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Phoenix Rising #2
Blaze
With a man like him, every mission becomes personal. . .
Ever since FBI agent Keira O'Shay started tracking a young boy named Mateo, she's felt a connection even her empathic abilities can't explain. She needs to save Mateo from the cult leader holding him hostage. Nothing can interfere with that--not even the reappearance of Luke Ransom, the hot-as-hell fire captain she's regretted walking out on for three long years.
Losing Keira left Luke vulnerable--in every way. When they were together, the powers each possesses were mysteriously enhanced. But it's the sexy, surprising woman beneath the tough exterior that Luke's really missed. Even if she betrayed him utterly. And even if agreeing to help her uncover a government conspiracy means watching his life and his heart go up in flames again. . .
Ever since FBI agent Keira O'Shay started tracking a young boy named Mateo, she's felt a connection even her empathic abilities can't explain. She needs to save Mateo from the cult leader holding him hostage. Nothing can interfere with that--not even the reappearance of Luke Ransom, the hot-as-hell fire captain she's regretted walking out on for three long years.
Losing Keira left Luke vulnerable--in every way. When they were together, the powers each possesses were mysteriously enhanced. But it's the sexy, surprising woman beneath the tough exterior that Luke's really missed. Even if she betrayed him utterly. And even if agreeing to help her uncover a government conspiracy means watching his life and his heart go up in flames again. . .
385 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
22 people are currently reading
792 people want to read
About the author
Joan Swan
12 books507 followersUSA Today bestselling author of passion, danger and suspense.
I live in the magnificent wine country of California's central coast with my husband and two daughters.
I live in the magnificent wine country of California's central coast with my husband and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
July 3, 2020
FBI Agent Kiera O'Shay is on a mission to save a young boy named Mateo. She has tracked him to a compound where Federal Agents are ready to rescue a group of children. Among the agents is Kiera's ex, Lucas Ransom. Even though they haven't seen each other in three years, both feel that they made a mistake when they broke up.
Years ago, Luke and Kiera were members of a group of firefighters who were exposed to dangerous chemicals. Those chemicals left each member of their team with a different power. Kiera and Luke quickly realize that Mateo also has powers after being used by the government for experimental testing. Now a government agency is searching for Mateo and will stop at nothing to get him back.
Describing this series is kind of hard. It feels like romantic suspense, but it has paranormal elements. The team of former firefighters reminds me a little bit like a group of superheroes. I enjoyed the action and suspense portions of the story. The helped with the pacing of the story. I did not like the romance portion. Luke and Kiera broke up years ago because he wanted a family and she had major commitment issues. This time around they have the same problem. Kiera would realize she can't live without him and promise to give their relationship a try. An hour later she would back out and say she just couldn't do it. This happened a couple of times and drove me absolutely nuts. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
August 1, 2012
Blaze is one hell of a fast paced book that never slows down. From the very first page readers are dropped into an intense action scene, from there the action just keeps on. Keira is an amazing heroine to read. She is one tough chick. Her life has forced her to become this resilient woman. She had a very rough childhood, and then her adult life threw abilities at her that she never asked for and came with shadows and constant followers. Now, her latest assignment has forced her to work with her ex, an ex that she has never gotten over.
Luke *sighs* I want to have babies with Luke. Readers first meet Luke in Fever. He was really not a nice guy. I was concerned if I would even like him as a hero. I liked him from the moment he walked onto the pages. His job has taken him into the field to work with the one woman he compares all others to. He now has the opportunity to get her back into his life if only they can get over the one problem that drove them apart to begin with.
There is so much suspense and tension in Blaze. Luke and Keira are so much alike. Their abilities make the strong, but them being together make them an even stronger pair. I enjoyed how Keira’s ability affected Luke. This made for some highly entertaining banter.
Joan has a knack for creating remarkable characters. They are all incredibly fleshed out. The members of that firefighter team are so close they are family. They all care so much for each other. I still love Mitch. He is even more colorful in Blaze than he was in Fever. The little boy Keira is trying to protect, Mateo was adorable. He is also very special. I’ve never been as interested in a child in a book as I was him. He was one fascinating little guy!
I can’t wait for the next book. I want to know who the next couple is. I want to know just how much further the crazy goes with what DARPA is doing. I need to know more about everything. The reasoning’s behind DARPA have been revealed to an extent, but I know there is more to it.
Favorite quote, Luke to Keira
“I couldn’t be with anyone else anymore because my head and my body had figured out what my heart had always known. It’s always been you for me. Only you.”
Luke *sighs* I want to have babies with Luke. Readers first meet Luke in Fever. He was really not a nice guy. I was concerned if I would even like him as a hero. I liked him from the moment he walked onto the pages. His job has taken him into the field to work with the one woman he compares all others to. He now has the opportunity to get her back into his life if only they can get over the one problem that drove them apart to begin with.
There is so much suspense and tension in Blaze. Luke and Keira are so much alike. Their abilities make the strong, but them being together make them an even stronger pair. I enjoyed how Keira’s ability affected Luke. This made for some highly entertaining banter.
Joan has a knack for creating remarkable characters. They are all incredibly fleshed out. The members of that firefighter team are so close they are family. They all care so much for each other. I still love Mitch. He is even more colorful in Blaze than he was in Fever. The little boy Keira is trying to protect, Mateo was adorable. He is also very special. I’ve never been as interested in a child in a book as I was him. He was one fascinating little guy!
I can’t wait for the next book. I want to know who the next couple is. I want to know just how much further the crazy goes with what DARPA is doing. I need to know more about everything. The reasoning’s behind DARPA have been revealed to an extent, but I know there is more to it.
Favorite quote, Luke to Keira
“I couldn’t be with anyone else anymore because my head and my body had figured out what my heart had always known. It’s always been you for me. Only you.”
August 19, 2012
To read the full review, complete with Memorable Quotes and other recommended reads and similar authors, go here:
http://gravetells.com/2012/08/19/arc-...
Blaze hits the ground running with fiery tension between ex-lovers & firefighter teammates Kiera O'Shay and Luke Ransom, and a riveting action sequence that introduces more questions than it answers. Watching Kiera and Luke interact is like being around a passionate married couple who can't decide whether they'd rather kill each other or, well, you know; they have major chemistry right from the start. I absolutely loved their banter! Their snarky verbal battles were just as entertaining as the action and adventure, and are just about as consistent throughout the story too... which I really enjoyed. I actually started looking forward to watching them fight!
Kiera O'Shay is a badass, and not the overconfident, leather-wearing, sword-toting kind with an attitude bigger than the Goodyear Blimp. No, our Kiera is a firecracker of a woman who knows what she wants and how to get it, before going after it like a guided missile. She's a smart, take-no-shit, expert markswoman with a shattered heart and traumatic childhood enfortressed behind a wall of emotional steel, packed muscles, and intense S.W.A.T. training, and the only one who can get past that shell is ATF agent and fire cop Luke Ransom.
The most confident man Kiera O'Shay has ever met, Luke is all charisma and wit, a capable agent with a big bad side of get-with-the-program-or-get-the-hell-out-of-my-way. Underneath all that swagger, though, is a man who has never gotten over the love of his life and is willing to give up just about anything to see her safe and happy... even if it means living the rest of his life in misery.
You haven't seen longing and unrequited love until you've seen Luke and Kiera together, sarcastically bantering as if their lives depend on it and fighting their own primal urges to jump each other every other second. Why not just give in and go for it, you might ask? Bad breakups and volatile personalities have a way of leaving you skittish, and these two have hurt each other more than anyone else ever could have. Theirs is a story begging to be told, one expertly crafted from action, intrigue, supernatural science, and some of the most enthralling sexual tension I've ever read. This book is absolutely aptly named; the passion between Luke and Kiera blazes high and sparks fly hard. That man has a soft heart for his woman, but when he gets in the mood, the dominant comes out to play and we get to see Kiera let go and give over control. Sexy, sexy, sexy!
Mitch Foster was introduced in Fever as heroine Alyssa Foster's brother and lawyer extraordinaire. A sharp-witted playboy shark of a criminal defender with unquestionably questionable morals and an admirable streak of loyalty to his friends and family, it was made crystal clear in Blaze's prequel that you never want to earn the ire of this man. In this story, we get a deeper sense of just how connected he is... so much so, that it really makes you wonder just what depth of trouble the delectably sexy Mitch Foster has his fingers in, and when it's going to come back to bite him in the ass. I'm sure his day is coming, and that will be a story to read!
And Cash... I freaking love Cash! He's a brand new character introduced in Blaze, with family connections to Kiera, and I cannot wait to read more about him! Genius, cocky, confident, and daring, he's a hell of a character.
Joan Swan writes action like you're right there in the thick of it; pinging bullets, whooshes of fire, the near-tranquil state of severe injury are all masterfully translated through undeniably talented and creative writing. She doesn't fall prey to technical bad habits like repeated patterns of verbage, and her sentence structure is never boring or predictable. Reading a Joan Swan novel is like living a non-stop, danger-filled, trek through heartfelt friendships and off-the-rails sensual chemistry.
Aaahh, this book was SO GOOD! I did not want it to end! Every character is unique and compelling and every plot twist keeps the story, and series, fresh and addicting. How often do you read a book that wraps up the storyline but still has you jonzing for the next installment without forcing a cliffhanger down your throat, that makes your chest squeeze with every tortured glance and longing touch, whose action scenes make you feel like you just stepped into a Hollywood blockbuster movie? This is why Joan Swan is a master of her craft and why Blaze is a GraveTells Fave and the recipient of our extremely rare, perfect-rating Golden Heart award!
*** Review copy provided by Kensington & Joan Swan. No compensation was received for this review and all stated opinions are true and unbiased.
http://gravetells.com/2012/08/19/arc-...
Blaze hits the ground running with fiery tension between ex-lovers & firefighter teammates Kiera O'Shay and Luke Ransom, and a riveting action sequence that introduces more questions than it answers. Watching Kiera and Luke interact is like being around a passionate married couple who can't decide whether they'd rather kill each other or, well, you know; they have major chemistry right from the start. I absolutely loved their banter! Their snarky verbal battles were just as entertaining as the action and adventure, and are just about as consistent throughout the story too... which I really enjoyed. I actually started looking forward to watching them fight!
Kiera O'Shay is a badass, and not the overconfident, leather-wearing, sword-toting kind with an attitude bigger than the Goodyear Blimp. No, our Kiera is a firecracker of a woman who knows what she wants and how to get it, before going after it like a guided missile. She's a smart, take-no-shit, expert markswoman with a shattered heart and traumatic childhood enfortressed behind a wall of emotional steel, packed muscles, and intense S.W.A.T. training, and the only one who can get past that shell is ATF agent and fire cop Luke Ransom.
The most confident man Kiera O'Shay has ever met, Luke is all charisma and wit, a capable agent with a big bad side of get-with-the-program-or-get-the-hell-out-of-my-way. Underneath all that swagger, though, is a man who has never gotten over the love of his life and is willing to give up just about anything to see her safe and happy... even if it means living the rest of his life in misery.
You haven't seen longing and unrequited love until you've seen Luke and Kiera together, sarcastically bantering as if their lives depend on it and fighting their own primal urges to jump each other every other second. Why not just give in and go for it, you might ask? Bad breakups and volatile personalities have a way of leaving you skittish, and these two have hurt each other more than anyone else ever could have. Theirs is a story begging to be told, one expertly crafted from action, intrigue, supernatural science, and some of the most enthralling sexual tension I've ever read. This book is absolutely aptly named; the passion between Luke and Kiera blazes high and sparks fly hard. That man has a soft heart for his woman, but when he gets in the mood, the dominant comes out to play and we get to see Kiera let go and give over control. Sexy, sexy, sexy!
Mitch Foster was introduced in Fever as heroine Alyssa Foster's brother and lawyer extraordinaire. A sharp-witted playboy shark of a criminal defender with unquestionably questionable morals and an admirable streak of loyalty to his friends and family, it was made crystal clear in Blaze's prequel that you never want to earn the ire of this man. In this story, we get a deeper sense of just how connected he is... so much so, that it really makes you wonder just what depth of trouble the delectably sexy Mitch Foster has his fingers in, and when it's going to come back to bite him in the ass. I'm sure his day is coming, and that will be a story to read!
And Cash... I freaking love Cash! He's a brand new character introduced in Blaze, with family connections to Kiera, and I cannot wait to read more about him! Genius, cocky, confident, and daring, he's a hell of a character.
Joan Swan writes action like you're right there in the thick of it; pinging bullets, whooshes of fire, the near-tranquil state of severe injury are all masterfully translated through undeniably talented and creative writing. She doesn't fall prey to technical bad habits like repeated patterns of verbage, and her sentence structure is never boring or predictable. Reading a Joan Swan novel is like living a non-stop, danger-filled, trek through heartfelt friendships and off-the-rails sensual chemistry.
