I didn’t really enjoy Hidden Steel. The romance didn’t feel genuine and too much seemed to be going on. Someone else might enjoy it, but it’s not really my thing. ( )

Review: Hidden Steel by Doranna Durgin.

The book was free, I read it, and I really enjoyed the adventure. The book was well written, entertaining, adventurous, and the characters were well developed and interesting. There was some romance, very little, and what romance there was felt forced, unrealistic and really not necessary. The story starts right off in the middle of action and doesn’t slow down till the end.

A woman, Mickey, wakes up in a room, handcuffed to a bed, and has no memory of how she got there, who her captors are, or even who she is. Mickey is smart, strong, and resourceful, even though she’s in a most vulnerable position, and totally at the mercy of the bad guys at the start of the book. Remember, she has amnesia, so she could also be a bad guy…..

She does meet a guy, Steve who is a good guy character of trust and friendship. However, he is not so sure who Mickey is. She confuses him with her unknown slow materializing habits that become known throughout the story that she even surprises herself to what she can do….

I can’t reveal anymore without spoiling the story for the next reader. The story rips along, fast paced, with action galore, and crisp dialogue to the end. Could be read in one setting because it keeps you on the edge of your seat and it’s a book that’s hard to put down….A good read in between readers block….
( )

A woman walk up in a hospital bed with no memories. She believes she is there against her will for two reasons, she’s not in a hospital and she is handcuffed to the bed. She overhears someone talking, believing they are talking about her and hearing the name Mickey, she takes that name and keeps it even when she learns they were talking about how they drugged her.

Listed as an action, suspense, and romance book, this book hits the mark on all three fronts. Mickey turns out to be a CIA case officer (action) but she has lost her memory and has no idea what she is or what she is working on (suspense), while running away from the ‘bad guys’, she stumbles into Steve Spaneas’ gym (romance). Although I generally don’t like romance in my action books, this had a ‘touch’ of romance, nicely done and didn’t distract.

Another thing about this book is that even though some of it seemed a little far fetched, most of it was believable. Mickey gets dehydrated and famished, and proceeds to pass out. Which is what humans do. There was none of this, “I’m in terrible shape, I’ll just outrun these criminals in peak physical condition.” going on. It’s fiction, but it has to make sense.

I would recommend this as a quick, fun, action packed story. ( )

Mmm. I don't know why Durgin's romances never seem to click with me, when I love her SF&F so much. Good story, nicely done characters, solid backstories - and not matching ones, which I've seen too often recently, but they linked up - interesting setup...and somehow my overall reaction is meh. I like amnesia stories. Mickey is a kickass heroine, on several levels (physical, mental, emotional...). Steve was fun, and fit with her perfectly. Naia was great, trying to break out of the mold she'd been so firmly developed in. And...nothing. Part of it was that we didn't get to see Mickey discover who she was - that came after the climax. Another bit was a couple running gags that didn't work (the bed jiggled and then she giggled...but when we got to see a waking-up from her point of view, no giggle or reason for it). And just when was she Jane? Her "station name" - but not the name in her business, nor the one with which she interacted with Naia.... I'm glad I read it, I doubt I'll bother to reread. ( )

Undercover agent (AKA Mickey)recovers from her drugged kidnap to save her contact Naia who is the daughter of a middle-eastern king. Naia, in turn, saves her father’s kingdom. The plot is a fast action scenario with clever strategies, a great demonstration of womanpower and an almost romantic ending. An absorbing read… ( )