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Blue Fire
Listening Length: 3 hours
Re-release of 2009 novella - Fire cost Jared Kenny his home and all his memories of the man he'd loved for over half his life. But it also brought him firefighter Adam Collins and the purest blue eyes Jared had ever seen.
Despite the best efforts of his department, Adam had to watch with Jared while Jared's house burned to the ground. Something about the man touched Adam and made him want to follow up and protect him. Later, when the two of them gave in to their passion, it burnt and bared them both.
So Jared ran...from Adam, from his past, and from everything their future together could hold. He tried to start a new life, taking only his newfound passion for glass and his obsession for a finding a particular shade of blue, the blue of the heart of a flame. It took a near-tragedy to teach him that the blue he sought, he'd had all along...in his firefighter's eyes.
Re-release of 2009 novella - Fire cost Jared Kenny his home and all his memories of the man he'd loved for over half his life. But it also brought him firefighter Adam Collins and the purest blue eyes Jared had ever seen.
Despite the best efforts of his department, Adam had to watch with Jared while Jared's house burned to the ground. Something about the man touched Adam and made him want to follow up and protect him. Later, when the two of them gave in to their passion, it burnt and bared them both.
So Jared ran...from Adam, from his past, and from everything their future together could hold. He tried to start a new life, taking only his newfound passion for glass and his obsession for a finding a particular shade of blue, the blue of the heart of a flame. It took a near-tragedy to teach him that the blue he sought, he'd had all along...in his firefighter's eyes.
3 pages, Audible Audio
First published July 21, 2009
34 people are currently reading
375 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
October 16, 2018
4.5
Audio: October 2018
This is another winner for me by Z.A Maxfield. Still love the heck out of the story.
The Narration: 3 Pants Off
Shannon Gunn was not the dude to narrate this story. His OTT voice didn’t work because I find this to be a soft story. Why he always gotta be doing the most. He reads as if he he has some gigantic secret to tell you, all dramatic pauses and long going sentences... “Last night (LONG pauseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee) I got.......long pause......fucked” and that would work if it wasn’t so continuous and applied to everything.
I don’t know man, I’m just not feeling him. He needs to stop William Shatnering all his narration.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
^^THIS BLUE BURNS RED HOT!^^
Such a fantastic read, the thing I love about Maxfield`s characters is that they are so relatable and so very human with their emotions. Blue Fire was just a joy to read.
So Jared and Adam meet when Jared house is burning to the ground. Adam the young fire fighter instantly feels an attraction to the fragile and broken looking Jared. Watching a person watch as their precious possessions burn to the ground can bring two people close together.It will be twice in their life, that fire will bring them together.
A vacation together reveals some life changing truths which then leads to heartache. Jared to me was very OCD, his actions borderlined crazy which made him very likable. Adam was the rock and the blue that really created a nice balance to Jared`s crazy. The author focused alot on the color blue and Jared`s character was obsessed with it. No longer is blue the color of sadness it represented hope, love and freedom. Like the sky and ocean, blue represented beauty.
Plus it was sexy, these two were burning things up just like blue fire, fire is hottest when its blue.
August 12, 2009
I am a Z.A. Maxfield fan! She has written some of my favorite heroes, (Yamane…sigh) and I’m addicted to her books in general. She’s one of those authors that I wish would write faster. I have a tendency to horde her books away, and put off reading them as a reward for something special. So you know I was thrilled when I saw that Blue Fire had been released by her, I knew I had to buy it and read it immediately.
When Adam saved Jared from a house fire, there was something about him that brought out all of Adam’s protective urges. As a firefighter, Adam has watched many places burn down, and even saved others, but there’s something about Jared that draws him to him like a moth to a flame.
Jared has lost everything. His lover, his home and his will to live. After the fire, he checks himself into a therapeutic home, so he can try to get a grip on his loss, and find a reason to live instead of just existing. Jared is surprised that the firefighter, Adam, comes and visits him several times a week. There is something compelling about Adam, and even though Jared becomes quite fond of him, he feels lost, and is afraid to take a chance on anything more than friendship for the younger man.
But, there is something within Adam’s blue eyes that calls to Jared. (You’ll find all about the obsession Jared has about the color blue when you read the story) So when Adam offers to take Jared to his family’s cabin, to get away for a vacation, Jared can’t say no. Even as Jared and Adam become closer, Jared continues to hold Adam at arms length, and when Adam is called away for duty, Jared stubbornly refuses to give into his heart desire and do what he can to keep Adam in his life. Instead he sends Adam off thinking it would be best for both of them.
As time goes by, Jared tries to find and heal himself, he discovers that Adam has been injured in a horrible fire, and suddenly his feelings for Adam become very clear. But, will it be too late for Jared to convince Adam that they belong together?
I really loved this book! I hated it when Jared and Adam are separated, but Jared must go through some personal growth and healing before he and Adam could be together. Adam on the other hand is a hero that everyone will love. He’s strong, sexy, determined, smart, handsome and very loveable. I thought he and Jared were both well rounded characters, and they definitely were made for each other.
4.5 stars but I’ll bump it up to 5
When Adam saved Jared from a house fire, there was something about him that brought out all of Adam’s protective urges. As a firefighter, Adam has watched many places burn down, and even saved others, but there’s something about Jared that draws him to him like a moth to a flame.
Jared has lost everything. His lover, his home and his will to live. After the fire, he checks himself into a therapeutic home, so he can try to get a grip on his loss, and find a reason to live instead of just existing. Jared is surprised that the firefighter, Adam, comes and visits him several times a week. There is something compelling about Adam, and even though Jared becomes quite fond of him, he feels lost, and is afraid to take a chance on anything more than friendship for the younger man.
But, there is something within Adam’s blue eyes that calls to Jared. (You’ll find all about the obsession Jared has about the color blue when you read the story) So when Adam offers to take Jared to his family’s cabin, to get away for a vacation, Jared can’t say no. Even as Jared and Adam become closer, Jared continues to hold Adam at arms length, and when Adam is called away for duty, Jared stubbornly refuses to give into his heart desire and do what he can to keep Adam in his life. Instead he sends Adam off thinking it would be best for both of them.
As time goes by, Jared tries to find and heal himself, he discovers that Adam has been injured in a horrible fire, and suddenly his feelings for Adam become very clear. But, will it be too late for Jared to convince Adam that they belong together?
I really loved this book! I hated it when Jared and Adam are separated, but Jared must go through some personal growth and healing before he and Adam could be together. Adam on the other hand is a hero that everyone will love. He’s strong, sexy, determined, smart, handsome and very loveable. I thought he and Jared were both well rounded characters, and they definitely were made for each other.
4.5 stars but I’ll bump it up to 5
Want to read
August 14, 2019Kindle freebie 8/13/19
February 1, 2016
Blue Fire was an entertaining short read about second chances. When Jared's house burns down, Adam - a young firefigther - is the only one there to help him face the loss of his house. But Jared didn't only lose his house, he also lost all the (material) memories of his dead lover.
Adam tries to help Jared through the difficult time and takes him to his family's cabin, where they are no longer able to resist their attraction for each other. But Jared isn't willing to risk losing himself in another man and he decides to run.
When Adam is in danger, Jared has to make a difficult decision. Will it be the right one? Is there a future for him and Adam? Or did he lose the love of his life by running away so many years ago?
I have to say that I had problems to get into the story. At the beginning, I was often at a loss of any indication about the time that had passed between the different chapters and I was quite confused. There is nearly no getting to know each other and the characters thus stayed a little foreign to me. But the second part of the book was way better and I'm rounding my 2.5 stars up to 3 for this short, but okay read.
Adam tries to help Jared through the difficult time and takes him to his family's cabin, where they are no longer able to resist their attraction for each other. But Jared isn't willing to risk losing himself in another man and he decides to run.
When Adam is in danger, Jared has to make a difficult decision. Will it be the right one? Is there a future for him and Adam? Or did he lose the love of his life by running away so many years ago?
I have to say that I had problems to get into the story. At the beginning, I was often at a loss of any indication about the time that had passed between the different chapters and I was quite confused. There is nearly no getting to know each other and the characters thus stayed a little foreign to me. But the second part of the book was way better and I'm rounding my 2.5 stars up to 3 for this short, but okay read.
June 20, 2013
3.0 Stars
Jared Kenny lost his long-time lover to cancer and, subsequently, lost his home to fire. Firefighter Adam Collins, while helpless to stop the fire from destroying Jared's home, was able to help Jared move on with his life and heal from his past. The passion that erupts between them, however, causes Jared to bolt; unwilling to let himself be vulnerable to another man again, he runs far and fast until he realizes that he can't outrun his feelings for Adam.
I liked this book but I was pissed off at Jared. Three years!?!? Come on, man. That's a long f*cking time. I didn't buy how quickly they reconciled. ("Sorry" ... kisses ... done.) This story had great potential. I just felt it was too rushed. I would have LOVED to read a full-length version. I don't think the novella did the characters justice.
Bottom-line: Great story ... not enough real estate.
Jared Kenny lost his long-time lover to cancer and, subsequently, lost his home to fire. Firefighter Adam Collins, while helpless to stop the fire from destroying Jared's home, was able to help Jared move on with his life and heal from his past. The passion that erupts between them, however, causes Jared to bolt; unwilling to let himself be vulnerable to another man again, he runs far and fast until he realizes that he can't outrun his feelings for Adam.
I liked this book but I was pissed off at Jared. Three years!?!? Come on, man. That's a long f*cking time. I didn't buy how quickly they reconciled. ("Sorry" ... kisses ... done.) This story had great potential. I just felt it was too rushed. I would have LOVED to read a full-length version. I don't think the novella did the characters justice.
Bottom-line: Great story ... not enough real estate.
January 6, 2018
It's been nearly 7 years...
When Jared lost his home to fire, he thought he'd lost everything but what he'd forgotten was that when one door closes another one opens and this was comes in the form of a handsome fireman with the most amazing blue eyes and a determination to rescue Jared not just from the fire but from the overwhelming sense of loss that it's left him with, but when another fire ignites between Jared and Adam...Jared runs and he doesn't stop...until fire once again brings tragedy to Jared's door making him realize that running was only taking him away from what he'd been searching for.
I think I'd truly forgotten how much I loved this short, sweet story about second chances. Jared and Adam are hot and while Jared may have run from Adam what he couldn't deny was the passion they shared. There's a bit of an age difference here but while it was part of the story it didn't overwhelm the story and I have to honestly admit this is one of the few times that I can say that while I know there's an age difference I'm not sure exactly how much it is...I think it's somewhere in the 10 to maybe 15 year range but pretty sure it's closer to 10.
Once again Shannon Gunn was the narrator for this audio book and I really enjoyed his performance on this one. I got 3 hours of an emotion filled story with a narration that added depth to the story and the characters. Truthfully I can see me doing a replay on this one. I like Adam and Jared and I like the depth and strength that this narrator's voice has given to their story.
When Jared lost his home to fire, he thought he'd lost everything but what he'd forgotten was that when one door closes another one opens and this was comes in the form of a handsome fireman with the most amazing blue eyes and a determination to rescue Jared not just from the fire but from the overwhelming sense of loss that it's left him with, but when another fire ignites between Jared and Adam...Jared runs and he doesn't stop...until fire once again brings tragedy to Jared's door making him realize that running was only taking him away from what he'd been searching for.
I think I'd truly forgotten how much I loved this short, sweet story about second chances. Jared and Adam are hot and while Jared may have run from Adam what he couldn't deny was the passion they shared. There's a bit of an age difference here but while it was part of the story it didn't overwhelm the story and I have to honestly admit this is one of the few times that I can say that while I know there's an age difference I'm not sure exactly how much it is...I think it's somewhere in the 10 to maybe 15 year range but pretty sure it's closer to 10.
Once again Shannon Gunn was the narrator for this audio book and I really enjoyed his performance on this one. I got 3 hours of an emotion filled story with a narration that added depth to the story and the characters. Truthfully I can see me doing a replay on this one. I like Adam and Jared and I like the depth and strength that this narrator's voice has given to their story.
March 15, 2023
BOOK 11 of my 2023 Valentine reading rush where I read romance books with men on the cover and a color of the rainbow.
featured color: orange
Trigger Warnings:
-on page depiction of a person hospitalized because of burns
-grief
-depression
This was heavy despite being only 130 pages long. Adam was a fireman and he saved Jared from his burning house owned by him and his dead husband. Adam felt sparks and attraction to Jared and decided to take care of him. Talk about instalove, right? Well yes, it's instalove and the first half was more on erotica than romance. But in the second half, when they decided to be away from each other for some time,, that was when they declared their love for each other.
Not really there is much to say. It was short, and I liked it. 3 stars it is.
featured color: orange
Trigger Warnings:
-on page depiction of a person hospitalized because of burns
-grief
-depression
This was heavy despite being only 130 pages long. Adam was a fireman and he saved Jared from his burning house owned by him and his dead husband. Adam felt sparks and attraction to Jared and decided to take care of him. Talk about instalove, right? Well yes, it's instalove and the first half was more on erotica than romance. But in the second half, when they decided to be away from each other for some time,, that was when they declared their love for each other.
Not really there is much to say. It was short, and I liked it. 3 stars it is.
September 4, 2019
This was a strange read for me. I feel like part of the book was just missing. I'm all for filling in the blanks based on what is presented and at times that totally works for me, here, it was just missing.
Honestly, from the beginning I thought Jared was old, like way older than Adam. Then I thought he was old and freaking nuts. I missed out on all the conversations, the getting to know each other. It was needed and important for the trip and what came after to make sense.
Even though, I wanted them to figure out what was happening and I found Adam a perfect fit for Jared.
And then it was over for three years.
What?
No.
And then it was fast and again missing time.
I didn't hate it, I even kind of liked it, I just feel like too much was missing.
It was free and it was quick and at times it was hot and sweet so not a complete fail, yeah?
Honestly, from the beginning I thought Jared was old, like way older than Adam. Then I thought he was old and freaking nuts. I missed out on all the conversations, the getting to know each other. It was needed and important for the trip and what came after to make sense.
Even though, I wanted them to figure out what was happening and I found Adam a perfect fit for Jared.
And then it was over for three years.
What?
No.
And then it was fast and again missing time.
I didn't hate it, I even kind of liked it, I just feel like too much was missing.
It was free and it was quick and at times it was hot and sweet so not a complete fail, yeah?
January 15, 2020
An okay story, hated Jared, one of the MCs. Adam, a 24-year-old fire fighter meets 37-yr-old Jared when Jared's house - designed by his husband, Keith - burns to the ground. Keith was a famous architect, "larger than life, but two-dimensional, blisteringly sexual but locked in the closet."
For such a short book, there was a ton of baggage heaped upon Jared. . There was just so much packed into the plot that it overwhelmed the relationship between Jared and Adam.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
For such a short book, there was a ton of baggage heaped upon Jared. . There was just so much packed into the plot that it overwhelmed the relationship between Jared and Adam.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
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September 1, 2009This book is different from the usual novels I was used to read by this author. First, it's shorter, a novella instead of a long novel; and second it has a bittersweet undertone that runs throughout from beginning to end, something that makes the novella less lighter, not sad, on the contrary there is even sometime when a smile spontaneously blossom on your face, but it's not a full laughter, it's more a warm slight rise up of the corner of the mouth. The main theme of the book is the research of the perfect blue, the same blue you can see in the inside of the flames, something you don't expect to see among all those reds; it's the same perfect blue of a mountain lake, and like the mountain lake, the book transpire peace and comfort, more than thrill and chaos, like the mountain streams that suddenly die in the peaceful water of the lake. The story is like that, a sudden moment of peace among the chaos that is the life of both characters.
Adam is a firefighter and he saves Jared from the fire that destroys his house. He is not able to save also the house, he is impotent since a big fire is roaring around and they are out of water. In a way, the impotence Adam is feeling is not heightened by Jared's reaction to the loss of his house: Jared is like fallen into a trance, in few words he explains to Adam that the house was the last project of his husband, a famous architecture, and losing the house is like losing once again his husband, died few months ago of cancer.
As easily as the water flows, the story moves up of some weeks, and we find Adam visiting Jared in a private clinic; Jared is depressed and he has not found a reason to come out of his trance. Adam understands that Jared needs a shock, and practically forces the man to come with him in Colorado, in the mountain cabin his family own there. The main reason is to show Jared the mountain lake with the perfect blue water the same color apparently Jared is searching. The real reason is that Adam is fallen in love with the man and wants to shake him off from the prison of his memories.
Even if Adam has all the good intentions of this life, unfortunately he is not doing the right thing. Jared fell in love with his very much older husband when he was still a teenager, and from that moment on he lived in the shadow of the bigger than life man beside him. Even if Jared was talented, his light was obscured by his husband's genius and little by little, Jared disappeared. When his husband died, apparently also Jared died. The fire was not a trauma, probably instead was a way to freedom. Inside the fire and in the eyes of the man who saved him, Jared finds something that pushed him a little more out from his self-imposed prison. The journey in Colorado helped some more, but if Jared accepts the love offered by Adam, it would be only like falling in another prison: where his husband was older and genius, Adam is younger and full of life, but both of them are men that can obscure Jared if he first doesn't find his way in the world. To be happy with Adam, Jared has to finish his growing process, the one that was interrupted by his husband when he took Jared with him. Even if Jared is 37 years old, he is still more or less a teenager if compared to Adam.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002UNN7GE/?...
Adam is a firefighter and he saves Jared from the fire that destroys his house. He is not able to save also the house, he is impotent since a big fire is roaring around and they are out of water. In a way, the impotence Adam is feeling is not heightened by Jared's reaction to the loss of his house: Jared is like fallen into a trance, in few words he explains to Adam that the house was the last project of his husband, a famous architecture, and losing the house is like losing once again his husband, died few months ago of cancer.
As easily as the water flows, the story moves up of some weeks, and we find Adam visiting Jared in a private clinic; Jared is depressed and he has not found a reason to come out of his trance. Adam understands that Jared needs a shock, and practically forces the man to come with him in Colorado, in the mountain cabin his family own there. The main reason is to show Jared the mountain lake with the perfect blue water the same color apparently Jared is searching. The real reason is that Adam is fallen in love with the man and wants to shake him off from the prison of his memories.
Even if Adam has all the good intentions of this life, unfortunately he is not doing the right thing. Jared fell in love with his very much older husband when he was still a teenager, and from that moment on he lived in the shadow of the bigger than life man beside him. Even if Jared was talented, his light was obscured by his husband's genius and little by little, Jared disappeared. When his husband died, apparently also Jared died. The fire was not a trauma, probably instead was a way to freedom. Inside the fire and in the eyes of the man who saved him, Jared finds something that pushed him a little more out from his self-imposed prison. The journey in Colorado helped some more, but if Jared accepts the love offered by Adam, it would be only like falling in another prison: where his husband was older and genius, Adam is younger and full of life, but both of them are men that can obscure Jared if he first doesn't find his way in the world. To be happy with Adam, Jared has to finish his growing process, the one that was interrupted by his husband when he took Jared with him. Even if Jared is 37 years old, he is still more or less a teenager if compared to Adam.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002UNN7GE/?...
December 13, 2016
3.5 stars overall. The premise of this one is very sweet, but I just wanted more. More background, more struggle, more emotion in the reunion. There's a lot of troubled moments in Jared's background and I just didn't feel like I got enough of what put him back together.
Jared Kenny's life was already hanging by a thread of sanity and safety, but when his home burns down Jared ends up a drift in a sea of uncertainty and loss. The only bright spot in his vision is the bright blue of firefighter Adam Collins eyes. Adam saved his life, pulling him to safety, and he hasn't left him alone since.
Adam does't know what it is about Jared that keeps him coming back, but he just can't seem to walk away from the man. He wants to save him, he wants to see him take his life back. Adam knows he's falling for Jared and there's nothing he can do about it. He's determined to find that spark in Jared he knows is buried somewhere deep. Maybe getting out of town to his families cabin in Colorado is just what they need.
Look overall this was a sweet, quick read. But I just liked the premise and the characters enough to want more depth out of it than that. Each of the actions taken in the book made sense and I just wanted to see more of the soul searching. Somehow it felt skimmed over at times, maybe a little rushed. So really I think my biggest complaint is really that this book is just not long enough. :)
Jared Kenny's life was already hanging by a thread of sanity and safety, but when his home burns down Jared ends up a drift in a sea of uncertainty and loss. The only bright spot in his vision is the bright blue of firefighter Adam Collins eyes. Adam saved his life, pulling him to safety, and he hasn't left him alone since.
