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Into the Fire #2
Strike
STRIKE (Into the Fire #2)
Rivals-turned-lovers Marc and Wolf set out to cross the fallen Roman Empire with one aim: to reach the western sea. But neither the journey nor the goal is simple. Former soldier Marc is in his element—on the move and fighting—and dreads the end of their march. Blacksmith Wolf treads uneasily amid the turmoil of the ungoverned countryside and longs for a safe place to put hammer to anvil again.
As Marc and Wolf tangle with roving outlaws and each other, they gradually discover that their combined strength—and any hope of seeing the sea—lies in their deepening bond. Every present moment and shared memory, every rough stroke and whispered demand, will bring the men closer to a destination neither can predict but that each craves, body and soul.
A novella (approx. 20,000 words) featuring two strong, stubborn M/M heroes and the melding of two hearts into a formidable force of will.
INTO THE FIRE Series
Against the backdrop of the Roman Empire’s collapse comes this story of two boyhood rivals reunited as very different men. Twenty years on, Marcus is a soldier with no army and few skills beyond killing. Wolfram is a blacksmith forced to defend his home with a hammer and his wits. Thrust together by cataclysm, Marc and Wolf will strike a partnership from the raw material of their shared past, shaping its angles and edges with a desire they won’t deny, to forge a future strong enough to withstand an unpredictable new world.
Rivals-turned-lovers Marc and Wolf set out to cross the fallen Roman Empire with one aim: to reach the western sea. But neither the journey nor the goal is simple. Former soldier Marc is in his element—on the move and fighting—and dreads the end of their march. Blacksmith Wolf treads uneasily amid the turmoil of the ungoverned countryside and longs for a safe place to put hammer to anvil again.
As Marc and Wolf tangle with roving outlaws and each other, they gradually discover that their combined strength—and any hope of seeing the sea—lies in their deepening bond. Every present moment and shared memory, every rough stroke and whispered demand, will bring the men closer to a destination neither can predict but that each craves, body and soul.
A novella (approx. 20,000 words) featuring two strong, stubborn M/M heroes and the melding of two hearts into a formidable force of will.
INTO THE FIRE Series
Against the backdrop of the Roman Empire’s collapse comes this story of two boyhood rivals reunited as very different men. Twenty years on, Marcus is a soldier with no army and few skills beyond killing. Wolfram is a blacksmith forced to defend his home with a hammer and his wits. Thrust together by cataclysm, Marc and Wolf will strike a partnership from the raw material of their shared past, shaping its angles and edges with a desire they won’t deny, to forge a future strong enough to withstand an unpredictable new world.
ebook
First published November 7, 2014
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About the author
Mia West
49 books189 followersEpic romance, two heroes at a time! My story universe features warriors and blacksmiths, rescue swimmers and hockey players, treasure hunters and time travelers, and quite a few shifters. My favorite kind of hero: a grumpy f*cker who’ll do anything for the man he loves.
Read my entire universe free on AO3!
Novel-length ebooks are free on wide vendors.
Happy reading :)
~ Mia
Read my entire universe free on AO3!
Novel-length ebooks are free on wide vendors.
Happy reading :)
~ Mia
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 16, 2023
What a disappointment! This installment was mostly waste of time, unless you went into it expecting erotica. Since I wasn't and the premise has the potential for much more, it was a letdown. The story mostly consists of Marcus and Wolf walking through Gaul from Wolf's former home to the sea and along the way, they get attacked by bandits a few times and they have tons of sex. Not only was there barely any plot but the scenes that existed were very repetitive.
I skimmed most of it because I was bored and the author's usage of modern speech irritated me much more in this one than the previous one. I realized why - the author does make a bit of effort to make the MCs sound like they're living in 476 AD but not when it comes to them bantering with each other or their sex talk. Maybe it's a case of the author not knowing how to make those particular conversations sound less modern or maybe the author didn't realize this disconnect but because the majority of this story involves the MCs bantering or having sex, the modern dialog annoyed me much more than in the first one.
I came very close to DNFing and giving up on the entire series, but it was so short that I decided to skim to the end and I'm glad I did because the ending showed promise for Book 3. The story ends with .