Aaahh, this book was SO GOOD! I did not want it to end! Every character is unique and compelling and every plot twist keeps the story, and series, fresh and addicting. How often do you read a book that wraps up the storyline but still has you jonzing for the next installment without forcing a cliffhanger down your throat, that makes your chest squeeze with every tortured glance and longing touch, whose action scenes make you feel like you just stepped into a Hollywood blockbuster movie? This is why Joan Swan is a master of her craft and why Blaze is a GraveTells Fave and the recipient of our extremely rare, perfect-rating Golden Heart award!
*** Review copy provided by Kensington & Joan Swan. No compensation was received for this review and all stated opinions are true and unbiased.
August 30, 2012
Book Two in the Pheonix Rising series, second book from her debut novel Fever.
Really like how Joan started the book with Keira. We heard "of" the woman in Fever. Mostly her past relationship with Luke. So this was a really good way for us readers to get a good introduction to her character and person. What drives her. Etc
Luke played a vital role in the end of Fever, so we readers are already well acquianted with him. Enough to have formed an opinion going in.
Not so with Keira. Mostly what we know is hearsay. And as a reader I like to learn about the woman more than what previous characters told us.
First impression of Keira: Strong. Not afraid to give her opinion to the higher ups. Even if it gets her reprimanded. Cautious - to hide the secret she's harboring, to not let a speck or hint of it released, a secret that mirrors Luke and Teagans in the grand scale of things.
Seventy pages in and my favorite side character makes a phone appearance. Absolutely love Mitch's character. Sarcastic and a wise-ass but he's there for those he cares about with all his connections. So I got a goofy grin at the way he answered the phone:
"Mitch, it's Luke"
"Oh, it's only you. What number are you calling from?" Mitch didn't wait for an answer. "This better be important, Ransom, 'cause my Padres are spanking your Giants, and if I miss even one good pitch, I'm going to be pissed."
When Keira told him not to trust anyone... that ol Mitch love there was the first to come to Luke's mind for help.
Blaze is totally living up to a sequel to Fever. Does not scrimp on the action and humor. Even though I feel sort of dead inside the humor in the book has reached me, enough to have me crack a smile or laughing outright.
Keira and Luke together is explosive. The two characters are so quirky! So fun to read and follow. Sure they snipe at each other but what couple doesn't have their fights? There are some unresloved issues between the two.
Was curious about the child angle. Sometimes it works and sometimes it drags the plot down. The boy really doesn't say much, the language barrier between the three but he seems to strengthen the plot and shows sides of the character. We've already seen Luke with his niece - but seeing how easily he fell into with the boy was so awwing.
137 - Caught this. Muahahaha moment:
She felt as if she'd fallen into an Indiana Jones Movie or an Elisabeth Naughton novel, in possession of a treasure everyone wanted, on a quest she didn't understand, running a race for which she had no timetable, no map.
: ) Hummm, wonder if she is talking about Naughton's Stolen series
228 pages in - Last night, around two am I was loath to put this book down to sleep even knowing I had to get up at seven am to get my three sons up. I wanted to read the next page...
Ahh we have been introduced to some new characters. I have a hunch on who the elusive, mysterious Q is. And damn Joan makes some believable villians because I hate Jocelyn. She's an evil B**ch...
Ahhhhhh <--- Now that is the sound of a book high. I really do not think I can start another book right now. I want to settle on my contentment with this book. Can't wait for more books! I seen some potential!!
September 29, 2012
What an adrenaline rush this book was from start to finish. Blaze kicks the conspiracy of what happened in the warehouse fire to the seven members of a fire fighting hazmat unit into high gear.
We met Luke in Fever. He was the man that had taken in his niece when his brother in law had been sent to jail for killing his wife - Luke's sister. We knew Luke was still hurting over his girlfriend Keira leaving him with one of the reason's being she didn't want kids and he did. The "powers" they also got from being in the fire which were intensified when they were together played a small part in her leaving too.
This book starts out with both Keira who is a FBI sharpshooter now and Luke who is with ATF both being on the scene of a alleged cult-compound where the leader was holding children hostage. One of whom is a little boy Keira has a psychic connection to and had been looking for over a year. What she didn't expect to see was Luke show up who she hadn't seen in 3 years and now working with ATF. Immediately their psychic connection kicks into gear and even though they are both reeling from seeing each other again the connection ends up saving both there lives.
From here things start rolling and I think a lot is spoiler territory.
A lot more is told about each of the team. Many things you thought that happened in both in the first book and even during this one was not the case. I love how the author is keeping us on our toes and surprising us at every turn.
I cannot wait for the next book in this series.
We met Luke in Fever. He was the man that had taken in his niece when his brother in law had been sent to jail for killing his wife - Luke's sister. We knew Luke was still hurting over his girlfriend Keira leaving him with one of the reason's being she didn't want kids and he did. The "powers" they also got from being in the fire which were intensified when they were together played a small part in her leaving too.
This book starts out with both Keira who is a FBI sharpshooter now and Luke who is with ATF both being on the scene of a alleged cult-compound where the leader was holding children hostage. One of whom is a little boy Keira has a psychic connection to and had been looking for over a year. What she didn't expect to see was Luke show up who she hadn't seen in 3 years and now working with ATF. Immediately their psychic connection kicks into gear and even though they are both reeling from seeing each other again the connection ends up saving both there lives.
From here things start rolling and I think a lot is spoiler territory.
A lot more is told about each of the team. Many things you thought that happened in both in the first book and even during this one was not the case. I love how the author is keeping us on our toes and surprising us at every turn.
I cannot wait for the next book in this series.
September 16, 2012
4.5 Stars
ARC provided by author. Available September 25, 2012
BLAZE is the second book by Joan Swan ~ and second in the series, Phoenix Rising.
Although the book could be classified as a Romantic Suspense, there are some characteristics to the Paranormal genre.
Back story: Three years ago, seven firefighters respond to the call of a blazing fire where their world changes forever for each of them. Now each member has a physical scar and an eerie ability to do things inhumanly possible.
Luke Ransom and Keira O'Shay share a romantic history. They worked as firefighters from the same house and fought the blaze that irrevocably changed their lives forever.
When one of their own, (Teague Creek-from FEVER, Book One), is incarcerated for a crime he didn't commit, Luke and Keira step in to help take care of Teague's daughter.
Luke starts picturing the family that he craves-and wants-with Keira. And an ultimatum has Keira running in the other direction.
Present time: The ex-lovers are forced together again, to help rescue a little boy with amazing abilities...so similar to their own. Unresolved feelings come crashing back to the surface and the ultimatum that dissolved their relationship in the past, threatens to permanently break them apart again.
There are a lot of twisty, turn-y plots going on in Swan's BLAZE-but she carries them off like a pro and you are swept up in the action along with her characters. From the fight scenes to the bedroom scenes, there is an emotional pull.
What draws me to series romance is the re-visitation of old characters. As a reader, it's like seeing old friends and family. Mitch Foster, lawyer extraordinaire, is back and frisky as ever. I swear, that man drives me just as crazy as he does Luke in this book. He knows just what buttons to push. We also get more back story of the other firefighters involved in the massive explosion three years ago. And a secret's revealed that'll have you almost peeing your pants. I know I did.
Although you can read BLAZE as a stand-alone, I highly suggest you don't. You will miss out on so much with plot development, character ARCs and so much more.
I'll leave with you with a scene that I marked as one of my favorites:
And I lurve Luke. He is such a great, er...negotiator.
GREAT, fantastic, action-packed, smexy times, read!
ARC provided by author. Available September 25, 2012
BLAZE is the second book by Joan Swan ~ and second in the series, Phoenix Rising.
Although the book could be classified as a Romantic Suspense, there are some characteristics to the Paranormal genre.
Back story: Three years ago, seven firefighters respond to the call of a blazing fire where their world changes forever for each of them. Now each member has a physical scar and an eerie ability to do things inhumanly possible.
Luke Ransom and Keira O'Shay share a romantic history. They worked as firefighters from the same house and fought the blaze that irrevocably changed their lives forever.
When one of their own, (Teague Creek-from FEVER, Book One), is incarcerated for a crime he didn't commit, Luke and Keira step in to help take care of Teague's daughter.
Luke starts picturing the family that he craves-and wants-with Keira. And an ultimatum has Keira running in the other direction.
Present time: The ex-lovers are forced together again, to help rescue a little boy with amazing abilities...so similar to their own. Unresolved feelings come crashing back to the surface and the ultimatum that dissolved their relationship in the past, threatens to permanently break them apart again.
There are a lot of twisty, turn-y plots going on in Swan's BLAZE-but she carries them off like a pro and you are swept up in the action along with her characters. From the fight scenes to the bedroom scenes, there is an emotional pull.
What draws me to series romance is the re-visitation of old characters. As a reader, it's like seeing old friends and family. Mitch Foster, lawyer extraordinaire, is back and frisky as ever. I swear, that man drives me just as crazy as he does Luke in this book. He knows just what buttons to push. We also get more back story of the other firefighters involved in the massive explosion three years ago. And a secret's revealed that'll have you almost peeing your pants. I know I did.
Although you can read BLAZE as a stand-alone, I highly suggest you don't. You will miss out on so much with plot development, character ARCs and so much more.
I'll leave with you with a scene that I marked as one of my favorites:
"I want more." She arched the small of her back, tilting her pelvis, trying to take him deeper. "I want it all."
"It's all for you." Luke made a low growling sound in his throat and pushed his heps forward, filling her another inch.
They picked up a quick, perfect rhythm. With each of Luke's thrusts, Keira angled her hips up and back. Inch by inch, he drove deeper on each push. By the time he finally filled her, sweat dripped down her temple and stung her eye.
Wedged deep inside her, Luke pushed up on his hands. "My negotiation skills..." he panted, wiping his forehead on his bicep, "have been exhausted. Time to rock and roll, baby."
Christ, wasn't that what they'd been doing?
And I lurve Luke. He is such a great, er...negotiator.
GREAT, fantastic, action-packed, smexy times, read!
September 6, 2013
Things are really heating up in this series of books. I was on the edge of my seat from page one to the moment I closed the book on the last page. If it wasn't the danger and intrigue caused by the government operatives, it was the hideous amount of sexual tension and passion coming off the main characters. Before I go much further, let me caution folks to read this series in order because it picks up where the first one left off even though the focus puts two different characters in the lime light.
Keira is a tough as nails FBI agent with scary strong skills both as a warrior, but the more hidden mental skills she acquired during the chemical fire that altered her life forever. It is the more secret skills that have led her to this stand-off outside a commune where inside is the boy she has heard speaking in her head for over a year. The strong mental connection has pulled her to this place and she knows time is running out and she must help the boy. When her boss okays her going in, she is forced to take a back-up agent from the ATF agency who are also deployed outside the compound. Her heart-wrenching past smacks her in the face full force when the man she left behind walks up to take his place as her partner.
Luke is as shocked as Keira and he feels the same gut-twisting pain. They aren't breathing the same air one minute before they start trying to verbally eviscerate each other. They have a job to do so he sucks in all his pain and covers Keira's tail for her mission. The mission goes south real quick and it isn't long before they're on the run with a mystery kid in tow and a lot of questions about what is going on. Meanwhile, their big enemy is on the move too and she won't wait until they get their personal business sorted before she gives the kill order.
This one was as exciting and breath-taking as the first book. I love the complicated and twisting plots that keep me guessing about how they'll get out of the dangerous corner they've been pushed into. The narrative was told from multiple points of view and shifted between the main plot threads and two minor plots. I enjoyed getting the various perspectives, but I confess that I was always anxious to get back to Keira and Luke's story.
Word to the wise...the main characters weren't very likeable at first, but be patient with them. At first, I didn't like either one of them because both couldn't seem to get past just trying to hurt each other, but then they slowly started getting past it. Okay, well, Luke grew, but Keira was such a hot mess because of her horrid childhood that she had so much further to go when it came to healing and opening up. So change of heart about the characters from my initial first impression, I really felt for both of them and was really cheering for them to make it work. Wowsers! They were hot together even before they gave in to their passion.
So in the end those who enjoy an intense paranormal romantic suspense on the grittier spicier side should give this book/series a try.
Keira is a tough as nails FBI agent with scary strong skills both as a warrior, but the more hidden mental skills she acquired during the chemical fire that altered her life forever. It is the more secret skills that have led her to this stand-off outside a commune where inside is the boy she has heard speaking in her head for over a year. The strong mental connection has pulled her to this place and she knows time is running out and she must help the boy. When her boss okays her going in, she is forced to take a back-up agent from the ATF agency who are also deployed outside the compound. Her heart-wrenching past smacks her in the face full force when the man she left behind walks up to take his place as her partner.
Luke is as shocked as Keira and he feels the same gut-twisting pain. They aren't breathing the same air one minute before they start trying to verbally eviscerate each other. They have a job to do so he sucks in all his pain and covers Keira's tail for her mission. The mission goes south real quick and it isn't long before they're on the run with a mystery kid in tow and a lot of questions about what is going on. Meanwhile, their big enemy is on the move too and she won't wait until they get their personal business sorted before she gives the kill order.
