Viper’s Kiss – Shannon Curtis

Librarian Maggie Kincaid yearns for excitement—but being accused of espionage is not what she had in mind. Wanted by the police, the FBI and the criminal element, Maggie goes on the run—and runs straight into sexy Luke Fletcher. Unfortunately, when Luke pulls out the handcuffs, it’s not because he has something kinky in mind…

Security expert Luke is intent on seeing the murderous spy known only as Viper brought to justice. The un-spy-like behavior of his fugitive makes him suspect he’s apprehended the wrong woman. Just as they give in to lust, new evidence convinces Luke that Maggie’s not as innocent as she claims to be.

Devastated by Luke’s inability to trust her, Maggie runs again. She’s determined to clear her name, and if that means tracking down a notorious spy even Interpol can’t seem to locate, then that’s exactly what she’ll do…


I didn’t know a librarian could get herself into so much trouble, but Maggie Kincaid sure did in this one.

Maggie lives a fairly quiet life.  She works as a librarian a the local university by day and at night takes care of her mother who has cancer.  Her biggest worry, beside if she’s going to be able to pay for all her bills this month, is being confused with the calendar pinup girl who’s almost her identical twin.  Suddenly her life is turned upside when she’s arrested and charged with theft of a top secret military device and murder.

As soon as she’s escorted from the University library, she followed by several people who all wanted something from here…thinking she’s the illustrious spy Viper.

Here is where I ran into problems with this story.  EVERYONE thinks she’s Viper, but no one takes a moment to look past the circumstantial evidence to see if what they know and the person in front of them match up. 

Luke Fletcher, who works for the covert security agency handling this case, kinda believes Maggie, but then he lets other influence his decision. 

Then we have the romance.  Maggie has a 90 day rule before she’ll get intimate with a man, but she’ll break that rule with a man who thinks she capable of theft and murder just because he has eyes and a body to die for?  Somehow I suspect a few of us in the fairer sex would take issue with that and withhold access to the cookie!

The climax of the story feels rushed to me, like we have to hurry up because the water is boiling.  I could have used a little more detail around Viper and “her” disguise and why what “her” whole role was.

It’s an OK, fast read but does lack the kind of depth needed to make it a really good or great mystery/suspense book.