I hope she continues to build it.
I really enjoyed the character development of Reese and Holly. There was just enough information about the super solider project without becoming incredibly boring. I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Holly and Reese. They were able to grow closer together and really were a team by the end. I am a sucker for the broken-people-who-are-able-to-find-love story line and that is what this story is about.
I have to say I am really hoping there will be more books about more of the agents. I enjoyed the world that Ms.Saintcrow created and I hope she continues to build it.
September 29, 2015
DNF @ 40%.
Ok I give up this story sucked. The author never explains who some of these characters are and what the hell is happening. Everything unfolds as if we already know what is going on. This author seriously messed up. How do you not explain the premise to readers, especially when there are elements of the supernatural in the story? The characters completely lacked chemistry.
Ok I give up this story sucked. The author never explains who some of these characters are and what the hell is happening. Everything unfolds as if we already know what is going on. This author seriously messed up. How do you not explain the premise to readers, especially when there are elements of the supernatural in the story? The characters completely lacked chemistry.
April 11, 2016
This was so manic. It was hard to keep up with the different povs. I feel like it was too wordy. Too many things going on it needed an epilogue badly. The romance was non-existent really. He was obsessed with her almost to the point of creepiness. There was no grand romantic type thing anywhere. No exchanging of I love you. He kind of asks her to marry him at the end but it was meh.
Read
January 12, 2016"Two troubled characters shine within an intriguing, unique plot rich with romance and tension. Reese is a strong, protective, passionate alpha hero whose love for Holly will melt the hearts of readers" (RT Book Reviews, 4 1/2 stars).
September 20, 2015
Excellent, I want a full length novel out of this. The concept isn't super new but Saintcrow has some fascinating twists that would be make for an interesting world.
September 11, 2015
3 1/2
Good futuristic idea and world, an Harlequin romance. Only Ms Saintcrows can make them so interesting to me.
Good futuristic idea and world, an Harlequin romance. Only Ms Saintcrows can make them so interesting to me.
September 28, 2021
A most excellent slice of, "Wait, what? OK then."
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews