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Firehawks #2
Full Blaze
She's just jumped square into the heart of the blaze...
When Australian helicopter pilot Jeannie Clark rescues wildfire photographer Cal Jackson from a raging burnover, she doesn't know she's bringing aboard a firebrand. Cal is quickly recruited for MHA's covert operations that reach far beyond the flames. Together Jeannie and Cal are assigned to an overseas operation with a lot more at risk than burning trees. And they'll need all the skill, love, and trust they can muster if they're going to survive the heat of this jungle battle.
When Australian helicopter pilot Jeannie Clark rescues wildfire photographer Cal Jackson from a raging burnover, she doesn't know she's bringing aboard a firebrand. Cal is quickly recruited for MHA's covert operations that reach far beyond the flames. Together Jeannie and Cal are assigned to an overseas operation with a lot more at risk than burning trees. And they'll need all the skill, love, and trust they can muster if they're going to survive the heat of this jungle battle.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 2, 2014
54 people are currently reading
610 people want to read
About the author
M.L. Buchman
322 books613 followersUSA Today and Amazon #1 Bestseller M. L. “Matt” Buchman started writing on a flight south from Japan to ride his bicycle across the Australian Outback. Just part of a solo around-the-world trip that ultimately launched his writing career.
From the very beginning, his powerful female heroines insisted on putting character first, then a great adventure. He’s since written over 60 action-adventure thrillers and military romantic suspense novels. And just for the fun of it: 100 short stories, and a fast-growing pile of read-by-author audiobooks.
Booklist says: 3x “Top 10 of the Year.” PW says: “Tom Clancy fans open to a strong female lead will clamor for more.” His fans say: “I want more now…of everything.” That his characters are even more insistent than his fans is a hoot.
As a 30-year project manager with a geophysics degree who has designed and built houses, flown and jumped out of planes, and solo-sailed a 50’ ketch, he is awed by what is possible. More at: www.mlbuchman.com.
From the very beginning, his powerful female heroines insisted on putting character first, then a great adventure. He’s since written over 60 action-adventure thrillers and military romantic suspense novels. And just for the fun of it: 100 short stories, and a fast-growing pile of read-by-author audiobooks.
Booklist says: 3x “Top 10 of the Year.” PW says: “Tom Clancy fans open to a strong female lead will clamor for more.” His fans say: “I want more now…of everything.” That his characters are even more insistent than his fans is a hoot.
As a 30-year project manager with a geophysics degree who has designed and built houses, flown and jumped out of planes, and solo-sailed a 50’ ketch, he is awed by what is possible. More at: www.mlbuchman.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
January 5, 2015
In FULL BLAZE you get what I would consider a more suspense and action driven story with a bit of romance thrown in. Jeannie and Cal are both well developed characters and the story was interesting for the most part. I found myself losing focus a bit sometimes, but I think that was more a matter of my personal reading taste than a reflection on Buchman's talent as a writer. Maybe I've become a bit too jaded in my reading. This didn't feel like a romance to me and I mistakenly thought that I was getting a romantic suspense story that would have a more relationship driven plot. Overall a good read just be aware that I wouldn't really classify this one as a romance.
You can find more from me at Monlatable Book Reviews
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You can find more from me at Monlatable Book Reviews
http://www.monlatablereviews.com/
November 23, 2014
Full Blaze is the newest book in the Firehawks series by M. L. Buchman. I was looking forward to this one and I wasn’t disappointed. It’s an exciting ride as we follow Cal and Jeannie, through the skies and on the ground. Their romance unfolds over the course of the story in a way that feels genuine.
Jeannie is a great heroine. She’s a helicopter pilot for MHA, Mount Hood Aviation. She’s smart, talented, sassy and sexy. Cal is a great match for her. He’s a wildfire photographer and former Hotshot. He’s an interesting character, one that is fallible yet amazing in his own way. He has a bit of a dark history which he has overcome as he shaped himself into the character he is in this story. I liked him and I particularly liked him with Jeannie. Their romance is a careful dance of one step forward, one step back. They both have slightly distorted views of themselves and it’s through each other that they begin to see themselves through clear eyes.
Full Blaze is a wonderful story filled with wildfires, aviation, technical detail, romance and character growth. It’s vivid a mix that comes together in a way that grabs your attention from the very first page and holds it through to the end. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I would recommend it to fans of exciting romance.
*ARC (Advanced Review Copy) received from SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca via NetGalley.
Jeannie is a great heroine. She’s a helicopter pilot for MHA, Mount Hood Aviation. She’s smart, talented, sassy and sexy. Cal is a great match for her. He’s a wildfire photographer and former Hotshot. He’s an interesting character, one that is fallible yet amazing in his own way. He has a bit of a dark history which he has overcome as he shaped himself into the character he is in this story. I liked him and I particularly liked him with Jeannie. Their romance is a careful dance of one step forward, one step back. They both have slightly distorted views of themselves and it’s through each other that they begin to see themselves through clear eyes.
Full Blaze is a wonderful story filled with wildfires, aviation, technical detail, romance and character growth. It’s vivid a mix that comes together in a way that grabs your attention from the very first page and holds it through to the end. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I would recommend it to fans of exciting romance.
*ARC (Advanced Review Copy) received from SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca via NetGalley.
September 27, 2014
Received an ARC for review
It still amazes me that this a male author. He writes not only the technical aspects of fire fighting, helicopter flying, and military life, but also love and romance. I loved his name Calvin Hobbes, my favorite cartoon characters. He acted like both. He so got Jeannie. Fans of the Night Stalkers series will be happy to know you get to see more Mark and Emily and cameos from some other members of the team. It was just a great book. I hope Denise is next for a HEA
It still amazes me that this a male author. He writes not only the technical aspects of fire fighting, helicopter flying, and military life, but also love and romance. I loved his name Calvin Hobbes, my favorite cartoon characters. He acted like both. He so got Jeannie. Fans of the Night Stalkers series will be happy to know you get to see more Mark and Emily and cameos from some other members of the team. It was just a great book. I hope Denise is next for a HEA
May 31, 2016
I LOVE M.L. Buchman's book and this one did not disappoint. I feel as if I've been given a lesson in fighting wildfires with each one I read as well as how helicopter's and out military work. I am so impressed with his knowledge and always look forward to his next book. Each one adds something to the series and you do not get bored since they are all a bit different.
April 12, 2019
Great book. Well written, plot that kept you interested. Good romance. Could tell the author did a tremendous amount of research on flying helicopters, wildfire and photography. And then they add this cheesy ass cover of a shirtless firefighter.... Shaking my head
February 4, 2017
You don't have to have read the others in this series to enjoy this wild adventure. Romance is pretty good, too. No complaints here.
