This was the first Cherry Adair book I ran across, and is a true library success story. Last summer I was in my local library looking for some new romance authors (um, not that I was avoiding my dissertation or anything....) - I started in the "A"s and just worked my way down the rows. It didn't take me long to stumble across "Adair" (- isn't the predictability of the alphabet amazing?). My library has most of Ms. Adair's backlist and this is the one I picked up because the back cover sounded like something I would like. I knew that I loved Romance Suspense and strong female heroines, so I added it to my pile. Consequently, after reading this book, I have read most of Adair's backlist, and now buy her new releases (Riptide just hit my Nook yesterday). See, libraries do benefit authors. While I have enjoyed most of Adair's backlist (though I will say I'm not a paranormal fan, so those that get into that topic aren't as enjoyable for me), my biggest praise for Cherry is probably her relationship with her fans - she treats us so well and makes us feel special! In fact, the paperback of "Out of Sight" that I now own is a copy Adair sent to me (autographed!) from a social media contest - the first one even got lost in the mail and she was kind enough to send me a second copy. Like I said, she treats us well, which goes a long way to keeping authors on my to-buy list. First let me start by saying that "Out of Sight" is one of my top two favorite Cherry Adair books ("Kiss and Tell" being the other). Being the first one I read, it will always hold a special spot for me, but on top of that, her earlier books just have a bit more magic (not literally, like I said, I'm not big into paranormal romances) than her more recent books. Maybe it's the genuineness of the heroes and heroines - I'm not exactly sure, but I love the hero and heroine in this book. Like most readers, I have themes and characteristics in my heroes/heroines that I like and don't like. After the first couple of pages, I was fairly convinced that this was a book of which I wasn't going to be a huge fan. Right off the bat we're introduced to our heroine: a rookie sniper named AJ, who works for an anti-terrorist unit and had just blown a op. In a big way. I think this was something hard for me to digest at first because I was so used to "the perfect heroine"; I think I was coming off a big historical kick at the time. From her first scene in the book (THE first scene in the book), we learn that AJ isn't perfect and she royally screwed up, and I wasn't sure how the author was going to handle her redemption (having faith in the formula of romances with HEAs, I figured there had to be a redemption). But in the end, this mistake made AJ and her later actions a more believable and likable character for me; her redemption felt well-deserved and well-earned. On top of that, I found Kane, the hero, to be a wonderfully written hero with a believable, complete character arc. (As a side note, I can't believe I just wrote "character arc" in a review; I used to roll my eyes when I read reviews with that phrase. I think I need to get back to science...and I'm sure my advisor would agree.) He begins with anger and resentment towards AJ (and understandably so considering the FUBAR she makes of the operation), and gradually changes his mind about her and her skill as she proves herself and works towards fixing her mistakes. I thought both characters made good emotional progress through the course of the book.And if for no other reason to read this book, how many sex-on-a-camel scenes have actually been written? Because this book has one. If that's not a selling point, then I don't know what is. If you've never read Cherry Adair, be prepared for over-the-top. As I've subsequently found out, Adair loves her explosions and rather unrealistic action sequences. Because I expect it, I'm generally prepared for them. I have read some of her books where there are just too many explosions used as a device to drive the plot forward ("Hush", for example), but the craziness has become kind of an endearing quality of Adair's books for me. I fully understand that this doesn't work for everyone, but I find it a fun, unrealistic escapism. Like watching the A-Team. Adair definitely writes a different type of Romance Suspense than what authors like Pamela Clare and Maya Banks write. Adair's heroes (and heroines) generally don't get too angsty - which I find to be a nice relief, and her over-the-top plots are pure fun. While I like angst on occasion, I have to take it in doses, as it's not one of my favorite themes. I know when I pick up a Cherry Adair book I'm going to go on a rip-roarin adventure that defies the probable; but I always have a good time. And "Out of Sight" is no exception.See, good things can come out of a Mid-Dissertation Crisis!
I haven't read this book yet - and to be honest, I don't know when if I will - but I've been hearing about the "camel scene" for so many years that I had to ask my dear friend Auntee for the chapter/page numbers where that infamous scene takes place. I needed to understand how such a thing could work and reading those pages out of context wouldn't hurt, as a sex scene between the H/h isn't exactly a spoiler, right? ;)Wow, what a trip! All I can say after reading it is, Ms. Adair must have been on drugs or something when she wrote that particular scene, LOL. I guess it was supposed to be fun and sexy, but I didn't get that vibe and laughed like a lunatic while reading it. Seriously, the whole thing was hysterical!If you're curious like me, keep reading...She twisted around to look down between them. "Can you get it out?""Oh, it's come out to play, honey. But that's not the problem," Kane said, laughing at the ridiculousness of what they were attempting. Only AJ… "It's the getting it in."AJ leaned her body forward, laying across the neck of the camel, its harsh, coarse hair abrading her skin as she bared her bottom to Kane. "Now?"He positioned her with both hands on her hips, and she leaned forward, stretched out over Kika's broad back. He withdrew his hand, trailing his damp fingers across her hip, and used them to guide himself into her. She gasped as he filled her, and the sensation was like nothing he'd ever known before. Beneath them, the stoic camel walked on, its rocking motion driving Kane as he moved within AJ's depths."Kika's watching us," AJ said suddenly."Kika," Kane said sternly, "face forward. Watch where we're going." The curious camel lifted her lip, exposing large yellow teeth. She and Kane made eye contact. Kika blinked her ridiculously long lashes and faced forward, without missing a step."Thank you," AJ said. "Now, where were we?""One of us is naked, the other is inside the naked one," he said, his tone Sahara dry as he pulled her hard against him."Yum. Indeed you are." AJ flapped a hand at the camel's face. Kika lifted her lip and rolled her eyes. Disgruntled, AJ twisted to look back at Kane. "I don't think I can have wild camel sex with Kika watching.""Are you nuts?" Kane demanded. "After all this contorting, you're telling me no?""I'm not telling you no… exactly. I'm telling you I can't have sex while a camel is watching me come.""Kika," Kane said firmly. "Go. Go. Go."The camel picked up speed and started trotting. The fastest she'd gone since they'd started the journey."U-uncle," AJ cried as Kane's penis was jammed high inside her with each jarring thud of Kika's splayed feet in the sand. It felt incredible. Wonderful. Full. Too much… Ahhhh. Perfect. "Oh, Lord. This is amazing. Isn't it amazing?""Amazing," Kane agreed. "Run, Kika," he said, and the camel quickened her steps even further, doing all the work for Kane, until all he had to do was hold on and ride out the storm as AJ's body tightened over his and they came together like liquid lightning.Their bodies trembled from the force of their pleasure, and it was several long minutes before AJ could manage to speak coherently. "Takes the word 'humping' to a whole new level, doesn't it?" She laughed as she sank back against him, their bodies still joined.So, who would like to take a wild camel ride and tell me if what Kyle and AJ did is doable? LOL!
What do You think about Out Of Sight (2003)?
Absolute Joy! (You have to read the book to see why that phrase fits)...Of all the T-FLAC series I've read so far, the banter and humor between Kane Wright and AJ Cooper - in addition to the riddle he tries to solve throughout the story - makes Out of Sight a book you can't put down.The characters... AJ Cooper is an alpha female to the max. But she's so beautiful no one looked beneath the surface to see the brains and brawn. Going undercover as a fashion model certainly isn't a stretch and gets her paired up with photographer Kane Wright who is, of course, a never-lose-control alpha male. They are exciting together and you can feel the electricity in Cherry Adair's work here.
—Colleen (NerdyWoman) Kayter
This entry for the series starts out with action - what a plus. To my thinking this is an action adventure series that has been light on the action. It's just in time for Kane Wright's spotlight where he gets to show every side of him and there isn't a side that model worthy AJ Cooper doesn't find drool-worthy. Once again I feel this is just on the brink of being a series I can't do without. The villain was a perfect fit for diabolical and the story seemed to flow well. Nothing like a maniacal psychopath determined to rule the world to notch the action sequences and the intricacy of the plot. I found the many action sequences vividly fulfilling and liked the star couple together and separately. Which was an exceedingly good thing since the story was almost insular. I believed the chemistry and sexual tension between them but found the love a tad too quick and convenient. AJ's warrior persona was a beacon for females that serve in the protective forces as she successfully showed she was more than a pretty face and a shapely form while battling recovery from a horrific training accident just a few months before. Kane represented the alpha testosterone brigade well with the preconceptions and the drive to protect. I missed the Wright family that have been a staple up to this point but liked a glimpse at some of the other T-Flac members.
—PepperP0t
Good story. Kane Wright, alleged photographer but really a T-FLAC operative is on a mission to assassinate Raazaq. Unfortunately, he has been forced by circumstances and his superiors to include AJ Cooper on his team as the sharpshooter. At the crucial moment she bottles it and the mission goes tit up.From then on AJ is desperate to prove to her idol that she can fufil the mission whereas Kane is even more convinced that he should always work alone. Working with others just gets them killed.AJ is great, strong, independent and sassy. On occasions I worried that she was going to go off half-cocked and get herself in trouble (a variation on the TSTL heroine) but she never did. Kane never strayed in arseholeness.My only gripe was the (in my opinion) unrealistic sex on a moving camel, I noticed there was an 'odd' sex moment in the last book too - hope she's not going for a new and unusual sex act in each book!
—Alison
