"HOTWIRE," by Cindy Hogan, O'Neal Publishing, e-book $3.99, 336 pages (f) (16 and up)
Christy Hatten's life has changed since she became a full-fledged agent with Division 57. Being assigned her first mission means she is on her way to success in her chosen field. The Division leadership treats her as an adult — she is 19, after all — and has placed her with a team of agents and a first mission to complete.
But best of all, the team leader is none other than Jeremy McGinnis, her trainer and handler on past missions. For Christy, this means there is still hope for the delicate romance she has seen blossom over the past few years.
In "Hotwire," Utah author Cindy Hogan launches herself into the continuing adventures of her young secret agent, Christy. This new sequel to the Watched trilogy finds Christy teamed with a challenging trio of older agents: Amedee "Ace" Renaud, a French Canadian tech whiz; Halluis Moreau, a sarcastic Parisian with impeccable taste; and McGinnis, team leader and secret love of young Christy.
Together, the valiant crew is determined to take down a ring of car thieves bent on pilfering exotic autos for foreign buyers.
What Christy hadn't counted on was the suave psychopath Jericho, who leads the team of car thieves. As she infiltrates the gang, the young agent discovers that she has to fend off the advances of not one, but two lascivious criminals who have twisted ideas of relationships. While Christy works to discover the real leaders of the gang and keep her cover intact, she must also deal with the feelings she has for Jeremy and the need to keep her work businesslike. But it's so hard when he is so close.
"Hotwire" is written for teen readers and is free from crude or explicit language. Several people are murdered, and characters are involved in a few fights and battles that leave them bloody. Christy is involved in situations with sexual overtones, and there are suggestions of other characters' sexual experiences resulting from drinking, but nothing explicit is described.
If you go ...
What: Cindy Hogan book signing
When: Tuesday, Oct. 21, 7 p.m.
Where: The King's English, 1511 S. 1500 East, Salt Lake City
Web: kingsenglish.com, cindymhogan.blogspot.com
Note: Places in the signing line are reserved for those who purchase a copy of the featured book from The King's English.
Mike Whitmer lives in West Valley City and blogs at mtwhitmer.blogspot.com. His email is grundelwalken@gmail.com.