Burning Season

by Kiki Swinson

National bestselling author Kiki Swinson's novels set it off with killer plot twists, merciless characters—and an unsparing portrayal of Southern struggling, lying, betraying . . . and dying. Now everything is on the line as a female firefighter desperate for money gets caught up in a man-made disaster . . .

Set your schemes . . .
A volunteer Virginia Beach firefighter, Alayna Curry faces death every day—and is proud to carry on her retired father's legacy. But with cash always tight and her long-time boyfriend Levi pressuring her to give up what she loves to make more money, she knows she needs more cash flow to stay afloat. . .

Set your traps . . .
All Alayna has to do is keep quiet about a scheme to burn down buildings for insurance-hungry “clients.” And for a while she’s on fire from the rush, making insane cash—and finding new passion in all the wrong places. But when the money suddenly stops rolling in—and one “client” after another pushes back against the deal—Alayna and the rest of the crew stop watching out for each other and start fighting for their lives . . .

Set your life on fire . . .
Now with the cops turning up the heat and every firefighter for themselves, Alayna must walk an impossible line to get out from under. But between betrayal, secrets, and broken duty, will what loyalty she has left be the one thing that burns her life to the ground for good?

224 pages, Hardcover

Published April 25, 2023

About the author

Kiki Swinson was born and raised in Portsmouth, Virginia. She discovered her flair for writing after completing her first novel, Mad Shambles, while serving a five-year sentence at a federal prison.
After being released in December 1996, Kiki later went on to self-publish Mad Shambles. Her passion for writing didn't stop there. Writing feverishly into the wee hours of the night, she completed her second novel, Wifey, which was published by Melodrama Publishing. After the success of Wifey, Kiki penned the sequels I'm Still Wifey and Life After Wifey, as well as The Candy Shop and A Sticky Situation.

Reviews

[Tajma Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

The description of this book pulled me in immediately. Unfortunately, I feel like there was a huge disconnect between what was promised in the description and what was delivered. The suspense was lacking and made the plot very predictable. The characters were very unlikeable which made it hard to care about the outcome.

I received an ARC for my honest review.

[Diane Rembert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This page turner is about insurance fraud, which eventually leads to murder. Alayna finds herself caught in the middle, as she tries to protect her brother Alonzo, while trying to stay loyal to Tim. In the midst of the investigation, many secrets are revealed, and you don't know shook to trust.

The character development was amazing and the plot twists were exceptional. My favorite character is Alayna, for standing ten toes down for her brother. My least favorite character was Tim, because he was all for self and didn't care who he hurt in the process. This, by far, is one of my favorite books by @allthingskikiswinson and it has earned a spot as one of the best books that I've read this year.

[Susan Addy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a quick read and the topic of insurance fraud really interested me. But I found that I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. They all were unethical and had no qualms about ripping off anyone they came in contact with. I guess it put me in touch with the kinds of people who lied more easily than telling the truth. It was fiction but made me feel sad for the world they inhabited.

[Christine Chatelain Latimer · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Burning Season" by Kiki Swinson offers a thrilling narrative that seamlessly combines the adrenaline of firefighting with the morally complex world of insurance fraud. The protagonist, Alayna Curry, facing financial struggles and the temptation of quick cash, provides a relatable and engaging journey. The portrayal of Southern life adds depth to the story, and the unpredictable plot twists keep readers guessing until the end. However, the novel occasionally relies on Southern clichés, lacking a nuanced exploration of the cultural backdrop. The moral dilemma confronting Alayna feels somewhat contrived, hindering complete investment in her character. The pacing becomes uneven in the latter part of the book, with abrupt and disconnected twists, and the narrative leans heavily on suspense, occasionally sacrificing depth in character development. Despite these shortcomings, "Burning Season" remains a gripping page-turner that navigates themes of loyalty, betrayal, and life-altering choices.

[Ryan German · Rating 2 out of 5]

This started out with an interesting premise but the progression and descriptive language was disappointing.

[The Litt Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read the full hot fyah review over at The Litt Librarian

I got a chance to read Burning Season, and I wasn't impressed. The synopsis had my full attention, but the story didn't live up to the hype. My biggest disappointment with this story is that I thought it would focus more on the main character, Alayna. Burning Season wasn't about her at all. Even though she is the main character, she's written as if she was a side character.

Aside from the lack of girl power, the story was very predictable. None of the characters made smart decisions, and most were so unbelievable that I had to put the book down a few times to prevent me from throwing it against the wall.

This could have been executed better. I know it's set up to be a series, but this book had a terrible cliffhanger, if you want to call it that. With the abrupt ending, I call it incomplete.

