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Ashfall
🔥
He fell from the sky like a god of fire. She was sent to expose him.
🔥
When wildfire expert Ember Vale arrives at the edge of an inferno in Arizona, the flames aren’t the only thing acting strange. Suspicious fire patterns. Inconsistent reports. And the Blackstrike Unit—an elite team of smokejumpers with eyes that burn a little too bright.
Especially their leader, Dax Fane.
Dax is everything Ember doesn’t powerful, controlled, magnetic. But when he drops from the sky to lead his crew into hell, she sees something inhuman in him… something that calls to her. She was sent to investigate. She never expected to be hunted by fire or claimed by fate.
Dax knows Ember is his mate the moment their eyes meet. But he’s cursed, bound to a dragon side that grows more unstable by the day. Claiming her might save him. It might also doom her. Especially when a rogue dragon rises from the ashes, bent on revenge, and targeting Ember to get it.
With a wildfire closing in and secrets igniting around them, Dax and Ember will have to choose, duty or desire, survival or surrender. Because the only thing more dangerous than this fire… is the way she makes him burn.
🔥 Welcome to Firebound. Where the smokejumpers are dragons—and the only way to tame the flames is to fall in love. 🔥
When wildfire expert Ember Vale arrives at the edge of an inferno in Arizona, the flames aren’t the only thing acting strange. Suspicious fire patterns. Inconsistent reports. And the Blackstrike Unit—an elite team of smokejumpers with eyes that burn a little too bright.
Especially their leader, Dax Fane.
Dax is everything Ember doesn’t powerful, controlled, magnetic. But when he drops from the sky to lead his crew into hell, she sees something inhuman in him… something that calls to her. She was sent to investigate. She never expected to be hunted by fire or claimed by fate.
Dax knows Ember is his mate the moment their eyes meet. But he’s cursed, bound to a dragon side that grows more unstable by the day. Claiming her might save him. It might also doom her. Especially when a rogue dragon rises from the ashes, bent on revenge, and targeting Ember to get it.
With a wildfire closing in and secrets igniting around them, Dax and Ember will have to choose, duty or desire, survival or surrender. Because the only thing more dangerous than this fire… is the way she makes him burn.
🔥 Welcome to Firebound. Where the smokejumpers are dragons—and the only way to tame the flames is to fall in love. 🔥
191 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 30, 2025
97 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Delta James
320 books2,303 followersAs a USA Today bestselling romance author, Delta James aims to captivate readers with stories about complex heroines and the dominant alpha males who adore them. For Delta, romance is more than just a love story; it’s a journey with challenges and thrills along the way.
After creating a second chapter for herself that was dramatically different than the first, Delta now resides in Florida where she relaxes on warm summer evenings with her loveable pack of basset hounds as they watch the birds, squirrels, and lizards. When not crafting fast-paced tales, she enjoys horseback riding, hiking, and white-water rafting.
Her readers mean the world to her, and Delta tries to interact personally with as many messages as she can. If you’d like to chat or discuss books, you can find Delta on Instagram, Facebook, and in her private reader group https://www.facebook.com/groups/34898....
After creating a second chapter for herself that was dramatically different than the first, Delta now resides in Florida where she relaxes on warm summer evenings with her loveable pack of basset hounds as they watch the birds, squirrels, and lizards. When not crafting fast-paced tales, she enjoys horseback riding, hiking, and white-water rafting.
Her readers mean the world to her, and Delta tries to interact personally with as many messages as she can. If you’d like to chat or discuss books, you can find Delta on Instagram, Facebook, and in her private reader group https://www.facebook.com/groups/34898....
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
June 24, 2025
I thought it would be better
I'm weak for the "she's mine/you're mine" type of claiming declarations so of course, knowing this was about fated mates, I was excited. I was really looking forward to it because I thought the premise was intriguing and I even read the excerpt to check if I would like the writing. The writing sounded mysterious, so I'm sold. But upon reading the book, I found the pacing to be inconsistent and the flow to be rough. I also did not vibe well with the FMC.
Dax definitely had those "mine" moments, and I was kicking my feet the first couple of times it happened so there's that. But... the first half of the book was slow and there were a lot of repetitive thoughts. How many times do we need to be told that the fire was a message? Unnatural? Intentional? Once or twice should have been enough but in this case, it was mentioned in almost every chapter. 😩 Then by 50% there's suddenly a turnaround in Ember's attitude that had me scratching my head. She was suspicious of him and then next moment she kissed him? Huh? After that, the scenes felt rushed since all the action was cramped in the second half of the book.
Another thing I wasn't satisfied with is the development of their feelings. This is a common issue with fated mates. It didn't feel like they genuinely admired or even liked each other rather than the bond forcing them together.
💞 THE MCs
Ember — She's a woman in a male-dominated field so she has to be careful to not appear soft or weak and she tried hard to show she's a strong, independent woman with backbone, but to me she just seemed rude. She almost lost her life twice because she was somewhere she shouldn't have been (at least not without proper precautions), and Dax was able to save her with his great timing but instead of saying "thank you", she snarked at him and threw accusations. She even mocked him for "being glued to her ass". (Girl, you could have died. He should've just let you, with that kind of attitude, in my opinion.)
Dax — is the only reason I have stars in my rating. He fought his dragon's feral need to claim Ember because he wanted to make sure she knew the truth about him first and gave her consent.
Still, I found his leadership lacking. Early on, they became sure who the enemy was but what did they do? They are ancient dragons who've lived thousands of years and yet, it seemed like we were dealing with inexperienced ones. I expected these dragons, a whole unit of them, to be investigating — no, hunting — the culprit the moment they confirmed who it was, but instead they were just running around and reporting what we already knew: that the fires were unnatural, intentional, a message.
✍🏻 RATINGS
OVERALL RATING: ⭐⭐ It Was Rough
SWOON SCORE: 💗 One Sigh, No Replay
SPICE LEVEL: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Hot and Explicit
Did I laugh? Maybe once.
Did I cry? No.
Do I recommend? You never know, maybe this was a "me" problem.
♥♥♥
Genre: Paranormal
POV: Dual, 1st Person
TROPES: dragons, fated mates, mystery/suspense, firefighter MMC
~ Thank you to BookSirens and the author for this review copy! I received this for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily. ~
I'm weak for the "she's mine/you're mine" type of claiming declarations so of course, knowing this was about fated mates, I was excited. I was really looking forward to it because I thought the premise was intriguing and I even read the excerpt to check if I would like the writing. The writing sounded mysterious, so I'm sold. But upon reading the book, I found the pacing to be inconsistent and the flow to be rough. I also did not vibe well with the FMC.
Dax definitely had those "mine" moments, and I was kicking my feet the first couple of times it happened so there's that. But... the first half of the book was slow and there were a lot of repetitive thoughts. How many times do we need to be told that the fire was a message? Unnatural? Intentional? Once or twice should have been enough but in this case, it was mentioned in almost every chapter. 😩 Then by 50% there's suddenly a turnaround in Ember's attitude that had me scratching my head. She was suspicious of him and then next moment she kissed him? Huh? After that, the scenes felt rushed since all the action was cramped in the second half of the book.
Another thing I wasn't satisfied with is the development of their feelings. This is a common issue with fated mates. It didn't feel like they genuinely admired or even liked each other rather than the bond forcing them together.