This one was as exciting and breath-taking as the first book. I love the complicated and twisting plots that keep me guessing about how they'll get out of the dangerous corner they've been pushed into. The narrative was told from multiple points of view and shifted between the main plot threads and two minor plots. I enjoyed getting the various perspectives, but I confess that I was always anxious to get back to Keira and Luke's story.
Word to the wise...the main characters weren't very likeable at first, but be patient with them. At first, I didn't like either one of them because both couldn't seem to get past just trying to hurt each other, but then they slowly started getting past it. Okay, well, Luke grew, but Keira was such a hot mess because of her horrid childhood that she had so much further to go when it came to healing and opening up. So change of heart about the characters from my initial first impression, I really felt for both of them and was really cheering for them to make it work. Wowsers! They were hot together even before they gave in to their passion.
So in the end those who enjoy an intense paranormal romantic suspense on the grittier spicier side should give this book/series a try.
December 29, 2012
Five Fast-paced, Fantastic Stars!!!
Make room for this romance-suspense junkie, because I'm doing cartwheels all over this book! Yes, the sequel to Fever pushed all the right buttons for me. Can you tell that I found it fantastic? Well, I did!
Blaze mainly focuses on Keira O'Shay and Luke Ransom. Both were part of the firefighting team whose lives were forever changed in that warehouse fire that was first mentioned in Fever. Going into Blaze, I liked that these two already had an established relationship, even if they hadn't seen each other in 3 years. Keira and Luke's lives intersect again when Keira, who is now an FBI agent/sniper, has a mission to rescue a little boy. I must say that the opening sequence of events is not only explosive, but we also get to see how well Keira and Luke work together on many levels.
“Luke stood on the opposite side, looking tattered and sexy as hell sporting his rifle and that goddamned semiautomatic strapped to his thick, muscular thigh. Why, why, why did she find that so...hot!” --Keira
I have no idea how she found the strength to walk away from this man 3 years ago...well, I do, but you've got to read and find out yourself. After reading Blaze, I now understand why Luke was the way he was in Fever. The love of his life walked away from him and his dreams, and he had been hurting all this time. Now, circumstance has thrown their lives back together, but can he trust her to not hurt his heart again? Whatever the outcome, what I loved about this couple is that they are awesome at taking on the bad guys.
“If it's your fight, it's my fight.” --Luke
“We stick together, right? I've got your back.” --Luke
Ladies, Luke doesn't mind that she leads the way in the fight either. Mmmm...gotta love a man that lets the woman take the reigns! Keira is one of my most favorite kick-ass heroines that I've come across. Even with all her issues I completely understand and love her!
Joan Swan gives her fans another thrill ride in BLAZE, complete with lots of action, fast-paced scenes, and sizzling romantic tension. Alyssa, Teague, and Mitch all have prominent secondary roles. Mitch...oh man, he is really something! I really, really hope he gets his own book. More of the conspiracy behind that infamous warehouse fire is revealed, and there's so much more left to uncover in the next books! I am so there for book 3. Bring it on!!!
Make room for this romance-suspense junkie, because I'm doing cartwheels all over this book! Yes, the sequel to Fever pushed all the right buttons for me. Can you tell that I found it fantastic? Well, I did!
Blaze mainly focuses on Keira O'Shay and Luke Ransom. Both were part of the firefighting team whose lives were forever changed in that warehouse fire that was first mentioned in Fever. Going into Blaze, I liked that these two already had an established relationship, even if they hadn't seen each other in 3 years. Keira and Luke's lives intersect again when Keira, who is now an FBI agent/sniper, has a mission to rescue a little boy. I must say that the opening sequence of events is not only explosive, but we also get to see how well Keira and Luke work together on many levels.
“Luke stood on the opposite side, looking tattered and sexy as hell sporting his rifle and that goddamned semiautomatic strapped to his thick, muscular thigh. Why, why, why did she find that so...hot!” --Keira
I have no idea how she found the strength to walk away from this man 3 years ago...well, I do, but you've got to read and find out yourself. After reading Blaze, I now understand why Luke was the way he was in Fever. The love of his life walked away from him and his dreams, and he had been hurting all this time. Now, circumstance has thrown their lives back together, but can he trust her to not hurt his heart again? Whatever the outcome, what I loved about this couple is that they are awesome at taking on the bad guys.
“If it's your fight, it's my fight.” --Luke
“We stick together, right? I've got your back.” --Luke
Ladies, Luke doesn't mind that she leads the way in the fight either. Mmmm...gotta love a man that lets the woman take the reigns! Keira is one of my most favorite kick-ass heroines that I've come across. Even with all her issues I completely understand and love her!
Joan Swan gives her fans another thrill ride in BLAZE, complete with lots of action, fast-paced scenes, and sizzling romantic tension. Alyssa, Teague, and Mitch all have prominent secondary roles. Mitch...oh man, he is really something! I really, really hope he gets his own book. More of the conspiracy behind that infamous warehouse fire is revealed, and there's so much more left to uncover in the next books! I am so there for book 3. Bring it on!!!
January 18, 2013
Joan Swan doesn't disappoint! I was waiting forever to read about Luke and his experience. To get to know him a bit better. Before we find him, we get to meet Kiera, who we heard a little about in FEVER. She is in an operation, trying to rescue Mateo, a boy taken from his father. She doesn't know why she must save him, only, that she has to save him no matter what. There is where Luke comes in. He works for the ATF, which Kiera didn't know about. As soon as their eyes meet, emotions from their past come rushing in. Thinking about Mateo and the circumstance he is in, they must forget about their past and move forward in order to get Mateo out alive.
It seems that throughout the book, circumstances keep pushing Luke and Kiera together, whether they like it (and they really like it) or not (they seem to always be at each others throats). They must be ready to let go of hurt they caused each other in the past and open up to each other more then they had before in order to move on toward the future. As soon as things seem to be going well for them, something else pops up, putting a strain in their relationship.
I love that we are able to see Teague, Alyssa, Kat, and Mitch (Alyssa's twin brother) and see how they are doing. We also get to meet Kai, Seth, and hear about Jessica: The other members in their group that were in a fire that altered their being some years ago. I also love that throughout the book, we get to know what the different characters are thinking since the point-of-view of this book is told through many four characters, Kiera, Luke, Cash, and Jocelyn (two very important character's in Kiera and her old firefighter's teams' lives).
I was not able to put this book down (had to at some point only because I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore). The action in this book is amazing, and the chemistry between characters is wonderful. I would love to have this series be turned into a tv series (since they are longer than a movie, but a movie wouldn't be so bad either). I cannot wait for the next installment in this series and read about what happens between all the new characters that we met in the book and to answer those questions I had at the end.
It seems that throughout the book, circumstances keep pushing Luke and Kiera together, whether they like it (and they really like it) or not (they seem to always be at each others throats). They must be ready to let go of hurt they caused each other in the past and open up to each other more then they had before in order to move on toward the future. As soon as things seem to be going well for them, something else pops up, putting a strain in their relationship.
I love that we are able to see Teague, Alyssa, Kat, and Mitch (Alyssa's twin brother) and see how they are doing. We also get to meet Kai, Seth, and hear about Jessica: The other members in their group that were in a fire that altered their being some years ago. I also love that throughout the book, we get to know what the different characters are thinking since the point-of-view of this book is told through many four characters, Kiera, Luke, Cash, and Jocelyn (two very important character's in Kiera and her old firefighter's teams' lives).
I was not able to put this book down (had to at some point only because I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore). The action in this book is amazing, and the chemistry between characters is wonderful. I would love to have this series be turned into a tv series (since they are longer than a movie, but a movie wouldn't be so bad either). I cannot wait for the next installment in this series and read about what happens between all the new characters that we met in the book and to answer those questions I had at the end.
September 27, 2012
While I loved Fever, this one is not as good as that one. While I understand that Keira is really messed up, I couldn't feel connected with her actions. She wants to be tough, she is Rambo-like warrior, we are said that she is a fighter who overcomes everything on her way, but she came out like a scared-out-of-her-head for the one thing: loving Luke. I didn't feel this love. All I could feel is her indecision. And Luke was the same: as soon as Keira says something wrong, he just jumps on it and wants to leave... There's no fighting for love in each of them. Most of the time I found myself wanting to say the: "OK, guys, just go each one his way and stop torturing me!!! I want to know what's happening to others, you're just not interesting enough!".
I gave 4 stars for this reason: for the rest of the story, which was really intriguing. Is Q really Quaid? Will they remove the wires from Mateo's brain? How will they do it? What are the chemicals and who made them? ... I even was more inetersted to what happened to Joce and Owen, for God's sake!
I gave 4 stars for this reason: for the rest of the story, which was really intriguing. Is Q really Quaid? Will they remove the wires from Mateo's brain? How will they do it? What are the chemicals and who made them? ... I even was more inetersted to what happened to Joce and Owen, for God's sake!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2016
The writing is good, and there are some great moments, plus we learn more about each ex-firefighter's special ability. And I love seeing the previous couple as I really liked them in their book. I had more problem with the main couple, they seem not to understand each other much at first even though they've once been a couple, and they seem to have the same discussion several time. But then the main plot is interesting (even though it's not finished in the end of the book, and I can only imagine how frustrating that must have been for those who had to wait for the next book to be published!)
October 4, 2013
Lots of great, fast-paced action in this book. Keira and Luke were strong characters who tried to resist each other, but often couldn't. Great tension between them. They work well together as a team, especially when it comes to saving lives--something they're both very good at doing. Love, action, special powers, and lots of twists...what's not to love in BLAZE? Highly recommend.
September 26, 2012
One of the most annoying female characters.
December 21, 2012
Even better than than the first.
July 30, 2019
Good suspense mixed with action and a bit of paranormal, which is what I was in the mood for at the time.
Loved the main characters, Keira and Luke. I enjoy a reversal of "typical" gender assumptions. Here, Luke, who was a sweethart, wanted kids whereas Keira, a kick ass sniper, didn't. The two of them together were lovely and their journey to a HEA was hard fought.
There was only one thing that kept me from giving this story a four-star rating. It is a pet peeve of mine whenever a story hypes up a super connected, well funded, vastly corrupt, can't trust anyone government conspiracy. Folks can't slip. They can't be lackadaisical. At several points in the story, Keira and Luke's highly trained team with super powers were incredibly lax with no sense of urgency. I couldn't understand how they went from dodging grenades and gunfire to shooting the breeze chillin' during a high risk rescue op that wasn't done yet.
Blaze is the second book in the series and the first that I've read. Not sure if I'll read the others.
Loved the main characters, Keira and Luke. I enjoy a reversal of "typical" gender assumptions. Here, Luke, who was a sweethart, wanted kids whereas Keira, a kick ass sniper, didn't. The two of them together were lovely and their journey to a HEA was hard fought.
There was only one thing that kept me from giving this story a four-star rating. It is a pet peeve of mine whenever a story hypes up a super connected, well funded, vastly corrupt, can't trust anyone government conspiracy. Folks can't slip. They can't be lackadaisical. At several points in the story, Keira and Luke's highly trained team with super powers were incredibly lax with no sense of urgency. I couldn't understand how they went from dodging grenades and gunfire to shooting the breeze chillin' during a high risk rescue op that wasn't done yet.
Blaze is the second book in the series and the first that I've read. Not sure if I'll read the others.
January 27, 2013
BOOK REVIEW by Michelle 17TH JANUARY 2013 :
RATING: 4.75 HOT! INTELLIGENT CHARACTERS!!
I absolutely Blaaazzed through this book, I didn’t want it to end.
Woot!!
Joan just knows how to write intelligent, exciting, smexi characters. Nothing is forced. I can’t even say who my overall fave guy is in this series thus far.
I love the women as well.
Keira is just a smart, kickass, yet vulnerable character. She is a sniper. The best. When she and Luke are teaming it, they are just so good to read. He knows she is the best. He doesn't feel threatened by her abilities. I think Mitch is the one he feels threatened by.
Mitch is my fave guy with the lines. Oh, man, does he make me laugh. He is gorgeous. His banter with Luke is most provoking and hilarious.
Keira lifted her hand from the map. “You have a friend at Langley? Who is it?”
“Yeah, baby. Hate to tell you, but you’re not the only Fed in my back pocket.” His hazel eyes darted up, his mouth twisted in a sexy grin. “But I’d rather have you in my front pocket, so if you want to move, just say the word.”
“I’m thinking.” Mitch’s gaze dropped to the floor. “Techies aren’t the types who usually need my help. More like the Ransoms of the world, who screw up at every turn and ask for shit like planes and pilots, and , oh, yeah, one more thing....”
“Fuck you, Foster.”
“That’s it. You both start off owing me a hundred bucks.” Alyssa fixed them each with a solid glare before she set down her needle and stretched her back. “Twenty more per curse from here on out.”
......”It doesn’t count when the kids aren’t around,” Mitch grumbled.
She’d already started to shift Mateo across the seat toward Alyssa. “I haven’t met my quota of kills for the day.”
Mitch scraped out a dark laugh. “It’s official. I’m in love.”
Luke cut a look at Mitch that could have severed a limb, then shot a glare over his shoulder at Keira. “Chill.”
“Guess that maneuver backfired.” Mitch broke the silence with his typical sarcasm. “Pun intended.”
“Luke’s brow went up. “Pixie?”
“Yeah, she looks like a pixie.” He picked up an object from a shelf and fiddled with it. “You know, like one of those things with wings in Kat’s books.”
“You mean a fairy,” Luke said. “Hence the term fairy-tale.”
“Should have known you’d be a fairy expert.”
Unlike Mitch . Who approached the exam table with a mischievous grin and an anatomical model in his hands. A detailed, three-dimensional , life-size model of a penis and testicles.
“What in the hell?” Keira sputtered.
“You don’t recognize Big Jim and the Twins?” Mitch pulled pieces out, put them back , pulled others out, looked inside. “I can fix that, sweetheart.”
“Mitch, put that down,” Alyssa scolded. “I swear, if you break something--“
“Why does this guy have a puzzle like this in his office? Is he gay? Not that I care. I mean I’m a San Franciscan transplant. Besides , gay guys have the hottest girlfriends.”
“I swear he was switched at birth.”Alyssa glared at her twin brother. “Doctor Henle is a urologist.. ....”
“How short?” she asked Mitch.
“I’ll leave that up to you, beautiful. Just make me hot enough to turn you on.”
Luke is just phwaaaaaa!!! All the guys are just written soooooo manly and not over done. They compliment each other.
My kind of guys.
This group of men are smart, fit, love their women, have such camaraderie with each other and would give their life for each other.
The women are fit, intelligent, can give the guys a run for their money, are respected by the guys, can joke with the guys, they give as good as they get.
“Hey , boss,” Kai called from behind. Too far behind.
She stopped, swivelled , and squinted into the dark.
“You jogging this mountain or what?” He caught up with her, his chest heaving beneath his fatigue jacket. “You’re going to kill Foster.”
“Speak for youself, Ryder.” Mitch stopped and planted his hands on his knees. “But can we .... save some energy for the ... fucking rescue, please?”
Joan's writing turns pages. She shoots from the hip. This would make one hell of a tv series. I am so invested in this paranormal ( ? ) , romance, suspense, thriller series. It is one of the best I have read thus far in this genre. It is just so damn likeable.
If you are a fan of the boys in Black Dagger Brotherhood , the way the BDB guys are around each other, look out for each other, that manly banter, then you will love Luke, Teague, Mitch, Kai, Seth .....
The story is nothing like BDB.
They all have a common link. Ex Fire fighters..... but there is more.
Much, much more............
Joan adds more to each book. I can see this being one hell of a series. More guys get introduced, more of the mystery involving the USA Army/Government/?? More story unfolds keeping the reader wanting more.
The villain , Jocelyn Dargan and her minions, are fierce competition. Joan shows us inside JD's head in this book. I felt the teeniest bit of .....um.....something , towards her, but ultimately POWER is the evil that consumes some people to the point that eliminating people comes very easily, without conscience. JD has this in spades. She is a piece of work.
Love the new characters Joan opened up in this installment. I did guess something with a certain character, but that is ok.
This is very edgy writing that I am totally invested in. The romance is deep and trust has to be learnt. Luke and Keira have a lot of hurdles to jump, but when these two get in between the sheets....yowzer!
“Goddamn, you feel good. When did you go all Rambo?”
The next book isn't Mitch's , but I am rather looking forward to reading his book.
I am looking forward to the next book titled , 'Inferno' published sometime in 2013.
Bring. It.On.
Michelle
RATING: 4.75 HOT! INTELLIGENT CHARACTERS!!
I absolutely Blaaazzed through this book, I didn’t want it to end.
Woot!!
Joan just knows how to write intelligent, exciting, smexi characters. Nothing is forced. I can’t even say who my overall fave guy is in this series thus far.
I love the women as well.
Keira is just a smart, kickass, yet vulnerable character. She is a sniper. The best. When she and Luke are teaming it, they are just so good to read. He knows she is the best. He doesn't feel threatened by her abilities. I think Mitch is the one he feels threatened by.
Mitch is my fave guy with the lines. Oh, man, does he make me laugh. He is gorgeous. His banter with Luke is most provoking and hilarious.
Keira lifted her hand from the map. “You have a friend at Langley? Who is it?”
“Yeah, baby. Hate to tell you, but you’re not the only Fed in my back pocket.” His hazel eyes darted up, his mouth twisted in a sexy grin. “But I’d rather have you in my front pocket, so if you want to move, just say the word.”
“I’m thinking.” Mitch’s gaze dropped to the floor. “Techies aren’t the types who usually need my help. More like the Ransoms of the world, who screw up at every turn and ask for shit like planes and pilots, and , oh, yeah, one more thing....”
“Fuck you, Foster.”
“That’s it. You both start off owing me a hundred bucks.” Alyssa fixed them each with a solid glare before she set down her needle and stretched her back. “Twenty more per curse from here on out.”
......”It doesn’t count when the kids aren’t around,” Mitch grumbled.
She’d already started to shift Mateo across the seat toward Alyssa. “I haven’t met my quota of kills for the day.”
Mitch scraped out a dark laugh. “It’s official. I’m in love.”
Luke cut a look at Mitch that could have severed a limb, then shot a glare over his shoulder at Keira. “Chill.”
“Guess that maneuver backfired.” Mitch broke the silence with his typical sarcasm. “Pun intended.”
“Luke’s brow went up. “Pixie?”
“Yeah, she looks like a pixie.” He picked up an object from a shelf and fiddled with it. “You know, like one of those things with wings in Kat’s books.”
“You mean a fairy,” Luke said. “Hence the term fairy-tale.”
“Should have known you’d be a fairy expert.”
Unlike Mitch . Who approached the exam table with a mischievous grin and an anatomical model in his hands. A detailed, three-dimensional , life-size model of a penis and testicles.
“What in the hell?” Keira sputtered.
“You don’t recognize Big Jim and the Twins?” Mitch pulled pieces out, put them back , pulled others out, looked inside. “I can fix that, sweetheart.”
“Mitch, put that down,” Alyssa scolded. “I swear, if you break something--“
“Why does this guy have a puzzle like this in his office? Is he gay? Not that I care. I mean I’m a San Franciscan transplant. Besides , gay guys have the hottest girlfriends.”
“I swear he was switched at birth.”Alyssa glared at her twin brother. “Doctor Henle is a urologist.. ....”
“How short?” she asked Mitch.
“I’ll leave that up to you, beautiful. Just make me hot enough to turn you on.”
Luke is just phwaaaaaa!!! All the guys are just written soooooo manly and not over done. They compliment each other.
My kind of guys.
This group of men are smart, fit, love their women, have such camaraderie with each other and would give their life for each other.
The women are fit, intelligent, can give the guys a run for their money, are respected by the guys, can joke with the guys, they give as good as they get.
“Hey , boss,” Kai called from behind. Too far behind.
She stopped, swivelled , and squinted into the dark.
“You jogging this mountain or what?” He caught up with her, his chest heaving beneath his fatigue jacket. “You’re going to kill Foster.”
“Speak for youself, Ryder.” Mitch stopped and planted his hands on his knees. “But can we .... save some energy for the ... fucking rescue, please?”
Joan's writing turns pages. She shoots from the hip. This would make one hell of a tv series. I am so invested in this paranormal ( ? ) , romance, suspense, thriller series. It is one of the best I have read thus far in this genre. It is just so damn likeable.
If you are a fan of the boys in Black Dagger Brotherhood , the way the BDB guys are around each other, look out for each other, that manly banter, then you will love Luke, Teague, Mitch, Kai, Seth .....
The story is nothing like BDB.
They all have a common link. Ex Fire fighters..... but there is more.
Much, much more............
Joan adds more to each book. I can see this being one hell of a series. More guys get introduced, more of the mystery involving the USA Army/Government/?? More story unfolds keeping the reader wanting more.
The villain , Jocelyn Dargan and her minions, are fierce competition. Joan shows us inside JD's head in this book. I felt the teeniest bit of .....um.....something , towards her, but ultimately POWER is the evil that consumes some people to the point that eliminating people comes very easily, without conscience. JD has this in spades. She is a piece of work.
Love the new characters Joan opened up in this installment. I did guess something with a certain character, but that is ok.
This is very edgy writing that I am totally invested in. The romance is deep and trust has to be learnt. Luke and Keira have a lot of hurdles to jump, but when these two get in between the sheets....yowzer!
“Goddamn, you feel good. When did you go all Rambo?”
The next book isn't Mitch's , but I am rather looking forward to reading his book.
I am looking forward to the next book titled , 'Inferno' published sometime in 2013.
Bring. It.On.
Michelle
January 27, 2013
BOOK REVIEW by Michelle 17TH JANUARY 2013 :
RATING: 4.75 HOT! INTELLIGENT CHARACTERS!!
I absolutely Blaaazzed through this book, I didn’t want it to end.
Woot!!
Joan just knows how to write intelligent, exciting, smexi characters. Nothing is forced. I can’t even say who my overall fave guy is in this series thus far.
I love the women as well.
Keira is just a smart, kickass, yet vulnerable character. She is a sniper. The best. When she and Luke are teaming it, they are just so good to read. He knows she is the best. He doesn't feel threatened by her abilities. I think Mitch is the one he feels threatened by.
Mitch is my fave guy with the lines. Oh, man, does he make me laugh. He is gorgeous. His banter with Luke is most provoking and hilarious.
Keira lifted her hand from the map. “You have a friend at Langley? Who is it?”
“Yeah, baby. Hate to tell you, but you’re not the only Fed in my back pocket.” His hazel eyes darted up, his mouth twisted in a sexy grin. “But I’d rather have you in my front pocket, so if you want to move, just say the word.”
“I’m thinking.” Mitch’s gaze dropped to the floor. “Techies aren’t the types who usually need my help. More like the Ransoms of the world, who screw up at every turn and ask for shit like planes and pilots, and , oh, yeah, one more thing....”
“Fuck you, Foster.”
“That’s it. You both start off owing me a hundred bucks.” Alyssa fixed them each with a solid glare before she set down her needle and stretched her back. “Twenty more per curse from here on out.”
......”It doesn’t count when the kids aren’t around,” Mitch grumbled.
She’d already started to shift Mateo across the seat toward Alyssa. “I haven’t met my quota of kills for the day.”
Mitch scraped out a dark laugh. “It’s official. I’m in love.”
Luke cut a look at Mitch that could have severed a limb, then shot a glare over his shoulder at Keira. “Chill.”
“Guess that maneuver backfired.” Mitch broke the silence with his typical sarcasm. “Pun intended.”
“Luke’s brow went up. “Pixie?”
“Yeah, she looks like a pixie.” He picked up an object from a shelf and fiddled with it. “You know, like one of those things with wings in Kat’s books.”
“You mean a fairy,” Luke said. “Hence the term fairy-tale.”
“Should have known you’d be a fairy expert.”
Unlike Mitch . Who approached the exam table with a mischievous grin and an anatomical model in his hands. A detailed, three-dimensional , life-size model of a penis and testicles.
“What in the hell?” Keira sputtered.
“You don’t recognize Big Jim and the Twins?” Mitch pulled pieces out, put them back , pulled others out, looked inside. “I can fix that, sweetheart.”
“Mitch, put that down,” Alyssa scolded. “I swear, if you break something--“
“Why does this guy have a puzzle like this in his office? Is he gay? Not that I care. I mean I’m a San Franciscan transplant. Besides , gay guys have the hottest girlfriends.”
“I swear he was switched at birth.”Alyssa glared at her twin brother. “Doctor Henle is a urologist.. ....”
“How short?” she asked Mitch.
“I’ll leave that up to you, beautiful. Just make me hot enough to turn you on.”
Luke is just phwaaaaaa!!! All the guys are just written soooooo manly and not over done. They compliment each other.
My kind of guys.
This group of men are smart, fit, love their women, have such camaraderie with each other and would give their life for each other.
The women are fit, intelligent, can give the guys a run for their money, are respected by the guys, can joke with the guys, they give as good as they get.
“Hey , boss,” Kai called from behind. Too far behind.
She stopped, swivelled , and squinted into the dark.
“You jogging this mountain or what?” He caught up with her, his chest heaving beneath his fatigue jacket. “You’re going to kill Foster.”
“Speak for youself, Ryder.” Mitch stopped and planted his hands on his knees. “But can we .... save some energy for the ... fucking rescue, please?”
Joan's writing turns pages. She shoots from the hip. This would make one hell of a tv series. I am so invested in this paranormal ( ? ) , romance, suspense, thriller series. It is one of the best I have read thus far in this genre. It is just so damn likeable.
If you are a fan of the boys in Black Dagger Brotherhood , the way the BDB guys are around each other, look out for each other, that manly banter, then you will love Luke, Teague, Mitch, Kai, Seth .....
The story is nothing like BDB.
They all have a common link. Ex Fire fighters..... but there is more.
Much, much more............
Joan adds more to each book. I can see this being one hell of a series. More guys get introduced, more of the mystery involving the USA Army/Government/?? More story unfolds keeping the reader wanting more.
