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First in Line #1
Burn Patterns
Some fires can’t be contained. Some obsessions never burn out.
Firefighter Marcus McCabe has faced infernos that could swallow a city whole—but nothing feels as dangerous as the man watching him from the flames.
When a string of arsons turns personal, Marcus is thrown together with James Reynolds, a brilliant forensic psychologist with a past he won’t talk about. Their chemistry is instant—raw, reckless, and impossible to ignore.
The deeper they dig, the more chilling the truth the arsonist isn’t just setting fires. He’s sending Marcus a message.
With the city on edge and the predator closing in, Marcus and James must decide what scares them more—the monster in the fire, or the heat between them.
Burn Patterns is a steamy, fast-paced firefighter romance with romantic suspense and psychological thriller elements. Expect hurt/comfort, opposites attract, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
Firefighter Marcus McCabe has faced infernos that could swallow a city whole—but nothing feels as dangerous as the man watching him from the flames.
When a string of arsons turns personal, Marcus is thrown together with James Reynolds, a brilliant forensic psychologist with a past he won’t talk about. Their chemistry is instant—raw, reckless, and impossible to ignore.
The deeper they dig, the more chilling the truth the arsonist isn’t just setting fires. He’s sending Marcus a message.
With the city on edge and the predator closing in, Marcus and James must decide what scares them more—the monster in the fire, or the heat between them.
Burn Patterns is a steamy, fast-paced firefighter romance with romantic suspense and psychological thriller elements. Expect hurt/comfort, opposites attract, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 8, 2025
188 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
February 24, 2025
The overall rating for this book is high, so welcome to yet another of my minority reports.
"Burn Patterns" seemed promising -- a firefighter (Marcus) is targeted by a clever arsonist; Marcus is paired with a forensic psychologist (James) who has had a run-in with the same arsonist. The first wince came when it turned out that Marcus has several brothers, all of whose names also begin with M and all of whom are first/early responders. So you know going in that all the brothers will turn out to be gay, that there will be one book per brother, and that each book will feature a brother falling in love and getting his HEA. The predictability is (a) dispiriting and (b) a bad omen for the immediate book.
Brother Michael is a SWAT team leader, which is off-putting, and I badly wanted to let it go for the sake of enjoying "Burn Patterns," but the constant reminders of Michael's "years of SWAT training," of how "his SWAT training showed," of his "full SWAT force," and so on, wore pretty thin pretty fast, and incidentally during the climactic confrontation Michael twists the subdued killer's broken wrist behind his back, which is somehow an okay thing to do. #whoisthevillainhere
Since Michael's a secondary character, this all might seem beside the point, except that the repetitiveness isn't confined to him; we hear over and over about how athletic Marcus is, how he "[shifts] gears from athlete to firefighter with practiced ease" (what does that even mean?), how he "move[s] with the contained power of an athlete," etc. James arrives at the insight that the arsonist is stalking Marcus in order to mold him into the perfect something-or-other. Then he arrives at it again. And again. And again.
More: The arsonist is working to a pattern, so that it's obvious where he means to set his next fire. Does it occur to anyone to, IDK, surveil the coffee shop in question? No. If I were the owner, I'd be pretty PO'd to learn that my business had been destroyed thanks to police incompetence. Not to mention, the arsonist is stalking Marcus, but does Marcus change his behavior -- does he, for example, stop going for pre-dawn lake swims alone? Guess.
The arsonist is setting up burns that are carefully controlled to produce certain precise, elaborate patterns and effects. I have no idea whether it's possible to control fire to that extent, but I found it harder and harder to suspend disbelief as the arson scenarios got fancier and fancier, so I was hoping to find a note explaining -- just briefly! not asking for a whole thesis! -- that it could be done, here's a case where someone did something like it, I the author am stretching reality somewhat but not leaving it behind completely ...
Well, there isn't any such note. Maybe I shouldn't care; maybe I should be willing to accept the fancy arson unquestioningly. But when an author presents me with a seemingly outlandish premise, I want to know how they arrived at it and why it's not untethered from reality.
Possibly I could have let all my qualms go, if I believed in the chemistry between Marcus and James, but they're presented as smitten with each other when they've spent barely any time together, this for the value of "together" that means "at the same crime scene." I know, I know, insta-love is a thing.
Thanks to GRR for the ARC.
"Burn Patterns" seemed promising -- a firefighter (Marcus) is targeted by a clever arsonist; Marcus is paired with a forensic psychologist (James) who has had a run-in with the same arsonist. The first wince came when it turned out that Marcus has several brothers, all of whose names also begin with M and all of whom are first/early responders. So you know going in that all the brothers will turn out to be gay, that there will be one book per brother, and that each book will feature a brother falling in love and getting his HEA. The predictability is (a) dispiriting and (b) a bad omen for the immediate book.
Brother Michael is a SWAT team leader, which is off-putting, and I badly wanted to let it go for the sake of enjoying "Burn Patterns," but the constant reminders of Michael's "years of SWAT training," of how "his SWAT training showed," of his "full SWAT force," and so on, wore pretty thin pretty fast, and incidentally during the climactic confrontation Michael twists the subdued killer's broken wrist behind his back, which is somehow an okay thing to do. #whoisthevillainhere
Since Michael's a secondary character, this all might seem beside the point, except that the repetitiveness isn't confined to him; we hear over and over about how athletic Marcus is, how he "[shifts] gears from athlete to firefighter with practiced ease" (what does that even mean?), how he "move[s] with the contained power of an athlete," etc. James arrives at the insight that the arsonist is stalking Marcus in order to mold him into the perfect something-or-other. Then he arrives at it again. And again. And again.
More: The arsonist is working to a pattern, so that it's obvious where he means to set his next fire. Does it occur to anyone to, IDK, surveil the coffee shop in question? No. If I were the owner, I'd be pretty PO'd to learn that my business had been destroyed thanks to police incompetence. Not to mention, the arsonist is stalking Marcus, but does Marcus change his behavior -- does he, for example, stop going for pre-dawn lake swims alone? Guess.
The arsonist is setting up burns that are carefully controlled to produce certain precise, elaborate patterns and effects. I have no idea whether it's possible to control fire to that extent, but I found it harder and harder to suspend disbelief as the arson scenarios got fancier and fancier, so I was hoping to find a note explaining -- just briefly! not asking for a whole thesis! -- that it could be done, here's a case where someone did something like it, I the author am stretching reality somewhat but not leaving it behind completely ...
Well, there isn't any such note. Maybe I shouldn't care; maybe I should be willing to accept the fancy arson unquestioningly. But when an author presents me with a seemingly outlandish premise, I want to know how they arrived at it and why it's not untethered from reality.
Possibly I could have let all my qualms go, if I believed in the chemistry between Marcus and James, but they're presented as smitten with each other when they've spent barely any time together, this for the value of "together" that means "at the same crime scene." I know, I know, insta-love is a thing.
Thanks to GRR for the ARC.
March 1, 2025
This entire book feels like a previous conversation was had that we are not privy to. This book is not as high brow or complicated as it desperately wants it to be. This author is not clever. All the technical, scientific, and art speak makes you look like a poser.
Some of my notes (spoilers I guess):
*Why was he swimming in Lake Washington while on duty and why after hearing the siren, identifying the engine out and about, did that same fire engine stop at the station to pick up McCabe. So he could get dressed for work? 🤷♀️
*Why is no one freaked out that the arsonist placed a letter and photos in a locker in the heart of a fire station??? Twice!!! Are there not security cameras? IT'S 2024+ WHY DOES NO ONE HAVE SECURITY CAMERAS!
*Was the Harrison Gallery fire in a previous book?? Could someone, anyone point me to that book? Who the fuck is Caroline? Did anyone talk to or investigate the new gallery investor??
*So McCabe and Reynolds are meeting in person for the very first time at a fire, but somehow McCabe knows Reynolds feelings about the previously mentioned gallery fire, so much so that he uses Reynolds' first name and tells him not to feel "guilty"? That jumped a few sharks.
*THE TIMELINE MAKES NO SENSE
*Ummm you've got a stalker FFS taking pictures of you everywhere ya go. Perhaps change up your schedule there big guy or have your little brother the SWAT guy cover you since he apparently is never out of uniform 🙄
*Google tells me race timing chips are returned at the end of the triathlon or you get fined.
*Why the fuck did you not call the coffee place when you figured out the pattern and save them??? Is anyone ever going to the coffee shop fire to see if there are clues?