February 16, 2023
Former wildfire fighter Cal Jackson is now a wildfire photographer. In the midst of a fire, he is airlifted out of danger by pilot Jeannie Clark, a member of Mount Hood Aviation (MHA), a premier firefighters-for-hire contractor. The story begins with dramatic action and continues through fires and a special contract in Australia, Jeannie’s home country. Some of the members of MHA are ex-military from Buchman’s Nightstalker series, and some very quiet connections with government agencies exist.
The risks and techniques of firefighting are the backdrop for romance and dramatic rescues. Buchman’s well-drafted teams of extremely competent people working in dangerous situations is a consistent draw. The characters are complex and well developed. This series should appeal to readers who enjoy bravery, loyalty, as well as romance. It’s particularly appealing because the characters are pitted against nature in the rescue of lives and homes. Highly recommended.
Readalikes:
Kathryn Shay’s Firefighter trilogy; Bella Andre’s Hot shots; Lindsay McKenna’s Operation: Shadow Warriors; Jackie Ashenden – Raw Power; Nicole Helm – Summer Stalker; Fiona Quinn – Survival Instinct; Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooters series especially Into the Storm.
Pace: Fast-paced
Character: Complex and well developed; Competent; Likeable
Storyline: Action-packed
Writing style: Engaging; Compelling
Tone: Steamy
Frame: Santa Barbara CA, Australian Outback, East Timor; Contemporary
Themes: Chosen family; Race against time; Dealing with Natural Disaster
Red flags/Trigger warning: Wildfire danger; destruction of homes, lives lost
The risks and techniques of firefighting are the backdrop for romance and dramatic rescues. Buchman’s well-drafted teams of extremely competent people working in dangerous situations is a consistent draw. The characters are complex and well developed. This series should appeal to readers who enjoy bravery, loyalty, as well as romance. It’s particularly appealing because the characters are pitted against nature in the rescue of lives and homes. Highly recommended.
Readalikes:
Kathryn Shay’s Firefighter trilogy; Bella Andre’s Hot shots; Lindsay McKenna’s Operation: Shadow Warriors; Jackie Ashenden – Raw Power; Nicole Helm – Summer Stalker; Fiona Quinn – Survival Instinct; Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooters series especially Into the Storm.
Pace: Fast-paced
Character: Complex and well developed; Competent; Likeable
Storyline: Action-packed
Writing style: Engaging; Compelling
Tone: Steamy
Frame: Santa Barbara CA, Australian Outback, East Timor; Contemporary
Themes: Chosen family; Race against time; Dealing with Natural Disaster
Red flags/Trigger warning: Wildfire danger; destruction of homes, lives lost
May 22, 2019
Good read. The hero is a freelance photographer who specializes in photos of wildfires and the people who fight them. The heroine is a helicopter pilot from Australia who works for a firefighting company that the hero has been embedded with. They are immediately attracted to each other, but don't want to be, because neither does relationships. The story starts in California, goes to the middle of Australia, and to the Asia-Pacific area, fighting fires in all the places and exploring the terrain while exploring the developing relationship with the hero and heroine kicking most of the way. I enjoyed it thoroughly.
August 22, 2023
My favorite author; like this firefighting series. Here is another great book: well written, plot that kept me interested, can't put down pace. Strong female characters. He develops profound romances. The author does deep research on flying helicopters, wildfire and photography. I like how this author weaves in characters from past stories; really tightens the story threads and teamwork. Terrible cover photo though.
November 2, 2019
Could not put this one down. Two people come together over fire and find instant connection. Different backgrounds make courtship difficult. What makes it even worse is danger, fire, and close death. Nothing like winning a fight with death to delete all the unimportant stuff. Love the ending.
June 14, 2020
Helicopter pilot Jeannie rescues hotshot firefighter turned photographer Calvin from death by fire. Loved Calvin and Jeannie. They’re both amazing but dont realize it. Lots of action, romance, and hot fire literally.
December 14, 2014
Originally published at Reading Reality
In Full Blaze Buchman seems to have finally gotten his feet under him, so to speak, in the Firehawks series. Pure Heat was good, but Wildfire at Dawn, seemed more like a secondary story, and it was a bit short. Both are very much worth reading if you like more than a bit of action/adventure in your romantic suspense, or if you just plain like romances with firefighters.
However, Full Blaze hits it out of the park, even if the baseball metaphor is more relevant to the hero in Pure Heat. (go, read, enjoy, I’ll wait).
The series is building up on multiple fronts. The very tight crew of the more secret side of Mount Hood Aviation adds another member, and finally uses its perfect and perfectly legitimate cover of wildlands firefighting to do some investigative work for the CIA in a way that makes sense, by going to a hot region of the world to fight a very real and dangerous fire while they see what comes out of the woodwork, so to speak.
The love story is both a slow and fast burn; the hero and heroine act on their sexual chemistry fairly quickly, but it takes much more time (and a lot of work) for them to admit that they are in emotional sync as well.
One of the hallmarks of this series is that both parts of the couple have some fairly serious baggage that they need to work on before they can make a real team. In this case, Jeannie has a difficult time believing that she is as competent as she is, as beautiful as she is, or as worthwhile a person as she is. An emotionally abusive ex did a nearly permanent number on her self-worth and self-esteem. But that’s what he intended. That Jeannie escaped just proves that he failed, because she is awesome.
Calvin Hobbes Parker is a former ground crew (in other words, a hotshot) turned professional photographer. He follows the fire so that he can capture award winning photos of the life he loves and the danger he investigates.
However, no one names their kid for two brats in a comic strip. Cal Parker invented himself after escaping a series of brutal foster homes, and he has the scars on his back to prove it. His only home has been the road, and he doesn’t own anything except his cameras or let himself get close to anyone.
Until he meets Jeannie, and until Mount Hood Aviation sees him as an asset that can help them fight fires and solve problems. Until he gets sucked in by the fantastic people and the dangerous job they do.
He fights falling in love with Jeannie every bit as hard as he does putting down roots within the MHA family. It’s only when he has to face his greatest fear that he finally figures out that the risk is worth the reward - even if he might not live to see it.
In addition to the marvelous love story and the great adventure, we also watch a man work through a crisis of faith. Fighting fires and occasionally discovering crazy bad guys should be enough work for anyone, but Mark Henderson is finding it a come-down from commanding SOAR. He knows that it was necessary in order to raise their daughter in a reasonably safe environment, but he can’t help mourning what he left behind. Until he finally figures out that he is not just still fighting the good fight, but that it is an important fight worth every ounce of his skill just as much as commanding SOAR.
The elements of Full Blaze combine marvelously into a terrific adventure with a lot of heart.
wildfire at dawn by ml buchmanEscape Rating A-: I had fun with this one. While I think you could start this series here, I wouldn’t skip Pure Heat. Now that I’ve read them all, I’d say that Wildfire at Dawn was fun but felt like a secondary storyline.
But about Full Blaze, I think the “full” is about right. One of the things that I love about both of Buchman’s series is that the women are every bit as much a part of the action as the men. In his Night Stalkers series, both the male and female leads are soldiers. In Firehawks, both the male and female leads are integral parts of the crew. In Full Blaze, Jeannie is actually more integral than Cal. She’s a helicopter pilot, who both flies to suppress the fire and rescues crews that get trapped. While Cal is a top-notch phographer, part of this story is figuring out what his place might be at MHA.
I think he’s being trained as a Fire Behavior Analyst, like Carly in the first book, but it doesn’t seem like anyone has told him that yet.
The part that made this one special was Mark Henderson’s journey. He gave up a career he loved, one where he felt part of a greater good and where he was in the inner circle in a lot of important missions. He knows he did the right thing for his daughter, but getting his heart to agree with his head takes a lot of soul-searching. It was terrific to see what happens after the happily ever after.
In Full Blaze Buchman seems to have finally gotten his feet under him, so to speak, in the Firehawks series. Pure Heat was good, but Wildfire at Dawn, seemed more like a secondary story, and it was a bit short. Both are very much worth reading if you like more than a bit of action/adventure in your romantic suspense, or if you just plain like romances with firefighters.
However, Full Blaze hits it out of the park, even if the baseball metaphor is more relevant to the hero in Pure Heat. (go, read, enjoy, I’ll wait).
The series is building up on multiple fronts. The very tight crew of the more secret side of Mount Hood Aviation adds another member, and finally uses its perfect and perfectly legitimate cover of wildlands firefighting to do some investigative work for the CIA in a way that makes sense, by going to a hot region of the world to fight a very real and dangerous fire while they see what comes out of the woodwork, so to speak.
The love story is both a slow and fast burn; the hero and heroine act on their sexual chemistry fairly quickly, but it takes much more time (and a lot of work) for them to admit that they are in emotional sync as well.
One of the hallmarks of this series is that both parts of the couple have some fairly serious baggage that they need to work on before they can make a real team. In this case, Jeannie has a difficult time believing that she is as competent as she is, as beautiful as she is, or as worthwhile a person as she is. An emotionally abusive ex did a nearly permanent number on her self-worth and self-esteem. But that’s what he intended. That Jeannie escaped just proves that he failed, because she is awesome.
Calvin Hobbes Parker is a former ground crew (in other words, a hotshot) turned professional photographer. He follows the fire so that he can capture award winning photos of the life he loves and the danger he investigates.
However, no one names their kid for two brats in a comic strip. Cal Parker invented himself after escaping a series of brutal foster homes, and he has the scars on his back to prove it. His only home has been the road, and he doesn’t own anything except his cameras or let himself get close to anyone.
Until he meets Jeannie, and until Mount Hood Aviation sees him as an asset that can help them fight fires and solve problems. Until he gets sucked in by the fantastic people and the dangerous job they do.
He fights falling in love with Jeannie every bit as hard as he does putting down roots within the MHA family. It’s only when he has to face his greatest fear that he finally figures out that the risk is worth the reward - even if he might not live to see it.
In addition to the marvelous love story and the great adventure, we also watch a man work through a crisis of faith. Fighting fires and occasionally discovering crazy bad guys should be enough work for anyone, but Mark Henderson is finding it a come-down from commanding SOAR. He knows that it was necessary in order to raise their daughter in a reasonably safe environment, but he can’t help mourning what he left behind. Until he finally figures out that he is not just still fighting the good fight, but that it is an important fight worth every ounce of his skill just as much as commanding SOAR.
The elements of Full Blaze combine marvelously into a terrific adventure with a lot of heart.
wildfire at dawn by ml buchmanEscape Rating A-: I had fun with this one. While I think you could start this series here, I wouldn’t skip Pure Heat. Now that I’ve read them all, I’d say that Wildfire at Dawn was fun but felt like a secondary storyline.
But about Full Blaze, I think the “full” is about right. One of the things that I love about both of Buchman’s series is that the women are every bit as much a part of the action as the men. In his Night Stalkers series, both the male and female leads are soldiers. In Firehawks, both the male and female leads are integral parts of the crew. In Full Blaze, Jeannie is actually more integral than Cal. She’s a helicopter pilot, who both flies to suppress the fire and rescues crews that get trapped. While Cal is a top-notch phographer, part of this story is figuring out what his place might be at MHA.
I think he’s being trained as a Fire Behavior Analyst, like Carly in the first book, but it doesn’t seem like anyone has told him that yet.
The part that made this one special was Mark Henderson’s journey. He gave up a career he loved, one where he felt part of a greater good and where he was in the inner circle in a lot of important missions. He knows he did the right thing for his daughter, but getting his heart to agree with his head takes a lot of soul-searching. It was terrific to see what happens after the happily ever after.
May 20, 2018
A 4 1/2. I loved their story. Much more excitement and explaining what Emily and Mark are doing as FireHawks
August 12, 2019
Is it just me or did this book make everyone want to be a badass helicopter pilot like Jeannie?!
August 13, 2019
ebook
November 8, 2019
Very procedural, but there is information to be gained here about smokejumpers (and a photographer who also is a smokejumper). My interest waxed and waned with this one.
library
July 30, 20210
December 3, 2014
4.25 stars--
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 2, 2014
When Australian helicopter pilot Jeannie Clark rescues wildfire photographer Cal Jackson from a raging burnover, she doesn't know she's bringing aboard a firebrand. Cal is quickly recruited for MHA's covert operations that reach far beyond the flames. Together Jeannie and Cal are assigned to an overseas operation with a lot more at risk than burning trees. And they'll need all the skill, love, and trust they can muster if they're going to survive the heat of this jungle battle.
~~~~~~
REVIEW: 4.25 stars-FULL BLAZE is the third installment in M.L.Buchman’s adult, contemporary, romantic action suspense Firehawks series focusing on an elite group of fire fighting experts-helicopter pilots, fighters, jumpers and more. Firehawks series is a spin-off from M.L. Buchman’s Night Stalker military/romance/suspense series. Several characters cross over throughout the series but each book can be read as a stand alone without too much difficulty. Any important information from previous storylines is imparted where necessary. This is Australian helicopter pilot Jeannie Clark and award winning wildfire photographer Cal Jackson’s story.