Adam does't know what it is about Jared that keeps him coming back, but he just can't seem to walk away from the man. He wants to save him, he wants to see him take his life back. Adam knows he's falling for Jared and there's nothing he can do about it. He's determined to find that spark in Jared he knows is buried somewhere deep. Maybe getting out of town to his families cabin in Colorado is just what they need.
Look overall this was a sweet, quick read. But I just liked the premise and the characters enough to want more depth out of it than that. Each of the actions taken in the book made sense and I just wanted to see more of the soul searching. Somehow it felt skimmed over at times, maybe a little rushed. So really I think my biggest complaint is really that this book is just not long enough. :)
July 27, 2009
4.5 I liked this book. Characters are likeable and sympathetic, especially Adam. Jared was interesting and quirky.
What I will say is there were parts that were a little slow for me and I ended up skipping a couple scenes. Not sex scenes, I would never skip those, but rather a couple scenes after Adam and Jared part ways where we learn what Jared has been up to in work and life. It was a bit slow for me.
But, overall, I liked this book.
What I will say is there were parts that were a little slow for me and I ended up skipping a couple scenes. Not sex scenes, I would never skip those, but rather a couple scenes after Adam and Jared part ways where we learn what Jared has been up to in work and life. It was a bit slow for me.
But, overall, I liked this book.
September 10, 2019
Blue Fire by Z. A. Maxfield
M-M erotic romance novella. Second chance storyline.
Adam saved Jared for his burning house. Their relationship turns to comfort and then sexual. But Jarred isn’t ready for what Adam has to offer.
I listened to the audio version of this story. It was amusing that the pace of the narration increased during the sex scenes culminations.
And I learned a new word definition from the erotic play.
M-M erotic romance novella. Second chance storyline.
Adam saved Jared for his burning house. Their relationship turns to comfort and then sexual. But Jarred isn’t ready for what Adam has to offer.
I listened to the audio version of this story. It was amusing that the pace of the narration increased during the sex scenes culminations.
And I learned a new word definition from the erotic play.
January 7, 2010
Another one I wanted to rate higher than I did, because I didn't like it as much as I wanted to. It has a good concept, and I liked the leads, but they felt sketched out. Not quite fully drawn.
But I really enjoyed the glass art aspect of the story, as well as Jared's search for the perfect shade of blue.
But I really enjoyed the glass art aspect of the story, as well as Jared's search for the perfect shade of blue.
April 17, 2017
Hmmm... the best word to describe this story? Descriptive? Even though there were HUGE holes in the story, at NO time were we in doubt about what something looked like... how it felt. What we were in doubt of was what the heck was going on most of the time. The beginning was awkward and hard to follow... although, I do see where the author was trying to go with it. Jared and Adam were the MCs but it felt like Keith was dominating the story from beyond the grave. There were parts that I loved... when they are on the mountain (loved the mouse "houses") and the hospital scene touched my heart... and Ana was a great character, even though we don't meet her until almost the end of the book. Could this story have been a more fulfilling read? Yes, but I have read stories a lot worse than this one in the past, so, I am going to just appreciate the descriptive writing for what it is and let it go! :D
August 26, 2019
It was ok.
I'm giving this three stars because of the depth of love here. I wish we got more on the development of the love. I fell like we pick up the story when the characters have already figured their shit out! I wanted more on page figuring stuff out. Both mc's are sweet guys and they have chemistry I wish we got more development though.
I'm giving this three stars because of the depth of love here. I wish we got more on the development of the love. I fell like we pick up the story when the characters have already figured their shit out! I wanted more on page figuring stuff out. Both mc's are sweet guys and they have chemistry I wish we got more development though.
January 1, 2020
3.5 stars, rounded to 4. Jared was so sad and I was left feeling like there was hope for him to become truly happy, but it is going to take some time. It is cool that through Adam he found his passion in glass blowing and put himself into that for the years he was without Adam, but I’m not sure he found much peace in himself in the time they were apart. Adam probably elevated this book to a four — cute firefighter with a sweet and gentle soul!
August 30, 2009
Another lightly angst filled tale by Maxfield that is sure to delight fans and leave readers emotional but satisfied. This is an intense relationship that starts strong and focuses on the character of Jared to the point that Adam is almost lost. The story is really Jared’s journey and redemption and the intensity is lost towards the end unfortunately. The men have a chemistry that visibly sparks even among awkward behavior which is why the let down of tension at the end mars what could have been a really great book. However, this is a solid story filled with emotion, angst, and drama with one fabulous character and a good supporting man. Perhaps if the emotional journey had been longer instead of truncated, this story would have the full impact instead of a weaker version.
The story is told in third person, alternating point of view, and begins with Jared Kenny as his home is burning to the ground due to lack of water during a large scale fire. The destruction of his home mere months after his long time partner and lover died cause Jared to have a slight breakdown. In the months following, Adam takes an interest in Jared and helps bring him back to life and move past his grieving, even bringing Jared to Adam’s cabin the Colorado’s wilderness. Unfortunately their time is cut short due to Adam’s work and both men walk away from the intense emotions provoked. Years later, after much regret, Jared returns to see if Adam will give him another chance.