*Oh! Now they check the security tapes at the fire station. But not the days when the arsonist dropped the first letter, just after the training session turned deadly. Got it.🤦♀️
*Once in a while I wish the big, muscley first responder was the bottom and the slender math geek was the top. 🧐
*JFC 🤦♀️ SOMEONE LOOK AT THE SECURITY TAPES AND ACCESS FILES AT THE LIBRARY! OMG shouldn't that be your first response? You have to have key card access to get into the archive. The arsonist was with you in the locked archive and we're just gonna not check? Plus not telling Marcus!! We're only at 44% through this thing and I hope everyone dies on a pyre at this point 🤯😤
*We know we know WE KNOW, your brother Michael is a member of SWAT. Give it a rest FFS
*There's a psychopath on the loose, tracking, observing, and recording your every movement and you decide to have sex pressed against your bedroom window?? That won't feed the guy's obsession at all, cuz every single reader suspects that he's hiding in the bushes, right?
*They just left the fire that destroyed James's apartment before the fire department arrived and didn't notify anyone. That checks out 😤
DNF @ 71%
Enough
I stop reading books for all kinds of reasons; mostly because I think the writing is poor or the plot doesn't make sense or it turns out it's a subject that doesn't interest me, but until now I don't think that I have so viscerally hated a book I was reading as much as this one.
Some of my notes (spoilers I guess):
*Why was he swimming in Lake Washington while on duty and why after hearing the siren, identifying the engine out and about, did that same fire engine stop at the station to pick up McCabe. So he could get dressed for work? 🤷♀️
*Why is no one freaked out that the arsonist placed a letter and photos in a locker in the heart of a fire station??? Twice!!! Are there not security cameras? IT'S 2024+ WHY DOES NO ONE HAVE SECURITY CAMERAS!
*Was the Harrison Gallery fire in a previous book?? Could someone, anyone point me to that book? Who the fuck is Caroline? Did anyone talk to or investigate the new gallery investor??
*So McCabe and Reynolds are meeting in person for the very first time at a fire, but somehow McCabe knows Reynolds feelings about the previously mentioned gallery fire, so much so that he uses Reynolds' first name and tells him not to feel "guilty"? That jumped a few sharks.
*THE TIMELINE MAKES NO SENSE
*Ummm you've got a stalker FFS taking pictures of you everywhere ya go. Perhaps change up your schedule there big guy or have your little brother the SWAT guy cover you since he apparently is never out of uniform 🙄
*Google tells me race timing chips are returned at the end of the triathlon or you get fined.
*Why the fuck did you not call the coffee place when you figured out the pattern and save them??? Is anyone ever going to the coffee shop fire to see if there are clues?
*Oh! Now they check the security tapes at the fire station. But not the days when the arsonist dropped the first letter, just after the training session turned deadly. Got it.🤦♀️
*Once in a while I wish the big, muscley first responder was the bottom and the slender math geek was the top. 🧐
*JFC 🤦♀️ SOMEONE LOOK AT THE SECURITY TAPES AND ACCESS FILES AT THE LIBRARY! OMG shouldn't that be your first response? You have to have key card access to get into the archive. The arsonist was with you in the locked archive and we're just gonna not check? Plus not telling Marcus!! We're only at 44% through this thing and I hope everyone dies on a pyre at this point 🤯😤
*We know we know WE KNOW, your brother Michael is a member of SWAT. Give it a rest FFS
*There's a psychopath on the loose, tracking, observing, and recording your every movement and you decide to have sex pressed against your bedroom window?? That won't feed the guy's obsession at all, cuz every single reader suspects that he's hiding in the bushes, right?
*They just left the fire that destroyed James's apartment before the fire department arrived and didn't notify anyone. That checks out 😤
DNF @ 71%
Enough
I stop reading books for all kinds of reasons; mostly because I think the writing is poor or the plot doesn't make sense or it turns out it's a subject that doesn't interest me, but until now I don't think that I have so viscerally hated a book I was reading as much as this one.
May 8, 2025
Boy, I've got a lot to say about this book. I was so excited for a suspense/crime/murder mystery fire department story, but that just wasn't it. First of all, it felt like a debut, because it wanted to be too much at the same time for less than 300 pages (tho I honestly was glad it wasn't more) - but it's like the 40th book by the author. There's a series of arson, which our MC seems to be connected to, and the other MC works for the - I actually don't know if it's the Police department or the fire department?? - and is psychologically trained to analyse these patterns. So far so good, of course it's not only a thriller/mystery, it's also a love story. But we don't get to know the characters at all. We don't get a feel for them and their relationship, it seems like insta love without any logical indication- so I just didn't get to root for them at all. They just were irrelevant somehow, and that's sad, because not even the danger in the finale really touched me, because I just didn't care about the characters - or I even found them irritating, more on that later. The suspense part of the book was honestly the only thing keeping me reading it, and that was sprinkled with SO many illogical things (also, more on that later, I took a lot of notes), that it also didn't really keep me interested. The "who" and also the "why" were solved too soon, so it really only was an action showdown we were walking towards, without any big revelations or plot twists. And still there are questions pending, like was it really an accident, the way the dad died, what the f*ck was the Harrison case, it's just not plotted really cleverly. And now to the things that bothered me in detail (potential spoilers ahead):
There were a lot of minor illogical things, but in such an amount that it really bothered me. For example talking about water currents in a pool, the fire department staff training SWIMMING while on duty, so they have to get out of the pool and into their uniforms until they can get to the EMERGENCY (Or is that a thing in the US? In Germany they might use a gym or play football or something on duty, but not swimming??), they switched pronouns from they to he and back talking about the suspect without the information changing, they talked about a shift change happening while working and still the MC hops onto the next fire truck even tho his shift obviously ended, the life of one MC is literally in danger and they do NOTHING about it?! No security at home, none at the station,... Related to this is also the MC being totally stubborn like "stopping meant letting him win and I wasn't ready for that", like don't you have a basic survival instinct??
They didn't use a condom for their first time without talking about it (but the c*m dropped out of him), also there was the legendary line "as we reached the peak of our orgasms", like what is an orgasm if not the peak?
In the dark, the MC first sees a cut open wetsuit and THEN something burning besides it.
What bugged me the most and I almost threw my Kindle at the wall, was a flat burning and one MC still entering it without any protective gear and talking about how the smoke feels in his lungs - LITERALLY THREE TO FIVE BREATHS OF SMOKE ARE DEADLY. And then he says he put the fire out with a fire extinguisher (even tho the ceiling was also burning already, so it didn't feel realistic), and a few minutes later they are outside and are watching the flames - so did he put it out or didn't he?!
Also at the final triathlon, the MC stopped on the bike course half a mile in front of the transition zone and he says "Close enough to run, even on legs already burning from fifty miles of pushing the cycling pace" - but a triathlon is ALWAYS swimming - cycling - running. So even without the incident stopping him from finishing the cycling course, he would have to run at least 5 kilometres after the cycling course?
And then the epilogue again felt like a debut, because the MCs are talking about what happened over the past year, so the reader can get the information, but it just seems so unnatural, because why would they talk about that if they LIVED together this past year.
Great potential, but the author definitely needs alpha-/beta readers. But even without all the mistakes it probably wouldn't have been a 5 star book for me, because I prefer the perpetrator not being known at around 50% and then it only being an action showdown, but that's personal and others may love that.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC, left this review voluntarily and it features my honest opinion.
There were a lot of minor illogical things, but in such an amount that it really bothered me. For example talking about water currents in a pool, the fire department staff training SWIMMING while on duty, so they have to get out of the pool and into their uniforms until they can get to the EMERGENCY (Or is that a thing in the US? In Germany they might use a gym or play football or something on duty, but not swimming??), they switched pronouns from they to he and back talking about the suspect without the information changing, they talked about a shift change happening while working and still the MC hops onto the next fire truck even tho his shift obviously ended, the life of one MC is literally in danger and they do NOTHING about it?! No security at home, none at the station,... Related to this is also the MC being totally stubborn like "stopping meant letting him win and I wasn't ready for that", like don't you have a basic survival instinct??
They didn't use a condom for their first time without talking about it (but the c*m dropped out of him), also there was the legendary line "as we reached the peak of our orgasms", like what is an orgasm if not the peak?
In the dark, the MC first sees a cut open wetsuit and THEN something burning besides it.
What bugged me the most and I almost threw my Kindle at the wall, was a flat burning and one MC still entering it without any protective gear and talking about how the smoke feels in his lungs - LITERALLY THREE TO FIVE BREATHS OF SMOKE ARE DEADLY. And then he says he put the fire out with a fire extinguisher (even tho the ceiling was also burning already, so it didn't feel realistic), and a few minutes later they are outside and are watching the flames - so did he put it out or didn't he?!
Also at the final triathlon, the MC stopped on the bike course half a mile in front of the transition zone and he says "Close enough to run, even on legs already burning from fifty miles of pushing the cycling pace" - but a triathlon is ALWAYS swimming - cycling - running. So even without the incident stopping him from finishing the cycling course, he would have to run at least 5 kilometres after the cycling course?
