I had never read a Corine Solomon book before, but SHADY LADY sounded good and I have a passing acquaintance with the author, so I thought I'd read it. I was not disappointed.

Corine's story gets started immediately, with an introduction of her character in her pawn shop with a Hand of God walks in (that's Kel) and tells her she's in danger, as in immediate danger. As in, don't touch that knick- knack you're holding, it's got a Corine-sensitive hex on it and she'll die if she touches it.

From then on out, Corine is on the move, trying to evade the Montoya cartel, whom she seems to have ticked off in her last adventure. Her young roommate, Shannon, is collected and they take off. She begins her adventure in Mexico but finds herself in the wild jungles of South America before she wends her way back home. Her relationship with Kel, which is awkward and formal at first, undergoes a transformation the longer they are together. Kel's background is hinted at, they get sucked into allying with Montoya's greatest enemy, agree to be part of a crazy plot to take out Montoya and evade death every step of the way.

This story moves at break-neck speed—just the way I like it! I couldn't put it down. The greatest compliment I could give Ms. Aguirre is that she reminds me of Kim Harrison, who is one of my favorite authors of all time. Fantastic job Ann, and I can't wait to read the next...in fact, now I have to go back and read the first two!