💞 THE MCs
Ember — She's a woman in a male-dominated field so she has to be careful to not appear soft or weak and she tried hard to show she's a strong, independent woman with backbone, but to me she just seemed rude. She almost lost her life twice because she was somewhere she shouldn't have been (at least not without proper precautions), and Dax was able to save her with his great timing but instead of saying "thank you", she snarked at him and threw accusations. She even mocked him for "being glued to her ass". (Girl, you could have died. He should've just let you, with that kind of attitude, in my opinion.)
Dax — is the only reason I have stars in my rating. He fought his dragon's feral need to claim Ember because he wanted to make sure she knew the truth about him first and gave her consent.
Ember deserves better—truth, protection, choice. I’ll give her that, even if it breaks every instinct I have to wait. Even if it burns me alive.
Still, I found his leadership lacking. Early on, they became sure who the enemy was but what did they do? They are ancient dragons who've lived thousands of years and yet, it seemed like we were dealing with inexperienced ones. I expected these dragons, a whole unit of them, to be investigating — no, hunting — the culprit the moment they confirmed who it was, but instead they were just running around and reporting what we already knew: that the fires were unnatural, intentional, a message.
✍🏻 RATINGS
OVERALL RATING: ⭐⭐ It Was Rough
SWOON SCORE: 💗 One Sigh, No Replay
SPICE LEVEL: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Hot and Explicit
Did I laugh? Maybe once.
Did I cry? No.
Do I recommend? You never know, maybe this was a "me" problem.
♥♥♥
Genre: Paranormal
POV: Dual, 1st Person
TROPES: dragons, fated mates, mystery/suspense, firefighter MMC
~ Thank you to BookSirens and the author for this review copy! I received this for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily. ~
July 5, 2025
3.5-4*
An exciting introduction to the Blackstrike Unit and their hidden secrets. Ember, a Federal Fire Investigator, find herself challenge and intrigued by Blackstrike leader, Dax. He knows she is his fated. I enjoyed it but it did get a bit repetitive at times. The tension between Dax and Ember was sizzling. Overall a good fated mates shifter romance with sizzle to combustible steam, enticing twists, suspense and a HEA. Hints to the next story have me interested.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
An exciting introduction to the Blackstrike Unit and their hidden secrets. Ember, a Federal Fire Investigator, find herself challenge and intrigued by Blackstrike leader, Dax. He knows she is his fated. I enjoyed it but it did get a bit repetitive at times. The tension between Dax and Ember was sizzling. Overall a good fated mates shifter romance with sizzle to combustible steam, enticing twists, suspense and a HEA. Hints to the next story have me interested.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 23, 2025
Thank you to Book Sirens and Delta James for the ARC.
Plot 3/5
Characters 3/5
Ending 3/5
Interest 3/5
Overall 3/5
-Unfortunately this book didn’t hit the spot for me. At first I was intrigued, there were some good moments and I anticipated what would happen. But eventually I felt a bit bored. I couldn’t really concentrate on the story and was always distracted which is a shame because the story had potential. I think the fact that it is so short doesn’t really work either, because everything kind of happened fast but at the same nothing really happened.
-The characters were fun at first, the dynamic of one of them knowing they are fated mates and the other being oblivious and just feeling some things for this random guy she met. I didn’t particularly like the development in their relationship. It felt quite sudden. Yes, they’re fated mates but still, I was expecting more build up. He just blurts it out, she freaks out sorta and then they fall in love.
-The ending was sweet for them. I didn’t particularly find it all that entertaining. There isn’t really anything to note. Just that, they’re fated mates and that’s kind of how it ends for them. Will I continue reading? I don’t think so. The story itself was interesting but the amount of series I have to read, this one won’t be priority.
Plot 3/5
Characters 3/5
Ending 3/5
Interest 3/5
Overall 3/5
-Unfortunately this book didn’t hit the spot for me. At first I was intrigued, there were some good moments and I anticipated what would happen. But eventually I felt a bit bored. I couldn’t really concentrate on the story and was always distracted which is a shame because the story had potential. I think the fact that it is so short doesn’t really work either, because everything kind of happened fast but at the same nothing really happened.
-The characters were fun at first, the dynamic of one of them knowing they are fated mates and the other being oblivious and just feeling some things for this random guy she met. I didn’t particularly like the development in their relationship. It felt quite sudden. Yes, they’re fated mates but still, I was expecting more build up. He just blurts it out, she freaks out sorta and then they fall in love.
-The ending was sweet for them. I didn’t particularly find it all that entertaining. There isn’t really anything to note. Just that, they’re fated mates and that’s kind of how it ends for them. Will I continue reading? I don’t think so. The story itself was interesting but the amount of series I have to read, this one won’t be priority.
September 23, 2025
I now look at fire differently!
Talk about firebrands!! 🐉 shifters, centuries old who can read fires. Dax, the leader of Backstrike firefighting unit has no option but to work with Ember, fire investigator.
I enjoyed the concept, although I think that the story unfolded too quickly so the plot came across as 'jerky' and with 'continuity issues'. It's for that reason I gave 3 stars.
Irrespective, the descriptions of shifting into dragon certainly resulted in all sorts of colour palettes floating around in my imagination.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Talk about firebrands!! 🐉 shifters, centuries old who can read fires. Dax, the leader of Backstrike firefighting unit has no option but to work with Ember, fire investigator.
I enjoyed the concept, although I think that the story unfolded too quickly so the plot came across as 'jerky' and with 'continuity issues'. It's for that reason I gave 3 stars.
Irrespective, the descriptions of shifting into dragon certainly resulted in all sorts of colour palettes floating around in my imagination.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 7, 2025
Thrilling, action packed and spectacular start to this new series by my favourite author. Dax is a dragon shifter firefighter, leader of his team. Ember Vale is the arson investigator sent to help. I love the amazing challenges that Dax and Ember in their respective roles, and the heart pounding excitement and chemistry between Ember and Dax as they face a dangerous enemy determined to destroy them. I loved every second of this wonderful story and delicious HEA . Can’t wait for the next book
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 15, 2025
This was a heat-filled paranormal romance! Ember, an arson investigator, and Dax, a dragon, must team up to stop unnatural fires. They clash at first, but Dax's protective instincts and Ember's strength make them unstoppable. They face a rogue shifter in an intense battle, and ultimately, love and goodness prevail!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 14, 2025
This is the first book in Delta James' new Firebound series - a series that follows the Blackstrice Unit, an elite firefighter team that has a unique approach to dealing with fires. Delta will release more books of this series soon so it's a good time to pick this book up.
In Ashfall, we’ll follow Ember Vale - a federal arson investigator - when she’s called to investigate wildfires near Arizona. From the moment she arrives at the scene, she’s met with the news that she will be working with Dax Fane and his team.
You’ll like this book if you like:
- Dragon shifters
- Steamy romance
- Fated mates
- Mystery
- Suspense
- Firefighter MMC
- “you’re mine”
It’s my first book by Delta James, and I loved her writing. The way she writes descriptions and our characters' inner problems and insecurities is simply brilliant.
This book was a four-star to me because: 1) I'm not the biggest "fated mates" fan and prefer when my characters are "dancing around each other" before recognizing their feelings, and that is the opposite of what happens in Ashfall; 2) Ember was such an annoying character for me... most of time she talked I just wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake some sense into her.
Long story short: if you want a fast reading book with dragons and steamy romance, this is the book for you.
