A new book in Ann Jacobs’s Oil Barons series, for anyone looking for romance as big as the Texas sky.
When Kate Black was forced to choose between staying with her stubborn fiancé and caring for her ailing father, she chose to return to her father and the land where she felt most rooted. But saving her father’s land means making the difficult decision to lease it to an oil company, and the ruggedly handsome man running the operation. The one who makes her breath hitch and awakens a sensual need Kate never even knew existed.
Jake Green has oil in his blood, along with a Texas-sized chip on his shoulder. Following his ex-wife’s betrayal, he swore off women and dedicated his life to growing his family’s business. But when his job leads him to Kate, he can’t deny the fiery attraction that burns between them and indulges his desires, even as he fights to protect his tortured heart.
As the two surrender to an unquenchable passion and discover undeniable pleasures in each other’s arms, Kate must find a way to heal Jake’s heart—and Jake must admit to himself that a love like none he’s ever known is about to consume them completely.
This is a fully revised edition of a book originally published as Firestorm.
About the Author:
Ann Jacobs is the author of more than one hundred romance novels, novellas, and short stories, including the Oil Barons series, the d’Argent Honor Vampire series, and the Gridiron Lovers series, among others. She lives in Tampa with her own personal hero, her youngest son, a sometimes neglected orchid collection, and four very spoiled and much-loved cats. She loves hearing from readers and tries to meet as many fans as possible at one or more conferences each year. You can read more about Ann at annjacobs.net.
First published in 1996, Jacobs has sold close to fifty books and novellas. SANDSTORMS was a 2007 nominee for the prestigious ROMANTIC TIMES Reviewers' Choice award for best erotic romance. Her books have earned awards including the Passionate Plume (best novella, 2006, second place contemporary, 2008), the Desert Rose (best hot and spicy romance, 2004) and More Than Magic (best erotic romance, 2004). She has been a double finalist in separate categories of the EPPIES and From the Heart RWA Chapter’s contest. Three of her books have been translated and sold in several European countries.
A CPA and former hospital financial manager, Jacobs now writes full-time, with the help of Mr. Blue, the family cat who sometimes likes to perch on the back of her desk chair and lend his sage advice. He sometimes even contributes a few random letters when he decides he wants to try out the keyboard. (Most of the time Blue just curls up, hides his eyes with his paws...and sleeps!)
Reviewed for THC Reviews "3.5 stars" Firestorm was my first full-length novel by Ann Jacobs. I had previously read several of her novellas, some of which I really enjoyed, in particular Shana and Bear's stories which come earlier in the Black Gold series. I thought I would really like Firestorm too, but unfortunately, it left me feeling somewhat unsatisfied. I don't think I've run into a hero in my romance reading who is quite as stubborn as Jake is about falling in love which is the main reason for my discontent. Firestorm is also different from other romances I've read in that it takes place entirely in the realm of powerful oil barons. All the talk of oil drilling and the oil business in general reminded of the old TV show, Dallas.
As I mentioned, Jake is an incredibly closed-off hero. He was devastated when his first wife, Alice, aborted their child, something he had desperately wanted for years, and left him for another man while he was out working the oil fields. Jake could have been a really tortured hero, and in some ways, I guess he was, but to me he came off as more cold and cynical. I know that he was badly hurt and betrayed by his ex-wife's actions, but it was rather annoying that he spent a large part of the story unfairly judging Kate by the very poor standard Alice had set. Jake stubbornly refused to believe that any woman could be anything but manipulative and calculating, or actually want the same things he wanted from life. He just always seemed to expect the worst of Kate at every turn even though she was nothing but sweet, kindhearted, and loving toward him when he didn't really deserve it. It was almost like he was looking for reasons to not fall in love with or trust her, and I thought him asking her to marry him while outright telling her he didn't love her and probably never would was pretty cold. Now that's not to say that Jake is a completely horrible person. I did respect him for initially backing off from his seduction of Kate when he realized she was an innocent and all he was really looking for was to get laid. He also treated her well enough. He was never abusive toward her and gave her everything she could have dreamed of from a material standpoint. He was also pretty protective of her. He just willfully kept his hardened heart locked up tight, and refused to let her in. Jake's eleventh hour turnaround in the final pages of the book, was almost too little too late, except that his declaration of love seemed heartfelt. Depending on how one views his character, I suppose it could be said that he loved her all along and just wouldn't or couldn't admit it to himself or anyone else, because he did do an awful lot of protesting, perhaps a little too much for someone who didn't care at all.
