Customer Reviews

Undercover

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MaryJanice Davidson is one of my favorite romance writers and one of the wittiest out there. I want to devour every story she's written, and Under Cover is a wonderful anthology with a big dose of Davidson's signature humor. The stories center on former co-workers at a biotech firm and how they fall in love and in lust. The characters are all taken from the first story, but the subsequent tales are stand-alones. My favorite novella is Delightful Deception. Jimmy Scrye is sarcastic and fun and I couldn't resist the story of a goofy prodigy falling for dry, brainy Thea "IQ" Foster ("IQ," as in Ice Queen). The erotic scenes are delicious. This is the novella I like the most, but the other two stories -- Sweet Strangers and Lovely Lies -- are great and have wonderful erotic scenes as well.

Once again, MaryJanice Davidson delivers a great piece of work with these three comic, sexy stories in this anthology. I read them in two sittings and I cannot wait to read more of her stuff. These stories aren't as creative as her vampire novels, but she does a wonderful job here. And even though the novellas contain Brava's formulaic brand of light romantica, Davidson does a splendid job in adding her sharp quips and fast-paced style. Also, unlike most Brava anthologies, these stories have wonderful story development and characterization. Anyway, this is another great effort from Ms. Davison. Highly recommended...

Under Cover is a sexy, laugh out loud anthology by MaryJanice Davidson.

In Sweet Strangers, Renee Jardin is having a bad day. She is being chased by bad guys, fired from her security job at the biotech firm. But things are starting to look up. She plants a whopper of a kiss on a man in the elevator, hoping that it will be a good cover. This kiss isn't with just any man, it's with Eric Axelrod, ex NSA agent, currently a PI hired to bring Renee in for stealing a vial from her job. Renee and Eric have a wild time, running from the bad guys and falling in love.

Lovely Lies has Peter Random who lost his security job when he was unable to bring in Renee Jardin. Peter meets Lori Jamieson, who is running from her troubles. Lori hires Peter to help her. While working together they discover a lover worth keeping and a passion for each other that is thrilling.

Delightful Deception has Dr. Thea Foster, after surviving her previous boss's criminal ways, she is ready to take on her new boss, Dr. James Scrye. Jimmy is the polar opposite of Thea's contained and reserved personality. But he really makes her heart soar. She decides to get Jimmy out of her system once and for all. Jimmy has he's own plans for Thea.

All three stories are packed with passion, emotion and sidesplitting laughter. You will not go wrong in getting this book.

Under Cover is a wonderful anthology by just one very talented author, Mary Janice Davidson.
Here is the short review: Go buy this book immediately. Skip lunch if you must, but go buy this book.
Here is the detailed review: The three stories that comprise Under Cover revolve around a cutting edge biotech firm: Anodyne. Luckily for her readers, Ms Davidson doesn't use excessive scientific rhetoric that often results more in the writer showing off how much research was put into writing the book than in illuminating or advancing the story.

The first story, Sweet Strangers, is the story of Anodyne's head of security, Renee Jardin, being accused of stealing the next big thing in cardiac care, PaceIC, which was developed by the IQ (high IQ and/or Ice Queen) Dr Thea Foster. Eric Axelrod is the PI/bounty hunter hired to bring Renee in and she literally runs into his arms. Together they must find out how and why she was framed while escaping his bounty hunter replacement, the talented but burnt out Peter Random. Sweet Strangers has plenty of adventure and romance while not stepping into melodrama.

Which brings me to the next story: Lovely Lies-the melodrama. This story was also great but very different from Sweet Strangers. The stories are so different from each other I suggest you take a break and get a cup of tea when you finish Sweet Strangers, well before you start reading Lovely Lies. Peter Random (remember him) is deeper into burn out months after losing Renee, when he finds a sleeping girl in the backseat of his car. Peter is bright enough to realize this isn't a coincidence and works on both his physical reaction to the heroine, Lori Jamieson (an orphaned heiress no less) and on how to save the day. Did I mention she has an evil stepfamily and he was raised a poor black child in a white man's body, with an over achieving Mama? Add the neighborhood thugs and it should be that Lovely Lies is overdone and silly, but it is to Ms Davidson's credit that the story stays a comedic melodrama and not a maudlin bore.

To end the set is my favorite of the three: Delightful Deception. This final story combines the highly involved storyline style of Lovely Lies with the romance of Sweet Strangers. Dr Thea Foster (remember her) is waiting to see what will happen when the new owner of Anodyne, a genius named Dr. Jimmy Scrye burst into the company saving jobs, profits, and careers while demanding only one thing: faster development of "Faskin", an artificial skin for burn victims. Soon after meeting him, Thea decides to solve her interfering attraction to Jimmy in such a straight forward method you want to laugh out loud-and wish you had her nerve. Jealousy among genius is also worth the price of the book. Delightful Deception was a great way to end a terrific book.

I can't however let any book go by completely unscathed. The use of the names Lori, Thea, Foster was distracting. I couldn't stop thinking "How cute, she put her friends names in the book" (Thea Divine, Lori Foster for those new to erotic romance).

It isn't difficult to see why Maryjanice Davidson emerged triumphant in the romance-writing contest organized by maverick Lori Foster. Under Cover as Davidson's full-length debut is assured and confident - with bawdy humor and sass intact. Her first tale, Sweet Strangers, is an energetic caper with security specialist Renee Jardin on the run. The biotech firm she is working for is hunting her down because someone has slipped the prized cardiac invention PaceIC into her possession. Her escape plan culminates in a reckless kiss with NSA agent Eric Axelrod but love gets complicated with mistrust.

