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Jasmine "Jazz" Callender is on the downhill slide to ruin. Once a decorated homicide detective, she's lost it all: her former partner's been convicted of murder, she's been cashiered out, and she's drinking away what little self-respect she's got left.
But Jazz has a talent for trouble, and somebody knows it. When a mysterious, sexy stranger comes looking for her with a fateful red envelope in his hand, she's about to make the deal of her life...for good or bad.
The deal requires her to enter into a partnership with a stranger and investigate cases that arrive in special red envelopes...which is odd enough, but gets weirder as she and her new partner Lucia realize that they may be working for someone with supernatural abilities.
And maybe they're not on the side of the angels anymore.
Rachel Caine has been writing and publishing novels and short stories since 1991. She is a former professional musician who has the distinction of having played with such musical legends as Henry Mancini, Peter Nero and John Williams...she's also an avid movie buff, a TV-holic, and prefers a good stout Guiness to wimpy American beers.
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August 02, 2005: Lightning strikes again for the talented Rachel Caine (author of the best-selling Weather Warden series) in this snappy and tense thriller. Devil?s Bargain is an honest to goodness face-hugger of a read, and very much a cut above the rest of the pack in the Bombshell line in terms of quality writing. My hat is off to the publishers for breaking out of the box and bringing in skilled writers of this caliber who can deliver edgy, believable characters and a page-turning plot. Make sure you set aside enough time to read it in one sitting. I?m not kidding here, it made me late for work! Theme series can get bogged down by their limitations, but this book is more than strong enough to stand on its own in the mystery/thriller genres. Jazz, the heroine, is by no imaginative stretch a shrinking violet. How many dames do you know who can take on drunken bikers on their own turf and win? The hero is a match for her, balancing out her raw power with quiet courage and a glint in his eye. There were times I wanted to toss a net over Jazz and jump his bones myself, he?s so hot. It?s clear to everyone he?s fallen for her at first sight, but Jazz is the last to figure it out. (Hey, she?s BUSY taking on bad guys!) In lesser hands this wouldn?t fly, but Caine gets away with it, make you love it, and leaves you hungry for more. I hope there will be more to come from this writer!
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July 07, 2005: Devil?s Bargain Rachel Caine Silhouette Bombshell, Aug 2005, $4.99 ISBN: 0373513674 Milo Laskins, partner at Gabriel, Pike & Laskins, LLP, sends employee attorney James Borden to inform former cop Jasmine ?Jazz? Callender that a not for profit organization wants to fund her in opening a private investigative firm. The only stipulation is that she partners with Lucia Garza, a former USAF Security Police Officer Law Enforcement Supervisor who she has never met. Though she does not like knowing more about these enigmatic benefactors, she agrees to their terms. After a less than amiable first call between the two tough females, they agree to meet though they are across the country from one another as neither trusts their unknown benefactor. However, the 100K check they already received is good so the duo agree to the terms. As the two sleuths conduct an investigation for their new employers, the case turns dangerous. James tries to help the women, but neither Jazz nor Lucia wants a civilian in the way. Someone wants the inquiries stopped or else but these two tough females are too obstinate to back down over a threat even if it is to them..................... Though the investigation is convoluted and starts relatively late, readers who appreciate strong female action heroines will want to read DEVIL?S BARGAIN. The testosterone flows on every page in which either Lucia or Jazz appear starting from the beginning the latter kicks butt in a bar and never lessons until the final kick butt climax even when Jazz and James make love. Fans of strong women starring in a wild investigative thriller will enjoy this dynamic tale.............................. Harriet Klausner