Review: Systematic Seduction by Ravenna Tate

As the “Weathermen” series gets closer to ending, I find myself clinging to the final books.  I have loved this series from the very beginning.  I’m a Ravenna Tate fan anyway, but I think the reason I’m so drawn to these books is the frightening possibility a crisis like this could actually take place.  As technology continues to grow, there will certainly be attempts to “help” things along.

A quick rundown.  In the year 2112, a group of scientests create a computer program they’ve called The Madeline Project.  It’s goal is to release electrical pulses into clouds to try to prevent catastrophic storms like hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and blizzards. In 2117, a real time test proves to be relatively successful, but there is a group of hackers who upload a virus into the project, and what happens is exactly what The Madeline project was trying to prevent.  Apocalyptic storms make 85% of the Earth completely uninhabitalbe.  Those who didn’t die in the storms have moved underground into “cities” built several years before during a nuclear war scare.  A group of 12 very wealthy men, college friends, calling themselves “The Weathermen” are doing whatever they can to try to find, capture, and punish the hackers.

Oliver Fairchild is the CEO of Fairchild BioSystems.  Basically, he and his company are responsible for keeping the oxygen flowing to the underground cities.  He’s recently discovered there is only about two years’ worth of it remaining unless they can start rebuilding on the surface.  Blair Adams is a bioengineer who works for him, and together with the other Weathermen (and their wives/fiancees/girlfriends) to search for the hackers responsible for destroying the earth AND find a way for everyone else to survive.

Oliver has been asking Blair out for the past two years.  She considers him a player, though, and she doesn’t want to be the next notch on his bedpost. She’s also got a few secrets she doesn’t want Oliver to discover because she’s frightened and humiliated.  Oliver won’t give up on her, and she eventually agrees to a date.  Things take off from there.

Oliver and Blair fall for each other rather quickly after that awesome date, and when she comes clean with him about her past, he’s incredibly supportive…and adorably alpha and protective.  The sex scenes are long, detailed, and delicious.  Ms. Tate is VERY good at that.  I also love that Oliver treats Blair like an equal.  He doesn’t talk down to her or try to sugar coat things.  He knows she’s intelligent and capable to help him and the others.

This is book 9 in what is to be a 12 book series.  With each installment, our heroes and heroines come just a little closer to finding and identifying the hackers.  The ongoing story is compelling and interesting.  As I mentioned before, it’s also topical.  Ravenna Tate has meticulously researched the subject matter, and manages to include real facts along with the creative fiction.  I’m surely going to miss it when it’s completed. I do not recommend you read this as a stand alone.  You have to start at the beginning to fully understand what’s happening, and where it’s heading.  Don’t worry, though.  All of the books have been great so far, and you won’t be disappointed.