3.5 starsWe were introduced to Trace in book one, When You Dare, where Trace's sister, Alani, had just been rescued after being kidnapped by human traffickers. Trace is working undercover as a bodyguard for a powerful man, Murray Coburn, who he believes is a major player in human trafficking. Trace is determined to make sure that what happened to his sister doesn't happen to anyone else. In order to take down the ruthless Murray, Trace is working from the inside, waiting for a chance to put an end to the man's miserable and corrupted life.Priscilla "Priss" Patterson shows up at Murray's office claiming to be his long-lost daughter. She wears the innocence act well but she has her own agenda. She is determined to avenge her mother by killing Murray. She just hadn't counted on Trace getting in her way.I enjoyed this book a lot. Trace is very intense and the perfect hero. He is definitely an alpha male who takes charge. When Priscilla shows up at Murray's office, Trace's instinct is to immediately protect her even if it means possibly blowing his cover. There were many times that Priscilla could have blown Trace's cover with her impulsive behavior. It annoyed me that she insisted on being the one to kill Murray. I know she wants revenge and wants to find closure, but seriously, she owns a porn shop. What makes her think she is qualified to kill a high-powered businessman who is surrounded by guards and has an evil, sadistic girlfriend that likes to "play" with her toys? It annoyed me to no end when Trace would tell Priscilla that he would handle Murray and she would say that it's her job to kill him. Oh really? Are you a professional mercenary with years of training?Priscilla's character was difficult to like at times. Like Molly from When You Dare, she insisted on being part of the action like she had the proper tools to bring down the human traffickers. There were times where Priscilla was a help but she was also a hindrance - a lot. Just when I would start liking Priscilla, she would do or say something that would make me not like her again. It was an up and down relationship I had with her. I would love if the female characters in this series would exhibit some common sense and restraint. I can't take the impulsive behavior and the lack of "thought" when it comes to their actions. Especially when they are told how dangerous the situation is. It drove me crazy.Priscilla at times was rude and demeaning to the people around her. I know that she's in a tense and dangerous situation but she put herself in that situation when she walked into Murray's office. Her reactions to situations were over-the-top and dramatic. When Jackson had to rescue her while she was in the shower, all she could focus on was the fact that he saw her naked. Never once did it come to mind that she was a few seconds away from being dead. There are many examples throughout the book of Priscilla's focus on mundane things instead of the danger at hand.The sexual tension between Trace and Priscilla is immediate and fierce. Priscilla is putting on the innocent act in order to fool Murray but she isn't acting far from the truth. Living a sheltered life thanks to her Mother, Priscilla is innocent in every way. And this is where I also had another problem with Priscilla.*WARNING: Spoiler below*Priscilla is so innocent that she hasn't even kissed a man. She wants to explore the attraction between her and Trace but Trace wants to take it slow. Trace deduces that Priscilla is a virgin and she doesn't deny it. Trace is injected with a hallucinogen and aphrodisiac concoction by Helene. She then ties him up and plans on having her way with him. Luckily, Jackson and Priscilla show up in time to rescue Trace and knock out Helene. The effects of the toxin that Helene injected into Trace is extreme horniness. Once Jackson vacates the hotel room, Trace and Priscilla are alone. Trace doesn't want to have sex with Priscilla in his current state because of her innocence. Priscilla, on the other hand, sees it as the perfect time to have sex. So Priscilla proceeds to go down on Trace and give him a BJ. This is the same woman who didn't know how to kiss a man but she knows how to give a BJ? And later, when they get ready to have sex, she puts her arms and legs around Trace and asks, "Like this, right?" She claims to know sexual things because she owns a porn shop. Owning a porn shop and watching porn doesn't make you a sexually experienced person especially if you've lived a very sheltered life. So her "innocence" is a bundle of contradictions that I had a serious problem believing.*End spoiler*Trace of Fever is a an intense and sexy read. The plot moves along at a steady pace. Despite the issues I had with Priscilla, I liked this book and I think it's due mainly to Trace. He makes the book. He is way more alpha than Dare, in my opinion. We see Dare, Molly, and Chris again. Jackson plays a significant role in Trace's story and I can't wait to read Jackson's book. We get a peek into the push and pull relationship between Jackson and Trace's sister, Alani. I am hoping that because Alani is Trace's sister, she will not be like the heroines in the previous two books.The villains in Trace of Fever are truly evil and you can't wait for Trace to kick their ass. I definitely liked this book better than the first one. The motives behind the behavior of the villain in Trace of Fever made more sense than in When You Dare. And I liked that the plot of the human trafficking was more fleshed out.Trace of Fever is a great addition to this series.
