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Ablaze
Samantha Barron, victim witness advocate for the Bergen County, NJ prosecutor’s office and a Munchausen by Proxy survivor, has her world shaken up when the man who threw her off his elite crisis response team for defying his orders and running into a burning building to save a dog. insinuates himself into a case involving the disappearance of one of her clients. A terrified young girl had shown up at Samantha’s office blurting out a story about having witnessed a horrific stabbing murder at the Greenwich Village Halloween parade; then suddenly bolts crying that she is a Judas, she should never have come. Samantha must put aside her feelings about this man, attorney, Douglas Ruark, with whom she had once been passionately in love. They are forced to work together to find and rescue the girl before the religious cult that they believe is holding her captive discovers that she can identify the murderer. When another eyewitness is found bludgeoned to death and a prostitute mysteriously kidnapped, Samantha, to Ruark’s distress, agrees to enter the cult house ostensibly as a perspective convert, but in reality as bait.
From the relatively safe streets of suburbia to the remote country house of a malevolent sect, Samantha finds herself caught up in a world where power and greed rule, where “love” is given and withdrawn as a brainwashing technique, and life is cheap if you’re a troublemaking outsider…
From the relatively safe streets of suburbia to the remote country house of a malevolent sect, Samantha finds herself caught up in a world where power and greed rule, where “love” is given and withdrawn as a brainwashing technique, and life is cheap if you’re a troublemaking outsider…
- GenresRomantic Suspense
328 pages, Ebook, Paperback
First published January 31, 2014
2 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Tesler
7 books29 followersNancy Tesler started as an actor, progressed to writing screen and stage plays, and then, inspired by the overwhelming urge to do someone in, moved on to writing mysteries about the murderously wacky world of divorce.
Nancy Tesler was born and raised in Worcester, Mass., and moved with her family to New York City when she was eighteen. After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University with a major in drama, she toured France with a production of "Born Yesterday."
She acted in films, television and off-Broadway theater until the birth of her first child. She then began writing for the stage, television and the financial community. In the early 1990s she became certified as a biofeedback clinician and works with adults having pain or stress-related conditions and children with attention deficit disorders.
Pink Balloons and Other Deadly Things introduced Carrie Carlin, biofeedback clinician and almost-divorced mom, whose already stressful life becomes nightmarish when her soon-to-be-ex's intended turns up dead, with Carrie topping the suspect list. Carrie's fifth adventure, Slippery Slopes & Other Deadly Things, was published in April 2003 by Perseverance Press/John Daniel & Co.
Nancy Tesler was born and raised in Worcester, Mass., and moved with her family to New York City when she was eighteen. After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University with a major in drama, she toured France with a production of "Born Yesterday."
She acted in films, television and off-Broadway theater until the birth of her first child. She then began writing for the stage, television and the financial community. In the early 1990s she became certified as a biofeedback clinician and works with adults having pain or stress-related conditions and children with attention deficit disorders.
Pink Balloons and Other Deadly Things introduced Carrie Carlin, biofeedback clinician and almost-divorced mom, whose already stressful life becomes nightmarish when her soon-to-be-ex's intended turns up dead, with Carrie topping the suspect list. Carrie's fifth adventure, Slippery Slopes & Other Deadly Things, was published in April 2003 by Perseverance Press/John Daniel & Co.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 21, 2014
A bit out of my normal preferences, Nancy Tesler has managed to blend a romantic storyline with a mystery threaded throughout that captivates and speeds through to the end. In this story, we meet Samantha, a victim and witness advocate for a New Jersey county’s prosecution office. When one of her clients disappears, in walks the man who caused her no limit of grief and struggle with her career, Douglas Ruark. Once the man she loved, and always a highly motivated prosecution attorney, their past is intermingled with hurt feelings, power struggles and the onus of their own baggage.
When the only lead they have leaves Samantha believing that integrating herself into a suspected cult as both bait and to gather information, the plot heats up as the tension from events and Samantha’s own childhood come into play.
These characters were well-developed and felt honest and emotionally present, even when they were struggling with their own histories, anger and self-protective remove with one another. Samantha’s motivations for her career choice were clearly defined, and while her choices weren’t always smart, they were all well-intentioned. Ruark’s involvement borders on interference most often when he is concerned for Samantha, yet thinks his way is the best. Not quite as emotionally attuned to the situation, his remove and rather by-the-book approach does present the safer path for the investigation, even though Samantha’s way often brings more information.
Their past involvement with feelings not really put to rest make for an interesting emotional tone in their interactions, There is a smoldering attraction there that holds promise in the moments where the mystery doesn’t take over: yet the mystery is the majority of the story focus and it deserves to be. Completely unique and a cross between a Guyana-style cult crossed with fundamentalists, the inner workings of the cult and the mystery around it are a gripping read.
I received an eBook copy of the title from the author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review. All conclusions are my own responsibility.
When the only lead they have leaves Samantha believing that integrating herself into a suspected cult as both bait and to gather information, the plot heats up as the tension from events and Samantha’s own childhood come into play.
These characters were well-developed and felt honest and emotionally present, even when they were struggling with their own histories, anger and self-protective remove with one another. Samantha’s motivations for her career choice were clearly defined, and while her choices weren’t always smart, they were all well-intentioned. Ruark’s involvement borders on interference most often when he is concerned for Samantha, yet thinks his way is the best. Not quite as emotionally attuned to the situation, his remove and rather by-the-book approach does present the safer path for the investigation, even though Samantha’s way often brings more information.
Their past involvement with feelings not really put to rest make for an interesting emotional tone in their interactions, There is a smoldering attraction there that holds promise in the moments where the mystery doesn’t take over: yet the mystery is the majority of the story focus and it deserves to be. Completely unique and a cross between a Guyana-style cult crossed with fundamentalists, the inner workings of the cult and the mystery around it are a gripping read.