Over half of the story deals with the building relationship with Adam and Jared and the writing is at its strongest there. The intensity in Jared and within their relationship is fueled by Jared’s pain and unconscious selfishness. A thoroughly complex, and not entirely rational, character, Jared drives the story with his unconnected thoughts, deep passions, and learned cruelty. He can be as cruel as he is passionate and as cold as he is loving. It takes Jared the length of the story to learn to let go of his anger and pain from his past relationship and accept the love and honesty he has with Adam. Unfortunately, most of this acceptance happens off page and the reader is returned years later with Jared a changed and better person. This lessened the intensity and impact of the story. The pace and emotion never quite recovered and although ended happily and romantically, the emotional depth wasn’t where it should have been with such a strong beginning.
Adam is a solid supporting character and perfect foil, but he pales against the vivid energy of Jared. Adam offers the love and acceptance Jared desperately needs but Adam is naïve and clumsy. Partly due to age and experience differences, he is unfamiliar with Jared’s pain and anguish, which makes his verbal attempts to help the man less successful than using physical means. Although Jared does walk away from the relationship, so does Adam. Adam never attempts to contact Jared and instead leaves it entirely up to the other man. In my opinion, Adam owns just as much of the blame for letting the budding relationship lapse as Jared but considering the circumstances of their reunion, it’s understandable that the past was easily let go for the hope of future.
The ending left me wanting somewhat, which typifies the story’s entirety. The book teases with Adam’s pain and difficult recovery process but glosses over the majority and leaves the easy resolution. Jared’s hard won confidence and self ascertain is also minimized in the face of mundane details, while interesting, add little to the depth of the men and their relationship. The final scene depicting the fascination of fire and glass working is well researched and contained many parallels between the process and the characters, but lacked an emotional connection. Instead it read as an interesting scene without the earlier intensity and emotional punch. With these qualms, the story is still a wonderful journey through the pain of fire and rebirth for both men, just not quite living up to the enticing promise of the start.
The writing is wonderful with an incredible use of color, sound, texture, atmosphere and setting. The dialogue ranges from Jared’s seemingly random commentary or hurtful statements to Adam’s humorous come backs. There is subtle and more overt humor woven into the story, helping to alleviate the angst and intensity between the men. The richness of this prose is engrossing and enticing. The color blue is obviously important and predominant in the story, but never overwhelms and the writing manages to convey an entire spectrum of color and emotion without being repetitive. The story itself is solid and the men interesting, but the texture and detail permeating the prose raise the senses involved and create something really wonderful to read.
I would be surprised if fans didn’t enjoy and love this novella, finishing with a satisfied sigh. While I would have preferred to have the story’s potential fulfilled, few readers will find that to the book’s detriment. This is a good story with vibrant texture, color, and emotion filling the pages to create an incredibly rich, unique and addictive flavor; an offering not to be missed.
The story is told in third person, alternating point of view, and begins with Jared Kenny as his home is burning to the ground due to lack of water during a large scale fire. The destruction of his home mere months after his long time partner and lover died cause Jared to have a slight breakdown. In the months following, Adam takes an interest in Jared and helps bring him back to life and move past his grieving, even bringing Jared to Adam’s cabin the Colorado’s wilderness. Unfortunately their time is cut short due to Adam’s work and both men walk away from the intense emotions provoked. Years later, after much regret, Jared returns to see if Adam will give him another chance.
Over half of the story deals with the building relationship with Adam and Jared and the writing is at its strongest there. The intensity in Jared and within their relationship is fueled by Jared’s pain and unconscious selfishness. A thoroughly complex, and not entirely rational, character, Jared drives the story with his unconnected thoughts, deep passions, and learned cruelty. He can be as cruel as he is passionate and as cold as he is loving. It takes Jared the length of the story to learn to let go of his anger and pain from his past relationship and accept the love and honesty he has with Adam. Unfortunately, most of this acceptance happens off page and the reader is returned years later with Jared a changed and better person. This lessened the intensity and impact of the story. The pace and emotion never quite recovered and although ended happily and romantically, the emotional depth wasn’t where it should have been with such a strong beginning.
Adam is a solid supporting character and perfect foil, but he pales against the vivid energy of Jared. Adam offers the love and acceptance Jared desperately needs but Adam is naïve and clumsy. Partly due to age and experience differences, he is unfamiliar with Jared’s pain and anguish, which makes his verbal attempts to help the man less successful than using physical means. Although Jared does walk away from the relationship, so does Adam. Adam never attempts to contact Jared and instead leaves it entirely up to the other man. In my opinion, Adam owns just as much of the blame for letting the budding relationship lapse as Jared but considering the circumstances of their reunion, it’s understandable that the past was easily let go for the hope of future.
The ending left me wanting somewhat, which typifies the story’s entirety. The book teases with Adam’s pain and difficult recovery process but glosses over the majority and leaves the easy resolution. Jared’s hard won confidence and self ascertain is also minimized in the face of mundane details, while interesting, add little to the depth of the men and their relationship. The final scene depicting the fascination of fire and glass working is well researched and contained many parallels between the process and the characters, but lacked an emotional connection. Instead it read as an interesting scene without the earlier intensity and emotional punch. With these qualms, the story is still a wonderful journey through the pain of fire and rebirth for both men, just not quite living up to the enticing promise of the start.