Told from third person point of view, the storyline follows the men and women fighting the Grandstone Canyon Fire above Santa Barbara, California. The hotshot crew of fire fighters have been in the middle of the action for close to a week when Cal Jackson found himself in need of rescue-separated from the fire fighters-who were doing their job. Enter helicopter pilot Jeannie Clark – personally put out when she is ordered to rescue what she believes is an interloper in the world of fire rescue. As the fires above Santa Barbara continue to burn, the fire between Jeannie and Cal will smolder with attraction and lust.
Like the previous storyline, there is more to the story than fighting fires. Our intrepid crew will be flown to a secret location where the US Navy is keeping tabs on a terrorist organization in East Timor. As the guerillas set fire to villages and towns, the Firehawks will be called in to determine who and what is at the heart of the destruction. Cal will become an integral part of the Firehawk team when he is able to visualize and see more than the naked eye.
The relationship between Cal and Jeannie is quick to develop as there is an immediate attraction to one another. Cal is more than just a wildfire photographer- he has experience fighting fires and will become a valuable asset to the team. His hides the emotional and physical scars from his past and in this the team commander will begin a thorough background check before Cal becomes a permanent member of the Team. The sex scenes are mostly implied with seductive and passionate imagery.
There is some unnecessary repetition as it concerns Jeannie’s background and family history. The family lost everything in a devastating fire and the author relays this information on numerous occasions but does not take it to the next level. The loss does not seem to affect Jeannie’s ability to focus and therefore I am curious as to the constant barrage of repetitive information. I would have liked more information about Cal’s past as his history is mired in abuse and neglect.
The secondary characters include some of the previous storyline couples including the Majors Mark and Emily Henderson from the original Night Stalker series, as well as former fire jumper Steve Mercer and Carly from book one in the Firehawks series- Pure Heat. Steve’s drones keep the Firehawks one step ahead of the fire.
M.L.Buchman’s storylines are infinitely detailed in technical terminology from military flight to fire fighting lingo. There is an enormous amount of professional, mechanical and technical information communicated to the reader as the storyline builds towards its’ fiery conclusion.
FULL BLAZE is another suspense filled and action packed story of the unsung heroes who fight the forest fires and risk their lives. M.L. Buchman’s fantastic imagery and exquisite detail brings the story to life-you can almost feel the burn as the flames wash over our storyline heroes. There are moments of intense fear, drama and thrills when the helicopters circle over and above the deadly flames hoping to strike a direct hit in their attempts to quell the fire. The Firehawks and Night Stalker series will captivate your imagination with their spirited and intelligent look at the men and women who risk their lives everyday.
Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley
www.thereadingcafe.com
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 2, 2014
When Australian helicopter pilot Jeannie Clark rescues wildfire photographer Cal Jackson from a raging burnover, she doesn't know she's bringing aboard a firebrand. Cal is quickly recruited for MHA's covert operations that reach far beyond the flames. Together Jeannie and Cal are assigned to an overseas operation with a lot more at risk than burning trees. And they'll need all the skill, love, and trust they can muster if they're going to survive the heat of this jungle battle.
~~~~~~
REVIEW: 4.25 stars-FULL BLAZE is the third installment in M.L.Buchman’s adult, contemporary, romantic action suspense Firehawks series focusing on an elite group of fire fighting experts-helicopter pilots, fighters, jumpers and more. Firehawks series is a spin-off from M.L. Buchman’s Night Stalker military/romance/suspense series. Several characters cross over throughout the series but each book can be read as a stand alone without too much difficulty. Any important information from previous storylines is imparted where necessary. This is Australian helicopter pilot Jeannie Clark and award winning wildfire photographer Cal Jackson’s story.
Told from third person point of view, the storyline follows the men and women fighting the Grandstone Canyon Fire above Santa Barbara, California. The hotshot crew of fire fighters have been in the middle of the action for close to a week when Cal Jackson found himself in need of rescue-separated from the fire fighters-who were doing their job. Enter helicopter pilot Jeannie Clark – personally put out when she is ordered to rescue what she believes is an interloper in the world of fire rescue. As the fires above Santa Barbara continue to burn, the fire between Jeannie and Cal will smolder with attraction and lust.
Like the previous storyline, there is more to the story than fighting fires. Our intrepid crew will be flown to a secret location where the US Navy is keeping tabs on a terrorist organization in East Timor. As the guerillas set fire to villages and towns, the Firehawks will be called in to determine who and what is at the heart of the destruction. Cal will become an integral part of the Firehawk team when he is able to visualize and see more than the naked eye.
The relationship between Cal and Jeannie is quick to develop as there is an immediate attraction to one another. Cal is more than just a wildfire photographer- he has experience fighting fires and will become a valuable asset to the team. His hides the emotional and physical scars from his past and in this the team commander will begin a thorough background check before Cal becomes a permanent member of the Team. The sex scenes are mostly implied with seductive and passionate imagery.
There is some unnecessary repetition as it concerns Jeannie’s background and family history. The family lost everything in a devastating fire and the author relays this information on numerous occasions but does not take it to the next level. The loss does not seem to affect Jeannie’s ability to focus and therefore I am curious as to the constant barrage of repetitive information. I would have liked more information about Cal’s past as his history is mired in abuse and neglect.
The secondary characters include some of the previous storyline couples including the Majors Mark and Emily Henderson from the original Night Stalker series, as well as former fire jumper Steve Mercer and Carly from book one in the Firehawks series- Pure Heat. Steve’s drones keep the Firehawks one step ahead of the fire.
M.L.Buchman’s storylines are infinitely detailed in technical terminology from military flight to fire fighting lingo. There is an enormous amount of professional, mechanical and technical information communicated to the reader as the storyline builds towards its’ fiery conclusion.
FULL BLAZE is another suspense filled and action packed story of the unsung heroes who fight the forest fires and risk their lives. M.L. Buchman’s fantastic imagery and exquisite detail brings the story to life-you can almost feel the burn as the flames wash over our storyline heroes. There are moments of intense fear, drama and thrills when the helicopters circle over and above the deadly flames hoping to strike a direct hit in their attempts to quell the fire. The Firehawks and Night Stalker series will captivate your imagination with their spirited and intelligent look at the men and women who risk their lives everyday.
Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley
www.thereadingcafe.com
December 8, 2014
Full Blaze is the third book in author M.L. Buchman’s Firehawks Series and the first in this series that I’ve read. I’m a huge fan of Mr. Buchman’s work from his Night Stalker Series and was so excited to get my hands on an early copy of Full Blaze and in true M.L. fashion, this book was thrilling, suspenseful, and super sexy. I loved it!
