Book Review: "Mission: Out of Control" by Susan May Warren

Summary from BN.com: Brody "Wick" Wickham is a former Green Beret turned security agent—with a 100 percent mission success rate. No way is his new assignment changing that. Even if it's protecting a diva American rock star while she's on tour in Europe. Except Veronica "Vonya" Wagner isn't just a beautiful celebrity used to having her way—she's the daughter of a U.S. Senator. And she's hiding a dangerous secret. When Wick discovers what's at stake, how far over the line will he go to keep them both alive?

The second book in the Missions of Mercy series introduces to new characters as well as brings back those from the first book as well as Warren's other series. I was actually quite intrigued with Ronie's alter ego Vonya. She sounds like a mix of Lady Gaga and an indie band. She really was into her music and I enjoyed seeing her slip into the Vonya character and be someone that no one else was expecting. Actually Ronie seemed to have three personalities. There's Vonya, then Veronica as the rich quiet girl she portrays to her family, and then Ronie, her true self. It's a lot of effort to keep up these three personalities but she seems to slip easily into all of them.

I did have one huge major qualm about this story. There is a scene where Wick goes out to find Ronie when she's dressed as Vonya. Ronie was trying to spy on a suspicious character when Wick catches her in the act. She initially refuses to go with him so he throws her over his shoulder like a caveman as she's pounded on his back to let her go. I absolutely hated this. I hate when men do this and it's supposed to be used as a romantic device. Do women really enjoy being thrown over a guy's shoulder like a sack of potatoes? All this is showing is that Wick can do this simply because he is physically stronger than Ronie. She cannot do anything because of her size and what's worse, is that she DOES find herself attracted to him after this. Again lots of eye rolling and groans.

As I said with the previous book, this format of the story does not really showcase Warren's best talent. It's a quick read with a lot of romance and some suspense. Try her other books first and then come back to this as it's more like a quick snack than a hearty meal.

Mission: Out of Control by Susan May Warren is published by Steeple Hill (2011)

This review copy was provided for a blog tour with LitFuse Publicity

Other books in the Missions of Mercy series that I've reviewed:

Point of No Return (Book 1)