The villain , Jocelyn Dargan and her minions, are fierce competition. Joan shows us inside JD's head in this book. I felt the teeniest bit of .....um.....something , towards her, but ultimately POWER is the evil that consumes some people to the point that eliminating people comes very easily, without conscience. JD has this in spades. She is a piece of work.
Love the new characters Joan opened up in this installment. I did guess something with a certain character, but that is ok.
This is very edgy writing that I am totally invested in. The romance is deep and trust has to be learnt. Luke and Keira have a lot of hurdles to jump, but when these two get in between the sheets....yowzer!
“Goddamn, you feel good. When did you go all Rambo?”
The next book isn't Mitch's , but I am rather looking forward to reading his book.
I am looking forward to the next book titled , 'Inferno' published sometime in 2013.
Bring. It.On.
Michelle
RATING: 4.75 HOT! INTELLIGENT CHARACTERS!!
I absolutely Blaaazzed through this book, I didn’t want it to end.
Woot!!
Joan just knows how to write intelligent, exciting, smexi characters. Nothing is forced. I can’t even say who my overall fave guy is in this series thus far.
I love the women as well.
Keira is just a smart, kickass, yet vulnerable character. She is a sniper. The best. When she and Luke are teaming it, they are just so good to read. He knows she is the best. He doesn't feel threatened by her abilities. I think Mitch is the one he feels threatened by.
Mitch is my fave guy with the lines. Oh, man, does he make me laugh. He is gorgeous. His banter with Luke is most provoking and hilarious.
Keira lifted her hand from the map. “You have a friend at Langley? Who is it?”
“Yeah, baby. Hate to tell you, but you’re not the only Fed in my back pocket.” His hazel eyes darted up, his mouth twisted in a sexy grin. “But I’d rather have you in my front pocket, so if you want to move, just say the word.”
“I’m thinking.” Mitch’s gaze dropped to the floor. “Techies aren’t the types who usually need my help. More like the Ransoms of the world, who screw up at every turn and ask for shit like planes and pilots, and , oh, yeah, one more thing....”
“Fuck you, Foster.”
“That’s it. You both start off owing me a hundred bucks.” Alyssa fixed them each with a solid glare before she set down her needle and stretched her back. “Twenty more per curse from here on out.”
......”It doesn’t count when the kids aren’t around,” Mitch grumbled.
She’d already started to shift Mateo across the seat toward Alyssa. “I haven’t met my quota of kills for the day.”
Mitch scraped out a dark laugh. “It’s official. I’m in love.”
Luke cut a look at Mitch that could have severed a limb, then shot a glare over his shoulder at Keira. “Chill.”
“Guess that maneuver backfired.” Mitch broke the silence with his typical sarcasm. “Pun intended.”
“Luke’s brow went up. “Pixie?”
“Yeah, she looks like a pixie.” He picked up an object from a shelf and fiddled with it. “You know, like one of those things with wings in Kat’s books.”
“You mean a fairy,” Luke said. “Hence the term fairy-tale.”
“Should have known you’d be a fairy expert.”
Unlike Mitch . Who approached the exam table with a mischievous grin and an anatomical model in his hands. A detailed, three-dimensional , life-size model of a penis and testicles.
“What in the hell?” Keira sputtered.
“You don’t recognize Big Jim and the Twins?” Mitch pulled pieces out, put them back , pulled others out, looked inside. “I can fix that, sweetheart.”
“Mitch, put that down,” Alyssa scolded. “I swear, if you break something--“
“Why does this guy have a puzzle like this in his office? Is he gay? Not that I care. I mean I’m a San Franciscan transplant. Besides , gay guys have the hottest girlfriends.”
“I swear he was switched at birth.”Alyssa glared at her twin brother. “Doctor Henle is a urologist.. ....”
“How short?” she asked Mitch.
“I’ll leave that up to you, beautiful. Just make me hot enough to turn you on.”
Luke is just phwaaaaaa!!! All the guys are just written soooooo manly and not over done. They compliment each other.
My kind of guys.
This group of men are smart, fit, love their women, have such camaraderie with each other and would give their life for each other.
The women are fit, intelligent, can give the guys a run for their money, are respected by the guys, can joke with the guys, they give as good as they get.
“Hey , boss,” Kai called from behind. Too far behind.
She stopped, swivelled , and squinted into the dark.
“You jogging this mountain or what?” He caught up with her, his chest heaving beneath his fatigue jacket. “You’re going to kill Foster.”
“Speak for youself, Ryder.” Mitch stopped and planted his hands on his knees. “But can we .... save some energy for the ... fucking rescue, please?”
Joan's writing turns pages. She shoots from the hip. This would make one hell of a tv series. I am so invested in this paranormal ( ? ) , romance, suspense, thriller series. It is one of the best I have read thus far in this genre. It is just so damn likeable.
If you are a fan of the boys in Black Dagger Brotherhood , the way the BDB guys are around each other, look out for each other, that manly banter, then you will love Luke, Teague, Mitch, Kai, Seth .....
The story is nothing like BDB.
They all have a common link. Ex Fire fighters..... but there is more.
Much, much more............
Joan adds more to each book. I can see this being one hell of a series. More guys get introduced, more of the mystery involving the USA Army/Government/?? More story unfolds keeping the reader wanting more.
The villain , Jocelyn Dargan and her minions, are fierce competition. Joan shows us inside JD's head in this book. I felt the teeniest bit of .....um.....something , towards her, but ultimately POWER is the evil that consumes some people to the point that eliminating people comes very easily, without conscience. JD has this in spades. She is a piece of work.
Love the new characters Joan opened up in this installment. I did guess something with a certain character, but that is ok.
This is very edgy writing that I am totally invested in. The romance is deep and trust has to be learnt. Luke and Keira have a lot of hurdles to jump, but when these two get in between the sheets....yowzer!
“Goddamn, you feel good. When did you go all Rambo?”
The next book isn't Mitch's , but I am rather looking forward to reading his book.
I am looking forward to the next book titled , 'Inferno' published sometime in 2013.
Bring. It.On.
Michelle
June 13, 2017
I kinda gave the author the benefit of the doubt on the first book. Can't do it on this one. Luke comes across as whiny and weak. Where as, Keira comes across as a bitch. The book isn't bad but I prefer a very alpha hero! Prob won't be continuing on in this series.
July 23, 2018
3.5 stars
March 12, 2018
DNF @ page 88. I just can't read any more of this.
*Book source ~ ARC. My review is voluntary and honest.
Keira O’Shay is a clairaudient. She and several others were in a fire fighting accident a few years before and they all gained some type of paranormal ability. For the last year she’s been working to find a kidnapped child. Too bad things aren’t as they seem and her lover Luke Ransom is suddenly back in the picture.
I had to give up on this book at page 88. The beginning is full of Keira gasping for air, sweating, and she and Luke getting into pissing matches while all hell breaks loose. There are tons of characters introduced with very little connection so it’s confusing as fuck. Then Keira ignores her gut and gets herself and the kid she JUST saved, kidnapped. On top of that, for a whole year, she’s been trying to find Mateo and when she holds his picture she “hears” him saying something in another language and yet she never once tried to translate those words. I’m. So. Done.
*Book source ~ ARC. My review is voluntary and honest.
Keira O’Shay is a clairaudient. She and several others were in a fire fighting accident a few years before and they all gained some type of paranormal ability. For the last year she’s been working to find a kidnapped child. Too bad things aren’t as they seem and her lover Luke Ransom is suddenly back in the picture.
I had to give up on this book at page 88. The beginning is full of Keira gasping for air, sweating, and she and Luke getting into pissing matches while all hell breaks loose. There are tons of characters introduced with very little connection so it’s confusing as fuck. Then Keira ignores her gut and gets herself and the kid she JUST saved, kidnapped. On top of that, for a whole year, she’s been trying to find Mateo and when she holds his picture she “hears” him saying something in another language and yet she never once tried to translate those words. I’m. So. Done.
October 9, 2012
Joan Swan is on fire! Her second release in the Phoenix Rising series, BLAZE, is just as incredible as the first. This series is non-stop action, adventure and romance! Readers will love every minute of it!
Keira O'Shay has felt a strong connection to a young boy named Mateo and she is determined to find him and bring him home. Even with her unique abilities, she can't explain why. She just knows she has to save him from evil clutches of a vicious man at any cost. When her FBI team accepts help from an ATF agent, she cannot believe her eyes when she discovers that agent is Luke Ransom...the man who broke her heart three years ago.
Luke let Keira walk out of his like three years ago and he's regretted it ever since. Being side by side again has awakened buried powers and old feelings. Though they can't forget the reasons that pulled them apart, they also can't deny their strong connection. Now that they have rescued the young boy, they realize his unique powers are coveted by dangerous men. Realizing a government conspiracy may be at work, they have no other choice but to run in order to save their lives. When they finally stop, Luke and Keira may have to face the possibility of a future together because their passion blazes too hot to be ignored.
A thrilling and ultimately scorching story is again delivered by Ms Swan. BLAZE has everything readers loved from the first novel, Fever, and more. This novel picks up right where Fever left off, focusing on the same group of ex-firefighters that went in to fight a fire five years ago and came out with unique and inhuman capabilities. The complex intricacies of this government conspiracy will set your mind whirling, yet delight you with the delicious adventure that is in store. BLAZE is a fast paced, engaging adventure that takes you on a wild journey. Ms Swan builds the suspense and makes the passion simmer, all the while drawing you further in with each chapter. Once again, readers are thrown into this chaotic world where there are few people you can trust in this dangerous game of cat and mouse.
Luke was absolutely dreamy! He was an all or nothing kind of guy and when he gave his heart to Keira, he went all in. The most romantic and passionate part of this novel was his unwavering feelings for her. There was something so incredibly sexy about him knowing who and what he wanted and never backing down. He had an interesting charm that made him a fabulous hero. Not only did he have the strength and power to fight the bad guys, but the compassion and tenderness to support Keira when she needed it the most. He was the ultimate package.
I did have a problem with this book that I did not find in the first and that was a periodic annoyance with Keira. Her hesitation to completely give herself over to Luke was completely justifiable, but her constant ‘yo-yo' emotions started to drive me crazy after a while. It was one too many trips back and forth with her character. Which led me to the second problem...by the last page I did not feel there was enough stability between the two characters to believe their ending. The one bright side to this problem is that most likely Luke and Keira will continue to make appearances in future installments of the series and put most of these fears to rest.
Small problems aside, she was still a great heroine. Keira had a fire in her that no one could extinguish. She was fierce warrior that didn't let anything get in her way. She was a lot like Luke in that perspective. One thing that appealed to me about their developing relationship was the shared ability that basically let them to read each other's minds. That little plot point added everything to the novel. It added great emotional depth, humorous scenes and fantastic insight into this tortured couple. I loved that aspect of their relationship tremendously.
Overall, BLAZE is a fantastic and suspenseful novel! Ms Swan has certainly hit the mark with this series and is showing no signs of slowing down. This exciting story will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat and reveling in the mad journey of it all. You have everything you could possibly want in this series with a large, impassioned group of people that fight relentlessly to protect one another. Through the drama of it all is the sexy, passionate romance that makes the pages sizzle. All this must mean that Ms Swan has only begun to take readers on one hell of a ride!
Lisa Jo @ The Romance Reviews
August 26, 2012
Originally posted on Breath of Life Reviews
The highly anticipated (at least for me) second book in new author Joan Swan's Phoenix Rising series, Blaze is an action packed, passion filled adventure sure to please the audience that was first captivated by its predecessor, Fever.
Exes Luke and Keira are definitely two of a kind and life has taken them in two different directions but they've never gotten over each other or the effect they had on the other's powers. Within moments of being re-united, their powers ignite once again and even provide a few surprises along the way. While one would think these "surprises" would help Luke and Keira clear the air between them, it actually makes things worse, making them face what they had, what went wrong and dragging up old hurts and accusations.
Luke is an amazing character in the sense that he's completely vulnerable to Keira and the emotions she stirs in him. After awhile he doesn't even try to fight or deny it, giving him a lovelorn aura that reminded me of the heroes in a Jane Austen novel. I spent half the time alternating with sympathizing with Keira and her fears to wanting to strangle her because she had an amazing man that kept offering his heart and support to her and she kept pushing him away.
And let's talk about kids in romance novels. They don't always work for me. Sometimes I get the feeling that an author will insert a kid into the story line hoping to score points with an audience that they assume has kids and can identify with them. Not cool, at all, don't assume that having a kid in a story is going to make it better, sometimes they make it worse and the quality of the story goes down the drain. Same goes for an adult character, if they don't have a use, why put them in the story?
Thankfully it wasn't the case in Blaze. Sure Mateo is cute but he isn't dead weight in the story, he has a purpose, he is actually the reason things get dangerous for Luke and Keira but he also inadvertently forces Keira to face her fears and conquer them. So brownie points to Joan Swan for not using a kid just to score points with an audience.