The second tale, Lovely Lies, skids into an emotional course with out-of-work detective Peter Random chancing upon trust-fund heiress Lori Jamieson, who is on the run from her manipulative stepfather. Random ends up as her unlikely protector when this jaded man unexpectedly falls in love. Ms. Davidson resuscitates the buoyant mood with the last and best tale out of the three, Delightful Deception, where Dr. Thea Foster meets her match with the arrival of her new boss and whiz, Dr. Jimmy Scyre who wants Thea to devote her energy into manufacturing 'Faskin' to rebuild the esteem in his scarred sister. Ms. Davidson's best traits clearly lies in her quirky humour; she even draws references from Lori Foster and Thea Devine in the naming of her characters. While the second tale bogs down the nimble lark, it is a delightful introduction to a fresh voice headed for stardom.

Under Cover is an amazing combination of three linked stories that revolve around Anodyne, a cutting edge biotechnology company on the verge of the most important medical discovery since the heart pacemaker hit the market.

Sweet Stranger features Renee Jardin; the head of security that is accused of stealing PaceIC, Anodyne's new product that will change the way heart patients are treated. Eric Axelrod is the private eye hired to find her and PaceIC and return both to Anodyne. Kissing Eric in the elevator to avoid detection by the goons chasing her is the catalyst that propels the two of them into a relationship that is a roller-coaster ride of hilarity and learning to trust in each other while finding out who is really the culprit trying to sabotage the release and distribution of PaceIC.

Lovely Lies tells the story several months later of Peter Random, former enforcer from Anodyne, who is on a severe down slide in life after the scandal surrounding the company. Finding a girl passed out in his car, he is drawn into protecting Lori Jamieson who is on the run from her stepfather. Lori, an heiress who is on a mission to give all of her money away, found Peter by reading all the bad press surrounding the Anodyne scandal. Deciding his bad reputation makes him the perfect person to protect her from her step-father, she finds out you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover.

Delightful Deception tells Dr. Thea Foster's story. Nicknamed "IQ" for intelligence quotient or Ice Queen depending on whether she can hear you or not, she is waiting to meet the new CEO of Anodyne. After the loss of revenue from PaceIC and the subsequent conviction of Nicholas Jeckell, Anodyne's bottom line has nose-dived. The new CEO and owner is Dr. Jimmy Scrye. Hiding behind a Genius Boy-Wonder guise, he has a two fold plan: get Thea to develop at an accelerated pace Faskin, artificial skin that will save burn victims from the trauma of skin grafts. His other goal, get himself into Thea's heart and bed, not necessarily in that order. The IQ and the Boy-Wonder dance around each other's protective walls while perfecting Faskin in a tango of ego's and insecurities while moving towards both of the goals set by Jimmy.

Ms. Davidson continues to delight me with her sense of humor that sparkles throughout Under Cover. This is a quick-paced book that ended too quickly. You will be able to read this in one afternoon, so be sure to pick up the rest of her booklist while you are at it so you may laugh your day away reading her special style of blending sensuality, strong women, sexy men and her trademark humor.

I loved this book. Although many writers in erotic romance add a good dash of humor, Ms. Davidson's book is a sub-genre of true romantic comedy mixed with erotic romance. Highly recommended.

First I won't give you a repeat of what each story in this book is about, everyone else did a great job of doing that. I will say that MaryJanice Davidson did an excellent job of bringing these 6 charactors to life. Ms Davidson always writes a wonderful, sexy, humorous story and this one is no exception. I love her heroines, each one is someone you would like to either know better or be yourself. Her heroes are all different and sexy as sin. She has the ability to turn the heat up while making you laugh out loud, I love that! Give this book a try if you haven't. I also loved her stories in the Secrets Books, those werewolves are to die for. She also has some ebooks at Ellora's Cave that I really enjoyed. Ms Davidson if you read this please keep up the good work, and we want more of those werewolves!

First, let me say I ADORE Maryjanice Davidson's werewolf story in "Secrets." She is funny and her men are usually terrific, often more likable than her women. I especially liked the last story ("Delightful Deception") because Jimmy was loving, generous and humorously sarcastic. I loved that the heroine was nicknamed "IQ" for "intellitence quota," as well as "ice queen;" however, she lost a lot of my sympathy when she planted her biological discovery in another woman's belongings to prevent it from being misused. I would have respected her willingness to risk everything to do the right thing, not use (and endanger) another woman. The first two stories also have problems. The tough guy with the heart of gold lacked something and the 15 year difference in ages between the man and woman (if I remember right) made me a little uncomfortable. I was NOT charmed by a man who plays the lottery and is unable to pay his rent. It's a little too cutsey that because he (a white) was adopted by a black woman, he STILL thinks that he's black. He's not eight! And the first story had too much acrobatic escapes and needed more romance. One dislike: repeated phrases ("bim" instead of bimbo, and "kick him in the 'nads," etc.) used by more than one character. Maryjanice needs to make each character unique, with no repeated dialogue, etc. She manages to create a great romance within the novella format--something that many authors are unable to do.

I loved these short stories! The author creates interesting characters that constantly had me laughing.
Good humor and great sex are the benchmarks I look for in a great read. I definitely recommend this book.

I just couldn't get into this. I wont be too harsh about it because reading something when sick doesn't give it a fair shot. Let's just say it wasn't a faith healing read.