Playing With Fire

by Tamara Morgan

Fiona Nelson has always been one hot ticket—even before she took the conversion serum that gave her superhuman abilities. Fiona's powers come at a price: lack of human contact, or she won't be the only thing burning. When she loses control of her emotions, her fire powers run rampant...and she's hurt enough people already.

Including herself.

But when the man behind her conversion returns to blackmail her into helping him gain power, the only person she can turn to is Ian Jones, the man who broke her teenage heart. The man determined to expose the criminal known as Fireball, whose explosive escapades are just a little too close to Fiona's M.O.

Ian is convinced Fiona's dangerous, convinced she's Fireball, and convinced he'll damn himself if he doesn't resist a heat that's always drawn him to Fiona like a moth to a flame—but Ian has his own secrets.

And he'll learn far too soon what happens when you play with fire.

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Romance, Paranormal, Ebooks, Fantasy

81 pages, ebook

First published September 7, 2012

About the author

Tamara Morgan is a contemporary comedy romance author. Ninety-nine percent of her information comes from television, movies, books, and all other pop culture activities that limit the amount of time she has to spend in polite company.

Her long-lived affinity for romance novels survived a B.A. degree in English Literature, after which time she discovered it was much more fun to create stories than analyze the life out of them. She lives with her husband and teen in the Inland Northwest, where the summers are hot, the winters are cold, and coffee is available on every street corner.

Reviews

[Alana ~ The Book Pimp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an eBook from Entangled Publishing in exchange for a free review. My thoughts are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

I found this book to be a short, easy read. It was slightly spicy and is definitely not meant for kids. It had this intriguing X-Man thing going on... and I loved that aspect of it. The 'back-story' was well explained (I thought) without dwelling too much on it and deviating from the story. I have to admit, if I had been given the chance and money to afford such a thing, I would have been in line to get a shot myself!

Before I forget, I have to mention... one of the best openings ever. I can't help myself, I just have to share this funny opening bit:

"I should have opted for the boob job."

Trust me, it totally makes sense once you start reading the story. But right there, starts you off with the sarcastic humor- I had a smile on my face reading this!

"Three-headed kittens spewing out of his mouth couldn't have been more surprising."

I really wished it was longer. That was probably one of the 'black marks' against it... just as I was really getting comfortable with the characters and attached to them, it was over. This book could easily be made into a series, should the author choose to do so. Nice little read, not knock-me-over fabulous, but enjoyable.

One aspect I really liked was the fact that we got to see more than just one point of view. It was nice being able to 'get inside the head' of both main characters. Although how sleazy was Patrick... ewwww.... he was definitely a 'bad guy' I wanted to see slapped and knocked down a few pegs. And what an absolutely stupid, useless, and disgusting 'gift'.

If you are looking for a sassy, fun, spicy little read with a paranormal persuasion, than look no further than Playing with Fire!

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novellas have never been on my radar. I fancy myself a hardcore novels only reader who stays away from short stories, novellas, flash fiction, and so forth. I don’t quite know why. It’s kind of silly. But when I heard about PLAYING WITH FIRE, I immediately decided I had to have it. I didn’t know why, nor did I care. I loaded it onto my Kindle, settled myself in my favorite chair, and stormed through it in a little more than an hour.

PLAYING WITH FIRE definitely had an intriguing plot. Following Fiona, a girl “cursed” if you would with the silly idea to inject herself with a drug that made her a dangerous pyrokinetic, and Ian, a scientist and one of the boys who tormented her as a teenager, it easily falls into Entangled’s new line of superhero novellas. Ian has been hunting the Fireball for years, and when he finds Fiona, he knows he’s found the woman responsible for bank robberies, murders, and arsons across town. Or has he?

What I really enjoyed about this novella was Fiona. Although she had a past as the easy girl in school, leading to a rather vulgar nickname, she has tried to reform herself. Or that might have just been the fact that she’s burned anyone who ever tried to have sex with her since that fateful day. She is a great heroine – equal parts sassy and street smart. I could totally sympathize with her fears and frustrations. I mean, I’m not a pyrokinetic of course, but being wary of men and their intentions? I totally understand that.

The world itself was pretty well thought out for being a simple novella, but I would have liked to know more about the drugs, the control of these newly empowered, the mechanics of how they work, etc. I enjoyed the brief forays into explanations. Maybe if the story had been full-length we could have learned more about this world with so much potential, but being a novella, we only had a hint. Likewise, the emotional connection between Fiona and Ian seemed too sudden, especially with a certain revelation that brought them together. It seemed more of a relationship of need versus desire. Fiona wanted sex. Ian gave her sex. This could have been more fleshed out in my opinion, creating a stronger story since it was a romance.