This change is exactly what this series needs. While I love romances that heavily focus on only the two MCs, it's very clear in this situation that the author doesn't know what to do with these MCs when it's just the two of them. The first book had the addition of their antagonistic reunion and dealing with Marcus discovering that Matthias had passed away. But in this book, the author couldn't come up with anything interesting for the MCs to do and I think that's why the majority of this story is a non-stop sequence of smut scenes. But having the MCs decide to opens the door for more interesting scenarios so I'm going to take a chance and give Book 3 a try.
I skimmed most of it because I was bored and the author's usage of modern speech irritated me much more in this one than the previous one. I realized why - the author does make a bit of effort to make the MCs sound like they're living in 476 AD but not when it comes to them bantering with each other or their sex talk. Maybe it's a case of the author not knowing how to make those particular conversations sound less modern or maybe the author didn't realize this disconnect but because the majority of this story involves the MCs bantering or having sex, the modern dialog annoyed me much more than in the first one.
I came very close to DNFing and giving up on the entire series, but it was so short that I decided to skim to the end and I'm glad I did because the ending showed promise for Book 3. The story ends with .
This change is exactly what this series needs. While I love romances that heavily focus on only the two MCs, it's very clear in this situation that the author doesn't know what to do with these MCs when it's just the two of them. The first book had the addition of their antagonistic reunion and dealing with Marcus discovering that Matthias had passed away. But in this book, the author couldn't come up with anything interesting for the MCs to do and I think that's why the majority of this story is a non-stop sequence of smut scenes. But having the MCs decide to opens the door for more interesting scenarios so I'm going to take a chance and give Book 3 a try.
February 11, 2018
So, this is a love story with two endearing men on an epic (of sorts) journey to find home/peace set shortly after the fall of the Roman Empire while having really, REALLY hot sex. I’m in for the long haul.
5 stars!
5 stars!
February 1, 2024
I found this one to be a bit of a let down. I don't like journey stories, but thankfully it was pretty short. I'm hopeful the series will pick up now that they've arrived. I do enjoy their relationship, just wanted a little more plot.
April 2, 2016
The second part of Marcus and Wolfram’s story continues where the first one left off, with the two of them making their way westward towards the sea, a place Wolf has never seen and one where an ex-soldier and an out of work blacksmith might be able to find common ground. This part is all about education for Wolf. First and foremost, he’s never learned how to fight someone with a sword, and knowing the type of brigands they might encounter on the road, Marc takes it upon himself to show Wolf the difference between swinging a hammer in defense versus striking with a sword. But secondly, Wolf has never been in a sexual relationship with a man before. He was married to a woman (for convenience mostly) who died after a brutal attack and he’d never thought of men in that way. There is no sense of shame or embarrassment about being involved with another man on either of their parts . It’s just about inexperience, and Wolf is eager to learn how things will work between them. This leads to some very heated scenes (a memorable bj one to start this part off) as they work their way west. They are learning how to be a couple and they’ve reached the point where they can admit that they love each other. This part combines sex scenes with lots of action as they encounter various dangers along the road West. When they reach the sea, they encounter a settlement in need of their help. It’s not a cliffhanger ending, just a pause in their story. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next! 4 stars.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the author for review.
Note 2: this review appears as a blog post at: http://straightshootinbookreviews.com...
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the author for review.
Note 2: this review appears as a blog post at: http://straightshootinbookreviews.com...
May 26, 2015
4.5 stars rounded up to 5... Why? Because I'm desperately hoping that if I'm really - REALLY - nice I'll find a way to convince Ms. West to write about 100,000 more words about Marc and Wolf.
I am in love with these two men. They've easily become two of my favorite M/M characters. They're both masculine, but they have feelings and aren't afraid to man-up and share them (in short order, not flowery prose). They want different things from life, but are willing to compromise (so long as Wolf gets to learn more about how to handle Marc in bed). They're compatible, no major secrets hanging over their heads, and just a delight to spend time with.
*sigh*
These two men give me flutters.
Well written, fast paced, and characters you'll love from beginning to end. Who could ask for more?
Oh wait. I can.
About 100,000 words more, because I don't want to let these two men go!
WARNING: While book 1 could have very much stood on its own, this one leaves you in the middle of a changing scene. The reader is forced to purchase a third book to keep the story going. If this sort of thing bothers you, consider yourself warned. I'd love to see all three of these novellas combined into a single book or a box set for $3.99. I'd buy it in a flash!
I am in love with these two men. They've easily become two of my favorite M/M characters. They're both masculine, but they have feelings and aren't afraid to man-up and share them (in short order, not flowery prose). They want different things from life, but are willing to compromise (so long as Wolf gets to learn more about how to handle Marc in bed). They're compatible, no major secrets hanging over their heads, and just a delight to spend time with.
*sigh*
These two men give me flutters.
Well written, fast paced, and characters you'll love from beginning to end. Who could ask for more?
Oh wait. I can.
About 100,000 words more, because I don't want to let these two men go!
WARNING: While book 1 could have very much stood on its own, this one leaves you in the middle of a changing scene. The reader is forced to purchase a third book to keep the story going. If this sort of thing bothers you, consider yourself warned. I'd love to see all three of these novellas combined into a single book or a box set for $3.99. I'd buy it in a flash!
September 2, 2023
In Thrust, the first short story of the Into the Fire series, set in the immediate aftermath collapse of the Roman Empire, soldier Marc leaves his career to return home to his foster father. Instead, he finds a childhood friend Wolf, a large- and very handsome- blacksmith living alone in the former garrison. They admit their attraction to each other, and become lovers. After an attack by a group of roving bandits destroys Wolf's home, the two men decide to head west, to see the Western Sea.
Strike, the second entry, has the two men on the road. Not much happens here except a lot of sex for about. They dispatch one attack easily, hole up in a cavern with hot springs and train for a few weeks, then when the snow comes, they set out again. At the end of the story (about 100 pages) they arrive at the sea, and are discovered by the nearby residents of a town that ask them to stay for the winter. They desperately need a blacksmith and a soldier to help them fortify themselves against future raids. The two men take a night to think on it and... it ends.
I'd rate this one about 2.25 stars. Not real exciting, little character development, though you could argue the sexy times are signs their relationship is deepening.
Strike, the second entry, has the two men on the road. Not much happens here except a lot of sex for about. They dispatch one attack easily, hole up in a cavern with hot springs and train for a few weeks, then when the snow comes, they set out again. At the end of the story (about 100 pages) they arrive at the sea, and are discovered by the nearby residents of a town that ask them to stay for the winter. They desperately need a blacksmith and a soldier to help them fortify themselves against future raids. The two men take a night to think on it and... it ends.
I'd rate this one about 2.25 stars. Not real exciting, little character development, though you could argue the sexy times are signs their relationship is deepening.
July 11, 2021
4⭐️ (even though I firstly gave this 3/3.5⭐️ I just can't...this is just SO WELL WRITTEN!)
I really like the dynamic between Marc and Wolf and even though a lot of the content is steamy I thoroughly enjoyed the little romantic sparks that were interwoven in the story here and there. The thing I really appreciate is that characters slowly reveal themselves and are allowed to be vulnerable – never thought I'd care about that stuff in a book, but here we are.
The characters are just so easy to like, even love. I'm excited to see where the story goes from this point.
A great read to ease slumpy reading period . It enabled me to finish something without having to push myself. 🙌🏻
I really like the dynamic between Marc and Wolf and even though a lot of the content is steamy I thoroughly enjoyed the little romantic sparks that were interwoven in the story here and there. The thing I really appreciate is that characters slowly reveal themselves and are allowed to be vulnerable – never thought I'd care about that stuff in a book, but here we are.
The characters are just so easy to like, even love. I'm excited to see where the story goes from this point.
A great read to ease slumpy reading period . It enabled me to finish something without having to push myself. 🙌🏻
February 14, 2021
3 stars for this one.
I like it but ot's no more than a smutty love story.
We have love, we have the excitement of a journey and we have tow men growing closer and closer together through rough days and finding to keep each other safe.
Still. I feel like it has the potential to be more and it stuck somewhere between a great idea and epic historical romance.
The writing style is great I love the storytelling. I just miss the story. Yes, it's hot and I can appriciat good smut but I need a more.
Still, I am intrigued so I will continue with the next one!
I like it but ot's no more than a smutty love story.
We have love, we have the excitement of a journey and we have tow men growing closer and closer together through rough days and finding to keep each other safe.
Still. I feel like it has the potential to be more and it stuck somewhere between a great idea and epic historical romance.
The writing style is great I love the storytelling. I just miss the story. Yes, it's hot and I can appriciat good smut but I need a more.
Still, I am intrigued so I will continue with the next one!
May 8, 2017
I liked this but there wasn't a lot of story to this second book. I like both Marcus and Wolf and enjoyed seeing them on their journey but I wish the book had a little more substance. It felt like it could have been written in any time period and I wanted the historically aspects to be a lot stronger.
September 14, 2017
Shallow
I expected much more based upon a recommendation resulting from reading other books. Shallow Sex The era and geography of the setting offered little to the weak story line. I read the first book. OK Give it a chance but at 50-75% of book 2 I became more disappointed and felt it such a waste of time. Back to authors like Josh Landon.
I expected much more based upon a recommendation resulting from reading other books. Shallow Sex The era and geography of the setting offered little to the weak story line. I read the first book. OK Give it a chance but at 50-75% of book 2 I became more disappointed and felt it such a waste of time. Back to authors like Josh Landon.
December 9, 2022
My travelling boys, being cute and filthy in the wilderness, "sword-fighting" and whatnot, it's so fucking goooood.
Yeah, still can't review for shit, my brain is soup, but looking at Ragnar and Athelstan gifs for inspo is a nice balm to the slow atrophy 🫠
Yeah, still can't review for shit, my brain is soup, but looking at Ragnar and Athelstan gifs for inspo is a nice balm to the slow atrophy 🫠
March 10, 2018
4.5
More, more, more! I'm so greedy for more :D
More, more, more! I'm so greedy for more :D
January 4, 2022
Travelling to the sea, with fighting lessons and occasion skirmishes. Still entertained.
March 20, 2021
Well written mm erotic historical set in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire. I enjoyed the setting but wanted a little more character development to go with the fucking and fighting.
February 1, 2016
OMG
Soooo. Gooood. Yummy is also a good word. I would also like to let you all know that it is this kind of book that melts my butter. Soooo hot.
On a serious note it is a wonderful story full of danger as well as sweetness. The journey that Wolf and Marc are on to the sea is long, intense, and filled with many obstacles which the men have to overcome together. And without each other they would not have been able to make the trip safely.
The hero's in these books are described in so much detail I can see them clearly. What they wear, how they speak and how they feel for each other.
I cannot wait to get the next book.
Soooo. Gooood. Yummy is also a good word. I would also like to let you all know that it is this kind of book that melts my butter. Soooo hot.
On a serious note it is a wonderful story full of danger as well as sweetness. The journey that Wolf and Marc are on to the sea is long, intense, and filled with many obstacles which the men have to overcome together. And without each other they would not have been able to make the trip safely.
The hero's in these books are described in so much detail I can see them clearly. What they wear, how they speak and how they feel for each other.
I cannot wait to get the next book.
January 5, 2016
As it was available as a freebie, I got this second part of Ms West's story as well.
I want to stress that, as this is not really a series but a novella cut into -not cheap- parts and having to read them separately curtails narrative tension and the reading enjoyment.
That said, this second chapter is a pleasant, fluid read, with Marcus and Wolf turning out likeable and sexy.
I want to stress that, as this is not really a series but a novella cut into -not cheap- parts and having to read them separately curtails narrative tension and the reading enjoyment.
That said, this second chapter is a pleasant, fluid read, with Marcus and Wolf turning out likeable and sexy.
February 17, 2021
A quick read, short story - the continuation of Marc and Wolf. They've traveled east out of Germania through Gaul to the sea.
April 28, 2016
4.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews