Phenomenal Debut book !!

I bought this book on a whim when i came across the (Relatively) new Shomi line of Harlequin. When it comes to romance novels I like diversity and I'm always looking for new story ideas. And that's what Shomi delivers, leaning towards fantasy, scifi, paranormal and futuristic but not quite being any of it or maybe a mix of all of it. I read one other Shomi before and liked it but was totally blowned away by "Phenomenal Girl 5" !!! I could not believe this came from a first time author!

The story is told by Lainey Livingston aka Phenomenal Girl 5. She has super strength and can fly and has just completed Offered to join the ranks of the elite Hands of Justice, the top notch cadre of superheroes in Megolopolis. But in order to join the team she has first to train with Robert Elliot aka the Reincarnist, the founder of the Elite Hands of Justice and a man who is re-born again and again and THUS has lived for several hundred years. He can wield magic and is highly intelligent. He is therefore a recluse and is Said to be eccentric and a very demanding teacher. Upon starting her training the outspoken Lainey is promptly clashing with the rather grim Robert. But to her astonishment They work together very well and Lainey begins to see the real man behind the superhero façade. Soon sparks begin to fly as Robert thaws to Lainey's wit and dry humor. But is it wise to fall for a man who wants to live forever?

This is only the first half of the book but as I do not want to give away any spoilers I will not tell the rest. About halfway through Ms. Menden comes up with an unexpected twist That made this story truly exceptional!

I found the superhero angle new and intriguing but liked it even more did the story what Firmly grounded in reality. The writing what not comicbook like or childish at all. The characters felt real and the romance was just wonderful and very believable. At one point Ms. Menden had me near tears! The story gripped me right from page one and made it very hard to put the book down. The dialogue which witty and had me laughing out loud at times. Instant addiction! Toward the end the intensity wavers a bit When the story concentrates more on the plot than the relationship between the main characters and the ending felt a bit rushed. But maybe that's just me as I love character driven novels and am more interested in characters and romance than storyline. On the whole, though, this book is just too good to give it anything less than 5 stars! I loved it and will definitely read it again in the future!