Female Aussie pilot Jeannie Clark had more than a few choice words for the photographer she was currently rescuing in the middle of her battle against a raging wildfire. Almost as soon as he is in her chopper, one of those choice words was: sexy. But no matter how good-looking he was, it didn’t take away her annoyance at having to pluck him for the fire’s grasp. Even more annoying to her was when she found out he wasn’t just a photog, but also a red card-carrying firebrand. Since her team needed all the help they could get with this fire, it looked like he would be sticking around. A distraction she really didn’t need, especially since on top of being sexy he was also kind and funny and was wearing down her annoyance as fast as the fire was eating up acres. If she didn’t keep her distance she knew her annoyance would grow to attraction and at this moment in time, she had a job to do. So when the head of their operation teams him up with her, to fly with her and use his expertise, she knows she’s so screwed.
Fate couldn’t have intervened better than she did the moment Cal realized he had been rescued…not only at the last second, but by a beautiful Australian pilot. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. She was beauty and grace and was one hell of a pilot. He had never seen anything like her and damn if he didn’t want to get to know her better. Now, after his rescue, they were teamed up and Cal sure hoped it was both on and off the mission. He felt a kinship with this group of people and hadn’t realized how much his life had been missing until her met Jeannie and this amazing group of pilots. Could he ever have the chance to be a part of their team? And Jeannie’s life?
Risking life and limb leads to a connection both Jeannie and Cal never could have dreamed they’d find. But with such a dangerous profession, will they be able to survive fires and dangerous missions in order to make a relationship work.
One of the things I like best about author Buchman’s writing is that it’s not as fluffy as some romantic suspense novels can be. I tend to find his writing enjoyable for that reason. His heroines are always tough as nails and inspiring to read. His heroes realize their partners are strong and independent and let the ladies in their lives be the tough chicks they are and I adore that about them. Even the guys know not to mess with their gals! Cal and Jeannie were no exception. Cal has had a rough life and he broke my heart when he opened up about his childhood. But I knew that past helped shape him into the man he was in this story. Kind, loyal, intuitive. Jeannie has had to bust her chops to get where she is today and her tenacity was admirable beyond measure. Together they make a couple that give and takes and balances out beautifully.
Another reason I loved this story was we got to see two of my favorite characters from the Night Stalker series and it was so great to read more of them!
Thank you, Mr. Buchman, for yet another pulse-pounding and sexy read! Keep them coming!
Female Aussie pilot Jeannie Clark had more than a few choice words for the photographer she was currently rescuing in the middle of her battle against a raging wildfire. Almost as soon as he is in her chopper, one of those choice words was: sexy. But no matter how good-looking he was, it didn’t take away her annoyance at having to pluck him for the fire’s grasp. Even more annoying to her was when she found out he wasn’t just a photog, but also a red card-carrying firebrand. Since her team needed all the help they could get with this fire, it looked like he would be sticking around. A distraction she really didn’t need, especially since on top of being sexy he was also kind and funny and was wearing down her annoyance as fast as the fire was eating up acres. If she didn’t keep her distance she knew her annoyance would grow to attraction and at this moment in time, she had a job to do. So when the head of their operation teams him up with her, to fly with her and use his expertise, she knows she’s so screwed.
Fate couldn’t have intervened better than she did the moment Cal realized he had been rescued…not only at the last second, but by a beautiful Australian pilot. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. She was beauty and grace and was one hell of a pilot. He had never seen anything like her and damn if he didn’t want to get to know her better. Now, after his rescue, they were teamed up and Cal sure hoped it was both on and off the mission. He felt a kinship with this group of people and hadn’t realized how much his life had been missing until her met Jeannie and this amazing group of pilots. Could he ever have the chance to be a part of their team? And Jeannie’s life?
Risking life and limb leads to a connection both Jeannie and Cal never could have dreamed they’d find. But with such a dangerous profession, will they be able to survive fires and dangerous missions in order to make a relationship work.
One of the things I like best about author Buchman’s writing is that it’s not as fluffy as some romantic suspense novels can be. I tend to find his writing enjoyable for that reason. His heroines are always tough as nails and inspiring to read. His heroes realize their partners are strong and independent and let the ladies in their lives be the tough chicks they are and I adore that about them. Even the guys know not to mess with their gals! Cal and Jeannie were no exception. Cal has had a rough life and he broke my heart when he opened up about his childhood. But I knew that past helped shape him into the man he was in this story. Kind, loyal, intuitive. Jeannie has had to bust her chops to get where she is today and her tenacity was admirable beyond measure. Together they make a couple that give and takes and balances out beautifully.
Another reason I loved this story was we got to see two of my favorite characters from the Night Stalker series and it was so great to read more of them!
Thank you, Mr. Buchman, for yet another pulse-pounding and sexy read! Keep them coming!
November 28, 2014
Reviewed by Nadene R.
Book provided by NetGalley for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
Jeannie and Chris’ combined skills could extinguish the dangerous threat, if they can only master their unexpected attraction.
I started this book with some amount of skepticism based on previous experience with the author’s work. I was not sure if I was going to enjoy reading this title.
The story started out with a bang, however, as it progressed it started to lose its flavor. At first the author’s description of the wildfires and the process of fighting them was fascinating, but after sometime it became tedious which led to the story being boring. It was difficult to understand most of what I read due to the author’s penchant to use a lot of technical language. The story was mostly focused on fighting fires and less emphasis was placed on the romance between Calvin and Jeannie.
Full Blaze is classified as a romantic suspense, however, I will have to disagree with the classification as it did not elicit the emotions that I have come to expect from reading this genre.
The best part of this story for me is the way in which the main characters were portrayed. Their struggles and their feelings were real and was easy to relate to. Calvin Jackson is a photo-journalist who likes the thrill that comes with being close to the fires. He has a past that he wishes not to share. He had a hard life growing up and in a bid to distance himself from his past, he changed his name and joined up with a fire unit at the age of sixteen. He is a loner and never stayed in one place for too long. He avoided all types of relationships as he did not want to get too attached to anyone. This changed, however the day when Jeannie rescued him from a raging wildfire.
Jeannie is a fire attack pilot who works for Mount Hood Aviation. When she first met Calvin her opinion of him was not very flattering, but this changed the more she got to know him. The attraction between them was intense and they both tried to fight their feelings, but this proved to be an exercise in futility.
Jeannie had her own demons to deal with. She had suffered a devastating loss which led to her leaving her home in Australia and joining Mount Hood Aviation. She is good at what she does. Jeannie came across as being tough and a no nonsense female, but it was clear she had some deep seated insecurities.
Together, these two made a great team.
Overall, for me this was an ok read. I do believe that there are readers out there that would enjoy this book. It was just was not my favorite.
Book provided by NetGalley for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
Jeannie and Chris’ combined skills could extinguish the dangerous threat, if they can only master their unexpected attraction.
I started this book with some amount of skepticism based on previous experience with the author’s work. I was not sure if I was going to enjoy reading this title.
The story started out with a bang, however, as it progressed it started to lose its flavor. At first the author’s description of the wildfires and the process of fighting them was fascinating, but after sometime it became tedious which led to the story being boring. It was difficult to understand most of what I read due to the author’s penchant to use a lot of technical language. The story was mostly focused on fighting fires and less emphasis was placed on the romance between Calvin and Jeannie.
Full Blaze is classified as a romantic suspense, however, I will have to disagree with the classification as it did not elicit the emotions that I have come to expect from reading this genre.
The best part of this story for me is the way in which the main characters were portrayed. Their struggles and their feelings were real and was easy to relate to. Calvin Jackson is a photo-journalist who likes the thrill that comes with being close to the fires. He has a past that he wishes not to share. He had a hard life growing up and in a bid to distance himself from his past, he changed his name and joined up with a fire unit at the age of sixteen. He is a loner and never stayed in one place for too long. He avoided all types of relationships as he did not want to get too attached to anyone. This changed, however the day when Jeannie rescued him from a raging wildfire.
Jeannie is a fire attack pilot who works for Mount Hood Aviation. When she first met Calvin her opinion of him was not very flattering, but this changed the more she got to know him. The attraction between them was intense and they both tried to fight their feelings, but this proved to be an exercise in futility.
Jeannie had her own demons to deal with. She had suffered a devastating loss which led to her leaving her home in Australia and joining Mount Hood Aviation. She is good at what she does. Jeannie came across as being tough and a no nonsense female, but it was clear she had some deep seated insecurities.
Together, these two made a great team.
Overall, for me this was an ok read. I do believe that there are readers out there that would enjoy this book. It was just was not my favorite.
January 10, 2017
Cal had fought wildfires for seven years and five years more of photographing them. Cal had won a Pulitzer for photography, Cal had won a lot of awards including the cover of National Geographic and Time twice. Fighting fires was a delicate dance between flame and attacker. Cal was at the Grindstone Canyon fire. This fire had been started by lightning. Just two minutes ago the fire fighting team had taken off and their escape clean. The fire had got a massive fig tree and the winds took the tree across the escape route.. The crew looked at Cal helplessly Cal had only been so close to the heart of the firestorm one other time. Jeannie was a helicopter pilot who thought Cal was crazy when he shot his cameras in the helicopter before he jumped in. Cal and Jeannie both have to let go of their pasts and beliefs of themselves . Jeannie had a hard time believing how really compatible she is and that she is beautiful and as worthwhile as she is. Jeannie had an emotionally abusive ex who had done who had done a number on her but Jeannie had got away from her. Cal Hobbs was really Cal Parker before he remade himself after escaping a series of brutal foster homes where he had been abused and neglected. Cal doesn’t have a real home just the road. He also travels light and really doesn’t own anything but his cameras. But Cal won’t let himself get close to anyone. But then he meets Jeannie. Mount Hood Aviation sees Cal as an asset that can help them fight fires as well as solve problems. Jeannie flies to suppress fires and to rescue crews in trouble. That got trapped. Mark had loved his career but gave it up for his daughter. Jeannie and Cal fell into a physical relationship But take longer to admit they care for each other. Jeannie and Cal are assigned to go overseas first to Australia then East Timor. They are flown to a secret location where the U S Navy is keeping tabs on a terrorist organization that tries to destroy a country by fire. They are to find who and what is the heart of all this destruction.
I liked this story but it didn’t WOW me. I did like the plot and this was well written. I also learned about fighting wildfires and how quickly things could change. But this did drag at times. There was also too many times Jeannie’s background was brought up. I would have liked to hear more of Cal’s background as it was so abusive while he was in the foster system and his back bore the proof of it.So all and all a good story. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this story and I recommend.
I liked this story but it didn’t WOW me. I did like the plot and this was well written. I also learned about fighting wildfires and how quickly things could change. But this did drag at times. There was also too many times Jeannie’s background was brought up. I would have liked to hear more of Cal’s background as it was so abusive while he was in the foster system and his back bore the proof of it.So all and all a good story. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this story and I recommend.
December 1, 2014
Posted on Les Romantiques - Le forum du site
Reviewed by Rinou
Review Copy from the Publisher
I hadn’t read yet anything by The male Romance writer and I didn’t know what to expect. On this contemporary with suspense, I have a very mixed opinion.
The Firehawks series talks about a team of firefighters, and in Full Blaze, which is the third volume, Cal, firefighter and wildfire photographer, is rescued from the flames by Jeannie, a helitanker pilot. And here is my main problem in this novel: the author literally floods us with technical vocabulary concerning wildfires and firefighters on one side, and helicopters on the other, and all these totally unknown words prevented me to concentrate.
My second problem is that I found the couple’s story comes after the fight against the diverse wildfires, even if those situations allow the main characters to admire the other’s mastery in what he/she does. However the author seems to really know his subject and it was interesting to realize the difficulty of these times when the firefighters can fight for days with very little rest, in extreme conditions some of which made me shudder. I learned a lot of things on this subject.
Let’s speak about the characters. Jeannie and Cal are both interesting, passionate with their respective jobs, and both underestimate themselves a lot. Jeannie is more open to what she feels, ready to see where their attraction will take them, when Cal is more closed. By the way for a big first half of the novel he regularly thinks about jumping in the first plane outbound to get away from his new feelings, even if he never does it. The eyes of the other will allow them to see themselves in a better light, and to evolve in their relationship.
As for the style, I liked that the author makes sure to use vocabulary linked to fire and flight to talk about the characters’ feelings and sensations. I also liked the sex scenes, very well written if quite soft.
So that’s it, for my first romance written by a man, I’m between two feelings. I have in my wish list the story of Jeannie’s bosses before they quit the army, so I think I will read it to have a definitive idea about the author, and I wish I won’t be bombarded by military vocabulary.
Reviewed by Rinou
Review Copy from the Publisher
I hadn’t read yet anything by The male Romance writer and I didn’t know what to expect. On this contemporary with suspense, I have a very mixed opinion.
The Firehawks series talks about a team of firefighters, and in Full Blaze, which is the third volume, Cal, firefighter and wildfire photographer, is rescued from the flames by Jeannie, a helitanker pilot. And here is my main problem in this novel: the author literally floods us with technical vocabulary concerning wildfires and firefighters on one side, and helicopters on the other, and all these totally unknown words prevented me to concentrate.
My second problem is that I found the couple’s story comes after the fight against the diverse wildfires, even if those situations allow the main characters to admire the other’s mastery in what he/she does. However the author seems to really know his subject and it was interesting to realize the difficulty of these times when the firefighters can fight for days with very little rest, in extreme conditions some of which made me shudder. I learned a lot of things on this subject.
Let’s speak about the characters. Jeannie and Cal are both interesting, passionate with their respective jobs, and both underestimate themselves a lot. Jeannie is more open to what she feels, ready to see where their attraction will take them, when Cal is more closed. By the way for a big first half of the novel he regularly thinks about jumping in the first plane outbound to get away from his new feelings, even if he never does it. The eyes of the other will allow them to see themselves in a better light, and to evolve in their relationship.
As for the style, I liked that the author makes sure to use vocabulary linked to fire and flight to talk about the characters’ feelings and sensations. I also liked the sex scenes, very well written if quite soft.
So that’s it, for my first romance written by a man, I’m between two feelings. I have in my wish list the story of Jeannie’s bosses before they quit the army, so I think I will read it to have a definitive idea about the author, and I wish I won’t be bombarded by military vocabulary.
January 3, 2015
Book provided by NetGalley for honest review.
Full review/original posting can be found at { mignon mykel : reviews }
When I started this book, I think I maybe knew that Emily flew for this firefighting gig 'these days', but it was a super distant memory -- enough of a distant memory that I was super pumped to see her and Mark's cameo(s) -- and their growing family! I almost did a lot of the reading for them, not for Jeannie and Cal.
But no worries, Jeannie and Cal had their share of good times, too!
I liked everything about Jeannie -- her accent, her fierceness, her characterization... I liked Jeannie.
And while I didn't not like Cal... his characterization bored me a tad. I loved that he was once a hotshot; loved-loved that he was a photographer. Oh my goodness, the way Buchman described his pictures (especially the one he never had published...) -- I can see them so clearly in my head. However, the Cal parts in the beginning of the book didn't grip me as much as the Jeannie parts did.
But true to many books I read, once I got past the first few chapters, I was pretty engrossed -- once the 'action' happens, I'm all about the book.
When Buchman writes, he does a lot of detail. He does a lot of thought. He does a lot on internal dialogue. Sometimes it works for me, sometimes it bores me. This book kind of went both ways. The entire back half of the book -- total fan, over here.
And, ok, let's be honest, I was a pretty big fan of the beginning and Jeannie's distaste of Cal's camera saving techniques.
One thing that I appreciated about FULL BLAZE was it's gradual relationship growth, with lack of a 'fight', per se. Absolutely, the end is a terrible thing to go through, and they fight through it together... but it's not like a traditional romance.
Also -- 'baby' and 'doll' and 'sweetheart' sometimes get old in way of petnames (ok, 'sweetheart' is totally acceptable all the time), but Jeannie and Cal? They call eachother Hotshot and Helitack; both are semi-standard nicknames for their chosen professions, but they work in a cute way.
Full review/original posting can be found at { mignon mykel : reviews }
When I started this book, I think I maybe knew that Emily flew for this firefighting gig 'these days', but it was a super distant memory -- enough of a distant memory that I was super pumped to see her and Mark's cameo(s) -- and their growing family! I almost did a lot of the reading for them, not for Jeannie and Cal.
But no worries, Jeannie and Cal had their share of good times, too!
I liked everything about Jeannie -- her accent, her fierceness, her characterization... I liked Jeannie.
And while I didn't not like Cal... his characterization bored me a tad. I loved that he was once a hotshot; loved-loved that he was a photographer. Oh my goodness, the way Buchman described his pictures (especially the one he never had published...) -- I can see them so clearly in my head. However, the Cal parts in the beginning of the book didn't grip me as much as the Jeannie parts did.
But true to many books I read, once I got past the first few chapters, I was pretty engrossed -- once the 'action' happens, I'm all about the book.
When Buchman writes, he does a lot of detail. He does a lot of thought. He does a lot on internal dialogue. Sometimes it works for me, sometimes it bores me. This book kind of went both ways. The entire back half of the book -- total fan, over here.
And, ok, let's be honest, I was a pretty big fan of the beginning and Jeannie's distaste of Cal's camera saving techniques.
One thing that I appreciated about FULL BLAZE was it's gradual relationship growth, with lack of a 'fight', per se. Absolutely, the end is a terrible thing to go through, and they fight through it together... but it's not like a traditional romance.
Also -- 'baby' and 'doll' and 'sweetheart' sometimes get old in way of petnames (ok, 'sweetheart' is totally acceptable all the time), but Jeannie and Cal? They call eachother Hotshot and Helitack; both are semi-standard nicknames for their chosen professions, but they work in a cute way.
December 20, 2014
Originally posted in booksandspoons.weebly.com/book-blog
The book paints a picture of firefighting in an honest light. There are no glorious pedestal for them, just the true form of the backbreaking, hard, sweaty work, with itchy gear, and endless hours of fight against the fire.
The rescue and firefighting missions the MHA fly, the planning, the rules, the stories of the different fires captured my mind. The constant knowledge of the fact, that they might lose the battle, gave the story high tension. And the covert ops for CIA an interesting twist of events.
The romance in the story was as well sweet as it was passionate. Jeannie and Cal are drawn together from the first moment they meet. The attraction is strong, the connection immediate. Their insecurities are standing in the way, and Cal is doing his best to fight the unknown feelings he's having. The romance and love, or acceptance of it, is growing slowly, as old wounds are healing, and the acceptance of each others importance in their lives comes more and more clear.
The author has done his research, or had prior knowledge of, every aspect of the story, the fire fighting, the helicopters, the cameras... The book is lavished with details of the technical aspects, of everything. So much so, that at times I felt it might drown the story of itself.
But the author finishes with a high note towards the end of the story, with nail biting action, and fear, and tension, it was just breathtaking! So with that note, and high recommendations for a bit different kind of suspense story,
~ Four spoons
The book paints a picture of firefighting in an honest light. There are no glorious pedestal for them, just the true form of the backbreaking, hard, sweaty work, with itchy gear, and endless hours of fight against the fire.
The rescue and firefighting missions the MHA fly, the planning, the rules, the stories of the different fires captured my mind. The constant knowledge of the fact, that they might lose the battle, gave the story high tension. And the covert ops for CIA an interesting twist of events.
The romance in the story was as well sweet as it was passionate. Jeannie and Cal are drawn together from the first moment they meet. The attraction is strong, the connection immediate. Their insecurities are standing in the way, and Cal is doing his best to fight the unknown feelings he's having. The romance and love, or acceptance of it, is growing slowly, as old wounds are healing, and the acceptance of each others importance in their lives comes more and more clear.