Kate is a very sweet, gentle, innocent heroine. She loves kids and was a school teacher before her father became ill and she came home to nurse him. After his death, she was pretty much alone in the world except for a couple of good friends. She owns the land that Jake's company is leasing for oil drilling. I found Kate to be a pretty likable heroine, but she may be a bit too sweet and traditional for some readers. Her fondest dream in life is simply to have a family and take care of her husband and kids. She is a twenty-eight year-old virgin, and while I have no real difficulty buying into the idea, it seems that most contemporary women who reach that age without having sex have some reason for it, such as religious beliefs or no time for relationships. It would have been nice if that side of her had been explored a little more deeply, because she was previously engaged and there was no mention of her or her fiancé having any strong beliefs that would have precluded a sexual relationship. Aside from that issue, I have to admit Kate was perhaps just a bit too passive even for me. I did have to wonder a little about a woman who definitely isn't a gold-digger but who would marry a man who had blatantly stated that he didn't love her. I wish that she had shown a little more backbone too, instead of allowing Jake and his family to practically steamroller her into a gaudy engagement ring and an elaborate wedding when she would have preferred something simpler. In the end, I guess she was admirable for loving Jake in spite of his major flaws, but I don't think I could have been so patient.
I've never been a big fan of instant attraction, and Jake and Kate's was perhaps even less believable to me than most because of them having immediate lustful stirring for each other within the first few pages of the book. They jumped into bed too quickly for my taste, and I just wasn't feeling any real connection between them for a large part of the story mainly due to Jake's stubbornness keeping them at arms-length. It's too bad that they didn't get to know each other better or communicate more, because they both shared virtually the same hopes and dreams for a traditional family life, but didn't even know it. Jake spends most of the time thinking that Kate is no different from other women, namely his ex, and for quite a while, she thinks that Jake is just a player who has no desire to put down any roots. The only way they seem to truly connect is physically, but even the bedroom scenes were a bit lackluster for me. It got a little better as the story progressed, but initially there wasn't much feeling to their love-making. It was more like sex for the sake of sex. The other Ann Jacobs stories I read were very erotic while this one leaned more toward the sensuous. The language was still pretty explicit, but the love scenes themselves were no more detailed than most mainstream romances. In fact, it was almost like Ms. Jacobs held back a little too much. Even after finishing the novel, I haven't quite decided if this was a true weakness or to the contrary, was genius, in that it conveyed the emotional distance that existed between Jake and Kate.
There are several secondary characters in Firestorm, including some that have appeared in other books of the Black Gold series. We get to meet Jake's entire family who I don't think were previously introduced, except for Shana. It was really nice getting to see Shana and Bear (Love Slave & Forever Enslaved) again, and that they're still crazy about each other. They're my favorite couple in the series so far, and must be a favorite of Ann Jacobs as well. She has given them their own love scene in every story of the series they've appeared in up to this point, and I must say it was quite spicy. In my opinion, it was better than Jake and Kate's scenes, because it conveyed a depth of emotion that the other couple's didn't. Also Blake (Another Love) had a brief appearance as Jake's friend and attorney. The information on the proper ordering of the Black Gold series is kind of sketchy, maybe because it appears that Ms. Jacobs wrote them out of order. I had previously thought that Blake's book came later in the series, but since it was mentioned in Firestorm that he was already happily married to Erin, the heroine of Another Love, I may have to revise my previous knowledge of the series. I can at least say that Firestorm had no discernible spoilers for Another Love.
Generally speaking, I've enjoyed Ann Jacobs writing style, although Firestorm had a few weak spots that I thought could have been better. In my opinion, the prose needed more detailed descriptions of the settings as well as character appearances and gestures to really make it come alive in my mind's eye. There were also a few continuity errors and a couple of minor plot holes. When Kate was knocked unconscious by the arsonist, I found it odd that Jake called for the sheriff, but not an ambulance. Additionally, it was a little unusual that Jake wanted to take Kate to meet his family when he wasn't serious about her. I also feel compelled to warn pro-choice advocates that Jake constantly refers to abortion as the killing or destroying of his child. I didn't personally have any issues with this, but to anyone who might, I'll say in his defense that Jake wanted desperately to be a father and felt utterly betrayed by his wife going behind his back to get an abortion. Still, he is very assertive and bitter about it to the point that I know some readers could be off-put if not outright offended. On the up side, I really enjoyed the fact that Jake's family has become this melting pot of different cultures, religions and backgrounds, and yet everyone gets along really well. Overall, Firestorm was a decent read even though I couldn't fully get into it due to Jake's personality and him holding back his love from Kate for so long. However, I'm still interested in continuing with the Black Gold series to learn more about the other characters yet to come. Although I don't know if they'll put in any more appearances, I certainly wouldn't object to seeing more of Shana and Bear either.
Note: Aside from the explicit language, the style and tone of the sexual encounters between the hero and heroine of this book are on par with steamy mainstream romances. However, there is one love scene between secondary characters that involves the moderate description of nipple piercings and the brief use of a cock ring.