2.5 STARS

[Diane Stultz · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a story about crooked firefighters that scammed insurance companies for fire damage and then made deals with homeowners to give them a payout for the exaggerated fire damage reports. Things go astray and people are killed. You know all along who committed the murders, but the insistent lying and cover-ups keep the Feds on their toes.
The writing is some of the worst I have seen. There were too much unnecessary back and forth conversations. “My phone rang, then I answered it and said hello.” The two most irritating and over-used/excessive writing habits were:
1. The author felt the need to mention how many times a phone rang before answering or how many knocks it took for someone to answer the door. There were too many of these descriptions to count.
2. The other was, the author felt the need to mention if the person was White. Ex: “The White guard, a White agent, The Caucasian woman etc.
The only redeeming quality was that each chapter was written from one of the three main characters' point of view and the chapters were short and sweet.
Neither of these descriptions or information added anything to the story. The ending was not conclusive, but not in a “left you hanging” type of way. It simply ended. The story is in no way compelling enough for a sequel. Ugh! It was a short book, but I should have abandoned it after the first few chapters.

[Terri Anderson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pitiful writing involving pitiful characters…

[Vee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review:
Burning Season by @kikiswinson
5/5
Pub Date: 4/25/23


Synopsis:

Set your schemes . ..
A volunteer Virginia Beach firefighter, Alayna Curry faces death every day-and is proud to carry on her retired father's legacy. But with cash always tight and her long-time bovfriend Levi pressuring her to give up what she loves to make more money, she knows she needs more cash flow to stay afloat..

Set your traps .
All Alayna has to do is keep quiet about a scheme to burn down buildings for insurance-hungry "clients." And for a while she's on fire from the rush, making insane cash-and finding new passion in all the wrong places. But when the money suddenly stops rolling in
-and one "client" after another pushes back against the deal-Alayna and the rest of the crew stop watching out for each other and start fighting for their lives.

Set your life on fire . ..
Now with the cops turning up the heat and every firefighter for themselves, Alayna must walk an impossible line to get out from under. But between betrayal, secrets, and broken duty, will what loyalty she has left be the one thing that burns her life to the ground for good?

My thoughts:
Whewww! Alonzo. Wtf...Is all I can say... this book took me on the kind of rollercoaster ride that I didn't want to get off of! The character build up, the plot build up, the setting, the loyalties broken, the underhanded sh!t, the "who did it"...
... This book was
everything! Read this if you need a book that will bend your brain a lil bit a
Thank vou to @cocoachapters + @kikiswinson + @kensingtonbooks for my gifted copy of this a$$ book!

[Kelsie Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Burning Season is multicultural interest fiction by Kiki Swinson.

Alayna Curry and her brother, Alonzo Riddick, are following in their father’s footsteps by working as firefighters at a Virginia Beach fire station. They’re as close as siblings can be and, in theory, would do anything for each other. How far will they have to go to test the theory?

Kiki Swinson is one of my go-to authors, and she did not disappoint. These characters are well-rounded and completely believable, though not entirely likable. The story is revealed through the alternating viewpoints of the major characters. Swinson smoothly handles this potentially confusing writing technique with appropriate chapter headers. The plot is compelling and features stunning twists. It holds the attention from beginning to end and is appropriately paced. I wanted more from the ending, but it does leave open the option for future installments. I throughly enjoyed Burning Season and rate it 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys good fiction, especially with multicultural interest.

My thanks to Kensington Books, Dafina, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

[ThePurpleElephant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by Kiki and it did not disappoint. I was really invested in this story and it’s outcome. Alayna was loyal to a fault. She was easily led/misled by her feelings.

Tim was insufferable, not Mr. Holier than though but his boat is full of holes. And his wife ughhh, I got yo
“black bi%c# “

Jesse- Whiny, needy, entitled and gross.

Alonzo has the characteristics of a good man but the actions of a man child. You don’t get to turn someone else’s life upside down because things don’t go your way.

Levi- I felt bad for him throughout the story but towards the end in his weak attempt to get his kick back I guess. I could see why Alayna didn’t respect him, he was a goofy!

Pricilla- ehh mixed feelings. Spoiled and Dense but, also loyal and naive.

The ending was abrupt seems like even though there is a part 2. There were some loose ends in Part 1

I really enjoyed it though.

[Readwithchan_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not what I expected at all

I haven't read a Kiki book since I was in my teens.
And boy I’ve been missing out…there’s not much I can say without spoilers but Tim was a b word.
Very manipulative and I didn’t like him at all.
Levi was whew look I wanted to go in the book and tussle with him because he had Alayna messed up. Alayna was blinded by the love she had for her brother and I hate that for her because he used her too. Jesse was doing toooo much like sir be fr mkay… There was something’s in this book that had me side eyeing because there was some queerphobic things in the book that had me wanting to stop reading but I pushed through..

If you like messy and drama then this book would be the book for you.

I was given an ARC for my honest review

Rating 3.5

[Jasmine Andras · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished reading this book today. It was great! Very suspenseful and dramatic. A lot of characters in this so after rereading the overview a bunch of times I finally understood they were running an insurance scam. I DID NOT EXPECT THE ENDING AT ALL!!!

I will most definitely be finishing the 2nd book as well. I’ll probably start on “Where There’s Smoke” tomorrow.

Alayna Curry’s brother, Alonzo, whose nickname is Zo, was the most likeable character. Although Alayna and him are mostly the main characters, he’s my favorite. The book does switch between POV’s of various characters. I reccomend this book if you want a fast paced crime and thriller book! I love all of Kiki’s work and this is definitely one of the reasons why!

Just be warned that there is a BIT of NSFW in this book!!!

[Nebulous · Rating 3 out of 5]

Burning Season by Kiki Swanson was a tense and abrupt read. The element of suspense was loose because I could quickly figure out how the plot would pan out. The characters were highly unlikeable, and loyalty and greed dictated their every move. The pacing was good, and the stakes were getting higher, but I couldn't care for the outcome of the three key characters. The multiple POVs assisted to an extent with an unexpected and sudden ending. Honestly, I found a significant mismatch between the blurb and the story. Unfortunately, this is where I depart from this series.

Thank you, NetGalley & Kensington Books, for giving me an ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.

[Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kiki Swinson has done it again! Moving away somewhat from her normal genre and venturing out to a more multicultural plot, Swinson captures your attention from the very first page and holds it throughout the story. The characters, though not very well liked in most instances, are still well rounded and believable. Fraud, lies, adultery and murder can be found in this book, along with some loyalty and some backstabbing. Here’s oping for future installments to this story. The pace is good, and the various twists and turns continue to keep you engaged. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

[Patricia A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to #NetGalley, Kensington Publications and Kiki Swinson for the opportunity to read an advance copy of BURNING SEASON, to be published 25 April 2023. This was a multicultural fiction book with an extended family which suffers from a variety of issues, including fraud, murder, lies, adultery and alternative lifestyles. This was one of those books that the situation kept getting worse with no relief until it ended. The finale was a surprise. 5/5 stars. #NetGalley. #KensingtonPublications #KikiSwinson

[Ranie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow... genuinely phenomenal, shockingly twisted, and quite impressively realistic! The writing techniques and concepts were surprisingly suspenful and violently horrified.

I didn't anticipate so much anger between friends and coworkers that could be challenged when faced with numerous murders. I respected Alayana loyalty and unconditional trust to her brother, Alfonso, although he is truly a criminal.

I thought the ending of this novel was very impactful by all aspects, and Tim "Got what he deserved"... Therefore, I highly recommend this book.

[Niatate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was drama filled and fast moving. Although I liked the book, I liked none of the characters. They were all selfish and foolish. One was even a sociopath. It kept me interested. I didn’t like the ending. It just came to the ending abruptly. That could have been written with more details. This is the first of a series and I am interested in reading the next book to see where this goes.
****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

[Fatima · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is refreshing to read a new series with new characters from Kiki. When I started the book I wasn’t sure how I was going to like it, but as I kept reading the story got really interesting. Ayanna irked my nerves but she is loyal. If you enjoy suspense, drama, and betrayal in your reads then this is the book for you. Thank you Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Taylor Browne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read, all gas and no brakes! The author did not waste a page quickly throwing us into the story. I feel like this book had a lot of potential, but the story line started to go a bit haywire. I wish the author had reeled it in some with the different POVs. Based on the ending, I believe there’s going to be a part two. And while it was just an okay read for me, I am interested in seeing how things turn out for thee characters because they truly left behind a mess in this book.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

OK. Reading the first one was just a dupe of the sequel. Or, vice versa.
Alayna is married to Levi (who she can't stand).
Not sure why Levi was even written in the book. We don't know how long they were married or anything else.
She's sleeping with Tim (her older boss). Her brother Alonzo and Tim are into fraud.
Rinse and repeat.

[Tash Renee 🌸🤍🌸 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book had my interest from beginning to end. I disliked the ending. The Storyline was different, and unusual, and the characters had no morals. It makes me wonder if stories like this happens in real life. I just googled the author and seen there was a part 2 titled “Where There’s Smoke” so I’ll have to check it out and see what happens to Alayna Curry & her bro Zo. 👀

[Cindi Jaffee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read into the lives of fire fighters gone bad. Insurance fraud, extra marital affairs and murder are all part of the book. The ending leaves you hanging wondering what happens to Zo who is in jail accused of murder.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Am I my brother’s keeper?” In book format. Alayna goes above and beyond for her brother Alonzo! Wonderful storyline with excellent character development. Can’t to read part 2. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

[Sailaja · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a quick fast read. It was awesome until the end. The end seemed rather abrupt and rushed. I would have loved to see a good ending for this book

[DOMINIQUE Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come

[Anniee Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kiki Swinson did amazing with this one. I read this book in three days because I couldn't put it down. If you haven't already grab yours.

[HoneyButterfly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The ending was somewhat of a cliffhanger. I hope she writes another book.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast read about loyalty to family.

[Marinel DeBerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished this book in 2 days. The drama was EVERYTHING! I know people in power can be corrupt but these siblings, Alonso & Alayna, ooze corruption but more so loyalty to one another.