The author has done his research, or had prior knowledge of, every aspect of the story, the fire fighting, the helicopters, the cameras... The book is lavished with details of the technical aspects, of everything. So much so, that at times I felt it might drown the story of itself.
But the author finishes with a high note towards the end of the story, with nail biting action, and fear, and tension, it was just breathtaking! So with that note, and high recommendations for a bit different kind of suspense story,
~ Four spoons
November 10, 2014
ARC received from: Netgalley
Rating: 4*
Cover: Nay - really don't like the cover, not to mention I think Cal should be wielding a camera
Trope: Suspense
Chemistry: Simmering
POV: 3rd Person
One-Sentence Summary: Camera-wielding fire-expert Cal meets Australian helicopter pilot Jeannie and together they fight fires and bad guys.
Positives:
1. No other romance author immerses you so fully in a world which is foreign to most of us and really makes you feel like you are up there in the helicopter chasing fire.
2. I loved that we got to revisit characters we had met before and their relationships.
3. The book really came into its own in the last third, with the East Timor section.
Negatives: The suspense plot had a very long build-up before the real nail-biting action started but in contrast the romance angle happened pretty fast. Yes, there was a nice build-up to the "I Love You"s and I really did feel that Cal/Jeannie had come a long way from the start but I would have liked a bit more UST at the start of the book rather than having them come together so quickly at the beginning.
February 26, 2015
While this isn't really military romance, it has enough overtones to qualify.
We have two characters who don't really see themselves as they are:
Jeannie, a sexy firebrand of a helicopter pilot who doesn't see herself as terribly smart, accomplished or lovable.
Cal, a daredevil photographer who used to be a hotshot (a wildfire firefighter), who doesn't see himself as terribly smart, or lovable either.
These two meet when Jeannie rescues Cal after fire cuts him off from the team of hotshots he's embedded with. Soon he's hooked up with Jeannie's crew, which is more than its seems – led by former Night Stalkers pilots, the group is being called on to fight fire overseas and do a little checking on some diplomatic problems. Cal is soon on board with the mission.
There is lots of technical stuff about copters and fighting fires, but this is probably a more romantic book than the first in the series (it stands alone though).
These two start slow, and for every step forward Jeannie and Cal take together in their relationship, one or other soon takes two steps back. And as the fire on the ground goes out, these two are finally melding together.
We have two characters who don't really see themselves as they are:
Jeannie, a sexy firebrand of a helicopter pilot who doesn't see herself as terribly smart, accomplished or lovable.
Cal, a daredevil photographer who used to be a hotshot (a wildfire firefighter), who doesn't see himself as terribly smart, or lovable either.
These two meet when Jeannie rescues Cal after fire cuts him off from the team of hotshots he's embedded with. Soon he's hooked up with Jeannie's crew, which is more than its seems – led by former Night Stalkers pilots, the group is being called on to fight fire overseas and do a little checking on some diplomatic problems. Cal is soon on board with the mission.
There is lots of technical stuff about copters and fighting fires, but this is probably a more romantic book than the first in the series (it stands alone though).
These two start slow, and for every step forward Jeannie and Cal take together in their relationship, one or other soon takes two steps back. And as the fire on the ground goes out, these two are finally melding together.
December 17, 2014
This is the newest book in the series, I loved the characters especially the lead character Jeannie, she' the helicopter pilot for MHA, loved her attitude; a little sassy and a lot witty. She's smart, sexy and feisty all in one and she's the best at what she does. Love Cal too, he's a former Hotshot turned photographer, very hot. I liked him from the start. Loved these two together, they sizzle. Loved how the romance progressed, very sexy and learning each other. I thought the technical parts of the book were interesting the author obviously knows a lot on this subject but I especially enjoyed the action and the sexy romance. I enjoyed the story, I thought it progressed well, the romance sexy and some edge of your seat moments mixed in, Can't wait for the next in this series. 4-4.5 stars review by nanee at upalnightreadallday.blogspot.com
December 5, 2014
I really liked this book. I liked both Cal and Jeanie and I liked them together. I liked that we visited Australia and it wasn't all "G'day Mate, onya cobber", although there were some ocker-isms, but it didn't feel overplayed.
The only thing I didn't like was the inst-love between the two leads. It felt a little too fast - hello, I love you, tell me your name - ish. What redeemed this was they're learning to be a couple, helping each other and learning to share. That worked.
I liked that Henderson's being out of the military was addressed but am wondering if we will get similar for Emily - I would assume it would have to bite equally and flying fire surely can't compete with with flying a fire-fight with a DAP Hawke.
Overall, this is a good addition to the series.
The only thing I didn't like was the inst-love between the two leads. It felt a little too fast - hello, I love you, tell me your name - ish. What redeemed this was they're learning to be a couple, helping each other and learning to share. That worked.
I liked that Henderson's being out of the military was addressed but am wondering if we will get similar for Emily - I would assume it would have to bite equally and flying fire surely can't compete with with flying a fire-fight with a DAP Hawke.
Overall, this is a good addition to the series.
March 18, 2016
Such an amazing look at forest-fire fighters. Non-stop action, lots of daring, some stupidity, good laughs.
Cal is a photographer who loves to be in the heart of the fire. . . but he's worked his way from grunt on the front lines to crew chief. He meets Jeannie when she daringly rescues him from a cliff just before a fire gets him.
The two hit it off, but both are a bit standoffish because of background issues. They fight fires in California then are called out with MHA to Australia then on to East Timor where a group of militants try to destroy the country with fire... a helicopter crash, a bullet wound, and a flash over confirm that they are destined to be together.
A few cameos from a couple of the Night Stalkers add to the challenge/danger of the story.
Cal is a photographer who loves to be in the heart of the fire. . . but he's worked his way from grunt on the front lines to crew chief. He meets Jeannie when she daringly rescues him from a cliff just before a fire gets him.
The two hit it off, but both are a bit standoffish because of background issues. They fight fires in California then are called out with MHA to Australia then on to East Timor where a group of militants try to destroy the country with fire... a helicopter crash, a bullet wound, and a flash over confirm that they are destined to be together.
A few cameos from a couple of the Night Stalkers add to the challenge/danger of the story.
February 2, 2015
I have every book in this series and this one so far has been my favorite. Jeannie is a pilot that has been taken under the wing of Major Emily Beale, former military helicopter pilot. Jeannie rescues Cal, who is a former Hotshot, turned photographer. Cal has his issues; a rough childhood makes him a non-committal type of person. However, he feels an immediate attraction to Jeannie and just isn’t sure what to do about it. The story really heats up in the last few chapters and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Once again, Mr. Buchman doesn't let us down.
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