OUT NOW: TEXAS FIRE (THE OIL BARONS #5) BY ANN JACOBS
READ AND REVIEW
TEXAS FIRE (THE OIL BARONS #5) BY ANN JACOBS
SYNOPSIS
A new book in Ann Jacobs’s Oil Barons series, for anyone looking for romance as big as the Texas sky. When Kate Black was forced to choose between staying with her stubborn fiancé and caring for her ailing father, she chose to return to her father and the land where she felt most rooted. But saving her father’s land means making the difficult decision to lease it to an oil company, and the ruggedly handsome man running the operation. The one who makes her breath hitch and awakens a sensual need Kate never even knew existed. Jake Green has oil in his blood, along with a Texas-sized chip on his shoulder. Following his ex-wife’s betrayal, he swore off women and dedicated his life to growing his family’s business. But when his job leads him to Kate, he can’t deny the fiery attraction that burns between them and indulges his desires, even as he fights to protect his tortured heart. As the two surrender to an unquenchable passion and discover undeniable pleasures in each other’s arms, Kate must find a way to heal Jake’s heart—and Jake must admit to himself that a love like none he’s ever known is about to consume them completely. This is a fully revised edition of a book originally published as Firestorm.
REVIEW: TEXAS FIRE (THE OIL BARONS #5) BY ANN JACOBS
Texas Fire by Ann JacobsMy rating: 5 of 5 starsTexas Fire (The Oil Barons #5) by Ann JacobsReviewed for Candid Book ReviewsThe relationship between Jake and Kate proved to be as fiery and turbulent as the rugged terrain. Kate was a character that I admired. She took back her life after a disastrous relationship, a tragic loss and an uncertain future. All these events made her determined to be stronger and succeed no matter the obstacle. Jake considers himself an island. He stands alone. Don't trust, don't feel, can't get hurt. His savage attraction to Kate makes that hard to do. Texas Fire fans the flames of passion but it is also a story of courage, faith and love. I loved it and would recommend it to any lover of sultry romance.View all my reviews
About Author: Ann Jacobs
First published in 1996, Jacobs has sold close to fifty books and novellas. SANDSTORMS was a 2007 nominee for the prestigious ROMANTIC TIMES Reviewers' Choice award for best erotic romance. Her books have earned awards including the Passionate Plume (best novella, 2006, second place contemporary, 2008), the Desert Rose (best hot and spicy romance, 2004) and More Than Magic (best erotic romance, 2004). She has been a double finalist in separate categories of the EPPIES and From the Heart RWA Chapter’s contest. Three of her books have been translated and sold in several European countries.A CPA and former hospital financial manager, Jacobs now writes full-time, with the help of Mr. Blue, the family cat who sometimes likes to perch on the back of her desk chair and lend his sage advice. He sometimes even contributes a few random letters when he decides he wants to try out the keyboard. (Most of the time Blue just curls up, hides his eyes with his paws...and sleeps!)
Ann Jacobs is the author of more than one hundred romance novels, novellas, and short stories, including the Oil Barons series, the d’Argent Honor Vampire series, and the Gridiron Lovers series, among others. She lives in Tampa with her own personal hero, her youngest son, a sometimes neglected orchid collection, and four very spoiled and much-loved cats. She loves hearing from readers and tries to meet as many fans as possible at one or more conferences each year. You can read more about Ann at annjacobs.net.
WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? I really enjoyed this story, which is part of a series, but easily read as a standalone. Jake Green comes from a family with oil in their blood and they own GreenTex. He would rather work in the field than an office and is one of the best at what he does, finding and capping oil wells. Kate Black is alone in the world and all she has left is the family home in Mississippi. She has agreed to lease the land for an oil well, not because she wants to get rich, she has her late father's medical bills to pay. When Jake shows up sparks ignite between Kate and Jake. This story is full of angst, passion, regrets, bitterness, and family loyalty. The dialog is raw, edgy and honest. The cast of characters are diverse and kept this story captivating and the pages turning. This is a steamy romance of two people who are physically attracted to each other. Their relationship has so much physical chemistry but not the emotional chemistry to call it love. Better for Jake that he keeps his mind on pure, hot sex and ignore the troublesome emotions. But then again, physical and emotional chemistry can join forces and love is definitely possible. Disclosure: I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinion, and ratings are my own.
It started off a little bit bumpy but it played out beautifully! Kate is a strong woman living alone on her father's land since he has passed away. She leased it to an independent oil company. Enter Jake. He is the only soon of a Texas oil tycoon. His father is sick and wants Jake to take over the company but Jake would rather continue to do what he does best: field agent keeping everything running smoothly. However someone is sabotaging GreenTex rigs all over the place and one man is already dead. When that person threatens Kate, Jake has to step in and take care of her. He refuses to trust another woman after a nasty divorce but he is more than willing to act on their mutual attraction. Don't worry, I won't give anything major away, you'll just have to read it. I will say that it's a wonderful book. Jake and Kate feel real, as does their romance. It's well worth reading!
The relationship between Jake and Kate proved to be as fiery and turbulent as the rugged terrain. Kate was a character that I admired. She took back her life after a disastrous relationship, a tragic loss and an uncertain future. All these events made her determined to be stronger and succeed no matter the obstacle. Jake considers himself an island. He stands alone. Don't trust, don't feel, can't get hurt. His savage attraction to Kate makes that hard to do. Texas Fire fans the flames of passion but it is also a story of courage, faith and love. I loved it and would recommend it to any lover of sultry romance.
Texas Fire centers around Jake Green and Kate Black. Jake is dealing with a major betrayal and is in no frame of mind to have a serious relationship. He wants to drill oil and be left alone. Kate Black is alone in the world since her father died and is only allowing the drilling to deal with debts left by her father's medical expenses. When Jake shows up the attraction is instant but Jake knows Kate is not the type of woman that would be happy with a one-night stand, and that is all he has to offer. This story is full of passion, regrets, love, hate, and family loyalty. I love that there is element of diversity in the characters. Texas Fire is part of the Oil Barons series. While I have not read any of the other books in the series, I enjoyed this book and it can be read as a standalone.
Review for TEXAS FIRE I received this as a gift for an honest review Ann Jacobs has woven a love story that one can only dream about. You meet Kate Black and Jake Green and your first thought is….instant heat. But then you learn of their convoluted lives and fears and your heart just breaks and soars in equal measure. These two are destined for each other if only they open themselves up. Kate does while Jake stubbornly holds to the past right to the very end….until Kate knows she has to let him go. Will these two find all the happiness they truly deserve or will Kate walk away to give him his chance at real love ??
I was given a complimentary copy for an honest review by author Ann Jacobs.
Kate Black comes home to take care of her sick father but when he passes she signs a lease to let an oil company drill on her land. Jake Green was burned by his wife and after the divorce he swore never to give his heart again to another woman. Kate and Jake come together and find the chemistry hot between them but can Kate melt the shield around Jake's heart.
This book has a great story line and wonderful characters for any reader to enjoy. The author gave the characters very good interaction.
Texas Fire was a great book to read . Kate Black was forced to choose her fiance or her ill father ? She followed her heart and went home ,when her father died she was alone she leased her land to an oil company and this eventually leads her to Jake Green a man who no longer believes in love. But the chemistry between these two is sizzling when sabotage occurs Jake's protective instincts kick in to find out if this couple get their hea you'll have to read the book and join them on this journey. While this book is part of a series I haven't read I still enjoyed it a lot it did make me interested in previous books I intend to look for.
GREAT BOOK This is the first book I have read in this series, but it won't be the last. Kate Black has to lease her family's land for an oil well to pay her father's medical bills. Jake Green shows up to run things and the sparks of passion ignite. The chemistry between these two is over the top, but Jake wants nothing more than a physical relationship because of his ex-wife's betrayal. Once I got started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. Really enjoyed it and I highly recommend it. I received this book as a gift for an honest review. Patsy Sacco
Received the book for an honest review. I really enjoyed this story. It reminded me of the romance novels I read as a teenager. You have the rough and tough hero who is "once bitten, twice shy" when it comes to love. Then you have the female heroine who's never really known love and passion until now. When Jake and Kate come together sparks and passion fly. And eventually love is found and happily ever after can happen. Texas Fire is a great addition to the Oil Baron Series. Can't wait to see what Ms. Jacobs has in store for the next book.
Can you learn to love again after your heart has been demolished?
Intense drama, highly emotional and unexpected twists...
Kate Black is trying to save her family home and land. In doing so she leases out her property to an oil drilling company. But is this really her best solution? Jake Green's family owns the oil drilling company and he's struck the biggest oil site the company has seen in decades, but is that all he's found?
I enjoyed this book, even though the alpha was a loveless jerk for most of the story. I felt he had it in him to change for the better, being that it was due to past circumstances. I've read the previous books before this one and felt this one had more to offer. There was great interaction between all the characters as well as the main couple. Passion, love, hatred and drama around an oil field. I highly recommend this book for lovers of romance.
This story was addictive! I did not want to put it down!! The characters were compelling The story-line was intriguing and the overall story had me completely enraptured. One more sentence became one more page One more page became one more chapter. A truly worthwhile read
Mmm.. cowboys.. lol. this was a hot, steamy amazing cowboy story. I loved that there were issues in the beginning and she didnt think she was good enough for him but he taught her otherwise. amazing story and characters... i am so glad i got to review it.
I really enjoyed this story. Jake finally committing and moving on from his ex wife and the horrible betrayal she did. Kate is perfect for him to calm and centre him. Great HEA