Blaze is not without humor though, at times Luke and Keira's enhanced gifts spark some steamy, and down right sarcastic arguments, each one trying to get the upper hand on the other. Then there's Mitch Foster, the savvy, sophisticated, smart mouthed playboy lawyer from Fever and Alyssa Foster's brother. Almost every word out of his mouth is an insult when it comes to Luke and he has some of the best scenes in this book. Definitely a scene stealer and one I can't wait to read more about.
There's something distinctive about author Joan Swan's Phoenix Rising series, it's not just the sexy characters (both male and female), fast paced plots or steamy love scenes. It's the real emotion behind the scenes she writes. It's not just love, lust and passion, there is a range of emotions in her books that have the ability to fully engage the reader. While not every one has felt an all consuming love or passion for another person, who hasn't felt jealousy, fear, rejection or betrayal?
As more questions than answers are revealed, Luke and Keira find themselves not only re-evaluating their previous relationship but the incident that killed one member of their old firefighting team and left the rest of them broken, lost and with abilities that others want bad enough to kill.
With Blaze, one mystery is solved only for half a dozen more to pop up in its place, allowing for more books in the series (Yay!). Keeping the mystery, suspense and passion at top notch, Joan Swan's Blaze is just a good if not better than its predecessor Fever and as much as it pained me to finish Luke and Keira's story, I am super excited for the next book in the series. These characters are quickly becoming as important to me as I'm sure they are for Joan.
Bottom line, Blaze will leave you wishing you had a love like Luke and Keira and a pseudo family as crazy as Mitch, Teague, Allysa and the rest of the meddling, worrisome and loyal gang.
The highly anticipated (at least for me) second book in new author Joan Swan's Phoenix Rising series, Blaze is an action packed, passion filled adventure sure to please the audience that was first captivated by its predecessor, Fever.
Exes Luke and Keira are definitely two of a kind and life has taken them in two different directions but they've never gotten over each other or the effect they had on the other's powers. Within moments of being re-united, their powers ignite once again and even provide a few surprises along the way. While one would think these "surprises" would help Luke and Keira clear the air between them, it actually makes things worse, making them face what they had, what went wrong and dragging up old hurts and accusations.
Luke is an amazing character in the sense that he's completely vulnerable to Keira and the emotions she stirs in him. After awhile he doesn't even try to fight or deny it, giving him a lovelorn aura that reminded me of the heroes in a Jane Austen novel. I spent half the time alternating with sympathizing with Keira and her fears to wanting to strangle her because she had an amazing man that kept offering his heart and support to her and she kept pushing him away.
And let's talk about kids in romance novels. They don't always work for me. Sometimes I get the feeling that an author will insert a kid into the story line hoping to score points with an audience that they assume has kids and can identify with them. Not cool, at all, don't assume that having a kid in a story is going to make it better, sometimes they make it worse and the quality of the story goes down the drain. Same goes for an adult character, if they don't have a use, why put them in the story?
Thankfully it wasn't the case in Blaze. Sure Mateo is cute but he isn't dead weight in the story, he has a purpose, he is actually the reason things get dangerous for Luke and Keira but he also inadvertently forces Keira to face her fears and conquer them. So brownie points to Joan Swan for not using a kid just to score points with an audience.
Blaze is not without humor though, at times Luke and Keira's enhanced gifts spark some steamy, and down right sarcastic arguments, each one trying to get the upper hand on the other. Then there's Mitch Foster, the savvy, sophisticated, smart mouthed playboy lawyer from Fever and Alyssa Foster's brother. Almost every word out of his mouth is an insult when it comes to Luke and he has some of the best scenes in this book. Definitely a scene stealer and one I can't wait to read more about.
There's something distinctive about author Joan Swan's Phoenix Rising series, it's not just the sexy characters (both male and female), fast paced plots or steamy love scenes. It's the real emotion behind the scenes she writes. It's not just love, lust and passion, there is a range of emotions in her books that have the ability to fully engage the reader. While not every one has felt an all consuming love or passion for another person, who hasn't felt jealousy, fear, rejection or betrayal?
As more questions than answers are revealed, Luke and Keira find themselves not only re-evaluating their previous relationship but the incident that killed one member of their old firefighting team and left the rest of them broken, lost and with abilities that others want bad enough to kill.
With Blaze, one mystery is solved only for half a dozen more to pop up in its place, allowing for more books in the series (Yay!). Keeping the mystery, suspense and passion at top notch, Joan Swan's Blaze is just a good if not better than its predecessor Fever and as much as it pained me to finish Luke and Keira's story, I am super excited for the next book in the series. These characters are quickly becoming as important to me as I'm sure they are for Joan.
Bottom line, Blaze will leave you wishing you had a love like Luke and Keira and a pseudo family as crazy as Mitch, Teague, Allysa and the rest of the meddling, worrisome and loyal gang.
September 23, 2012
So brilliant it gave goose bumps! Extended review available on Mina's Bookshelf http://minadecaro.blogspot.com
I simply marvel at the way this author takes on the romantic suspense genre with the polished skills of a veteran novelist. In this brilliant second installment of the Phoenix Rising series, Joan Swan will engross the readers with her effortless craftsmanship and those smooth and seamless shifts of focus between action and romance that can rival even the most seasoned suspense writers. After turning the last page of this compendium of pulse pounding suspense and breath-taking romance, I am still not able to tell whether I was more affected by the emotional depth of the characters’ back-stories, or more taken with the mesmerizing intricacies of the storyline. To tell you the truth, I can’t even recall enjoying a “conspiracy-theory, paranormal mystery” this much since the days of the X-files tv series.
In Luke and Keira’s story, emotions intensify and the mystery thickens: together with the theme of ghost government agencies and their secret agendas, Joan Swans brings so many emotional issues to the table (the personal hell of an abused child, expectations and compromises in a love relationship) that spoke to my heart and lingered with me even after putting the book down.
Like in Swan’s debut FEVER (Phoenix Raising #1, read my review here), the execution is spectacular and the language is vibrant and real. Funny and gritty dialogues set the lively pace of the narration, leading the reader through a wide range of emotional responses. The romantic involvement of the lead couple, the scorching sensuality ignited by their mutual raw need, the elusive truth at the bottom of their super-powers are the cornerstones of this solid piece of fictional fabrication. The plot is so clever that despite the lack of closure as far as regards the big scheme of things, this page-turner can be enjoyed as a stand alone. The dangling plot threads, the breakneck sub-plots and the introduction of secondary cast that will surely rock the world of the Phoenix Rising in the coming sequel, fuel the reader’s curiosity and enhance the thrill effect, leaving us with the awareness that our endearing characters are more in danger than ever and that someone is diligently trying to hide the truth.
That truth will still be elusive even in the final pages, but the choice of a conspiracy theme is thought-provoking and allows room for theorizing. The characters are fully nuanced, easy to root for and relate to, despite their larger-than-life nature; the emotional dynamic between Luke and Keira so engaging…the more they talk, the more they argue. They both share a personality trait that can place countless obstacles on the way to a smooth love relationship. They both possess an unforgiving, uncompromising, hard as granite temper, in addition to their psychic ability to read each other’s minds… hard to tell if this is more a blessing or a curse. When they finally unlock their hearts and understand that love is “about finding strength in the sum of our parts instead of fighting alone”, their release will be even more rewarding. To tighten up the threads of this rich and imaginative series, Joan Swan revisits familiar faces (Teague and Alyssa from Fever, installment #1 in the series ) and introduces an ensemble of new characters that move around our lead couple with the loyalty, the stealth and the precision of a SWAT team.
And then there is Mitch, Mitch Foster: “the dragon slayer” attorney, the man who gets things done with the power of a telegraphic phone call…there is no special force pilot, military helicopter, heavy artillery, or loyal bodyguards that he cannot obtain with a simple (and mysterious) call from his mobile…we will get to know his secret sooner or later. This character definitely deserves his own spotlight.
I simply marvel at the way this author takes on the romantic suspense genre with the polished skills of a veteran novelist. In this brilliant second installment of the Phoenix Rising series, Joan Swan will engross the readers with her effortless craftsmanship and those smooth and seamless shifts of focus between action and romance that can rival even the most seasoned suspense writers. After turning the last page of this compendium of pulse pounding suspense and breath-taking romance, I am still not able to tell whether I was more affected by the emotional depth of the characters’ back-stories, or more taken with the mesmerizing intricacies of the storyline. To tell you the truth, I can’t even recall enjoying a “conspiracy-theory, paranormal mystery” this much since the days of the X-files tv series.
In Luke and Keira’s story, emotions intensify and the mystery thickens: together with the theme of ghost government agencies and their secret agendas, Joan Swans brings so many emotional issues to the table (the personal hell of an abused child, expectations and compromises in a love relationship) that spoke to my heart and lingered with me even after putting the book down.
Like in Swan’s debut FEVER (Phoenix Raising #1, read my review here), the execution is spectacular and the language is vibrant and real. Funny and gritty dialogues set the lively pace of the narration, leading the reader through a wide range of emotional responses. The romantic involvement of the lead couple, the scorching sensuality ignited by their mutual raw need, the elusive truth at the bottom of their super-powers are the cornerstones of this solid piece of fictional fabrication. The plot is so clever that despite the lack of closure as far as regards the big scheme of things, this page-turner can be enjoyed as a stand alone. The dangling plot threads, the breakneck sub-plots and the introduction of secondary cast that will surely rock the world of the Phoenix Rising in the coming sequel, fuel the reader’s curiosity and enhance the thrill effect, leaving us with the awareness that our endearing characters are more in danger than ever and that someone is diligently trying to hide the truth.
That truth will still be elusive even in the final pages, but the choice of a conspiracy theme is thought-provoking and allows room for theorizing. The characters are fully nuanced, easy to root for and relate to, despite their larger-than-life nature; the emotional dynamic between Luke and Keira so engaging…the more they talk, the more they argue. They both share a personality trait that can place countless obstacles on the way to a smooth love relationship. They both possess an unforgiving, uncompromising, hard as granite temper, in addition to their psychic ability to read each other’s minds… hard to tell if this is more a blessing or a curse. When they finally unlock their hearts and understand that love is “about finding strength in the sum of our parts instead of fighting alone”, their release will be even more rewarding. To tighten up the threads of this rich and imaginative series, Joan Swan revisits familiar faces (Teague and Alyssa from Fever, installment #1 in the series ) and introduces an ensemble of new characters that move around our lead couple with the loyalty, the stealth and the precision of a SWAT team.
And then there is Mitch, Mitch Foster: “the dragon slayer” attorney, the man who gets things done with the power of a telegraphic phone call…there is no special force pilot, military helicopter, heavy artillery, or loyal bodyguards that he cannot obtain with a simple (and mysterious) call from his mobile…we will get to know his secret sooner or later. This character definitely deserves his own spotlight.
September 25, 2012
Blaze is Joan Swan’s second book of her Phoenix series. These stories revolve around seven firefighters who were caught in a chemical explosion in a government warehouse which left one dead and the remaining members forever changed. Each member has developed their own special abilities, and in this paranormal series, the scary monster in the closet isn’t a vampire or a zombie, it’s our very own government.
This black ops division of our government was aware of the toxic stew they kept hidden in their storage warehouse and have been monitoring these firefighters for the past five years. Those in charge are torn between destroying them before the public finds out or using their usual powers for their own purposes.
While all of the firefighters are being watched and monitored, it is Luke Ransom and Keira O’Shay who hold the most interest to the government. Luke and Keira were lovers long before the fateful fire, but everything changed when Luke walked out of the warehouse both fireproof and bulletproof and Keira was suddenly able to hear thoughts. Amazing enough, but it did not go unnoticed that while they were together their powers were enhanced. Because of this, everything is being done to keep these firefighters from coming back together. The fear is how powerful they could be as a team.
Keira and Luke are brought back together when the FBI and ATF are brought in on a raid on what is supposed to be a religious compound and turns out to be a laboratory, and when a fire starts during the confusion, they can’t help but notice the strange colors blazing in the flames. Those same colored flames that burned the night of the warehouse fire.
It seems the government got tired of waiting to see if they could control the firefighters and have decided to try to create their own gifted solders, starting with more malleable children.
At first Keira doesn’t understand the strange bond between her and little boy Mateo they rescued until she finally realizes that he too has the same special abilities shared by herself and some of the other firefighters. Now, Keira and Luke are on the run and trying to protect this boy but the government wants him back real bad, and they are willing to bargain whatever lives are necessary so they can get him back and bury their mistake, permanently.
Keira and Luke have been apart for three years now and neither has been able to get past the love that they shared, but is it undying love enough when your every move is watched and the danger only increases the longer you are together?
THOUGHTS:
Joan Swan is definitely working her way to the top of my favorite author list! This story was riveting, heart-poundingly intense, sexy, and definitely leaves me wanting more. I can’t wait for the next story.
When the scary monster in the closet is our own very powerful government, there is no one you can trust and no where that is truly safe. They were being monitor and no matter where they ran, there was already someone waiting to grab them. The way our government is portrayed as heartless in their pursuit of these firefighters gave me chills.
My only complaint comes from Keira’s flip-floppiness. Granted, she does have some childhood trust issues, but you can’t have an epiphany of how much someone means to you, how you have been existing, not actually living without them, and how you almost lost them forever, and then be like, “what I said before about how much I love you and I can’t live without you…meh, I think I’m going to go back to being too scared of losing you to stay with you.” WHAT!!!???!!! I wanted to smack her upside the head!
Received an ARC from the author. Thank you, Joan.
See more at http://ebookobsessed.com
This black ops division of our government was aware of the toxic stew they kept hidden in their storage warehouse and have been monitoring these firefighters for the past five years. Those in charge are torn between destroying them before the public finds out or using their usual powers for their own purposes.
While all of the firefighters are being watched and monitored, it is Luke Ransom and Keira O’Shay who hold the most interest to the government. Luke and Keira were lovers long before the fateful fire, but everything changed when Luke walked out of the warehouse both fireproof and bulletproof and Keira was suddenly able to hear thoughts. Amazing enough, but it did not go unnoticed that while they were together their powers were enhanced. Because of this, everything is being done to keep these firefighters from coming back together. The fear is how powerful they could be as a team.
Keira and Luke are brought back together when the FBI and ATF are brought in on a raid on what is supposed to be a religious compound and turns out to be a laboratory, and when a fire starts during the confusion, they can’t help but notice the strange colors blazing in the flames. Those same colored flames that burned the night of the warehouse fire.
It seems the government got tired of waiting to see if they could control the firefighters and have decided to try to create their own gifted solders, starting with more malleable children.
At first Keira doesn’t understand the strange bond between her and little boy Mateo they rescued until she finally realizes that he too has the same special abilities shared by herself and some of the other firefighters. Now, Keira and Luke are on the run and trying to protect this boy but the government wants him back real bad, and they are willing to bargain whatever lives are necessary so they can get him back and bury their mistake, permanently.
Keira and Luke have been apart for three years now and neither has been able to get past the love that they shared, but is it undying love enough when your every move is watched and the danger only increases the longer you are together?
THOUGHTS:
Joan Swan is definitely working her way to the top of my favorite author list! This story was riveting, heart-poundingly intense, sexy, and definitely leaves me wanting more. I can’t wait for the next story.
When the scary monster in the closet is our own very powerful government, there is no one you can trust and no where that is truly safe. They were being monitor and no matter where they ran, there was already someone waiting to grab them. The way our government is portrayed as heartless in their pursuit of these firefighters gave me chills.
My only complaint comes from Keira’s flip-floppiness. Granted, she does have some childhood trust issues, but you can’t have an epiphany of how much someone means to you, how you have been existing, not actually living without them, and how you almost lost them forever, and then be like, “what I said before about how much I love you and I can’t live without you…meh, I think I’m going to go back to being too scared of losing you to stay with you.” WHAT!!!???!!! I wanted to smack her upside the head!
Received an ARC from the author. Thank you, Joan.
See more at http://ebookobsessed.com
October 1, 2012
Blaze by Joan Swan, is the second book in her Phoenix Rising series. The first book in this series, as well as Swan’s debut book was Fever. Fever was a very good book, but Swan has taken Blaze to another level. From the start to finish, this book is a page burner, you cannot, and will not put this down until you finish this exciting story. Blaze has everything..action..suspense..excitement..intensity, love, sex (hits the wow factor), and constant danger.
The heroine in Blaze is Keira O’Shay, and she is one of the best kick ass heroines I have seen, and I have seen quite a few good ones. Luke is the hero in this story, and we remember him from Fever. Until the end of Fever, we did not really like Luke. But almost from the start, that changes and he is equally as great a character as Keira. I loved them together, and loved Mateo, the young boy in this story, who added so much to the story.
One of the best things, besides Keira and Luke, is that we get to spend a lot of time with the team we got to know in Fever…..Teague, Alyssa, Mitch, Seth, and the remaining of the Firefighting team. Joan Swan does such an excellent job of creating unforgettable characters, and also the villains, like Dargan, who is back in full force.
Keira, ran away from Luke and her friends, a few years ago, and became an agent. When the story picks up, she is the best of agents, and a sharpshooter also. Keira, who is afraid of commitment and family (she distances herself so not be hurt again losing family), is the lead on an assignment, and discovers that her ex, Luke, working for another division (ATF), is also on the same assignment. Though the years have passed, they both have never gotten over their love for one another.
The story immediately is filled with intense action, with Luke and Keira in the middle of it. Keira finds Mateo, a young boy she saves during the mission, and for some reason, she is drawn to him. She must protect him from the experiments being done to him and others. Which brings Keira back to the friends she tried to avoid, in order to help her keep Mateo safe.
DARPA is the enemy, as we saw in Fever. Dargan is the villainous leader, and she is the one organizing the experiments on children creating enhanced abilities, as well as trying to eliminate the Firefighter team, who also now have enhanced abilities. Keira can hear thoughts and things far away. Luke, whose powers, strengthen with Keira near him, can withstand fire, bullets, etc. We know Teague is a healer, and young Mateo, who is only 5 years old, also has a great ability, as do the rest of the team.
Blaze is filled with so much action; you cannot sit back and relax. But the crux of the story is the wonderful romance between Luke and Keira. You know how much each loves one another, and the flaw in Keira, who had a rough childhood, and is afraid of commitment, even if she loves Luke with all her heart. As I noted earlier, there was this long hot steamy sex scene that was so well done by Swan. Just when you think, finally they will make together, all hell breaks loose, and changes things again.
I loved Blaze, and Joan Swan has outdone herself. Phoenix Rising continues to get better, and I look forward to meeting all of these wonderful characters again, in the next installment of this series. I am already anticipating who is going to be the next couple…so many to choose from. Maybe Mitch, as he is a fun and great character. If you have not started this series, I suggest you do so. Kudos to Joan Swan for a wonderful second book.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
The heroine in Blaze is Keira O’Shay, and she is one of the best kick ass heroines I have seen, and I have seen quite a few good ones. Luke is the hero in this story, and we remember him from Fever. Until the end of Fever, we did not really like Luke. But almost from the start, that changes and he is equally as great a character as Keira. I loved them together, and loved Mateo, the young boy in this story, who added so much to the story.
One of the best things, besides Keira and Luke, is that we get to spend a lot of time with the team we got to know in Fever…..Teague, Alyssa, Mitch, Seth, and the remaining of the Firefighting team. Joan Swan does such an excellent job of creating unforgettable characters, and also the villains, like Dargan, who is back in full force.
Keira, ran away from Luke and her friends, a few years ago, and became an agent. When the story picks up, she is the best of agents, and a sharpshooter also. Keira, who is afraid of commitment and family (she distances herself so not be hurt again losing family), is the lead on an assignment, and discovers that her ex, Luke, working for another division (ATF), is also on the same assignment. Though the years have passed, they both have never gotten over their love for one another.
The story immediately is filled with intense action, with Luke and Keira in the middle of it. Keira finds Mateo, a young boy she saves during the mission, and for some reason, she is drawn to him. She must protect him from the experiments being done to him and others. Which brings Keira back to the friends she tried to avoid, in order to help her keep Mateo safe.
DARPA is the enemy, as we saw in Fever. Dargan is the villainous leader, and she is the one organizing the experiments on children creating enhanced abilities, as well as trying to eliminate the Firefighter team, who also now have enhanced abilities. Keira can hear thoughts and things far away. Luke, whose powers, strengthen with Keira near him, can withstand fire, bullets, etc. We know Teague is a healer, and young Mateo, who is only 5 years old, also has a great ability, as do the rest of the team.
Blaze is filled with so much action; you cannot sit back and relax. But the crux of the story is the wonderful romance between Luke and Keira. You know how much each loves one another, and the flaw in Keira, who had a rough childhood, and is afraid of commitment, even if she loves Luke with all her heart. As I noted earlier, there was this long hot steamy sex scene that was so well done by Swan. Just when you think, finally they will make together, all hell breaks loose, and changes things again.
I loved Blaze, and Joan Swan has outdone herself. Phoenix Rising continues to get better, and I look forward to meeting all of these wonderful characters again, in the next installment of this series. I am already anticipating who is going to be the next couple…so many to choose from. Maybe Mitch, as he is a fun and great character. If you have not started this series, I suggest you do so. Kudos to Joan Swan for a wonderful second book.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
October 19, 2012
I won book 1 of the Phoenix Rising series, Fever, in an online contest. I was first drawn to the gorgeous cover (can you blame me?), but the concept and the characters intrigued me. The Phoenix Rising series is a romantic suspense but it has a touch of supernatural as well. Some of the main characters were altered by a fire-fighting mission and have developed some supernatural abilities. Fever set a solid foundation for the series, and with Blaze the Phoenix Rising series is one romantic suspense fans will not want to miss.
Luke was a prominent secondary character in Fever and it was clear that he had gone through some difficult emotional times and lost his girlfriend Kiera. Kiera had been on the firefighting team years before that caused dramatic changes for all the members. After the upheaval, Kiera decided to go on to become an FBI agent, and the woman has some fierce sharp-shooting skills. She hadn't spoken to Luke since, and suddenly while on a mission to recover a missing boy, she is partnered with him again. The mission goes much deeper than a missing child, it involves their past, the government, and their new abilites. Facing danger at every turn, Luke and Kiera team up and gather the rest of their former fire-fighting team to keep the boy safe as well as themselves.
From the very beginning Blaze is full of action and simmering tension for the main characters Kiera and Luke. There is so much action in Blaze that there is never a dull moment. After the shock of seeing Kiera again, Luke determines to not lose her again. As Luke and Kiera fight and evade their enemies they both begin to better understand each other and the reasons why they broke up, why Keira left. Kiera had a horrible, traumatizing childhood and never came to terms with it. While protecting the boy, Mateo, Kiera is torn between her desire to protect and love children and her fear of failing. Kiera and Luke have a bit of the off-and-on type of thing going, but they had a lot of stress on them and I wound up feeling for both of them. Given, I did think Luke was a bit overly stubborn at times....
Blaze is a fantastic romantic suspense read, it has plenty of action, conspiracies, intriguing characters (both good and bad), and hot romance as well. The extra abilities the characters have only enhance the story. As the characters are together more, their abilities are strengthened. Luke and Kiera, for all of their dysfunction, make really good partners. The conspiracy behind their abilities and the fire only deepened in Blaze and there are more stories to come. I am excited to see what comes next for the group, I can only guess at what might happen next.
So, for you romantic suspense readers, I highly recommend picking up this series. It is important to start from the beginning with Fever. I enjoyed reading Fever, but it was a harsher book than Blaze (there was more viciousness to Fever). Fever provides important background on the fire and the key players in the conspiracies. It seems like this Phoenix Rising is only building momentum, I really can't wait to see what book 3, Inferno will bring.
*I received this book in exchange for an honest review*
Luke was a prominent secondary character in Fever and it was clear that he had gone through some difficult emotional times and lost his girlfriend Kiera. Kiera had been on the firefighting team years before that caused dramatic changes for all the members. After the upheaval, Kiera decided to go on to become an FBI agent, and the woman has some fierce sharp-shooting skills. She hadn't spoken to Luke since, and suddenly while on a mission to recover a missing boy, she is partnered with him again. The mission goes much deeper than a missing child, it involves their past, the government, and their new abilites. Facing danger at every turn, Luke and Kiera team up and gather the rest of their former fire-fighting team to keep the boy safe as well as themselves.
From the very beginning Blaze is full of action and simmering tension for the main characters Kiera and Luke. There is so much action in Blaze that there is never a dull moment. After the shock of seeing Kiera again, Luke determines to not lose her again. As Luke and Kiera fight and evade their enemies they both begin to better understand each other and the reasons why they broke up, why Keira left. Kiera had a horrible, traumatizing childhood and never came to terms with it. While protecting the boy, Mateo, Kiera is torn between her desire to protect and love children and her fear of failing. Kiera and Luke have a bit of the off-and-on type of thing going, but they had a lot of stress on them and I wound up feeling for both of them. Given, I did think Luke was a bit overly stubborn at times....
Blaze is a fantastic romantic suspense read, it has plenty of action, conspiracies, intriguing characters (both good and bad), and hot romance as well. The extra abilities the characters have only enhance the story. As the characters are together more, their abilities are strengthened. Luke and Kiera, for all of their dysfunction, make really good partners. The conspiracy behind their abilities and the fire only deepened in Blaze and there are more stories to come. I am excited to see what comes next for the group, I can only guess at what might happen next.
So, for you romantic suspense readers, I highly recommend picking up this series. It is important to start from the beginning with Fever. I enjoyed reading Fever, but it was a harsher book than Blaze (there was more viciousness to Fever). Fever provides important background on the fire and the key players in the conspiracies. It seems like this Phoenix Rising is only building momentum, I really can't wait to see what book 3, Inferno will bring.
*I received this book in exchange for an honest review*
September 23, 2012
Review originally posted at Pages of Forbidden Love
The world that I was introduced to in the first book, Fever, got so much better and more intense with this second installment. The first book opened the reader up to a great contemporary world where a team of ex-firefighters all had special powers from a warehouse explosion. There was so much mystery involving what happened to this group of people in the first book and I was left feeling like I didn’t know the entire story once I was finished with Fever. I knew I needed more so I’m so glad I got more in Blaze.