The writing is wonderful with an incredible use of color, sound, texture, atmosphere and setting. The dialogue ranges from Jared’s seemingly random commentary or hurtful statements to Adam’s humorous come backs. There is subtle and more overt humor woven into the story, helping to alleviate the angst and intensity between the men. The richness of this prose is engrossing and enticing. The color blue is obviously important and predominant in the story, but never overwhelms and the writing manages to convey an entire spectrum of color and emotion without being repetitive. The story itself is solid and the men interesting, but the texture and detail permeating the prose raise the senses involved and create something really wonderful to read.
I would be surprised if fans didn’t enjoy and love this novella, finishing with a satisfied sigh. While I would have preferred to have the story’s potential fulfilled, few readers will find that to the book’s detriment. This is a good story with vibrant texture, color, and emotion filling the pages to create an incredibly rich, unique and addictive flavor; an offering not to be missed.
May 1, 2023
A nice bit of light reading to cap off my night. It's 1:50am and this short story gave!
July 8, 2023
3.5 stars
November 29, 2011
4.5 stars
How do you heal from the lost of your loved one when your house is burned down? Jarred was still mourning his loss when another tragedy came: his house was burned down. One of the fire fighters, Adam, visited him in the hospital, and slowly they built a relationship. The wound, however, was not yet healed, and it affected them. They were separated, but the fire had never really gone. When Jarred learned about huge fire in California, he just knew that he needed to be there. With Adam.
This is a nice story. Sweet, but with an appropriate dose of angst.
Recommended.
How do you heal from the lost of your loved one when your house is burned down? Jarred was still mourning his loss when another tragedy came: his house was burned down. One of the fire fighters, Adam, visited him in the hospital, and slowly they built a relationship. The wound, however, was not yet healed, and it affected them. They were separated, but the fire had never really gone. When Jarred learned about huge fire in California, he just knew that he needed to be there. With Adam.
This is a nice story. Sweet, but with an appropriate dose of angst.
Recommended.
July 24, 2009
I am a dedicated Maxfield fan, but really there was nothing special about this story. It started out well, and I thought we were going to be treated to a good analysis of mental illness and it's treatment or failing that, what is like to be the 'boy' in a D/s relationship when the D part dies, but both these promising threads just petered out as did the initial relationship between the protagonists. The reconciliation was pretty ho-hum too.
May 24, 2014
i shouldn't give it even one star. it was terrible, boring and stupid. there is so many amazing books about firefighters or about artists and this one? there is no real plot here, no feelings, nothing. things are happening without any reason and then boom there is happy ever after. it is like some kund of drunken story when only You can find a sense in what You're saying. It was a total waste of time.
September 21, 2010
I'm still reading this book, early-in actually, but i have to say it has one of the HOTTEST sex scenes already. I love ZA Maxfield. I thought this book might be too intense for my fantasy-loving self from the early scenes, but i'm glad i hung in there. A great, very damaged hero. Can't wait to see what happens next. : )
January 11, 2011
I just couldn't get into this book. Other people may enjoy the relationship between a 24 year old and I believe 37 year old, but to me I just had a difficult time relating and connecting to the characters.
September 11, 2016
3.5 star rating
Another book from an author whose work I know I will enjoy. Z.A. Maxfield always manages to get me with her characters and story telling. I would have liked it longer to be honest, which is part of why it's not rounded up.
Another book from an author whose work I know I will enjoy. Z.A. Maxfield always manages to get me with her characters and story telling. I would have liked it longer to be honest, which is part of why it's not rounded up.
July 7, 2017
Blue Fire by Z.A. Maxfield. Am I allowed to write one word such as Outstanding? Can I just say something like: Buy it—NOW!? NO? I need to tell you more, don’t I? I thought so.
It wasn’t that this was a long, involved novel and some will probably feel it was a bit rushed…I can see that—the ending did pull away very fast and yet…I was okay with that. I could buy into the quick turn around because the entire novella was written in just that way—as if we were looking in various windows at this relationship.
It wasn’t that Blue Fire was this close look at the life of a fireman and the worries over being outed at the station—we have seen that plotline oh so often. Instead it was the idea that quite possibly fireman love fire—and hate it---are attracted to it—almost craving it and yet despise its destructive properties. No, the real beauty of Blue Fire was that it was barely a story. Rather it was the most intense character driven decision to love that I have read in a long time. By the last page I was wrung out, every moment of this story had me tearing along and scrambling to turn the page. I needed to see these two men together and when that came into doubt, I held my breath and hoped against all hope that there would be a happy ever after. I am happy to say that author Z.A. Maxfield did not disappoint.
The story…
With his house, the last legacy of his former lover burning around him, Jared Kenny is rescued by Adam Collins, the first fireman on the scene. Jared is a wreck—not just over the loss of the house but of landing in a place where he questions who he is and what he has turned into over the course of a long term relationship that saw him remain stagnant as his closeted lover’s “boy” and not an equal partner. The story now begins its skipping pattern, again using another “window” to show us the path these two men took to become enmeshed in each other’s lives. Three months later, Adam goes for his visit to the high priced sanitarium that Jared is living in and tells him he wants to take him away to his family’s cabin. In an almost docile manner, Jared agrees and the two set out for the mountains and a time of discovery about just how much they have come to like each other.