And then the epilogue again felt like a debut, because the MCs are talking about what happened over the past year, so the reader can get the information, but it just seems so unnatural, because why would they talk about that if they LIVED together this past year.
Great potential, but the author definitely needs alpha-/beta readers. But even without all the mistakes it probably wouldn't have been a 5 star book for me, because I prefer the perpetrator not being known at around 50% and then it only being an action showdown, but that's personal and others may love that.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC, left this review voluntarily and it features my honest opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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February 25, 2025
Um.😶 Why was a firefighter swimming while on duty? Why were they touching immediately? Why didn’t he call the police when he found the first note??? There’s so many holes with this book. I also didn’t really buy the romance. They meet and suddenly James is like I can’t lose you 😔 They barely know each other??? And then they sleep together and it’s just like… I’m not getting the chemistry or anything??? The reveal of who the arsonist is around 49% so the rest is just build up and … I didn’t really care??? I’m devastated because I usually love suspense books with a good dose of romance but this was not it. Marcus was trying too hard to be tough and James was just too analytical at times. Neither of them really made me care about the book. And yes I know you can read a book without connecting to the characters but I think that’s super important in a romance??? I dunno. This book just was not it for me…
June 25, 2025
I really wanted to like this - romantic suspense with firefighter and arsonist sounded like a book I'd love but OH THE STRUGGLE TO FINISH. If it wasn't for a challenge I would have quit by at least the 1/2 way point. The author repeats himself over and over again on all kinds of details, the plot has a many holes as swiss cheese and the MC's are TSTL. If I'm being stalked you would think you'd change up your routine. If I know where the next fire is going to be I'd tell some people and stake the shop out. If someone left a note in my locker at work I'd look at the security tapes - surely a fire department has some cameras. There are plenty more examples of stuff like this. Then there is the dialogue - I don't know maybe if you're a genius you do talk like they did but it just seemed pretentious and I couldn't connect with it.
February 13, 2025
I didn’t really buy the plot.
I really didn’t buy the romance. Way too much way too quickly. They never actually got to know one another.
I really didn’t buy the romance. Way too much way too quickly. They never actually got to know one another.
February 26, 2025
A Joyfully Jay review.
2.75 stars
Burn Patterns is the first book in the First in Line series, and uses a vibe-heavy approach to the story that may work for some readers, but did not work for me. Because of that, I struggled to stay invested in the story and ended up getting bogged down by a variety of details that made no sense to the plot or the world building, and I ended up very much not enjoying my time with this book. However, all that said, this book isn’t badly written or paced.
It’s just the style of this book, with the flatness and similarity of the characters, so much so that I couldn’t tell them apart without dialogue tags; the nonsense of the plot; and the build up of this arsonist as some sort of visionary — who also has a cult — with no real payoff. This book is a solid miss, for me, and I can’t recommend it.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
2.75 stars
Burn Patterns is the first book in the First in Line series, and uses a vibe-heavy approach to the story that may work for some readers, but did not work for me. Because of that, I struggled to stay invested in the story and ended up getting bogged down by a variety of details that made no sense to the plot or the world building, and I ended up very much not enjoying my time with this book. However, all that said, this book isn’t badly written or paced.
It’s just the style of this book, with the flatness and similarity of the characters, so much so that I couldn’t tell them apart without dialogue tags; the nonsense of the plot; and the build up of this arsonist as some sort of visionary — who also has a cult — with no real payoff. This book is a solid miss, for me, and I can’t recommend it.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
April 22, 2025
A very good premise but fell apart.
I almost gave this a three star rating but I caved. I'm not going to base this review on the two main characters but on the book itself. It was very good with the suspense, intrigue, and even if I have to admit it, the angst. The angst was a little too much. There were a lot of details that were left out of the book. Some of them concerning when 911 was called. Some of the timelines were askew as well. And what gets me is, what happens to the villain after they're captured? Do I buy the second book?
I almost gave this a three star rating but I caved. I'm not going to base this review on the two main characters but on the book itself. It was very good with the suspense, intrigue, and even if I have to admit it, the angst. The angst was a little too much. There were a lot of details that were left out of the book. Some of them concerning when 911 was called. Some of the timelines were askew as well. And what gets me is, what happens to the villain after they're captured? Do I buy the second book?
December 3, 2025
Yeah the plot is questionable, and there's a few issues. Sure it's a bit of a fast paced romance. But I still enjoyed this regardless of all the naysayers out there. The writing was good and I liked both the main characters. I enjoyed this a lot. 4.5 ⭐
March 5, 2025
So, this happened. I was really excited about reading this book because the plot was right up my ally.
I love fire fighters, and the mystery sounded great.
But the writing was just not for me ... or better that and the way it was written. Why is that:
First of all, if you place your MCs in a situation, changing their setting from one sentence to the next without explanation does not really work.
Like, they are discussing the scene in the house, and suddenly, James is with his back against the car. That is confusing
Second, a story without really involving secondary characters does not work for me
Yes, Marcus brothers are mentioned a lot (although there should be three but sometimes there are only two .... very confusing) but they are not really part of the story.
In all, this book was not for me
I love fire fighters, and the mystery sounded great.
But the writing was just not for me ... or better that and the way it was written. Why is that:
First of all, if you place your MCs in a situation, changing their setting from one sentence to the next without explanation does not really work.
Like, they are discussing the scene in the house, and suddenly, James is with his back against the car. That is confusing
Second, a story without really involving secondary characters does not work for me
Yes, Marcus brothers are mentioned a lot (although there should be three but sometimes there are only two .... very confusing) but they are not really part of the story.
In all, this book was not for me
February 19, 2025
Burn Patterns is the first book in Declan Rhodes’s First in Line series. Here’s what you can expect from Marcus and James:
🔥 MM romantic suspense
🔥 First person dual point of view
🔥 Guaranteed happily ever after
🔥 Firefighter and forensic psychologist
🔥 Romantic suspense and psychological thriller elements
🔥 Hurt/comfort
🔥 Opposites attract
🔥 Colleagues
As always, ensure you review the content and trigger warnings to decide if this book is right for you. Please take care of yourself while reading. Burn Patterns contains multiple descriptions of destruction caused by fire.
I was really intrigued by the blurb for this one, as it combines my two favourite genres - suspense and queer romance. Note that the suspense and mystery elements of this book are the primary focus, with the romance between Marcus and James being slightly more secondary but nonetheless important. I was impressed with Declan’s meticulous writing style, particularly with such complex subject matter like fire science and forensics. The way Burn Patterns is written really sucks the reader in with the detail. Marcus and James were both likeable characters with backgrounds we learn as the story unfolds.
I struggled a bit with the exposition and pacing in this story. At times, it felt like we were dropped into different scenes but lacking some of the information. The romance between James and Marcus was definitely more of a slowburn, both trying to pull away at different times, whereas the pacing of the mystery itself ebbed and flowed as the characters worked together. I did feel like the mystery went on a little unconvincingly at times, but if you overlook that fact and suspend your disbelief for just a little while, it is a gripping and suspenseful mystery (there were just a few times I couldn’t figure out why the main characters weren’t more concerned with the invasion of their privacy). I loved the raw passion between Marcus and James, as well as the epilogue where we get to see them when they aren’t in fight or flight mode. I thought the epilogue was done particularly well and felt quite realistic in that sense. They both took turns taking care of each other, and I thought the scenes where Marcus was teaching James about swimming were very important to their story.
Overall, I think this was a refreshing romantic suspense and it has good bones. I suspect Marcus’s overprotective brothers may be getting books and I look forward to seeing them get their happily ever afters as well.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and am voluntarily leaving a review.
🔥 MM romantic suspense
🔥 First person dual point of view
🔥 Guaranteed happily ever after
🔥 Firefighter and forensic psychologist
🔥 Romantic suspense and psychological thriller elements
🔥 Hurt/comfort
🔥 Opposites attract
🔥 Colleagues
As always, ensure you review the content and trigger warnings to decide if this book is right for you. Please take care of yourself while reading. Burn Patterns contains multiple descriptions of destruction caused by fire.
I was really intrigued by the blurb for this one, as it combines my two favourite genres - suspense and queer romance. Note that the suspense and mystery elements of this book are the primary focus, with the romance between Marcus and James being slightly more secondary but nonetheless important. I was impressed with Declan’s meticulous writing style, particularly with such complex subject matter like fire science and forensics. The way Burn Patterns is written really sucks the reader in with the detail. Marcus and James were both likeable characters with backgrounds we learn as the story unfolds.
