Reason number one why I was chomping at the bits to get started on this book right away, was because of how Gwen and Logan's relationship kind of didn't happen in the first book. Lucky for me, I was able to read both books back to back. I'm glad this book didn't fall for the second in the series syndrome wherein authors were unable to sustain the same intensity as the first book. I'd say that this was actually better.

At the end of Touch of Frost, Logan became Gwen's trainer of some sort. I was a bit disappointed that the author didn't really dwell on having some awkward albeit, sexually charged tension between these two. The possibilities were endless. After all, Gwen couldn't touch Logan because she'd be able to know his deep dark secrets and at the same time, Logan made her known that the two of them couldn't, shouldn't happen. I was filled with sick anticipation to find out how they will be able to resist the temptation to touch each other. Sadly, Logan decided to take the boneheaded road, ignoring Gwen for the most part and shoving his tongue down some other girl's throat on another. *sigh* Boys!

Gwen's enemies started making their presence known through several attempts on her life. First, someone tried to run her over; next, someone tried to skewer her with an arrow. And at the Winter Carnival, a Ferni wolf started tracking her. The worst of it all was the deliberate way an avalanche was set off for the sole purpose of burying her alive. It wasn't long before she figured out that her assassin was closer to her than she thinks.

In this book, Gwen's powers have started to manifest and along that, her abilities to fight have started to improve. Under the tutelage and training of the three Spartans, she was able to realize another segment of her power - that she's able to fight using another person's abilities. I thought this was another way the author made Gwen ultimately better. She's still scared but at least she's a bit more confident.

I also loved the other characters that were introduced here - particularly Oliver and Kenzie. There were some predictability as to the real identity of another character but other than that, I liked this book better. I'm crossing my fingers that on the next book, there will be more of Logan Quinn. I think we've barely uncovered an inch of this hot Spartan.

The best thing about Ms. Estep's writing is that she takes you where you needed to go right away. The revelations, the actions...everything was paced in such a way that you're neither bored nor breathless from the sheer G-force of how the book's plot unraveled. I think that's the primo reason why I ate this book up faster than its predecessor. The next book will not be out until next Summer...oh man. Blessed are those who will receive an ARC of Dark Frost!