But the ending was what made the story for me. With the average level of writing, the conclusion wrenched up the tension and hooked me. By far the climax was my favorite part, complete with kidnappings, villains, freezing time, and cover ups. I would read more of Tamara Morgan’s stories just because of this climax. It had the tension I love.

There are pros and cons to this book. It could have used more romance, but at the expense of the world building and action? To be honest, I preferred what we had at the end of the day. This story is short and easy to read. But I would have preferred this one as a novel. There was so much going on with the world building and the relationships for only 81 pages.

VERDICT: More action than romance, PLAYING WITH FIRE isn’t your average superhero story, but with a tense conclusion that left me on the edge of my seat, it’s worth an hour of your time.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fiona's life went downhill when she was labelled a slut at school thanks to her close friend Ian and she spent the rest of her teens trying to live up to her reputation. But since she agreed to take the conversion serum and ended up with a rather uncontrollable power to create fire human contact has been impossible. Any strong kind of emotion causes her power to flare doing damage to anyone or anything around her so although she has tried to learn to control the ability she has had to become a loner just to keep others safe. When someone with similar abilities starts making random attacks in her area Fiona is under suspicion but the person who will either condemn her or prove her innocence is none other than the boy who broke her heart and ruined her life all those years ago. Ian has always regretted the way he treated Fiona but how can he prove it to her?

I can never resist a story about humans with supernatural abilities so I couldn't wait to read Playing with Fire. This was my first story by Tamara Morgan but it won't be the last and I'm wondering if this is going to be the first instalment to a new series. If it is I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more stories. As a novella with around 80 pages this is a quick read and doesn't allow the author much time for world building but she has still managed to give a bit of history around why people took the conversion serum and the effects it had on them. It was a really interesting idea and definitely has scope for lots more set in this world.

I liked Fiona's character but I have to admit I found myself a little frustrated at how she acted up to the reputation she has had since she was a teenager. I did feel sorry for her though, especially the way she has always been used by the men in her life and that she is now living quite a lonely and solitary existence. Ian was a bit of a geek at school and that trait has carried over into his adulthood but he has matured a lot and is much more confident than he used to be. I actually have quite a soft spot for nerds so it wasn't difficult to develop a bit of a crush on him, particularly when he was so protective of Fiona. The romance does feel a little rushed but it can be hard to achieve the right balance when writing a novella and considering the world building that takes place Playing with Fire was still an enjoyable read.

If you like stories about superheroes or characters with X-Men type abilities and are looking for a quick fun read then you can't go far wrong with this one. I'm hoping that this does indeed turn into a series and I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for longer books in future if it does that allow a bit more time for character development and a slow build of the relationship. I'll definitely keep my eye out for more by Tamara Morgan in the future though.

[Heather Book Savvy Babe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 of 5 Stars

With colorful characters and a superhero theme, Playing With Fire is a fun, quick novella to read. The story is centered around Fiona, a woman who has the ability to shoot fire. It takes a little bit to fully understand how she came into her powers and how all the characters fit into the story, but the result is an overall entertaining story.

At first, I was unsure as to how much I liked Fiona as a character. She had a very sexually active past, and some of the commentary about it was a little off-putting for me, especially considering Ian's role in her past. I was confused as to what exactly happened between them, but it was clear that both Ian and Fiona had some maturing and growing up to do. As the story unfolded, I began to understand Fiona better, and sympathize with her. So, by the end of the book I came around and I liked both Fiona and Ian, they matched in unexpected ways.

I really liked the storyline for the superheroes, how they come into their abilities and how the villain sets up his plot. Even with the story being a short novella, I was still able to see how Fiona grew as a character and how her new abilities changed her, both inside and out. Tamara Morgan managed to include some humor and spunk into the storyline, giving Playing With Fire a fun edge. (The opening line is "I should have opted for the boob job." That should clue you into some of the humor :) ) The story starts out a little slow, but it builds to an action-packed and satisfying conclusion. It's been awhile since I've read a new take on superheroes, and I enjoyed Tamara Morgan's story. Paranormal romance readers, if you are looking for something a little different, and quick, Playing With Fire just might be the book for you.

*I received this book in exchange for and honest review*

[Julie (Let's Read Good Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I am a huge fan of superheroes, and when I saw that Entangled was publishing a series of novellas about super heroes, I had to read them. It was a little scary at first, because I was afraid I’d be disappointed, but Playing with Fire by Tamara Morgan is a fun, action-packed introduction to the Holding out for a Hero anthology series. I loved this story, and it even featured one of my favorite tropes – the second chance. This read kept me entertained from the first page to the last, and I can hardly wait to read more of the anthology.