I struggled a bit with the exposition and pacing in this story. At times, it felt like we were dropped into different scenes but lacking some of the information. The romance between James and Marcus was definitely more of a slowburn, both trying to pull away at different times, whereas the pacing of the mystery itself ebbed and flowed as the characters worked together. I did feel like the mystery went on a little unconvincingly at times, but if you overlook that fact and suspend your disbelief for just a little while, it is a gripping and suspenseful mystery (there were just a few times I couldn’t figure out why the main characters weren’t more concerned with the invasion of their privacy). I loved the raw passion between Marcus and James, as well as the epilogue where we get to see them when they aren’t in fight or flight mode. I thought the epilogue was done particularly well and felt quite realistic in that sense. They both took turns taking care of each other, and I thought the scenes where Marcus was teaching James about swimming were very important to their story.
Overall, I think this was a refreshing romantic suspense and it has good bones. I suspect Marcus’s overprotective brothers may be getting books and I look forward to seeing them get their happily ever afters as well.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 15, 2025
I wouldn't say what I have to say is a spoiler, but just in case, I marked it.
I ended up quitting at 65%
I was very excited for this, but it just isn't hitting the way I had hoped. The way they feel about each other is very instalove, which normally I don't have an issue with, but this felt incomplete still. What I've read, there isnt a lot of development between them and their relationship.
The matter of who it is is solved way too soon. They figure it out, but can't catch him? Which, given who Marcus' brothers are, it doesn't make sense.
Like I said, I liked the idea of the story, but the execution wasn't for me.
I ended up quitting at 65%
I was very excited for this, but it just isn't hitting the way I had hoped. The way they feel about each other is very instalove, which normally I don't have an issue with, but this felt incomplete still. What I've read, there isnt a lot of development between them and their relationship.
The matter of who it is is solved way too soon. They figure it out, but can't catch him? Which, given who Marcus' brothers are, it doesn't make sense.
Like I said, I liked the idea of the story, but the execution wasn't for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2025
4.25 stars. Lots of suspense and dangerous situations. While the arsonist was identified quite some time before the end of the book, they still couldn't find him all that time. This felt a lot more serious and quite harsh compared to other books I've read by this author, but I really enjoyed it. The romance was more in the background but felt very intense all the same. I'm really looking forward to the next in this new series.
February 10, 2025
I read an ARC copy of this book; I’ve already been a fan of Declan Rhode’s writing, but this story really impressed me!
This story has romance, suspense and is also a psychological thriller. A firefighter, Marcus, crosses paths with a forsenic scientist as a series of arsons increase in the Seattle area.. An attraction increases as the two work closely together. The action of the arsonist escalates, and the suspense increases. While Marcus has the support of his SWAT team brother, I expected more support and intervention from his fire crew or perhaps the police or FBI.
Nevertheless, the story continues with an unexpected climax.
This story has romance, suspense and is also a psychological thriller. A firefighter, Marcus, crosses paths with a forsenic scientist as a series of arsons increase in the Seattle area.. An attraction increases as the two work closely together. The action of the arsonist escalates, and the suspense increases. While Marcus has the support of his SWAT team brother, I expected more support and intervention from his fire crew or perhaps the police or FBI.
Nevertheless, the story continues with an unexpected climax.
February 26, 2025
Reviewed for Love Bytes – 3.5 hearts
Fires are being set with a message, but what and who is it for? Nevertheless, the target is clear – they’re for Marcus. James is an expert in patterns. He profiles their message and where it leads. But the moment Marcus and James lay eyes on each other, it sparks another journey – one they may not survive.
I picked up this story because who doesn’t love a good firefighter story? Also, Burn Patterns is the first of a psychological thriller series that looks to be individual stories with a first responder theme. My interest was piqued, and while there is much to like about the tale, there were story constructional elements that didn’t gel with my reading mindset. Ultimately, these factors overshadowed my appreciation for the thriller. Hence, my middle-of-the-road review rating.
The story is told in the first person, present tense, from the viewpoints of Marcus and James. As this tale is a psychological thriller, much of the world-building focuses on the mental aspects of the characters within fire-ravaged buildings, investigative developments, and those considered family. The scene setting, plus the mental toll of the crime and its fallout, is superbly written. Showing the reader what's going on in a person’s head adds a level of engagement with the character and, by extension, the story.
Marcus is a Seattle firefighter and the oldest of four brothers who held his family together after his father’s death. At the ripe old age of thirty-two (to me, that’s a whippersnapper), Marcus followed in his father’s footsteps into the fire service and strives to be the best he can be. Being part of a cohesive family is frequently iterated, selectively adhered to and often ignored.
James specialized in the predictive behavior of fire crime. A specialism born of intimate experience of the crime, which added to his childhood experiences, left him mentally scarred, often retreating to the solace of science. The connection between the big, tough firefighter and the geek was lovely. Via the ping-pong process of being all in vs pulling back, one helps the other, proving there is mental toughness and physical. James has less of an accessible past than the blurb suggests as, at a nudge from Marcus, information flows.
As cited earlier, there were elements omitted from the story that disagreed with my reading tastes. When all is said and done, as well as being a thriller, the chosen subject matter deemed it an official investigation, too, or James wouldn’t be there. Given where clues were left, there would have been CCTV coverage or cordons that no one should cross. These aspects were not mentioned or acknowledged until a significant way through the book. Similarly, secrets were kept, and people avoided, as though the main characters were working alone and not part of an organization that values procedure. Selective isolation and jumping from one situation to the next with no sentence of connection, timeline or explanation may be essential factors in thriller writing. Still, it bugged the bejesus out of me. Other instances of annoyance were when Marcus was to stay with a colleague, and the following paragraph had him opening the door to James from his own apartment. In another place, a man was physically on the floor, then being tackled to the ground again, with nothing but an assumption that he freed himself from two others and stood. Other examples of frustration exist, too. These gaps, with no sentence of justification, dimmed my view of the story. I understand that going off-piste and secrets add an element of adrenaline, but I prefer there to be a smidge of a sentence of reasoning. Maybe everything that was supposed to happen - did (behind the scenes). Nevertheless, having to assume these things made me an unhappy bunny, and this story, not my cup of tea. But I can appreciate others wanting more.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for
Love Bytes.
Fires are being set with a message, but what and who is it for? Nevertheless, the target is clear – they’re for Marcus. James is an expert in patterns. He profiles their message and where it leads. But the moment Marcus and James lay eyes on each other, it sparks another journey – one they may not survive.
I picked up this story because who doesn’t love a good firefighter story? Also, Burn Patterns is the first of a psychological thriller series that looks to be individual stories with a first responder theme. My interest was piqued, and while there is much to like about the tale, there were story constructional elements that didn’t gel with my reading mindset. Ultimately, these factors overshadowed my appreciation for the thriller. Hence, my middle-of-the-road review rating.
The story is told in the first person, present tense, from the viewpoints of Marcus and James. As this tale is a psychological thriller, much of the world-building focuses on the mental aspects of the characters within fire-ravaged buildings, investigative developments, and those considered family. The scene setting, plus the mental toll of the crime and its fallout, is superbly written. Showing the reader what's going on in a person’s head adds a level of engagement with the character and, by extension, the story.
Marcus is a Seattle firefighter and the oldest of four brothers who held his family together after his father’s death. At the ripe old age of thirty-two (to me, that’s a whippersnapper), Marcus followed in his father’s footsteps into the fire service and strives to be the best he can be. Being part of a cohesive family is frequently iterated, selectively adhered to and often ignored.
James specialized in the predictive behavior of fire crime. A specialism born of intimate experience of the crime, which added to his childhood experiences, left him mentally scarred, often retreating to the solace of science. The connection between the big, tough firefighter and the geek was lovely. Via the ping-pong process of being all in vs pulling back, one helps the other, proving there is mental toughness and physical. James has less of an accessible past than the blurb suggests as, at a nudge from Marcus, information flows.
As cited earlier, there were elements omitted from the story that disagreed with my reading tastes. When all is said and done, as well as being a thriller, the chosen subject matter deemed it an official investigation, too, or James wouldn’t be there. Given where clues were left, there would have been CCTV coverage or cordons that no one should cross. These aspects were not mentioned or acknowledged until a significant way through the book. Similarly, secrets were kept, and people avoided, as though the main characters were working alone and not part of an organization that values procedure. Selective isolation and jumping from one situation to the next with no sentence of connection, timeline or explanation may be essential factors in thriller writing. Still, it bugged the bejesus out of me. Other instances of annoyance were when Marcus was to stay with a colleague, and the following paragraph had him opening the door to James from his own apartment. In another place, a man was physically on the floor, then being tackled to the ground again, with nothing but an assumption that he freed himself from two others and stood. Other examples of frustration exist, too. These gaps, with no sentence of justification, dimmed my view of the story. I understand that going off-piste and secrets add an element of adrenaline, but I prefer there to be a smidge of a sentence of reasoning. Maybe everything that was supposed to happen - did (behind the scenes). Nevertheless, having to assume these things made me an unhappy bunny, and this story, not my cup of tea. But I can appreciate others wanting more.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for
Love Bytes.
dnf
April 28, 2025DNF @ 43%
Marcus, a firefighter, and James, a forensic psychologist, are investigating arsons that are targeting Marcus. A firefighter romance with romantic suspense and psychological thriller elements.
