Like A Thief in the Night~ Bettie Sharpe

Note: Random hot fireman photo having absolutely nothing to do with Bettie Sharpe's book. Still, I needed a little pick me up today like this here older man with a mysterious smile and some big strapping equipment. Yes? It works for me. It's better than Pepto.

Focus, Lisabea. Focus.

I won Like a Thief in the Night over at CJ's Pay it Forward contest ( which I will do soon) and I read it last night. I've got a touch of the stomach thing so I need to be brief.

It's a little book. Kudos to Bettie for keeping her story tight, fast paced and on track. It's roughly 180 pages and they fly by so I was able to read it in one sitting (a real plus). I was not for a moment bored as there is plenty to keep you interested from the get go. This isn't the greatest story ever told with its predictable plot devices (magical poem or whatever and the stolen keys, et all) but Bettie's voice is strong and the characters move with purpose and with reason. I hate to admit that I didn't care for the heroine, Arden (who is a psychotic assassin) but because she's channeling the brilliant Nikita (the original), I was hooked. That Arden, what a freakin' nut case!

Anyway, Like a Thief in the Night, with its total leap of faith paranormal bits (what evs) is the story of an assassin, Arden, and her next victim, the thief, Aniketos. Little does she know that he can't be killed and it is she who will become his victim. This is not your everyday romance. It's not even MY everyday romance (heh). It's oddly cool and sort of repellent at the same time. I'm glad that these characters remain true to form all the way through the story even though I didn't exactly care for them. Sounds odd, right? I mean, this bitch Arden isn't going to wake up at the end of the book all wrapped up in a nest of Beanie Babies and My Little Ponies with the blue bird of happiness tweeting around her head. If she had I'd have tossed this against the wall. No, this is the kind of gal who will cut her lover's fucking head off. Harsh? Well, that's who she is. And Bettie, refreshingly, plays it out. This is one messed up girl. The initial sex act these two perform (gasp. gasp.) will make your head spin, I swear. Wow.


Uh, Bettie. Quick question: What's up with both of them and the shaving? I like my guys with pubic hair! And chest hair! That nekkid man meat would make make me laugh, I just know it. Also pro'lly itch a bit. Not to mention the razor burn.....

For my friends out there who enjoy the ass kicking female, here she is. Holy shit. For me? I need a bit more softness in my heroine. Am I not feminist enough for you? Pfft. Too bad. Do I recommend Like A Thief in the Night? Yes. Because it unusual and it's interesting and I'm not kidding about the Nikita thing. I think there is an audience for her work and that they will dig this take no prisoners fucked up in the head eat or be eaten kind of girl. I also think Bettie's only going to get better and better.