In Ashfall, we’ll follow Ember Vale - a federal arson investigator - when she’s called to investigate wildfires near Arizona. From the moment she arrives at the scene, she’s met with the news that she will be working with Dax Fane and his team.
You’ll like this book if you like:
- Dragon shifters
- Steamy romance
- Fated mates
- Mystery
- Suspense
- Firefighter MMC
- “you’re mine”
It’s my first book by Delta James, and I loved her writing. The way she writes descriptions and our characters' inner problems and insecurities is simply brilliant.
This book was a four-star to me because: 1) I'm not the biggest "fated mates" fan and prefer when my characters are "dancing around each other" before recognizing their feelings, and that is the opposite of what happens in Ashfall; 2) Ember was such an annoying character for me... most of time she talked I just wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake some sense into her.
Long story short: if you want a fast reading book with dragons and steamy romance, this is the book for you.
June 10, 2025
The only thing saving this book in my opinion is the plot could have been fun to read and the proofreading was well done. Otherwise, I found it disjointed and lacking in specifics. The author would *almost* tell you the details you needed to follow the plot, but since paranormal romance is all about the world building to give the rules that govern each world to the reader, you couldn't quite latch on to the story and apply any logic to character actions. For instance, the MMC, Dax, fails to tell Ember, the FMC, the villain she's hunting is also a dragon, but lets her go to his lair to hunt him alone. The fact he follows her in the air (he's the hero dragon) and let's her discover both he and the villain are both paranormal creatures makes no difference when the bad guy is bigger than a school bus and lightning fast. Worse still, she's not even upset with Dax for nearly getting her killed. She's all: "Oh, you followed me," and goo-goo eyed about it. Don't take me wrong, I like gooey romance as much as the next girl, but Ember is supposedly a fiercely independent woman. If her love interest lets her walk into certain death situations while omitting some pertinent information regarding the "death" part, an independent woman isn't rewarding her guy by having some strangely unfocused sex with him in a cave after the life or death battle. She's going to be extremely angry with him and for good reason.
The other issue is the entire book is written in very flowery, yet oddly unspecific prose. It's almost like the author is allergic to plain speech and it's extremely frustrating. Ember, Dax and the Fire Chief at the very beginning of the book are the only characters you really learn anything about and even the main characters aren't laid out well. You get some flashbacks of history for the MC's but nothing further and the secondary characters barely speak and feel like extraneous, nonverbal, cardboard cutouts as opposed to supporting characters. It might have been salvageable if you got an in-depth look at the MC's but you end the book with a sigh of relief bc you know just as little about them as you did in the beginning and you just want to move on to a new book with characters who actually make you like them or, at least, support their cause.
This was a new author to me and I won't be going back to her well. If I hadn't promised to review this book, I doubt I would have finished it. If you still are interested in reading it or your child is, I'd recommend it only for 14+. The smut isn't specific enough to be considered real smut, so ironically, it makes it more palatable for younger teens but if you want your kids to actually enjoy reading, you might want to steer them clear of this one.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The other issue is the entire book is written in very flowery, yet oddly unspecific prose. It's almost like the author is allergic to plain speech and it's extremely frustrating. Ember, Dax and the Fire Chief at the very beginning of the book are the only characters you really learn anything about and even the main characters aren't laid out well. You get some flashbacks of history for the MC's but nothing further and the secondary characters barely speak and feel like extraneous, nonverbal, cardboard cutouts as opposed to supporting characters. It might have been salvageable if you got an in-depth look at the MC's but you end the book with a sigh of relief bc you know just as little about them as you did in the beginning and you just want to move on to a new book with characters who actually make you like them or, at least, support their cause.
This was a new author to me and I won't be going back to her well. If I hadn't promised to review this book, I doubt I would have finished it. If you still are interested in reading it or your child is, I'd recommend it only for 14+. The smut isn't specific enough to be considered real smut, so ironically, it makes it more palatable for younger teens but if you want your kids to actually enjoy reading, you might want to steer them clear of this one.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 31, 2025
Ashfall by Delta James is the first installment in her new Firebound series, which follows the lives of the Blackstrike Unit, an elite smoke-jumping team with a unique approach to dealing with fire, as each member was born to it, being a dragon shifter.
We follow the story of Ember Vale, a federal arson investigator, who is called to investigate wildfires near the Mogollon Rim in Arizona. As soon as she arrives, she is assigned to work with the Blackstrike Unit and their enigmatic leader, Dax Fane.
The flames in the wildfires are not the only thing burning, as Dax realizes immediately that Ember is his fated mate. He wars with his inner dragon, wanting her but also not wanting to scare her or worse, hurt her. Ember feels the same pull towards Dax but holds her ground, wanting to concentrate on the real cause of the wildfires and not appear weak in front of the rest of the firefighting crew.
As the investigation draws deeper, and the flames burn hotter (between them and in the hills), they realize that the fires are not random. Ember finds a pattern within them that is reminiscent of fires she has investigated before, and they soon realize that she is in great danger.
One of the standout aspects of Ashfall is its strong female lead. Ember isn’t a damsel in distress or a manipulative femme fatale. She’s intelligent, capable, and stands her ground. It’s refreshing to see a heroine in a shifter romance who doesn’t immediately melt at the alpha’s feet, but instead demands respect. Both of these characters stand toe-to-toe in strength and stubbornness. Also, the tension in their attraction is the right speed of burn (pun intended) between these two, so the spice level works.
Where the book falls for me is the overly dramatic prose. At times, the language becomes so flowery and exaggerated that it pulls the reader out of the moment. Rather than letting the emotion and intensity speak for themselves, the descriptions sometimes feel a bit too forced, which can distract from the core story..
While the overly descriptive style wasn’t my personal favorite, fans of steamy paranormal romances will likely enjoy the story and the unique concept of dragon shifter firefighters and find Ashfall a thrilling start to this new series.
Thank you to the publisher, the author Delta James, and BookSirens for allowing me to read this advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
We follow the story of Ember Vale, a federal arson investigator, who is called to investigate wildfires near the Mogollon Rim in Arizona. As soon as she arrives, she is assigned to work with the Blackstrike Unit and their enigmatic leader, Dax Fane.
The flames in the wildfires are not the only thing burning, as Dax realizes immediately that Ember is his fated mate. He wars with his inner dragon, wanting her but also not wanting to scare her or worse, hurt her. Ember feels the same pull towards Dax but holds her ground, wanting to concentrate on the real cause of the wildfires and not appear weak in front of the rest of the firefighting crew.
As the investigation draws deeper, and the flames burn hotter (between them and in the hills), they realize that the fires are not random. Ember finds a pattern within them that is reminiscent of fires she has investigated before, and they soon realize that she is in great danger.
One of the standout aspects of Ashfall is its strong female lead. Ember isn’t a damsel in distress or a manipulative femme fatale. She’s intelligent, capable, and stands her ground. It’s refreshing to see a heroine in a shifter romance who doesn’t immediately melt at the alpha’s feet, but instead demands respect. Both of these characters stand toe-to-toe in strength and stubbornness. Also, the tension in their attraction is the right speed of burn (pun intended) between these two, so the spice level works.
Where the book falls for me is the overly dramatic prose. At times, the language becomes so flowery and exaggerated that it pulls the reader out of the moment. Rather than letting the emotion and intensity speak for themselves, the descriptions sometimes feel a bit too forced, which can distract from the core story..
While the overly descriptive style wasn’t my personal favorite, fans of steamy paranormal romances will likely enjoy the story and the unique concept of dragon shifter firefighters and find Ashfall a thrilling start to this new series.
Thank you to the publisher, the author Delta James, and BookSirens for allowing me to read this advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 6, 2025
As an avid fantasy reader, I so wanted to love this book! I loved the plot concept. A federal arson investigator is sent to inquire about a massive wildfire situation in Arizona that unbeknownst to her involves dragons. Very intriguing! Unfortunately, the execution did not do it for me. First things first; the good points. I loved the concept, the language and vocabulary are truly captivating, and the author's descriptiveness creates an easy to imagine landscape and story.
However, it's almost too descriptive, especially in the beginning. Like it had to be extra exaggerated to rush to explain the plot. Overly exaggerated became a constant theme throughout the book for me. And even though it is a fantasy novel and I'm a fantasy reader, there were many instances for me where I just couldn't believe a regular human could have known or remembered or have sensed such wild and otherworldly phenomenon. Again, I think this is a byproduct of the book feeling "rushed." In my opinion, some of my feelings toward the book could have been alleviated had the author drawn it out more and spent more time on character development. And I definitely feel the author is talented enough to make this happen because much of her descriptive writing is beautifully and almost poetically done.
Speaking of character development, I didn't exactly love the main characters. The MMC seemed overly broody and too quickly completely lovesick while the FMC came across to me as just smart-alecky and overly sarcastic. She almost does a complete 180 turnaround about half-way through the book, but without losing the sarcasm and cynicism. I never developed a bond with her and really didn't care one way or another if things worked out for her or not.
Basically, if you're looking for a decent, quick paced fantasy read with some spice, and an interesting concept, this is it! Definitely the one! I just hate that I feel like this book could have possibly been so much more if it had been twice as long.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
However, it's almost too descriptive, especially in the beginning. Like it had to be extra exaggerated to rush to explain the plot. Overly exaggerated became a constant theme throughout the book for me. And even though it is a fantasy novel and I'm a fantasy reader, there were many instances for me where I just couldn't believe a regular human could have known or remembered or have sensed such wild and otherworldly phenomenon. Again, I think this is a byproduct of the book feeling "rushed." In my opinion, some of my feelings toward the book could have been alleviated had the author drawn it out more and spent more time on character development. And I definitely feel the author is talented enough to make this happen because much of her descriptive writing is beautifully and almost poetically done.
Speaking of character development, I didn't exactly love the main characters. The MMC seemed overly broody and too quickly completely lovesick while the FMC came across to me as just smart-alecky and overly sarcastic. She almost does a complete 180 turnaround about half-way through the book, but without losing the sarcasm and cynicism. I never developed a bond with her and really didn't care one way or another if things worked out for her or not.
Basically, if you're looking for a decent, quick paced fantasy read with some spice, and an interesting concept, this is it! Definitely the one! I just hate that I feel like this book could have possibly been so much more if it had been twice as long.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 31, 2025
ASHFALL is the first instalment in Delta James’ contemporary, adult FIREBOUND erotic, paranormal, romance series focusing the Blackstrike Unit, a team of smoke jumping dragon shifters. This is team leader Dax Fane, and arson investigator Ember Vale’s story line.
Told from dual first person perspectives ( Dax and Ember) ASHFALL follows arson investigator Ember Vale as she is tasked with searching for the truth about a series of forest fires in the Coconino National Forest, Mogollon Rim, Arizona. Ember’s arrival sets the Blackstrike Unit of smokejumpers on edge but especially team leader Dax Fane, whose dragon knows immediately Ember is their mate. As Ember begins a deep dive into the origins of the fires, our heroine begins to suspect Dax and his team know more than they are willing to share. The familiarity of the fires cast doubts for the Blackstrike Unit, a familiarity long thought buried and gone.
The world building focuses on the fires in Coconino National Forest, Mogollon Rim, Arizona: their origins, their power, the nature of the burn, and the almost sentient act of hatred and betrayal.
The relationship between Dax and Ember begins acrimoniously as Dax tries to remain calm in the face of meeting his fated mate. Ember is suspicious of Dax and the Blackstrike Unit-wary of the possibility of potential guilt, secrets and lies. Desperate to claim our heroine as his own, Dax must reveal his own secrets, and the secrets of his men he has sworn to protect. The $ex scenes are limited but impassioned.
We are introduced a couple of members of Dax’s Blackstrike Unit, a crew of dragon shifters all hoping to find their mates: Kade, and Rafe.
ASHFALL is a story of magic and mayhem ,secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, acceptance and love. The fast paced, action packed premise is intriguing and dramatic; the romance is fated; the characters are magical and determined.
copy supplied for review
Told from dual first person perspectives ( Dax and Ember) ASHFALL follows arson investigator Ember Vale as she is tasked with searching for the truth about a series of forest fires in the Coconino National Forest, Mogollon Rim, Arizona. Ember’s arrival sets the Blackstrike Unit of smokejumpers on edge but especially team leader Dax Fane, whose dragon knows immediately Ember is their mate. As Ember begins a deep dive into the origins of the fires, our heroine begins to suspect Dax and his team know more than they are willing to share. The familiarity of the fires cast doubts for the Blackstrike Unit, a familiarity long thought buried and gone.
The world building focuses on the fires in Coconino National Forest, Mogollon Rim, Arizona: their origins, their power, the nature of the burn, and the almost sentient act of hatred and betrayal.
The relationship between Dax and Ember begins acrimoniously as Dax tries to remain calm in the face of meeting his fated mate. Ember is suspicious of Dax and the Blackstrike Unit-wary of the possibility of potential guilt, secrets and lies. Desperate to claim our heroine as his own, Dax must reveal his own secrets, and the secrets of his men he has sworn to protect. The $ex scenes are limited but impassioned.
We are introduced a couple of members of Dax’s Blackstrike Unit, a crew of dragon shifters all hoping to find their mates: Kade, and Rafe.
ASHFALL is a story of magic and mayhem ,secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, acceptance and love. The fast paced, action packed premise is intriguing and dramatic; the romance is fated; the characters are magical and determined.
copy supplied for review
June 10, 2025
Hot dragons, cool concept… lukewarm execution.
Let me start by saying: I wanted to love this. Smokejumpers who are secretly dragons? A cursed, brooding leader who falls from the sky like a fire god? A wildfire expert named Ember. I was ready to be singed into oblivion by angst and sexual tension.
But alas, my kindling remained… tragically damp.
The first half of the book was slow, unfortunately my brain picks up repetitive words/phrases easily and there’s a lot of it in the first half. I mean every chapter has the same thing.
The action does pick up in the second half and then bolts for the finish line.
Also, there was a lack of tension—both in the plot and the romance. For a book about literal dragon men and wildfire danger, it somehow felt… low-stakes. Even when people were technically in danger, I never really felt the urgency. Maybe it was all the flowery language and awkward tone? Not sure but I never really felt immersed in the story.
And Ember… girl. You’re a badass wildfire expert. Why are you making decisions like you’ve got two brain cells fighting over the aux cord?
I did like Dax and enjoyed him as a MMC. He can smoulder for me any day.
This could’ve been an epic paranormal romance full of danger, dragons, and desire—but it fizzled. If you love dragon shifter books and aren’t too fussed about deep character arcs or emotional depth, you might still enjoy it. There’s all the bones for making a really great read it just doesn’t quite hit the mark.
That said, I would absolutely read more of this authors work in the future.
The concept? Brilliant. Smokejumpers who are secretly dragons? That’s the kind of unhinged paranormal drama I live for. Plus the Arizona setting and fire visuals were vivid and cool when they showed up.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Let me start by saying: I wanted to love this. Smokejumpers who are secretly dragons? A cursed, brooding leader who falls from the sky like a fire god? A wildfire expert named Ember. I was ready to be singed into oblivion by angst and sexual tension.
But alas, my kindling remained… tragically damp.
The first half of the book was slow, unfortunately my brain picks up repetitive words/phrases easily and there’s a lot of it in the first half. I mean every chapter has the same thing.
The action does pick up in the second half and then bolts for the finish line.
Also, there was a lack of tension—both in the plot and the romance. For a book about literal dragon men and wildfire danger, it somehow felt… low-stakes. Even when people were technically in danger, I never really felt the urgency. Maybe it was all the flowery language and awkward tone? Not sure but I never really felt immersed in the story.
And Ember… girl. You’re a badass wildfire expert. Why are you making decisions like you’ve got two brain cells fighting over the aux cord?
I did like Dax and enjoyed him as a MMC. He can smoulder for me any day.
This could’ve been an epic paranormal romance full of danger, dragons, and desire—but it fizzled. If you love dragon shifter books and aren’t too fussed about deep character arcs or emotional depth, you might still enjoy it. There’s all the bones for making a really great read it just doesn’t quite hit the mark.
That said, I would absolutely read more of this authors work in the future.
The concept? Brilliant. Smokejumpers who are secretly dragons? That’s the kind of unhinged paranormal drama I live for. Plus the Arizona setting and fire visuals were vivid and cool when they showed up.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 30, 2025
Reading Ashfall felt like stepping into something hot, fast, and a little dangerous, the kind of story that pulls you in with heat and tension and doesn’t really let go until the end. I appreciated how quickly I became invested in the dynamic between the leads, there was undeniable chemistry, and the writing had a smooth, confident pace that made the whole experience very bingeable.
I really enjoyed how the heroine wasn’t just thrown into the arms of an alpha without thought. She had strength, purpose, and moments where I genuinely admired her for holding her ground. That said, I sometimes wished she had a bit more emotional depth beyond the surface-level toughness, moments where we could sit with her vulnerability, not just her resilience. It would have made her even more human and relatable.
There were parts where I felt a little too much was happening too fast. Emotional shifts, big reveals, and heated moments came back-to-back, and while exciting, it sometimes meant I didn’t have the chance to feel things fully. If the author had slowed down just a little, added some more tension-building before certain emotional or romantic turning points, this could easily have been a 5-star read for me.
That said, I loved the originality of the setting, dragon-shifter firefighters? Yes please. It gave the story a unique flair, and the writing handled it with confidence. I just wanted a bit more: more emotional nuance, more room to breathe between the firestorms (both literal and romantic).
Still, Ashfall is a solid read if you're in the mood for something sexy, fierce, and quick. I’m definitely curious about where the series goes next.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really enjoyed how the heroine wasn’t just thrown into the arms of an alpha without thought. She had strength, purpose, and moments where I genuinely admired her for holding her ground. That said, I sometimes wished she had a bit more emotional depth beyond the surface-level toughness, moments where we could sit with her vulnerability, not just her resilience. It would have made her even more human and relatable.
There were parts where I felt a little too much was happening too fast. Emotional shifts, big reveals, and heated moments came back-to-back, and while exciting, it sometimes meant I didn’t have the chance to feel things fully. If the author had slowed down just a little, added some more tension-building before certain emotional or romantic turning points, this could easily have been a 5-star read for me.
That said, I loved the originality of the setting, dragon-shifter firefighters? Yes please. It gave the story a unique flair, and the writing handled it with confidence. I just wanted a bit more: more emotional nuance, more room to breathe between the firestorms (both literal and romantic).
Still, Ashfall is a solid read if you're in the mood for something sexy, fierce, and quick. I’m definitely curious about where the series goes next.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 21, 2025
DRAGONS. FIRE. FATE. AND ME—
“Welcome to Firebound. Where the smokejumpers are dragons—and the only way to tame the flames is to fall in love.”
The story takes place above the Coconino National Forest, the Mogollon Rim, Arizona, where various units of firefighters are fighting multiple wildfires. Ember Vale has been brought in to investigate and meets smokejumper, Dax Fane of the Blackstrike unit.
“I’m here to investigate and try and figure out the cause of this and several other similar fires. I may be federal and not in your chain of command, but I’d like to think we’re all on the same side.”
“The burn’s wrong. We felt it as soon as we got here. It’s like it was waiting for us.”
The story is a mystery, with suspense, danger, paranormal, and passion. The Blackstrike unit is unique, talented, and also dragon shifters. They have been around for a long time, some more than hundreds of years, and others, even longer. It won’t be long before they see clues to lead them to more questions about how the fires are set and how they react. They will find symbols as messages from the author of destruction.
“Fire as a message. Fire as a weapon.”
This is also a fated mate tale between Dax and Ember. How will she react when she learns the truth behind Dax Fane and the other Blackstrike unit members? With Ember and Blackstrike’s past, will they be able to pinpoint the origin and the culprit? Could a bond between Dax and Ember be the key to changing the course of disasters?
The story does not end on a cliffhanger, but instead, will segue into the next book, Flashover, featuring Kade, Liv Monroe, and the rest of the Blackstrike Unit.
“Welcome to Firebound. Where the smokejumpers are dragons—and the only way to tame the flames is to fall in love.”
The story takes place above the Coconino National Forest, the Mogollon Rim, Arizona, where various units of firefighters are fighting multiple wildfires. Ember Vale has been brought in to investigate and meets smokejumper, Dax Fane of the Blackstrike unit.
“I’m here to investigate and try and figure out the cause of this and several other similar fires. I may be federal and not in your chain of command, but I’d like to think we’re all on the same side.”
“The burn’s wrong. We felt it as soon as we got here. It’s like it was waiting for us.”
The story is a mystery, with suspense, danger, paranormal, and passion. The Blackstrike unit is unique, talented, and also dragon shifters. They have been around for a long time, some more than hundreds of years, and others, even longer. It won’t be long before they see clues to lead them to more questions about how the fires are set and how they react. They will find symbols as messages from the author of destruction.
“Fire as a message. Fire as a weapon.”
This is also a fated mate tale between Dax and Ember. How will she react when she learns the truth behind Dax Fane and the other Blackstrike unit members? With Ember and Blackstrike’s past, will they be able to pinpoint the origin and the culprit? Could a bond between Dax and Ember be the key to changing the course of disasters?
The story does not end on a cliffhanger, but instead, will segue into the next book, Flashover, featuring Kade, Liv Monroe, and the rest of the Blackstrike Unit.
June 24, 2025
Ashfall is a seductive, high-stakes paranormal romance packed with action, fated mates, and dragon lore. Delta James sets the stage with a compelling premise: a cursed dragon shifter leading an elite wildfire unit, and a tough, no-nonsense arson investigator who unknowingly holds the key to everything.
The story opens strong, with vivid atmosphere, sharp tension, and immediate chemistry. Dax is pure alpha heat—dark, dominant, and dangerously magnetic. Ember is intelligent, independent, and refreshingly grounded, which makes their dynamic interesting to watch unfold.