I could not connect to these characters at all. We do not get to know them well enough to be connected and their romance is instalove- which isn’t always bad, but they had no connection. Marcus is touching James’ wrist upon their first meeting (which felt highly inappropriate for a professional setting and at their third encounter they already know each others’ tells and footsteps. Could not buy into their romance at all.
Issues with the book related to firefighting from someone who is married to a firefighter:
Why is Marcus swimming in a lake while on duty? This would never actually happen if he was on shift unless the whole team was there. It’s also confusing if he’s actually on shift when he is working- day and night shifts are mentioned but what is Marcus on? Is he an arson investigator? He’s always analyzing the scenes like one but it’s not mentioned that he is (yes, firefighters look for the origins of fires, but what he is doing seems way more than that) Why is his brother always at the scene of a fire when he’s not a cop and not there in a professional capacity as a crisis counselor.
Also, did his dad die 12 year or 5 years ago? It says both.
I received an advance reader copy of this book through Gay Romance Reads. Thank you for the opportunity to read a book from an author that was new to me. I wish I had connected with this story more.
Marcus, a firefighter, and James, a forensic psychologist, are investigating arsons that are targeting Marcus. A firefighter romance with romantic suspense and psychological thriller elements.
I could not connect to these characters at all. We do not get to know them well enough to be connected and their romance is instalove- which isn’t always bad, but they had no connection. Marcus is touching James’ wrist upon their first meeting (which felt highly inappropriate for a professional setting and at their third encounter they already know each others’ tells and footsteps. Could not buy into their romance at all.
Issues with the book related to firefighting from someone who is married to a firefighter:
Why is Marcus swimming in a lake while on duty? This would never actually happen if he was on shift unless the whole team was there. It’s also confusing if he’s actually on shift when he is working- day and night shifts are mentioned but what is Marcus on? Is he an arson investigator? He’s always analyzing the scenes like one but it’s not mentioned that he is (yes, firefighters look for the origins of fires, but what he is doing seems way more than that) Why is his brother always at the scene of a fire when he’s not a cop and not there in a professional capacity as a crisis counselor.
Also, did his dad die 12 year or 5 years ago? It says both.
I received an advance reader copy of this book through Gay Romance Reads. Thank you for the opportunity to read a book from an author that was new to me. I wish I had connected with this story more.
July 18, 2025
so many holes in the plot!
I love Declan Rhodes writing. It is not typical. M/M romance writing. But this book had so many plot holes. Somehow, after one meeting at an arson scene in a warehouse, the two main characters almost fall in love. Okay, where’s the dialogue? The backstory? There is nothing.
But the biggest hole-where are the police in all of this? They would have intervened, tried to chase down Elliot, and not left Marcus to his own devices.
Oh, and his brothers were all in, but not until the final moment. This was just so unrealistic.
I love Declan Rhodes writing. It is not typical. M/M romance writing. But this book had so many plot holes. Somehow, after one meeting at an arson scene in a warehouse, the two main characters almost fall in love. Okay, where’s the dialogue? The backstory? There is nothing.
But the biggest hole-where are the police in all of this? They would have intervened, tried to chase down Elliot, and not left Marcus to his own devices.
Oh, and his brothers were all in, but not until the final moment. This was just so unrealistic.
December 28, 2025
ARC review
I liked the book, I did but the romance was so fast. One moment they didn't know each other and the next they kissing, it was weird.
Marcus had a someone who was obsessed with him who wanted him to burn. He and James were working together to prevent that from happening.
I liked James, the way his mind was work was honestly fascinating.
I liked them together, I just wish the romance part hadn't gone from 8 to 80 in a space of a few chapters, it didn't make sense
I liked the book, I did but the romance was so fast. One moment they didn't know each other and the next they kissing, it was weird.
Marcus had a someone who was obsessed with him who wanted him to burn. He and James were working together to prevent that from happening.
I liked James, the way his mind was work was honestly fascinating.
I liked them together, I just wish the romance part hadn't gone from 8 to 80 in a space of a few chapters, it didn't make sense
February 14, 2025
The suspense in this book is a reminder of Richard Stevenson’s Donald Strachey Mysteries. It is far different from some of the other Declan Rhodes books, as it has an edgy, nearly segue-less telling of an unfolding mystery during the development of a relationship. It climaxes in a movie-worthy scene that leaves a bloody, bruised couple surrounded by an oblivious triathlon field.
Getting there is an adventure in a different Declan Rhodes style. Chapters sometimes jump to the next subject, seeming like something is missing. But it’s a page-turner, and it requires an extended read to solve the mystery.
James, a psychologist, studies burn patterns and the motivations behind arson. Our hero, Marcus, is a seasoned firefighter and lieutenant, living in the shadow of his fire captain father, who raised firefighters, SWAT officers, and EMTs. His father died in a fire that appears to have been a highly orchestrated act.
That’s part of the premise that someone sets fires with a message for our hero. That he is haunted by his father’s death and halted by his seeking to arrange perfection in his life to overcome what was perceived to be faults that caused his father’s death.
While I cannot attest to the accuracy of the narratives in this book, Declan Rhodes is magnificent in weaving fire science into the novel. The arsonist is considered a performance artist, using carefully orchestrated fires to send messages and ‘bend’ Marcus into a cleansing by fire. Mr. Rhodes's mastery of fire science and his telling are to be commended, as this is an integral part of the book. I find his presentation impressive.
This is while James and Marcus’ relationship shifts from professor and expert providing evidence evaluation and an analysis of the character of the nemesis together to a couple who depend on each other, even when James is tinged by fire.
The chapters transition from one subject or revelation to another, culminating in the fire artist's performance. This unusual structure adds to the intrigue, with the mystery and the relationship between Marcus and James driving readers to keep turning the pages.
I deeply appreciate the Donald Strachey mysteries, which, during my youth, confirmed that gay relationships could be both endearing and complex, culminating in the resolution of a mystery. Declan Rhodes has developed a distinctive style that deviates from my usual reading preferences but is highly engaging. His work exemplifies how love can heal and protect, highlighting our place in the world.
Getting there is an adventure in a different Declan Rhodes style. Chapters sometimes jump to the next subject, seeming like something is missing. But it’s a page-turner, and it requires an extended read to solve the mystery.
James, a psychologist, studies burn patterns and the motivations behind arson. Our hero, Marcus, is a seasoned firefighter and lieutenant, living in the shadow of his fire captain father, who raised firefighters, SWAT officers, and EMTs. His father died in a fire that appears to have been a highly orchestrated act.
That’s part of the premise that someone sets fires with a message for our hero. That he is haunted by his father’s death and halted by his seeking to arrange perfection in his life to overcome what was perceived to be faults that caused his father’s death.
While I cannot attest to the accuracy of the narratives in this book, Declan Rhodes is magnificent in weaving fire science into the novel. The arsonist is considered a performance artist, using carefully orchestrated fires to send messages and ‘bend’ Marcus into a cleansing by fire. Mr. Rhodes's mastery of fire science and his telling are to be commended, as this is an integral part of the book. I find his presentation impressive.
This is while James and Marcus’ relationship shifts from professor and expert providing evidence evaluation and an analysis of the character of the nemesis together to a couple who depend on each other, even when James is tinged by fire.
The chapters transition from one subject or revelation to another, culminating in the fire artist's performance. This unusual structure adds to the intrigue, with the mystery and the relationship between Marcus and James driving readers to keep turning the pages.
I deeply appreciate the Donald Strachey mysteries, which, during my youth, confirmed that gay relationships could be both endearing and complex, culminating in the resolution of a mystery. Declan Rhodes has developed a distinctive style that deviates from my usual reading preferences but is highly engaging. His work exemplifies how love can heal and protect, highlighting our place in the world.
February 23, 2025
This was my first book by this author and after I was only half through the first chapter I was sure that I found someone to add to my list of favorite authors. Writing is brilliant and captivating and setting the mood of the scenes is something to write home about. Seems effortless. It's like watching a movie with really good cinematography. Full of meaningful details that are significant to MC's thought process and current state of mind, at some points almost poetic, although realistic. And dissecting ones feelings without really doing so - just a natural flow.
And then all came up to a screeching stop. Honestly I almost DNF'd it several times because it was so frustrating. I never did that in my life so I pushed through to almost satisfying ending. HEA was there and satisfying, but plot wise - not so much.
Why? Most of you have probably seen a thriller or slasher movie when hero(ine), chased by a killer, runs up the stairs or into the basement when's obvious there's no way out. Well, this book is full of such "too dumb to live" moments and they just keep piling up. Also there's a feeling that whole chapters or at least paragraphs are missing or being mixed up. There are things that should be said, thought of or done, that are just not there - relationship or plot wise for that matter.
I stand behind my previous statement that writing is brilliant and captivating, but the plot and relationship development not so much. There's many unrealistic reactions or better non - reactions plot wise. There's also many inconsistencies in general narrative that should be caught by any decent editor/ proofreader. Some really mild spoilers up ahead - I won't point out the specifics or any major ones. It's just a tip of the iceberg...
You can skip this part if you want.
...
...
...
Where's the involvement of the police? With the evidence the MC's have and should be presented to the authorities, the police should be all over it at least to locate the known primary suspect and bring him in at least for questioning, since he's obviously psychopath and potential serial killer.
The apartment fire is a joke - consistency, procedural or basically normal human reaction wise.
And then the ultimate nonsense that came out of the blue. Sarajevo? Really? He should be at least 50. And all of sudden he's a soldier? Give me a break!
Honestly after this I need a breather. I'll probably read the next book in the series because Michael is a powerful and intriguing character. I want his story.
And then all came up to a screeching stop. Honestly I almost DNF'd it several times because it was so frustrating. I never did that in my life so I pushed through to almost satisfying ending. HEA was there and satisfying, but plot wise - not so much.
Why? Most of you have probably seen a thriller or slasher movie when hero(ine), chased by a killer, runs up the stairs or into the basement when's obvious there's no way out. Well, this book is full of such "too dumb to live" moments and they just keep piling up. Also there's a feeling that whole chapters or at least paragraphs are missing or being mixed up. There are things that should be said, thought of or done, that are just not there - relationship or plot wise for that matter.
I stand behind my previous statement that writing is brilliant and captivating, but the plot and relationship development not so much. There's many unrealistic reactions or better non - reactions plot wise. There's also many inconsistencies in general narrative that should be caught by any decent editor/ proofreader. Some really mild spoilers up ahead - I won't point out the specifics or any major ones. It's just a tip of the iceberg...
You can skip this part if you want.
...
...
...
Where's the involvement of the police? With the evidence the MC's have and should be presented to the authorities, the police should be all over it at least to locate the known primary suspect and bring him in at least for questioning, since he's obviously psychopath and potential serial killer.
The apartment fire is a joke - consistency, procedural or basically normal human reaction wise.
And then the ultimate nonsense that came out of the blue. Sarajevo? Really? He should be at least 50. And all of sudden he's a soldier? Give me a break!
Honestly after this I need a breather. I'll probably read the next book in the series because Michael is a powerful and intriguing character. I want his story.
February 16, 2025
3.5* rounded up
This is an interesting book with a fairly complex and very unusual arsonist storyline.
Marcus and James are both men who have baggage and hide their pain. James moved from fire investigation to academics as he felt he failed protecting a woman because he didn't see the signs of a disaster to come.
Marcus lost his dad, a firefighter, and with while stepped into his footsteps professionally, can't escape the hurt and pain and uses ironman training to block it out and push his body above the pain.
When James is dragged into investigating an unusual fire which seem to have a similar pattern to the case which moved him to academica, these two cross path.
There is definite chemistry but it's very much a push and pull relationship. When it becomes clear that Marcus is the common factor in a series of fires, James builds a wall to hide behind as he can't cope with the idea loosing another person he starts to care for. Marcus is stubborn, on one hand not wanting to give in fear but on the other hand he often acts reckless. It takes quite a while for both of them to acknowledge that they punish themselves and let others.
I like both men, I like the very intriguing case but the book also has its weaknesses.
Marcus' family is well portrait, his brothers are mainly fellow first responders and it's clear that they also channel the loss of their dad into their work and behaviour. There is sibling banter, scenes which show how they care about each other and I do hope for more stories involving them.
When it becomes clear that Marcus is the center of the arsonist's plan, it seems nothing is done to protect him or the potential other fire spots. It feels like there is no police involved (there is but it's so outside of the story, they could also have been not there at all). There is no investigation in suspects's whereabouts.
The final chapters feel unreal in a way, it makes a great scene but I can't see that this would be real in any way.
I also felt that James' past case was quite heavily featured in the beginning and then just tapered off.
The book also didn't keep the pace, there were chapters which felt the story start to drag and then picked up speed again.
I will continue reading his series as I hope we see Marcus' brothers again.
This is an interesting book with a fairly complex and very unusual arsonist storyline.
Marcus and James are both men who have baggage and hide their pain. James moved from fire investigation to academics as he felt he failed protecting a woman because he didn't see the signs of a disaster to come.
Marcus lost his dad, a firefighter, and with while stepped into his footsteps professionally, can't escape the hurt and pain and uses ironman training to block it out and push his body above the pain.
When James is dragged into investigating an unusual fire which seem to have a similar pattern to the case which moved him to academica, these two cross path.
There is definite chemistry but it's very much a push and pull relationship. When it becomes clear that Marcus is the common factor in a series of fires, James builds a wall to hide behind as he can't cope with the idea loosing another person he starts to care for. Marcus is stubborn, on one hand not wanting to give in fear but on the other hand he often acts reckless. It takes quite a while for both of them to acknowledge that they punish themselves and let others.
I like both men, I like the very intriguing case but the book also has its weaknesses.
Marcus' family is well portrait, his brothers are mainly fellow first responders and it's clear that they also channel the loss of their dad into their work and behaviour. There is sibling banter, scenes which show how they care about each other and I do hope for more stories involving them.
When it becomes clear that Marcus is the center of the arsonist's plan, it seems nothing is done to protect him or the potential other fire spots. It feels like there is no police involved (there is but it's so outside of the story, they could also have been not there at all). There is no investigation in suspects's whereabouts.
The final chapters feel unreal in a way, it makes a great scene but I can't see that this would be real in any way.
I also felt that James' past case was quite heavily featured in the beginning and then just tapered off.
The book also didn't keep the pace, there were chapters which felt the story start to drag and then picked up speed again.
I will continue reading his series as I hope we see Marcus' brothers again.
February 23, 2025
Pleasantly surprised by this story. I am not really a romantic suspense reader, that additional plot line doesn't really capture me and I end up bored when we get an 80/20 or 90/10 mix of suspense and romance. The romance typically feels like an afterthought. However Declan gives us a true and terrifying mystery and the push and pull of a professional relationship that is full of combusting chemistry.
Marcus is from a large family and he is a firefighter while his siblings also work in service driven fields. Their father passed away tragically and he had a very particular way to raise the boy and to determine their world view. I am really hoping that we get to learn more about those guys but for now this is Marcus' story. He's a marathon trainer and firefighter with fires popping up all over the city but always in the vicinity of his fire station. As these arsons ramp up an expert is brought in to help with the investigation. When it is determined that Marcus is the link things take a dangerous turn.
James is a forensic psychologist with a past that makes this case hit too close to home. He meets Marcus and is intrigued by the young McCabe but knows he must keep his professional distance. But after one analysis the chemistry is too much to ignore the data is screaming that they are meant to be. James works hard to protect Marcus by staying professional but he's quickly falling in love and terrified by the implications. This arsonist is dangerous and he's not sure how to prevent the inevitable.
Our arsonist is an interesting guy and the thoughts behind motive are very different and intriguing. They aren't just due to hate like many of these types of story but rather in a duty to prove his theories and philosophy.
The way the unfolding romance wraps around the mystery is very well done to someone who does not read this genre often. Marcus and James are very likeable characters and while things seem to move quickly, it is still realistic to their story.
As book 1, I felt like it was a great introduction to the series!
Marcus is from a large family and he is a firefighter while his siblings also work in service driven fields. Their father passed away tragically and he had a very particular way to raise the boy and to determine their world view. I am really hoping that we get to learn more about those guys but for now this is Marcus' story. He's a marathon trainer and firefighter with fires popping up all over the city but always in the vicinity of his fire station. As these arsons ramp up an expert is brought in to help with the investigation. When it is determined that Marcus is the link things take a dangerous turn.
James is a forensic psychologist with a past that makes this case hit too close to home. He meets Marcus and is intrigued by the young McCabe but knows he must keep his professional distance. But after one analysis the chemistry is too much to ignore the data is screaming that they are meant to be. James works hard to protect Marcus by staying professional but he's quickly falling in love and terrified by the implications. This arsonist is dangerous and he's not sure how to prevent the inevitable.