Fiona is a character I could immediately sympathize with. She has the ability to hurl fire balls, but it comes at a steep price. When her emotions get out of control, her powers do too. She’s afraid of getting close to anyone because she is terrified of hurting them, and her last, failed attempt at intimacy ended disastrously, with her lover being badly burned. To make this situation even worse, she didn’t even want the superhuman abilities to begin with. Her manipulative boyfriend coerced her into it, and now she’s resigned herself to a sad and solitary life.

Into her life steps Ian, her childhood friend and the boy who broke her heart. He was also responsible for her being bullied at school, so I did have a few issues warming up to him. To be fair, Ian tried to rectify his past mistakes, but there were times when I felt that he didn’t do enough. When it was his friend taunting Fiona, he quickly tried to put an end to the hurtful name calling, but when all Fiona wanted was for Ian to trust and believe her, he fell a little short. In the end, he does gallantly redeem himself, but of the two of them, Fiona is obviously the more heroic.

I enjoyed the world building, and am interested to see how other authors tackle a new world where superheroes , and super villains, could live next door.

If you are looking for a fast-paced read with gobs of action, romance, and danger, look no further. Playing with Fire was quickly gobbled up, followed by a “Please, sir, may I have some more?” plea from me.

[Rhianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit flawed but a comicbook fan is likely to devour it.

Ian Jones had a good reason for rejecting Fiona Nelson all those years ago. He was the teenaged geek and she was a hottie with a reputation. When their paths cross this time it's not long before he suspects that she underwent the costly converstion treatment that's gifted people with supernatural abilities. He's been studying the effects of the conversion serum and trying to track down a specific firestarting criminal nicknamed Fireball.

Fiona's conversion has left her bereft of human touch and forced to control her emotions lest she set her world ablaze. When the ex who paid for her conversion drops back into her life to blackmail her into helping his latest bid for power she'll have to face the past she's tried to let go and decide whether to fight back or become a martyr.

Conceptually, PLAYING WITH FIRE is very comic-book-ish in a totally great way and the shortness of the story delivers itself to that narrative very well. It's not a bad story or a bad romance, it just fell flat to me. I felt like I'd read it before. The whole hot-girl with a crush on the geek (as teenagers) thing kind of confused me and never really felt plausible. It actually made Fiona seem shallow as if she couldn't possibly imagine the geek would be the one who rejected her. Like he should have been thanking heaven he was that lucky. That she was still hanging onto that a decade later seemed even sillier. That aside, I did like them together as a couple.

The plot has a nice twist that's not totally unpredictable but enjoyable. The world building was just right as far as a superhero-type one is concerned. I liked the sort of cliched source of the conversion serum and honestly, if Morgan wrote more novellas in this world, I'd probably read them.

As a novella it's a nice afternoon filler read for readers who love comicbook type stories and superheroes. If you're not big on the superhero thing I can't imagine this one would really entertain.

***Review copy received via publisher.

[Torzilla · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like novellas, I really do. What I don't always like about them is the fact that the romance sometimes does not work very well. For me, such was the case in PLAYING WITH FIRE.

I did not understand the attraction between Fiona and Ian. They supposedly have a rough high school past, but Fiona just finds him so delicious that, despite those harsh memories, she practically turns into a puddle of goo internally when they run into each other at the start of the story. "Okay," I thought to myself, "It can't be so bad, right? She just re-met some hottie with a body in the park!" My problem was that her memories of Ian turned me off from him almost instantaneously. If she felt she was so mistreated back then, why would she even give him a second thought so many years later? Is her self confidence that shoddy that she would settle for a jerk? Right from the start I was against this pairing, which did not bode well for the rest of the story.

Ian's character (and this is going from memory because it's been about a month since reading) was really not all that memorable, aside from the fact that he was like a stick in the mud and very broody. Fiona was a bit more likeable, but overall, these characters did not really stick with me.

What initially drew me in was the superpower approach the author took. I suppose I'm a sucker for humans with abilities such as controlling fire and the like. It was interesting, and I enjoyed the method of administering such abilities to the humans in this world. I think PLAYING WITH FIRE would have been more successful as an urban fantasy with a side of romance, as opposed to primarily being a romance. I felt like the interesting aspects of the novella were overwhelmed by lackluster characters. Too bad, too.

[Alexia Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was able to read this book early on and I loved it! And, I just want to say, I love geeky heroes. (I'll take an Ian please.) I thought Tamara did something interesting with this superhero book regarding Ian's work--something you'll just have to read the novella for yourself to find out.

[Jen Webb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to follow shortly.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ian is a hot nerd, I'm in love.

Ms Morgan, please keep writing stories from this world!

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a quick read. I enjoyed the ebook I think they could make this into a good movie :)