Chain Reaction by Zoe Archer (8th Wink #2)
Sci-Fi Romance
January 9, 2012
E-Book
Carina Press

Reviewed by Mandi

Celine Jur or “Stainless Jur” as she is called because she has an impeccable flying record, is ready to take out the person that sabotaged her ship. As an elite 8th Wing Pilot, Celine was kidnapped after her Black Wraith ship was disabled.The Black Wraith ships are a key weapon to fight against the evil PRAXIS who want to copy and design their own model. With this disabling device though, PRAXIS a much closer to their evil goal. Now that she has been rescued and her commander has intel as to who was involved in her capture, Celine is ready to fly out and take care of business.

Her commander wants her partner on this mission to be Nils Calder, or “NerdWorks” as he is called. Nils is a brilliant engineer, but Celine wants someone to go with him who can help with physical combat if the mission heads that way. Nils is the best at being able to track to the person who they think is responsible for capturing Celine. After he impresses her in his skills in a simulated fighting situation, she reluctantly agrees that he can be her partner in this mission. Once they are in close quarters, it’s hard to deny their attraction to each other.

Chain Reaction is the second book in Zoe Archer’s 8th Wing Sci-Fi series. I didn’t like this one as much as the first book. Individually I liked both Celine and Nils. Celine is a very headstrong, confident pilot that zeroes in on her goals and doesn’t like to be distracted. Nils has won the last three chess tournaments he has been in. Hooray for a nerdy hero! And even though we don’t get a huge picture of what this world it, I enjoy the sci-fi aspect of these books.

My problem with this book is how the romance unfolds. As I said, at the beginning of the book we learn that Celine is a very devoted, serious pilot. She is alone in life, but that is okay because she thinks everything of her career. She now has this very dangerous mission to go on. And Nils is just as smart and devoted to his engineering career as Celine is to her piloting career.

So just a short time on the ship together as they fly out to start their mission, they both start acting so unprofessional. First of all they mention that they have to keep quiet for security purposes:

A Wraith usually held a lone pilot, but it could also be configured to accommodate a gunner. Even when her ship contained herself and another, they talked infrequently, for security purposes.

Although Celine and Nils start out by obeying this rule it doesn’t last long and I wondered why they felt they could chat without causing danger.

And then soon, after they stop to help another ship get a repair, they work up a sweat and start taking off parts of their hot uniform. Which gets them to notice each other’s bodies. So she lets him “inspect” her as she stands there in her tight tank top and pants. And then it is his turn as he slowly removes her shirt as she stands there and watches him. Aren’t they on this important mission? And currently trying to fix a ship for someone else who barely had any power or air just a little while ago? What happened to their utter sense of professionalism? I always have an issue when characters can’t control their lusty advances and yet have an important goal to achieve. I understand maybe they might have the mind set that they won’t make it out alive, so let’s go have sex. But I still think this just feels off.

So the romance didn’t do it for me in this one. But otherwise, it was an okay read. I don’t read a lot of sci-fi but this is one series I’ll continue to follow.

Rating: C+

Recent Reviews:
Smart Bitches, Trashy Books – B+
The Book Pushers – C-
Hanging With Bells – 3.75/5
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