First off I love the entire gang of characters in this series! Luke and Keira are so stubborn, yet so right for each other. I personally love reading about couples who were once together but something broke them up and now they have to try to solve their problems years later. I’m not sure why I get so attached with this type of storyline but I do. I loved that Luke wanted Keira from the moment she walked out on him three years before. His character was so amazing and just drew you in with his intense emotion for the one woman he knew was meant for him. I will admit that I didn’t really like Luke in the first book but in Blaze I fell hard for the man. I also loved Keira though for being strong enough to leave when she did three years ago. It is so hard to leave a long relationship when you think something isn’t going right and it takes a lot of courage for Keira to do what she did this entire book. Keira certainly is the perfect herione in my mind because she is strong, fierce, protective, yet she has a weak side which is so important to her character growth during the entire novel.
Characters aside the plot of both Fever and Blaze are amazing. The plot keeps you on the edge of your seat and you never know what is going to happen next. There are intense action scenes where you never know who is going to make it out alive and there are instense moments where some major plotting is happening from the people out to destroy Keira, Luke and the entire gang of characters that the reader has learned to love. I loved that we get to see the plot from the angles of the main characters and the one woman who is plotting to kill them all. This plot is probably one of the best plots I have ever read in a romance book.
Overall, if you are ever looking for an adult romance book that has a real plot then this is the series for you. I have to just stand back and say congrats to Swan for giving romance readers a real plot line instead of just sex scene after sex scene with little in the way of plot. Swan is officially on my must read author list and I can’t wait to read more of this amazing series because there are still so many unanswered questions that I need to know how everything shapes up in the next book. If I had to say that there was any downside to this book it would be that I just wish the books were long and a little more steamier. However when you are wishing for a longer book I think that is always the mark of a great author and a great book.
4.5/5 stars
The world that I was introduced to in the first book, Fever, got so much better and more intense with this second installment. The first book opened the reader up to a great contemporary world where a team of ex-firefighters all had special powers from a warehouse explosion. There was so much mystery involving what happened to this group of people in the first book and I was left feeling like I didn’t know the entire story once I was finished with Fever. I knew I needed more so I’m so glad I got more in Blaze.
First off I love the entire gang of characters in this series! Luke and Keira are so stubborn, yet so right for each other. I personally love reading about couples who were once together but something broke them up and now they have to try to solve their problems years later. I’m not sure why I get so attached with this type of storyline but I do. I loved that Luke wanted Keira from the moment she walked out on him three years before. His character was so amazing and just drew you in with his intense emotion for the one woman he knew was meant for him. I will admit that I didn’t really like Luke in the first book but in Blaze I fell hard for the man. I also loved Keira though for being strong enough to leave when she did three years ago. It is so hard to leave a long relationship when you think something isn’t going right and it takes a lot of courage for Keira to do what she did this entire book. Keira certainly is the perfect herione in my mind because she is strong, fierce, protective, yet she has a weak side which is so important to her character growth during the entire novel.
Characters aside the plot of both Fever and Blaze are amazing. The plot keeps you on the edge of your seat and you never know what is going to happen next. There are intense action scenes where you never know who is going to make it out alive and there are instense moments where some major plotting is happening from the people out to destroy Keira, Luke and the entire gang of characters that the reader has learned to love. I loved that we get to see the plot from the angles of the main characters and the one woman who is plotting to kill them all. This plot is probably one of the best plots I have ever read in a romance book.
Overall, if you are ever looking for an adult romance book that has a real plot then this is the series for you. I have to just stand back and say congrats to Swan for giving romance readers a real plot line instead of just sex scene after sex scene with little in the way of plot. Swan is officially on my must read author list and I can’t wait to read more of this amazing series because there are still so many unanswered questions that I need to know how everything shapes up in the next book. If I had to say that there was any downside to this book it would be that I just wish the books were long and a little more steamier. However when you are wishing for a longer book I think that is always the mark of a great author and a great book.
4.5/5 stars
September 24, 2012
4.5 stars
Posted on Under the Covers
From the get-go, Joan Swan demands your attention, opening up with a killer scene that hooks you right in. At first, I wondered if everything was happening too fast, but it’s as if Swan heard my thoughts because right after that the action levelled out and she gave readers time to breathe. This, my friends, is what I called great pacing. I’ve mentioned this before in my FEVER review, but I’ll say it again, Joan Swan is fantastic at pacing her work so that she controls the way your heart pumps faster with the action and lets you breathe after an intense scene.
I immediately felt a kinship for Keira O’Shea. I loved how physically and mentally tough she was and her sense of morality. Even amongst trained men, she still held her ground in times of distress and that made her admirable. But even though she is one tough chick, later on in the book you also get glimpses of a softer side to her. Though she says she doesn’t want children, there she is, holding little Mateo protectively in her arms. I loved reading about the different sides to her. She was a multidimensional character that really displays her resiliency and also her vulnerability nicely.
Then there is Luke Ransom (what a sexy name!) who is fireproof (fireproof!!!) making him more badass and hotter than he already is. Though sometimes he can be a jerk, I think it only added to the drama that Luke and Keira have in their relationship. After ending their passionate relationship on bad terms, seeing each other for the first time in three years does not bring back pleasant memories. Both are bitter and neither one is able to forgive the other for what was done to them.
But there is one thing they have in common and that is a broken heart. Despite the hate they so obviously display for one another, there’s sexual tension brewing beneath the surface.
Added to the intense sexual tension of this book is the action-packed, thrilling and explosive journey that these two endure together. Clutching little Mateo to her side, Keira and Luke fight to get to the bottom of this strange predicament they are in. After rescuing Mateo from enemy hands, they find out that something in embedded into Mateo’s head. It could be a tracker or it could be something far more dangerous. Regardless, BLAZE will hook you right in and never cease its pulse-pounding ride until the very end.
BLAZE can be read as a standalone novel, but familiar faces are present. You see Teague and Alyssa. Mitch also has some great lines. I’m eager to learn more of him.
This second book in the Phoenix Rising series is better than its predecessor, hitting harder and upping the romance. With more endearing characters and intense scenes, readers will be panting with their need for more. I hardly had time to catch my own breath while reading this!
*ARC provided by author
Posted on Under the Covers
From the get-go, Joan Swan demands your attention, opening up with a killer scene that hooks you right in. At first, I wondered if everything was happening too fast, but it’s as if Swan heard my thoughts because right after that the action levelled out and she gave readers time to breathe. This, my friends, is what I called great pacing. I’ve mentioned this before in my FEVER review, but I’ll say it again, Joan Swan is fantastic at pacing her work so that she controls the way your heart pumps faster with the action and lets you breathe after an intense scene.
I immediately felt a kinship for Keira O’Shea. I loved how physically and mentally tough she was and her sense of morality. Even amongst trained men, she still held her ground in times of distress and that made her admirable. But even though she is one tough chick, later on in the book you also get glimpses of a softer side to her. Though she says she doesn’t want children, there she is, holding little Mateo protectively in her arms. I loved reading about the different sides to her. She was a multidimensional character that really displays her resiliency and also her vulnerability nicely.
Then there is Luke Ransom (what a sexy name!) who is fireproof (fireproof!!!) making him more badass and hotter than he already is. Though sometimes he can be a jerk, I think it only added to the drama that Luke and Keira have in their relationship. After ending their passionate relationship on bad terms, seeing each other for the first time in three years does not bring back pleasant memories. Both are bitter and neither one is able to forgive the other for what was done to them.
But there is one thing they have in common and that is a broken heart. Despite the hate they so obviously display for one another, there’s sexual tension brewing beneath the surface.
Added to the intense sexual tension of this book is the action-packed, thrilling and explosive journey that these two endure together. Clutching little Mateo to her side, Keira and Luke fight to get to the bottom of this strange predicament they are in. After rescuing Mateo from enemy hands, they find out that something in embedded into Mateo’s head. It could be a tracker or it could be something far more dangerous. Regardless, BLAZE will hook you right in and never cease its pulse-pounding ride until the very end.
BLAZE can be read as a standalone novel, but familiar faces are present. You see Teague and Alyssa. Mitch also has some great lines. I’m eager to learn more of him.
This second book in the Phoenix Rising series is better than its predecessor, hitting harder and upping the romance. With more endearing characters and intense scenes, readers will be panting with their need for more. I hardly had time to catch my own breath while reading this!
*ARC provided by author
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September 28, 2012Ava's review posted on Guilty Pleasures
5 Stars
First I want to say, earlier this year my good friend DiDi recommended I read Fever, the first book in Joan Swan’s Phoenix Rising series. I was hesitant at first because I hadn’t ever read romantic suspense. I had the misconception, that the entire genre was a recipe for TSTL characters. I mean, a woman in danger, a man to the rescue, seemed to be the general theme throughout. That just goes to show, generalizations can severely limit your choices in life. I was completely blown away by Fever. Even the premise of book seemed so unlikely to me, I mean who would fall for their kidnapper? Ms. Swan made a believer out of me, she gripped my attention in the first chapter and I was sold on Romantic Suspense when I finished. For that I am grateful, because some of my favorite reads this year have been in this very genre.
Blaze is the follow-up to Fever, and I think even better than the first. If there is one thing I can say to describe a Joan Swan title, it’s INTENSE. This book reads like an edge of your seat action flick. Where the bad guys are breathing down your neck at every freakin’ turn and you’re lucky if you get to shower and sleep at all during the whole book. I swear my adrenaline would spike just reading it.
Keira and Luke are both members of the team of firefighters that were exposed to some chemicals in a warehouse fire/explosion. The exposure has modified them physiologically in different ways or abilities. These abilities are mildly paranormal, and I think even people who don’t generally read paranormal would still love them, as they are more like medical anomalies. A complex government cover-up and all kinds of political thriller OMG moments.
Luke and Keira had a history before the accident and ultimately broke it off. They’ve gone their separate ways and abandoned all contact. They pursued other careers since their break-up, Keria is employed by the FBI as a sniper, and Luke ATF. When a job to extract a child from a cult-like compound has them thrown together on the same team all the tension returns full blast.
These two are drawn together with a strong emotional connection and wind up on the run together with a child in tow. Just being in each other’s presence strengthens their abilities and intensifies their emotions. The history and love and all that baggage you tend to carry after a brutal break-up is worked out through the story.
Interacting with the other members of their old team, gives great insight into the future of the series. I hope that means there are more Phoenix Rising installments planned. I loved revisiting Alyssa and Creek and Kat from the first story. And lastly, Joan Swan picks kick ass names for her alpha heroes – (Teague) Creek! (Luke) Ransom! Cash! They just scream sexy military/uniform hottie. ~ Ava
5 Stars
First I want to say, earlier this year my good friend DiDi recommended I read Fever, the first book in Joan Swan’s Phoenix Rising series. I was hesitant at first because I hadn’t ever read romantic suspense. I had the misconception, that the entire genre was a recipe for TSTL characters. I mean, a woman in danger, a man to the rescue, seemed to be the general theme throughout. That just goes to show, generalizations can severely limit your choices in life. I was completely blown away by Fever. Even the premise of book seemed so unlikely to me, I mean who would fall for their kidnapper? Ms. Swan made a believer out of me, she gripped my attention in the first chapter and I was sold on Romantic Suspense when I finished. For that I am grateful, because some of my favorite reads this year have been in this very genre.
Blaze is the follow-up to Fever, and I think even better than the first. If there is one thing I can say to describe a Joan Swan title, it’s INTENSE. This book reads like an edge of your seat action flick. Where the bad guys are breathing down your neck at every freakin’ turn and you’re lucky if you get to shower and sleep at all during the whole book. I swear my adrenaline would spike just reading it.
Keira and Luke are both members of the team of firefighters that were exposed to some chemicals in a warehouse fire/explosion. The exposure has modified them physiologically in different ways or abilities. These abilities are mildly paranormal, and I think even people who don’t generally read paranormal would still love them, as they are more like medical anomalies. A complex government cover-up and all kinds of political thriller OMG moments.
Luke and Keira had a history before the accident and ultimately broke it off. They’ve gone their separate ways and abandoned all contact. They pursued other careers since their break-up, Keria is employed by the FBI as a sniper, and Luke ATF. When a job to extract a child from a cult-like compound has them thrown together on the same team all the tension returns full blast.
These two are drawn together with a strong emotional connection and wind up on the run together with a child in tow. Just being in each other’s presence strengthens their abilities and intensifies their emotions. The history and love and all that baggage you tend to carry after a brutal break-up is worked out through the story.
Interacting with the other members of their old team, gives great insight into the future of the series. I hope that means there are more Phoenix Rising installments planned. I loved revisiting Alyssa and Creek and Kat from the first story. And lastly, Joan Swan picks kick ass names for her alpha heroes – (Teague) Creek! (Luke) Ransom! Cash! They just scream sexy military/uniform hottie. ~ Ava
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