Our arsonist is an interesting guy and the thoughts behind motive are very different and intriguing. They aren't just due to hate like many of these types of story but rather in a duty to prove his theories and philosophy.
The way the unfolding romance wraps around the mystery is very well done to someone who does not read this genre often. Marcus and James are very likeable characters and while things seem to move quickly, it is still realistic to their story.
As book 1, I felt like it was a great introduction to the series!
February 12, 2025
I received a free copy. This review is submitted voluntarily.
Marcus McCabe is a lieutenant in the Seattle Fire Department and a contestant in iron man competitions. James Reynolds is an academic who has built a model that can predict what comes next in terms of arson. They meet at the scene of a warehouse fire that has clearly been set by someone who knew how fires behave and how to control them. Both of their interests are piqued by what they see in terms of accelerants. James follows the fire down a rabbit hole, trying to connect this and other fires. He is able to identify the likely perpetrator and the likely motive. Marcus, despite being begged to withdraw from the upcoming race, is refusing to back down, even when he knows why the fires are occurring and the clear successful efforts to lead him to a certain point. In all of this, they manage to fall in love and despite everything attain their happy ending.
This book was very difficult to put down. The level of suspense started early and was gripping right to the end. This weapon is wielded with great skill by the author. Both main characters had their flaws. Marcus was marked by the death of his father, also a firefighter, who died in a blaze. James has a deathly fear of water (despite being able to describe in detail the body mechanics involved) due to a bad childhood experience. As well, he finds himself totally in his own head many times. The secondary characters make varying degrees of contribution to the story, whether it be Marcus’ brother Michael making life difficult for both MCs or the deranged, evil guy leading Marcus and James on right up to the denouement at the end. The plot is complex, with the suspense building gradually all the way to the end. In my view, this is an example of writing at its best.
Marcus McCabe is a lieutenant in the Seattle Fire Department and a contestant in iron man competitions. James Reynolds is an academic who has built a model that can predict what comes next in terms of arson. They meet at the scene of a warehouse fire that has clearly been set by someone who knew how fires behave and how to control them. Both of their interests are piqued by what they see in terms of accelerants. James follows the fire down a rabbit hole, trying to connect this and other fires. He is able to identify the likely perpetrator and the likely motive. Marcus, despite being begged to withdraw from the upcoming race, is refusing to back down, even when he knows why the fires are occurring and the clear successful efforts to lead him to a certain point. In all of this, they manage to fall in love and despite everything attain their happy ending.
This book was very difficult to put down. The level of suspense started early and was gripping right to the end. This weapon is wielded with great skill by the author. Both main characters had their flaws. Marcus was marked by the death of his father, also a firefighter, who died in a blaze. James has a deathly fear of water (despite being able to describe in detail the body mechanics involved) due to a bad childhood experience. As well, he finds himself totally in his own head many times. The secondary characters make varying degrees of contribution to the story, whether it be Marcus’ brother Michael making life difficult for both MCs or the deranged, evil guy leading Marcus and James on right up to the denouement at the end. The plot is complex, with the suspense building gradually all the way to the end. In my view, this is an example of writing at its best.
February 24, 2025
The blurb sets this book up well with two very strong central characters, a mystery with a lot of suspense and tension, a sociopathic arsonist with his own agenda and history with firefighter Marcus, and a forensic psychologist who sees patterns in everything he looks at, whether crime related or everyday life. When James shows up at the scene of an arson fire that has been clearly orchestrated by someone with a lot of technical knowledge and experience, he and Marcus work together to unravel the arsonist’s purpose and target. As it soon is obvious that the arsons are targeted and personal toward Marcus, the challenge becomes more personal for both men. There is an attraction between the two, but James is hesitant to give in to it, maintaining his distance to keep his objectivity. But the arsonist is persistent, so James and Marcus spend a lot of time together on the case, but personal time also gets worked in the more they learn about each other. The tension keeps building as the book progresses, with a lot of focus on fire patterns that tell a story, along with lots of technical information, and plenty of places to have you on the edge of your seat. This is an engrossing book with some fascinating information if you are scientifically inclined (Declan really did his research homework here, but way above my pay grade) with the suspense continuing to build throughout, leading up to some nail-biting minutes and maybe that tingle at the back of your head that tells you something is off. A great blend of mystery and suspense, a very focused stalker arsonist, more patterns than you could ever imagine, tests of endurance, and Marcus’s supporting brothers who will hopefully be the focus of three more books in this series. Well worth a read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 23, 2025
Burn Patterns is the first book in the First in Line series by Declan Rhodes, and it is a story that immediately grabbed my attention. I am always looking for new romantic suspense series to read, and I am extra curious about those that follow emergency services other than the police force. Thus, I went into Burn Patterns with high hopes.
I will be honest and say that my rating of this declined the more I read of the story. Although it had me curious from the start, I felt like I was missing too many details. It made it feel like I was jumping into a series partway through, where I had missed something, which made it difficult to connect with the characters about what had happened in the past. It also made it feel somewhat inconsistent at times, as there were things that suggested they should be behaving one way only for them to act another. Due to this, I struggled connecting with the characters, and way their emotions changed so quickly also made it difficult. At first, I was able to overlook this. However, the way the suspense elements played out failed to hold the rest of my attention. While the elements related to the characters’ jobs were super interesting, the rest of the information moved too quickly and easily. Everything was spoon-fed to the reader, which removed the tension and made things much too easy for me.
Overall, Burn Patterns ended up not being for me. I’ll be honest and say that a part of me felt like this was a debut where there had been minimal editing, which means I was shocked when I realised this author has released many books already. It has left me uninterested in continuing the series, despite the fact that there were some side characters I would have liked to know better.
I will be honest and say that my rating of this declined the more I read of the story. Although it had me curious from the start, I felt like I was missing too many details. It made it feel like I was jumping into a series partway through, where I had missed something, which made it difficult to connect with the characters about what had happened in the past. It also made it feel somewhat inconsistent at times, as there were things that suggested they should be behaving one way only for them to act another. Due to this, I struggled connecting with the characters, and way their emotions changed so quickly also made it difficult. At first, I was able to overlook this. However, the way the suspense elements played out failed to hold the rest of my attention. While the elements related to the characters’ jobs were super interesting, the rest of the information moved too quickly and easily. Everything was spoon-fed to the reader, which removed the tension and made things much too easy for me.
Overall, Burn Patterns ended up not being for me. I’ll be honest and say that a part of me felt like this was a debut where there had been minimal editing, which means I was shocked when I realised this author has released many books already. It has left me uninterested in continuing the series, despite the fact that there were some side characters I would have liked to know better.
February 16, 2025
Burn Patterns is the first book of the First in Line series by MM author Declan Rhodes. I'm a bit of a sucker for a firefighter/first responder romance, and I have to admit, part of my attraction to this book was that the blurb made me think of other similar books that I've read in the past (especially with the whole firefighter meets investigator angle).
The story introduces us to firefighter Marcus McCabe (and close knit family, including siblings in various professions as first responders). He is passionate about his job, despite the fact that his father, who was also a firefighter, was killed in training fire years earlier. However, danger seems to be following him with a series of arsons and notes showing that he has a stalker watching him, with a particular eye for his professional skills. This is how he meets James Reynolds.
James is a forensic psychologist who works in arson investigations and motivations of arsonists. He has secrets of his own, and despite having top notch skills, he does have some major doubts. He wasn't exactly happy for his new assignment, but working with Marcus and digging for answers, builds a sweet friendship that quickly turns to romance.
These guys have a lot of chemistry, but they take the romance at fairly gentle pace, meaning that we have a lot of time to see them form a friendship, as well as piece together the clues to find out who wants to harm Marcus. I also thoroughly enjoyed the glimpse we get into Marcus's brothers - their personalities, their jobs and the close sibling relationship.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The story introduces us to firefighter Marcus McCabe (and close knit family, including siblings in various professions as first responders). He is passionate about his job, despite the fact that his father, who was also a firefighter, was killed in training fire years earlier. However, danger seems to be following him with a series of arsons and notes showing that he has a stalker watching him, with a particular eye for his professional skills. This is how he meets James Reynolds.
James is a forensic psychologist who works in arson investigations and motivations of arsonists. He has secrets of his own, and despite having top notch skills, he does have some major doubts. He wasn't exactly happy for his new assignment, but working with Marcus and digging for answers, builds a sweet friendship that quickly turns to romance.