Where the book shines:
🔥 Smooth, immersive writing
🔥 Visceral dragon transformations and worldbuilding
🔥 Intense, possessive energy between leads
However, the pacing holds the story back. Emotional and plot beats often move too fast. Key transitions—like Ember going from wary to fully invested, or the sudden reveal of her “chosen one” status—aren’t given the depth or development they need to really land. High-stakes moments like battles and intimate scenes sometimes jump from one to the next without the breathing space to let tension build or settle.
The romance and spice are definitely hot, but they come at the expense of slower emotional payoff. More time spent on inner conflict, bonding, and aftermath would’ve taken this story from good to unforgettable.
Overall:
A steamy, fast-paced start to a dragon shifter series with loads of potential. If you love primal mates, secret identities, and elemental magic, this book delivers—but if you’re craving a slower burn with deeper emotional arcs, be prepared for a quick ride.
The story opens strong, with vivid atmosphere, sharp tension, and immediate chemistry. Dax is pure alpha heat—dark, dominant, and dangerously magnetic. Ember is intelligent, independent, and refreshingly grounded, which makes their dynamic interesting to watch unfold.
Where the book shines:
🔥 Smooth, immersive writing
🔥 Visceral dragon transformations and worldbuilding
🔥 Intense, possessive energy between leads
However, the pacing holds the story back. Emotional and plot beats often move too fast. Key transitions—like Ember going from wary to fully invested, or the sudden reveal of her “chosen one” status—aren’t given the depth or development they need to really land. High-stakes moments like battles and intimate scenes sometimes jump from one to the next without the breathing space to let tension build or settle.
The romance and spice are definitely hot, but they come at the expense of slower emotional payoff. More time spent on inner conflict, bonding, and aftermath would’ve taken this story from good to unforgettable.
Overall:
A steamy, fast-paced start to a dragon shifter series with loads of potential. If you love primal mates, secret identities, and elemental magic, this book delivers—but if you’re craving a slower burn with deeper emotional arcs, be prepared for a quick ride.
May 25, 2025
A simply wonderful read, great characters and scenario that is captivating
This was a terrific read and I cannot recommend this book enough to readers, the interaction between the two main characters Dax and Ember has been written beautifully and the way in which the story begins with the fire inferno burning out of control in Arizona captivating.
Ember Vale the wildfire expert recognises instantly that this fire is not burning in the normal manner, almost as though it is controlled by some supernatural force never seen before. As she is working alongside the experts that are responsible for stopping the spread of wildfires, she notices that The Blackstrike Unit Elite Team of Smokejumpers are very unusual, their eyes appear to burn brightly when they are on site.
Dax Fane is aware from the moment that he meets the human wildfire expert Ember Vale that she is in fact his mate and that they are intended to be the two halves that make up a perfect whole, she has started to feel a strange calling and this was what initially started her investigations and now working alongside Dax had become like breathing.
I will not spoil the story for other readers by giving away too much, however I will say that you will be thrilled to discover the outcome for this couple and the bravery they show whilst they put themselves in harms way to help those less capable.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading any future publications; keep up all the wonderful writing.
This was a terrific read and I cannot recommend this book enough to readers, the interaction between the two main characters Dax and Ember has been written beautifully and the way in which the story begins with the fire inferno burning out of control in Arizona captivating.
Ember Vale the wildfire expert recognises instantly that this fire is not burning in the normal manner, almost as though it is controlled by some supernatural force never seen before. As she is working alongside the experts that are responsible for stopping the spread of wildfires, she notices that The Blackstrike Unit Elite Team of Smokejumpers are very unusual, their eyes appear to burn brightly when they are on site.
Dax Fane is aware from the moment that he meets the human wildfire expert Ember Vale that she is in fact his mate and that they are intended to be the two halves that make up a perfect whole, she has started to feel a strange calling and this was what initially started her investigations and now working alongside Dax had become like breathing.
I will not spoil the story for other readers by giving away too much, however I will say that you will be thrilled to discover the outcome for this couple and the bravery they show whilst they put themselves in harms way to help those less capable.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading any future publications; keep up all the wonderful writing.
June 18, 2025
This is the first book in the Firebound series. I really dreaded starting this one because of the direction her books have taken lately. This one is a return to her old writing style. Dax and Ember don't immediately fall in love even though she's his fated mate. Rather there's a slow, logical progression to the relationship. Things make sense from why the fires are starting at certain areas, why the dragons are smoke jumpers, why Ember is who she is, why the bad guy visited her, the prophecy, etc. The story has a beginning, middle, and end and the last chapter sets up the next book. The arc should carry throughout if she continues in this style. I liked both Ember and Dax. Dax understood the dangers of pushing too far and rushing. Ember is every woman in a 97% Mans job - prove yourself and do it by yourself. She also felt Dax's team was holding something back, so I understood her standoffishness.
The book draws you in from the start and keeps you there. The one issue was the fight at the end - those chapters seemed rushed and too wordy. It's too soon to know if the author has returned to her well thought arcs with characters you truly want to read about, but this was a great start. I received an advance review copy for free from Booksirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The book draws you in from the start and keeps you there. The one issue was the fight at the end - those chapters seemed rushed and too wordy. It's too soon to know if the author has returned to her well thought arcs with characters you truly want to read about, but this was a great start. I received an advance review copy for free from Booksirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 27, 2025
There are only one or two authors who I bother to read their dragon shifter books. One is definitely Delta James. The story is always deeper than a shifter romance no matter how prominent that aspect is in the book. The mysticism, the legacy, the curse, and the mystery also dominate.
Dax and Ember's characters are interesting, not only in their connection to one another, but their deeper connections to the land and fire. The book was so descriptive that I honestly felt like I was surrounded by smoke, soot, and an overall haze while reading it.
There was something all consuming about the main characters relationship. I enjoyed the description of Ember as a Phoenix. I did have one issue. I could not for the life of me conjure up an image of what either character looked like. Maybe their eyes, possibly body type, but not a complete picture of a person. Maybe that was intentional. Maybe i was supposed to have a stronger image of the dragons and not the humans.
I did like that Ember fights along side Dax instead of behind him. Ember controlling the flame was somewhat poetic. I'm looking forward to Kade's story. Rating: 4.5 stars
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
Dax and Ember's characters are interesting, not only in their connection to one another, but their deeper connections to the land and fire. The book was so descriptive that I honestly felt like I was surrounded by smoke, soot, and an overall haze while reading it.
There was something all consuming about the main characters relationship. I enjoyed the description of Ember as a Phoenix. I did have one issue. I could not for the life of me conjure up an image of what either character looked like. Maybe their eyes, possibly body type, but not a complete picture of a person. Maybe that was intentional. Maybe i was supposed to have a stronger image of the dragons and not the humans.
I did like that Ember fights along side Dax instead of behind him. Ember controlling the flame was somewhat poetic. I'm looking forward to Kade's story. Rating: 4.5 stars
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
Read
June 1, 2025This is the start of a brand new series and it did not disappoint. While it is a shifter book about dragons, it is a bit different than the previous books in other series, that this author has written about. But it did not disappoint.
This is a story about wildfires and arson. And who better to help fight these wildfires than an elite group of smoke jumpers/dragon shifters. There is something very suspicious in the fire they are currently working on. When Ember is brought in to determine if arson is involved, things escalate quickly. It soon becomes apparent that this wildfire is not a normal wildfire and will take everything Ember, Dax and the other dragon shifters have, in order to fight it. The past has arisen in the form of fire… a past that Dax and team thought they had destroyed in the past. Throw in the fated mate part of the story between Dax and Ember and things start to really heat up. Soon they will need to work together quickly to stop the cataclysmic threat before it can start.
This is a very enjoyable first book in this series and I can hardly wait to read the next book in it.
This is a story about wildfires and arson. And who better to help fight these wildfires than an elite group of smoke jumpers/dragon shifters. There is something very suspicious in the fire they are currently working on. When Ember is brought in to determine if arson is involved, things escalate quickly. It soon becomes apparent that this wildfire is not a normal wildfire and will take everything Ember, Dax and the other dragon shifters have, in order to fight it. The past has arisen in the form of fire… a past that Dax and team thought they had destroyed in the past. Throw in the fated mate part of the story between Dax and Ember and things start to really heat up. Soon they will need to work together quickly to stop the cataclysmic threat before it can start.
This is a very enjoyable first book in this series and I can hardly wait to read the next book in it.
June 23, 2025
I love Delta James books and have always rated them mostly 5, with an occasional 4. She is a terrific writer, which made this book a bit disappointing for me. The premise of the story is fascinating, as its core story was about a rogue dragon who was setting specific patterned fires. Dax (the MMC) is a member of an elite group of dragon firefighters. Ember (a more subtle name would have been a better fit) is human, an arson investigator and a strong FMC in a male-dominated field.
Dax knows who the perpetrator is, as he has seen that pattern before in previous fires. As the investigation deepens, Ember starts taking dangerous chances and Dax is there to save her. He knows she is his fated mate, and she didn’t know dragons existed. I won’t give away anything else, since it was interesting to see what happened to them. The challenge I had with the story was the overuse of metaphors and descriptors focusing on fire. It’s fine when discussing the actual fire but was a bit too much when describing other things, such as relationships. It was too much prose that got in the way of the story. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Dax knows who the perpetrator is, as he has seen that pattern before in previous fires. As the investigation deepens, Ember starts taking dangerous chances and Dax is there to save her. He knows she is his fated mate, and she didn’t know dragons existed. I won’t give away anything else, since it was interesting to see what happened to them. The challenge I had with the story was the overuse of metaphors and descriptors focusing on fire. It’s fine when discussing the actual fire but was a bit too much when describing other things, such as relationships. It was too much prose that got in the way of the story. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 1, 2025
Another fabulous paranormal romantic suspence book launches the Firebound series with a roar. Fighting to protect both the humans and the existence if their kind, the Blackstrike Unit (lead by Dax) jumps into the middle of the raging firestorm. Unlike previously, this time they must contend with HER, Ember Vale. She's tenacious, driven, intelligent, and very good at what she does (arson investigation). Oh, she also happens to be Dax's Fated Mate - just a minor issue.
This book is non-stop action and drama, with lies (of omission mostly),threats, old grudges, deadly traps, near death experiences,hot chemistry, sizzling banter, and a storyline that will keep you on the edge of your seat as the team tried to determine the message being conveyed, and a way to put a stop to the destruction. The classic struggle of good vs evil is prominent throughout,leading to a spectacular climactic series of events.
I'm a huge fan of Delta's work and I look forward to reading Kade's story next! I received a gift copy of this book and voluntarily provided this review. Happy Reading Y'all 📚
This book is non-stop action and drama, with lies (of omission mostly),threats, old grudges, deadly traps, near death experiences,hot chemistry, sizzling banter, and a storyline that will keep you on the edge of your seat as the team tried to determine the message being conveyed, and a way to put a stop to the destruction. The classic struggle of good vs evil is prominent throughout,leading to a spectacular climactic series of events.
I'm a huge fan of Delta's work and I look forward to reading Kade's story next! I received a gift copy of this book and voluntarily provided this review. Happy Reading Y'all 📚
July 1, 2025
SOMETHING ANCIENT IS SENDING A MESSAGE
Dax and Ember. Hes part of the infamous Blackstrike Firefighter Unit. His unit is the last resort for Fire Jumpers. They dont take orders they give them and they are secretive. They are hidding something. Shes the fire investigator sent to the scene to find out whats really happening. An unnatural fire. Dax sees patterns that arent natural. Dax knows who she is the moment he locks eyes with her. She sees something in him thats not quite real. Its unnatural. Its ancient power. When researching old fires theres a mysterious pattern, an unatural pattern, the same exact pattern which is not possible. Its like its alive. Dax knows the questions are the right ones she just doesnt know it yet and when she gets too close will he be able to save her.
OMG anything by Delta James is amazingly written and an intriguing entertaining and exciting read with emotionally complex charecters. Loved it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Dax and Ember. Hes part of the infamous Blackstrike Firefighter Unit. His unit is the last resort for Fire Jumpers. They dont take orders they give them and they are secretive. They are hidding something. Shes the fire investigator sent to the scene to find out whats really happening. An unnatural fire. Dax sees patterns that arent natural. Dax knows who she is the moment he locks eyes with her. She sees something in him thats not quite real. Its unnatural. Its ancient power. When researching old fires theres a mysterious pattern, an unatural pattern, the same exact pattern which is not possible. Its like its alive. Dax knows the questions are the right ones she just doesnt know it yet and when she gets too close will he be able to save her.
OMG anything by Delta James is amazingly written and an intriguing entertaining and exciting read with emotionally complex charecters. Loved it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 29, 2025
excellent exciting story about a woman raised in a long line of fire fighters with fire in her blood working as a fire investigator determined to solve the riddle of weird fires that make no sense. she meets dax and immediately can feel something deep inside her soul telling her he is ancient, and pulling at her in some weird bond that hums beneath her skin. they clash when he decides he's her protector and glues himself to her side saving her life several times. but she knows dax is hiding things from her and she will stop at nothing to find out what. dax immediately recognizes her as his fated mate and is terrified at losing her like he lost a woman he cared for centuries ago but knows he can't push her and she isn't ready for the truth. so they will fight together and each other to figure out the truth of what is really causing these fires and who is responsible.
great characters, engaging story line lots of action and thrills.
I received an arc copy from book sirens and this is my honest voluntary review.
great characters, engaging story line lots of action and thrills.
I received an arc copy from book sirens and this is my honest voluntary review.
September 25, 2025
'Ashfall' serves as a thrilling introduction to Delta James’ new "Firebound" series. The protagonist, Ember, has successfully carved out a career as an investigator in the male-dominated arena of wildfire investigations. What she doesn't realize is that the elite firefighting team, the Blackstrike Unit, is comprised of dragons dedicated to protecting humanity.
Ember crosses paths with Dax, the commanding leader of Blackstrike, during an inexplicable wildfire with unnatural burn patterns. The narrative unfolds with compelling layers of action that keep the reader fully engaged. Beyond the complexities of the fire investigation, there is a profound mystery surrounding Dax and his true identity as a dragon. Dax is cautious about revealing his reality to Ember, adding a captivating tension to their relationship.
The story also provides intriguing insights into the history of dragons, and subsequent books will need to delve deeper into the dynamics between dragons and humans. I am eager to see how this world develops in the future installments.
Ember crosses paths with Dax, the commanding leader of Blackstrike, during an inexplicable wildfire with unnatural burn patterns. The narrative unfolds with compelling layers of action that keep the reader fully engaged. Beyond the complexities of the fire investigation, there is a profound mystery surrounding Dax and his true identity as a dragon. Dax is cautious about revealing his reality to Ember, adding a captivating tension to their relationship.
The story also provides intriguing insights into the history of dragons, and subsequent books will need to delve deeper into the dynamics between dragons and humans. I am eager to see how this world develops in the future installments.
June 1, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Ember and Dax’s journey follows some fun tropes—fated mates, the chosen one, and of course, dragons. Ember works as a fire investigator, while Dax is part of a tactical team. She’s completely unaware of the dragon world and suddenly has to navigate this whole new reality with Dax as her guide. It’s a cool setup with plenty of potential for action and romance. I did feel like the chemistry between them was a bit lacking at times, and the pacing felt rushed in a few spots, which made it a little harder to fully connect with their relationship. That said, the story itself was still entertaining, and the world-building had some interesting elements. If you’re into dragon lore and the whole fated mates trope, it’s worth checking out. While it didn’t completely blow me away, it was still a fun, light read that kept me engaged enough to see it through.
Ember and Dax’s journey follows some fun tropes—fated mates, the chosen one, and of course, dragons. Ember works as a fire investigator, while Dax is part of a tactical team. She’s completely unaware of the dragon world and suddenly has to navigate this whole new reality with Dax as her guide. It’s a cool setup with plenty of potential for action and romance. I did feel like the chemistry between them was a bit lacking at times, and the pacing felt rushed in a few spots, which made it a little harder to fully connect with their relationship. That said, the story itself was still entertaining, and the world-building had some interesting elements. If you’re into dragon lore and the whole fated mates trope, it’s worth checking out. While it didn’t completely blow me away, it was still a fun, light read that kept me engaged enough to see it through.
June 6, 2025
Dragon shifters, fire fighters, wild fires acting in mysterious ways, and a human arson investigator determined to find the truth. Ember Vale has been sent to investigate the origins of a wild fire burning on Arizona's Mogollon Rim. What she finds is unusual fire patterns and unexplainable flare-ups. She also finds the enigmatic Blackstrike unit, a group of smokejumpers with a reputation for doing things their own way. Their leader is Dax Fane and he realizes that Ember is his fated mate the second he senses her. Now, what is he going to do about it?
These two are intense separately and volatile together. Dax knows he needs to ignore his dragon and move slowly if he wants to convince a human to mate a dragon. Ember knows Dax and his men are hiding things from her. Oh yeah, they are definitely doing that.
I was given an advanced copy of this book by the author. My review is voluntary.
These two are intense separately and volatile together. Dax knows he needs to ignore his dragon and move slowly if he wants to convince a human to mate a dragon. Ember knows Dax and his men are hiding things from her. Oh yeah, they are definitely doing that.
I was given an advanced copy of this book by the author. My review is voluntary.
June 17, 2025
Since I was a kid, always loved dragons...and this story resonates with me. Dax and team work to stop fires that defy the odds of how and what normal fires do...they belong to elite smoke jumper unit called Blackstrike, but all of the members are very old dragon shifters. Ember comes from a fire-fighting family and is arson investigator, putting her in front of Dax and team, who battle the fire without much intervention from the "higher ups." There has been a string of fires that defy explanation on how started, multiple ignition points and how continued to burn without any brush or forest left...but there is something strange going on, and Ember believes Dax and team could be a source of knowing more than they are saying...but she feels a connection to Dax that is unexpected but not unwelcome...but no spoilers here, you will need to read this intense story to see what happens...I voluntarily read this book through an Advanced Reader Copy.
June 22, 2025
She may be the daughter of a fire fighter, but she chose a different direction. Ember Bale is a wildfire investigator and she is Arizona to find out why an outbreak of wildfires is not behaving like fires should, and the inconsistencies in the reports filed by the Blacks strike Unit, an elite team of smoke jumpers. Dax Fane, dragon shifter and smoke jumper is dedicated to protecting the land and the people who live on it, but the humans he protects can never know that he is a dragon shifter.
A great series starter with fascinating characters who share the same goal. I adored Ember and her determination to find answers, and the fact that she's not a push over. A wonderful fated mates shifter romance with some steam, interesting twists in the plot, and a happily ever after. I think this is a must-read and recommend this book to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC received from Book Sirens.
A great series starter with fascinating characters who share the same goal. I adored Ember and her determination to find answers, and the fact that she's not a push over. A wonderful fated mates shifter romance with some steam, interesting twists in the plot, and a happily ever after. I think this is a must-read and recommend this book to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC received from Book Sirens.
September 28, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Of the many tropes I love to read, included in there are dragons and firefighters. I can't remember ever seeing another book that put both together, so bonus points for trope combo! Add in fated mates as a sprinkle on top.
There were a couple of continuity things that I'm still ehhhh about (even went back and used search in case I'd missed it somehow), and the timeline of events is very fast; I hesitate to say "suspension of disbelief" when we're talking about dragons, and trying to stay vague to avoid spoilers 😂 but you're in driver's ed one day, and the next day you're in Nascar. The writing is often both stream-of-consciousness and fragmented, which I personally had a hard time staying in the groove of reading.
It was a quick evening read though, and checked all my favorite boxes, so along with the bonus combo points I'm going with 4⭐️!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Of the many tropes I love to read, included in there are dragons and firefighters. I can't remember ever seeing another book that put both together, so bonus points for trope combo! Add in fated mates as a sprinkle on top.
There were a couple of continuity things that I'm still ehhhh about (even went back and used search in case I'd missed it somehow), and the timeline of events is very fast; I hesitate to say "suspension of disbelief" when we're talking about dragons, and trying to stay vague to avoid spoilers 😂 but you're in driver's ed one day, and the next day you're in Nascar. The writing is often both stream-of-consciousness and fragmented, which I personally had a hard time staying in the groove of reading.
It was a quick evening read though, and checked all my favorite boxes, so along with the bonus combo points I'm going with 4⭐️!
June 7, 2025
"An Incredible Shifter Romance series"
This is a super exciting story. It has awesome characters.
Ember is a spunky Arson Investigator. She is sent to investigate a series of fires in the Coconino National Park. She is assigned to work with the Smoke Jumpers firefighter unit.
This is how she meets Dax a sexy Smoke Jumper who is also a dragon shifter. His whole unit are dragon shifters. They have been fighting the fires only to discover they are not normal. There are mysteries behind these fires. Dax also realized Ember is his fated mate!
Can these two and the unit discover who or what is behind these fires. Can they stop the fires? Will Dax fight fate or will fate win?
You will love this exciting, thrilling, and scorching hot shifter story and series. This is a five star plus story.
This is a super exciting story. It has awesome characters.
Ember is a spunky Arson Investigator. She is sent to investigate a series of fires in the Coconino National Park. She is assigned to work with the Smoke Jumpers firefighter unit.
This is how she meets Dax a sexy Smoke Jumper who is also a dragon shifter. His whole unit are dragon shifters. They have been fighting the fires only to discover they are not normal. There are mysteries behind these fires. Dax also realized Ember is his fated mate!
Can these two and the unit discover who or what is behind these fires. Can they stop the fires? Will Dax fight fate or will fate win?
You will love this exciting, thrilling, and scorching hot shifter story and series. This is a five star plus story.
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