REVIEW: High Passion By Vivian Arend

In High Passion by Vivian Arend Alisha is a highly skilled Search and Rescue worker working for Lifeline out of Banff, Alberta. She is from a life of privilege and expectations, but has struck out on her own to do what she wants to do – what makes her happy. Alisha’s colleagues and friends have no clue about her background, and that’s how she likes it. She wants to be judged on who she is and how she does her job free from the shadow of her family.

Devon has been in Alisha’s life for a few years now. They trained together, now they work and partner together at Lifeline. Alisha doesn’t believe in mixing business with pleasure, especially since she in one of only a few female search and rescue workers. But it’s getting harder and harder for her to ignore how she feels every time she just looks at Devon, parts of her come to life that have no business coming to life around him! They’ve always had a fun, flirty friendship, and unknown to both of them, they are each fighting their attraction to each other. When Devon finally makes a move, Alisha decides that

“Maybe seeing him wouldn’t be the worst mistake she could make. If she was careful, and didn’t get her heart involved.”

Just as the passion between them ignites, someone from Alisha’s past is suddenly on her doorstep, wanting and demanding way more than she’s willing to give. At the same time unexpected and dangerous things are happening at Lifeline. Alisha is forced to be honest with Devon about who she really is. Will who she is drive them apart or bring them closer? As things progress she might have to open up to everyone. Will her secrets be the end of a career she loves?

Alisha and Devon are both really likable people with characteristics that bring them to life. Alisha is strong and independent, striving to do the best she can in a job she loves. I could understand why she kept parts of herself hidden and why she was resisting the attraction to Devon. I loved that as independent as she was, when the situation called for it she was honest…she didn’t try to take care of everything herself or pretend it wasn’t that bad. It drives me crazy when strong heroines do this and I was so glad she didn’t, it made her all the more likable and realistic. Devon has integrity and is also strong, courageous and HOT! I can totally picture him in my mind! He has his own issues too, that Alisha had no idea about. I loved that he was not willing to do anything to put the team at Lifeline at risk, no matter what or who was involved. I also really enjoyed Devon and Alisha because they were mature enough to not dwell on past issues, but work to get past them and they did what they did for them, not to make someone else happy.

There were enough secondary characters in High Passion to add a lot of flavor to the plot, but they didn’t overshadow the main story. We saw enough of them to hopefully see more of them in a future book though! 🙂

I really enjoyed High Passion! Vivian Arend gives us a thrilling romance and a lot of passion in High Passion with just the right amount of suspenseful action. The sex scenes are intense and very well written…they are integral to the story of Alisha and Devon. Vivian wrote the evolution of their relationship and the ups and downs they had with flair, making the characters come to life! I also have to admit that part of what I loved about High Passion was that the setting was in Canada 🙂 High Passion is the first book I’ve read of Vivian’s but I will definitely be reading more and can’t wait for the next book in this series now!

I would recommend High Passion to any adult romance reader who likes a romance with a bit of everything…romance and secrets, suspense, sexy scenes, and most of all love.

Book Info:

Expected publication: September 3rd 2013 by Berkley

LIFELINE: an elite search-and-rescue squad based out of Banff, Alberta. Specializing in high-risk rescue missions, this team goes wherever the job takes them…
Alisha Bailey left a life of privilege for the dangerous but thrilling world of search and rescue. Denying the lure of attraction to her teammate is another sacrifice she’s made to prove to everyone—including her family— that she’s more than a pretty face or a business commodity.
Since their training days, Devon Leblanc has used the competitive fire between them to hide his fascination with the petite beauty. When a natural disaster forces their rivalry aside, heated passion finally flares between them. Sexual pleasure slowly gives way to a new appreciation for each other’s skills—on the field and in the bedroom.
But when unexplained accidents begin happening to the Lifeline team, their newfound unity may be their only hope for survival…

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