Caressed By Ice (Psy/Changeling, #3)

by Nalini Singh

[Rowena]

Where do I even begin with this review? I mean, seriously?

This is the third book in the Psy-Changelings series and it’s my favorite read so far. Nalini Singh is doing a fantastic job of sucking me right in with each and every single one of her books. I’ve been hearing nothing but good things about this book, and about Judd, that I couldn’t wait to start it. I didn’t think that this book could hold up against the expectations that I had for it but Singh proved me wrong.

This book follows Judd Lauren and Brenna Shane Kincaid as they battle their way toward that happily ever after. The happy ending that Judd never expected to have for himself. Something he didn’t even want or care about until Brenna came rushing into his life and not giving him a moment’s peace. The protectiveness that he felt toward her confused him because he’s a cold man. So cold, he’s ice cold and he’s that way because he needs to be.

If you read the books before this one, you’ll remember Brenna from the SnowDancer pack. She was taken and brutally abused both emotionally and physically by a Psy serial killer. She’s back in the safety of her pack but she’s becoming overwhelmed by the over-protectiveness of her two brothers, Riley and Drew. And by Hawke, her alpha and while she feels as safe as she can feel with her pack, the only person she feels completely safe with is the cold Psy that helped her recover. For some reason, being around Judd is what she craves and her changeling spirit clashes with his Psy coldness throughout the entire book.

There is so much going on in this book but Singh balances everything so wonderfully that you can’t help but get caught up in everything. The romance between Judd and Brenna was such a treat because you can see Judd’s confusion and then the fierceness with which he fought what was happening between him and Brenna. He had to protect his family’s place in the pack and even though Hawke took them in, he never felt like it was permanent. He had to keep his distance from everyone to protect them…from him. I ate it all up.

My heart hurt for Judd and for Brenna. They kind of reminded me of the couple on the X-Men movies that couldn’t touch each other without one of them killing the other. Ice Man and Rogue, I think that was them. But they also reminded me of Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak on the show, Arrow. He’s the serious one, the one that everyone thinks is going to blow up the den and she’s the computer hacker who captured his heart.

*heart eyes*

I loved that Brenna never gave up on Judd and I loved Judd’s jealousy that he didn’t understand. I loved that Nalini Singh kept Judd’s character true from the guy that we know and were curious about in the previous books. I loved that Brenna and Judd helped heal each other. I loved that they accepted each other for the people they were and not who they wanted the other to be.

I’m really enjoying the background story that is building ground over the course of the series. I find that part of the books very interesting. Actually, I find the whole Psy community interesting. The way that they handle things, all of the secret, shady business that goes on behind the scenes and just seeing them underestimate the changelings at every turn cracks me up.

I couldn’t help but jump right into the next book. I’m completely obsessed with all things Psy-Changelings right now. I’ve pored over every single website that I could find (with Holly’s help) and I’m dreaming of Psy-Changeling things. I don’t think I’ll ever be the same again and I can’t even blame Nalini Singh because it was Julie James who turned me on to this series.

This book had it all. A great story with wonderful characters and a hero and heroine who will capture your heart. To read this book is to love it and there’s a reason it’s so popular. It’s so popular because it’s a damned good book and if you haven’t read it already, you should change that because everyone needs Judd in their lives.