VIRTUALLY HIS

Author: Gennita Low ISBN: 0778324486 3/2007 SUSPENSE Publisher: MIRA

ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN WHEN DANGEROUS MINDS MEET... Chosen to be the ultimate secret operative, Helen Roston has become the most dangerous woman in the world. Two years of training and she's now ready for the final phase—a risky combination of virtual reality and a mind-altering serum. When her mysterious and faceless "trainer" syncs his mind to hers using the program, she's amazed at her sizzling response to his virtual touch. But Helen likes to be in control. She's not going to beg for more. Helen's final test is a challenging mission, picked by the other government agencies whose candidates lost out to her. To succeed, she has to put herself completely in the hands of her trainer, a man she's not sure she can trust. But all of COS Command are counting on her. She cannot fail.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

VIRTUALLY HIS is the first in a trilogy centered on Helen Roston, her monitor and her journey in becoming a Supersoldier-Spy. This book tells the story of two agencies that team up to create a super spy using virtual reality and performance enhancing serums.

The start of this book is a snapshot look at Helen's training to become a Supersoldier-Spy using traditional training with the ability to remote view. To me, the remote viewing is one of the most complicated parts of this book. The technique revolves around the soldier going into a trance-like state and then remotely viewing a location using virtual reality with a monitor, or anchor, to make sure the soldier doesn't get lost in the 'ether'.

The remote viewing aspect of this book, while central to the story, was at times difficult to follow. There were a few times when I was confused as to whether or not Helen was asleep, awake, or in a virtual reality state. At times the transitions felt almost abrupt, but with that being said, the relationships within the story take center stage for me.

Gennita Low did an excellent job painting a picture of these characters and their relationships. I was dying to find out who Helen's monitor is. (Ok, I admit it—I looked in the back about a third of the way through to find his identity.) I didn't want to put this book down when the action started. And when it was over—well, let me just say it ended way too soon for me. I completely got sucked in to Helen's world and I can't wait to read VIRTUALLY HERS.

All in all, VIRTUALLY HIS starts a bit slow, but once you get past the technical aspects of the virtual reality spying the characters come alive. I'll be anxiously waiting for VIRTUALLY HERS.

April Luth