Determining the genre for Touched By a Phoenix is a challenge because it is a successful mix of several. Romance, yes, but so much more. There is a lot of techie talk that, in places, reads like science fiction; there is mystery and suspense; and last but not least, there are some very explicit sexual encounters. I love to read about strong women and our protagonist Alexis kicks butt! There’s just no other way to put it – strong, independent, willful and will stop at nothing to protect her man. This is a fast-paced book that will capture the imagination at what man can create and the consequences of those creations. It is not a book for the faint of heart; and if you can’t take raw emotion, and almost-primal sexual encounters, it may not be for you. However, if you like your books to be gritty, graphic and starkly realistic, Touched By a Phoenix is a must read. This is Byron’s first novel and it’s a good one. I can’t wait to see what the future Byron and her readers.