In a Fix by Linda Grimes

Title: In a Fix
Author: Linda Grimes
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: In a Fix #1

Trade Paperback, 336 pages
Publication: September 4th 2012 by Tor Books 

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Source: Publisher

|SUMMARY| 
Snagging a marriage proposal for her client while on an all-expenses-paid vacation should be a simple job for Ciel Halligan, aura adaptor extraordinaire. A kind of human chameleon, she’s able to take on her clients’ appearances and slip seamlessly into their lives, solving any sticky problems they don’t want to deal with themselves. No fuss, no muss. Big paycheck.

This particular assignment is pretty enjoyable... that is, until Ciel’s island resort bungalow is blown to smithereens and her client’s about-to-be-fiancé is snatched by modern-day Vikings. For some reason, Ciel begins to suspect that getting the ring is going to be a tad more difficult than originally anticipated.

Going from romance to rescue requires some serious gear-shifting, as well as a little backup. Her best friend, Billy, and Mark, the CIA agent she’s been crushing on for years—both skilled adaptors—step in to help, but their priority is, annoyingly, keeping her safe. Before long, Ciel is dedicating more energy to escaping their watchful eyes than she is to saving her client’s intended.

Suddenly, facing down a horde of Vikings feels like the least of her problems.

|REVIEW|

In a Fix is a fun start to a new urban fantasy series by Linda Grimes.  Ciel Halligan is an ‘’aura adapter’’, someone who is able to duplicate another person’s identity (both appearance and voice) with a little touch of their aura.  Ciel has her own business as a facilitator, meaning people hire her to be ‘them’, and solve a problem they don’t want to do themselves. Ciel’s latest job requires her to get her client Mina a proposal, in which she kind of accomplishes until Swedish Vikings kidnaps him. As Ciel tries to rescues Trey (Mina’s boyfriend) she gets herself tangled in a bigger mess, requiring help from her ‘cousin’ Billy and her brother’s best friend Mark, who are both adapters.

The book is labeled as an urban fantasy but aside from being able to change appearance, there wasn’t any other magical element. In a Fix had more of a contemporary-romance/chick-lit feel to it rather than urban fantasy. Regardless, I love the idea and haven’t seen this in any urban fantasy I’ve read. I think many readers will like Ciel because she’s so full of snarkiness! Yes, she gets herself into a LOT of trouble, even when Mark, Billy or hot Viking Nils saves her from one situation she find herself in another mess of trouble immediately. Some may find Ciel’s attraction of trouble funny or annoying…I myself didn’t mind because it kept the story moving, there was never a dull moment. Then there’s Mark and Billy two hot and overprotective guys in her life, and as you can figure out there is kind of a love triangle thing going on. I like both guys, Mark is more about rules and is all serious and Billy is more of the laid back guy, the opposite of serious (most of the time). There are a lot of sexual tensions among the three, and with their adapter ability it makes everything more interesting. 

Bottom line, a great addition to the urban fantasy genre that I think many people will enjoy. I usually like my urban fantasy dark and gritty, but I enjoyed this funny-lighter side of urban fantasy. If you don’t mind a witty, stubborn character full of snark then this might be for you. I am already looking forward to the next book in the series, Quick Fix which hits stores August 2013. 

FTC disclaimer:  Tor Books  provided me with a copy of In a Fix, and in return I provide an honest review.