These guys have a lot of chemistry, but they take the romance at fairly gentle pace, meaning that we have a lot of time to see them form a friendship, as well as piece together the clues to find out who wants to harm Marcus. I also thoroughly enjoyed the glimpse we get into Marcus's brothers - their personalities, their jobs and the close sibling relationship.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 22, 2025
Burn Patterns by Declan Rhodes is the first in his new First in Line series. Burn Patterns is a well written novel that is as much a suspense, mystery novel as it is a modern romance. Declan Rhodes seamlessly blends the two together to create a great story.
The book introduces us to firefighter Marcus McCabe who is the oldest brother in a family of first responders. His father previously lost his life to fighting fires and Marcus feels the weight of following in his father’s footsteps with every step he takes. After a suspicious warehouse fire Marcus crosses paths with James Reynolds, a forensic psychologist and fire investigator who is coming back into the field years after a traumatic experience.
There is a tremendous number of details in the book in every scene that involves a fire. I commend Rhodes on the dedication and time he spent on this. Rhode’s descriptions are so vivid, you can practically smell the smoke around you. I admit I would have liked to see more details on James in regards to his description and his experiences. There were times when things were mentioned that I wanted more information on but James was a private person so that was probably the point. Marcus is the main character in the novel and the focus is primarily on him.
The chemistry between James and Marcus is tangible. They work to build trust between each other in a working relationship, then as friends and ultimately in love. I like that they are able to be vulnerable with each other and lean on their strengths.
I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received and ARC for my honest review.
The book introduces us to firefighter Marcus McCabe who is the oldest brother in a family of first responders. His father previously lost his life to fighting fires and Marcus feels the weight of following in his father’s footsteps with every step he takes. After a suspicious warehouse fire Marcus crosses paths with James Reynolds, a forensic psychologist and fire investigator who is coming back into the field years after a traumatic experience.
There is a tremendous number of details in the book in every scene that involves a fire. I commend Rhodes on the dedication and time he spent on this. Rhode’s descriptions are so vivid, you can practically smell the smoke around you. I admit I would have liked to see more details on James in regards to his description and his experiences. There were times when things were mentioned that I wanted more information on but James was a private person so that was probably the point. Marcus is the main character in the novel and the focus is primarily on him.
The chemistry between James and Marcus is tangible. They work to build trust between each other in a working relationship, then as friends and ultimately in love. I like that they are able to be vulnerable with each other and lean on their strengths.
I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received and ARC for my honest review.
February 25, 2025
When a stalker/arsonist brings together firefighter Marcus McCabe and forensic pathologist James Reynolds, more than just sparks will fly.
Marcus began training as a triathlete to help him cope with the death of his father twelve years ago. The descriptions of him pushing his limits to go faster, be stronger, but do it in a safer and strategic way flows well and is easy to understand for even the least athleticly inclined reader. His devotion to his brothers is divulged throughout the story in a protective yet proud older-brother sort of way. And he refusal to be pushed away from James "for his own protection" will have any reader cheering.
James is meticulous in his analysis of patterns and meanings. Unfortunately, it means he tends to over-analyze everything else in his life, too. It is difficult for him to stay present when his mind has a puzzle to solve, and his emotions often take a back seat in his relationships. But it's a habit he has formed to hide his heart away from a past mistake. Neither lead character is perfect, and that makes them very relatable.
The relationship is a slow burn (please forgive the pun), but it is definitely worth the wait. The mystery/intrigue builds in a methodical way that keeps your attention without getting bogged down in details. The plot is well paced and engaging. Hopefully, the second installment in the series will be just as good, if not better.
Recommend for fans of Eve Riley, Parker St. John, and Taylor Rylan's Crooked Bend series.
* I received a free eARC of this book via GRR. All opinions expressed are my own and written without compensation. *
Marcus began training as a triathlete to help him cope with the death of his father twelve years ago. The descriptions of him pushing his limits to go faster, be stronger, but do it in a safer and strategic way flows well and is easy to understand for even the least athleticly inclined reader. His devotion to his brothers is divulged throughout the story in a protective yet proud older-brother sort of way. And he refusal to be pushed away from James "for his own protection" will have any reader cheering.
James is meticulous in his analysis of patterns and meanings. Unfortunately, it means he tends to over-analyze everything else in his life, too. It is difficult for him to stay present when his mind has a puzzle to solve, and his emotions often take a back seat in his relationships. But it's a habit he has formed to hide his heart away from a past mistake. Neither lead character is perfect, and that makes them very relatable.
The relationship is a slow burn (please forgive the pun), but it is definitely worth the wait. The mystery/intrigue builds in a methodical way that keeps your attention without getting bogged down in details. The plot is well paced and engaging. Hopefully, the second installment in the series will be just as good, if not better.
Recommend for fans of Eve Riley, Parker St. John, and Taylor Rylan's Crooked Bend series.
* I received a free eARC of this book via GRR. All opinions expressed are my own and written without compensation. *
February 12, 2025
BURN PATTERNS is the first book in the First in Line series and also the first book by this author I have read. It won't be the last!
Marcus is the oldest of four brothers and he followed in his father's footsteps when he joined the Fire Service. James is a Forensic Psychologist at a local university, retired from field work due to a horrific tragedy he feels responsible for. What brings these two together is a series of fires that get more and more personal as the story unravels.
If you are looking for a relaxing, laid-back read, then choose a different book! This story kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. There is romance between Marcus and James, a natural progression and acknowledgement of what was between them. For me though, it wasn't the romance that kept me turning the pages (which was a shock because I LOVE romance!) but the sheer creepiness of the story. No, I didn't understand some of the reasoning behind it, but then I'm not some stalker with psychopathic qualities!
Both the story- and character development are outstanding! One of my favourite parts was reading about the patterns James spotted. The world-building was also perfect and I really hope we see more of the firehouse in future stories.
Absolutely amazing and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Feb 12, 2025
Marcus is the oldest of four brothers and he followed in his father's footsteps when he joined the Fire Service. James is a Forensic Psychologist at a local university, retired from field work due to a horrific tragedy he feels responsible for. What brings these two together is a series of fires that get more and more personal as the story unravels.
If you are looking for a relaxing, laid-back read, then choose a different book! This story kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. There is romance between Marcus and James, a natural progression and acknowledgement of what was between them. For me though, it wasn't the romance that kept me turning the pages (which was a shock because I LOVE romance!) but the sheer creepiness of the story. No, I didn't understand some of the reasoning behind it, but then I'm not some stalker with psychopathic qualities!
Both the story- and character development are outstanding! One of my favourite parts was reading about the patterns James spotted. The world-building was also perfect and I really hope we see more of the firehouse in future stories.
Absolutely amazing and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Feb 12, 2025
February 21, 2025
Burn Patterns was my first read by this author. I love suspense/thrillers and so much the better when there's a sweet romance in the mix, too. Marcus and James's story unfolds as they struggle in a battle of wits with a serial arsonist whose fixation is lasered on Marcus.
We have two likeable MCs here, both with past hurts that the other (whether consciously or subconsciously) is helping to heal. I do see these men together, though, there are aspects of the relationship development that for me could have been a little richer.
In all honesty, it was the plot premise that made me want to read this book. I love the idea of the firefighter working with the forensic psychologist to mentally out manoeuvre and capture the serial arsonist. So it's got great bones, but the pacing for me meant this wasn't quite as tight a storyline as it could have been. There were parts where it felt like we were hurtling towards a key point in the story - and I get that, wanting to ramp up the tension - but it did feel sometimes like it was at the expense of other elements, like the relationship building or skimming over an important character detail.
On the whole, though, I finished this book feeling a bit like I'd been through a whirlwind - I did like the story and I was satisfied with the HEA for Marcus and James, but I'm not entirely sure I loved the experience...go figure! As this is the first in a new series I'll definitely give subsequent books a go, though, to see if I get the same feeling. 3*
An e-copy was provided by GRR. This is my honest opinion.
We have two likeable MCs here, both with past hurts that the other (whether consciously or subconsciously) is helping to heal. I do see these men together, though, there are aspects of the relationship development that for me could have been a little richer.
In all honesty, it was the plot premise that made me want to read this book. I love the idea of the firefighter working with the forensic psychologist to mentally out manoeuvre and capture the serial arsonist. So it's got great bones, but the pacing for me meant this wasn't quite as tight a storyline as it could have been. There were parts where it felt like we were hurtling towards a key point in the story - and I get that, wanting to ramp up the tension - but it did feel sometimes like it was at the expense of other elements, like the relationship building or skimming over an important character detail.
On the whole, though, I finished this book feeling a bit like I'd been through a whirlwind - I did like the story and I was satisfied with the HEA for Marcus and James, but I'm not entirely sure I loved the experience...go figure! As this is the first in a new series I'll definitely give subsequent books a go, though, to see if I get the same feeling. 3*
An e-copy was provided by GRR. This is my honest opinion.
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