I received an eBook copy of the title from the author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review. All conclusions are my own responsibility.
November 24, 2014
This was the first book I had read by this author and was pleased to discover it was a romance novel. From seeing the cover I gathered it would be full of action and drama.
The story is of how Sam and Douglas have great chemistry between them but after a rocky start and the fact Douglas almost caused her to lose her career. As the plot unfolds, you can see the pair of them really want each other even if they don’t want to admit it. In Ablaze we experience suspense, mystery, drama and a steamy romance as well as Sam and Douglas having to work together to help a young girl in need and also exposing a deadly religious cult.
I feel the reader after finding out about Sam and Douglas’ past helps you understand their characters more and fall in love yourself with the couple thanks to the intense passion and their fiery banter. This truly does make it hard to put down. The mix of romance and suspense was the perfect blend and kept your interest the entire way through.
Although this was a stand alone, the way the author ended the story left wide scope for a follow up that could see the two of them having a steaming relationship as well as make a great investigation team. I would definitely recommend this book to others.
The story is of how Sam and Douglas have great chemistry between them but after a rocky start and the fact Douglas almost caused her to lose her career. As the plot unfolds, you can see the pair of them really want each other even if they don’t want to admit it. In Ablaze we experience suspense, mystery, drama and a steamy romance as well as Sam and Douglas having to work together to help a young girl in need and also exposing a deadly religious cult.
I feel the reader after finding out about Sam and Douglas’ past helps you understand their characters more and fall in love yourself with the couple thanks to the intense passion and their fiery banter. This truly does make it hard to put down. The mix of romance and suspense was the perfect blend and kept your interest the entire way through.
Although this was a stand alone, the way the author ended the story left wide scope for a follow up that could see the two of them having a steaming relationship as well as make a great investigation team. I would definitely recommend this book to others.
November 24, 2014
Honestly, when I started reading this book, I thought it was going to be a rather basic opposites attract plot. Sam and Douglas had been dating, then they had a very nasty falling out and started hating each other. To find a young woman, who seems to be in trouble with a cult, they have to work together, overcoming their mutual hatred, and possibly reviving the romantic sparks they thought were long dead. Not exactly your typical romance with thriller elements, but not too far out of the ordinary.
However, I was proven wrong as the story progressed. Rather than focusing almost purely on the romance, the mystery and thriller aspects form a major part of the story, working in tandem with the romance. That combination when combined with the two characters makes a fantastic read, that occasionally had me on the edge of my seat. It was not what I was expecting.
There were enough twists and turns to keep my mind busy trying to figure out what was going to happen next, and the hot romance was entertaining.
Five stars with no complaints.
However, I was proven wrong as the story progressed. Rather than focusing almost purely on the romance, the mystery and thriller aspects form a major part of the story, working in tandem with the romance. That combination when combined with the two characters makes a fantastic read, that occasionally had me on the edge of my seat. It was not what I was expecting.
There were enough twists and turns to keep my mind busy trying to figure out what was going to happen next, and the hot romance was entertaining.
Five stars with no complaints.
November 25, 2014
Ablaze by Nancy Tesler is a thrilling, sizzling romance filled with mystery, drama and suspense. I found Ablaze to be a joy to read. The author has a great story line and well-developed characters. The relationship and the attraction between the main characters Samantha and Douglas are palpable. Even though the two seems to be at odds most of the time, you can tell that they desire one another. I love Douglas’s sarcastic persona that he presents to her. This is the type of relationship that is exasperating but in a good way to the reader, because it is so the sexual tension between the two is obvious to us. The romance between the two sizzles, the mystery is intriguing and the drama at times is intense. I loved the book, would recommend it to a friend and hope to read more from this author.
September 30, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. It grabs you from the first chapter. I wanted to know who was murdered and why, what kind of relationship Samantha and Douglas had in the past and what would happen in their future and then the writer threw a cult in to the mix. I was also fascinated about the characters back stories about their families since that added to the layers of the plot. This book had me on the edge of my seat in many parts. I also really enjoyed the romance part it wasn't huge but it was enough with everything else that was going on in the book it did not feel forced or like an after thought. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries, evil cults, and romance between people who bump heads and have a history but both care too much.
October 1, 2014
I really enjoyed Ablaze by Nancy Tesler
She blends a well thought out murder mystery that unravels into the main characters delving in the world of a cult and it's underbelly.
Samantha and Douglas also have quite a backstory that weaves from their own past sordid work romance to the present, Douglas is now volunteering at Samantha's place of employment with the county to get back in her life. Nancy Tesler weaves both the mystery of the murder and the inter workings of the cult in with the building romance between Sam and Doug so well that I felt like I couldn't put the story down.
I'm also big on secondary characters and absolutely fell in love with Samantha's Aunt Gwen. She was a riot and I wish there were more people like her in my own life.
All in all a wonderful story
She blends a well thought out murder mystery that unravels into the main characters delving in the world of a cult and it's underbelly.
Samantha and Douglas also have quite a backstory that weaves from their own past sordid work romance to the present, Douglas is now volunteering at Samantha's place of employment with the county to get back in her life. Nancy Tesler weaves both the mystery of the murder and the inter workings of the cult in with the building romance between Sam and Doug so well that I felt like I couldn't put the story down.
I'm also big on secondary characters and absolutely fell in love with Samantha's Aunt Gwen. She was a riot and I wish there were more people like her in my own life.
All in all a wonderful story
September 30, 2014
While this book has solid writing and was quite enjoyable to read, it's not one I'd come back to over and over again which is why I didn't give it the 5th star. The suspense of the book was great and the banter and sexual tension between the characters was perfect, so this is one worth reading at least once.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews