Those who like James Bond but admire his gutsy female counterparts even more will savor this smart, humorous send-up from Cash (George & the Virgin, etc.). Not many romance heroines have pink hair and a nose ring, but sassy Nepal tour guide Rachel Calais does, and her individuality and wry wit are what make this such a delight. When dashing Harrison Wiles asks Rachel to lead an expedition into the Himalayas to help stamp out a doctor determined to find a lost city and manufacture a drug that will make women submit to his will, Rachel scoffs at the offer. Harrison claims to be a covert agent for B.L.I.S.S., a secret service organization composed almost entirely of women, but it isn't until a good friend vouches for him that she agrees to the task. The situation gets stickier, however, when Rachel learns that the dastardly doc is her first lover, gawky Alan Archer. As Rachel and Harrison plot to bring down Alan, the chemistry between them hits feverish heights, but will it be enough to keep them together once the adventure is over? Cach paints both the vibrant beauty and blemishes of Nepal with a fine hand, but the exotic locale never outshines her charismatic characters. Uneven pacing makes the novel feel jumpy at times, but there's enough humor and suspense here to keep readers from dwelling on these minor flaws. (Feb.)
Forecast:Bond aficionados may be enticed by the book's cover (which was inspired by a poster for
Dr. No), but readers in the know will snatch it up simply because of Cach's name, which appeared next to Lisa Kleypas's in the 2001 hardcover
Wish List and debuted in trade paperback a year ago (Dating Without Novocaine). Those less familiar with the author may be drawn in by a promotional Internet treasure hunt.