But Jared is continually reminded that Adam seems to be just like his deceased lover, Keith, and also wants to take care of Jared, possibly once again relegating him to the status of a “boy” who cannot choose to live his life the way he so desperately needs to do. Of course it is his fear that rules Jared’s thoughts, and Adam does not stand a chance. Called away by a huge fire, Adam must leave Jared and takes with him the knowledge that he may never see him again.
The strength of his novella is the precise and in depth characterization that propels a shell of a story. It is the interactions between Jared and Adam that make this story so excellent. There is no overwhelming plot here, rather there are breathless and emotional encounters—one after another that make these two men so very real and their emotions so palpable. This is classic Z.A. Maxfield. She takes a simple story and infuses it with passionate three-dimensional men that create sparks every time they are on the page.
It wasn’t that this was a long, involved novel and some will probably feel it was a bit rushed…I can see that—the ending did pull away very fast and yet…I was okay with that. I could buy into the quick turn around because the entire novella was written in just that way—as if we were looking in various windows at this relationship.
It wasn’t that Blue Fire was this close look at the life of a fireman and the worries over being outed at the station—we have seen that plotline oh so often. Instead it was the idea that quite possibly fireman love fire—and hate it---are attracted to it—almost craving it and yet despise its destructive properties. No, the real beauty of Blue Fire was that it was barely a story. Rather it was the most intense character driven decision to love that I have read in a long time. By the last page I was wrung out, every moment of this story had me tearing along and scrambling to turn the page. I needed to see these two men together and when that came into doubt, I held my breath and hoped against all hope that there would be a happy ever after. I am happy to say that author Z.A. Maxfield did not disappoint.
The story…
With his house, the last legacy of his former lover burning around him, Jared Kenny is rescued by Adam Collins, the first fireman on the scene. Jared is a wreck—not just over the loss of the house but of landing in a place where he questions who he is and what he has turned into over the course of a long term relationship that saw him remain stagnant as his closeted lover’s “boy” and not an equal partner. The story now begins its skipping pattern, again using another “window” to show us the path these two men took to become enmeshed in each other’s lives. Three months later, Adam goes for his visit to the high priced sanitarium that Jared is living in and tells him he wants to take him away to his family’s cabin. In an almost docile manner, Jared agrees and the two set out for the mountains and a time of discovery about just how much they have come to like each other.
But Jared is continually reminded that Adam seems to be just like his deceased lover, Keith, and also wants to take care of Jared, possibly once again relegating him to the status of a “boy” who cannot choose to live his life the way he so desperately needs to do. Of course it is his fear that rules Jared’s thoughts, and Adam does not stand a chance. Called away by a huge fire, Adam must leave Jared and takes with him the knowledge that he may never see him again.
The strength of his novella is the precise and in depth characterization that propels a shell of a story. It is the interactions between Jared and Adam that make this story so excellent. There is no overwhelming plot here, rather there are breathless and emotional encounters—one after another that make these two men so very real and their emotions so palpable. This is classic Z.A. Maxfield. She takes a simple story and infuses it with passionate three-dimensional men that create sparks every time they are on the page.
August 26, 2019
This was a freebie in August 2019.
Jared loses his home to a wildfire, and Adam rescues him. Adam doesn’t usually follow up his rescues, but Jared calls to his soul, deeply. When Jared isn’t recovering from his depression, Adam takes a chance and takes Jared to the place Adam calls home. Just when things start looking up, Jared runs. Years later, when Jared finds out Adam has been injured, Jared has moment of clarity, and realises he might have run away from the only person who made him truly whole. Will Adam see him, let alone listen to him?
I really rather enjoyed this!
It’s not very long, some 80 odd pages, only took me an hour to read, but it was a very enjoyable hour on a wet and miserable Wednesday morning!
Jared is still grieving the loss of his husband to cancer, and now the house he built has been destroyed and Jared feels destroyed too. Adam, with his ice blue eyes, rescues Jared from the blaze and visits him in rehab. Adam feels a powerful need to look in on Jared, to look AFTER Jared, and taking him to the cabin in the hills seems just the thing. And it was, till one of them says something, that sends them both into a tailspin and Adam has to return to work. After Jared runs, three years pass, and Jared’s glass work centres around his search for that perfect blue, the one that touches his soul. But it isn’t until Adam is injured, that Jared knows he’ll never find that perfect blue in a glass bauble.
I felt for both these guys. Adam, fighting his growing feelings for Jared, and Jared who is still recovering, and fighting all kinds of inner demons of his own.
They both have a say, in the third person. It’s hot and steamy in places, and deeply emotional in others.
It just hit THAT spot, you know? The warm and fuzzies one.
First I’ve read of this author, I’d love to read more!
4 solid stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Jared loses his home to a wildfire, and Adam rescues him. Adam doesn’t usually follow up his rescues, but Jared calls to his soul, deeply. When Jared isn’t recovering from his depression, Adam takes a chance and takes Jared to the place Adam calls home. Just when things start looking up, Jared runs. Years later, when Jared finds out Adam has been injured, Jared has moment of clarity, and realises he might have run away from the only person who made him truly whole. Will Adam see him, let alone listen to him?
I really rather enjoyed this!
It’s not very long, some 80 odd pages, only took me an hour to read, but it was a very enjoyable hour on a wet and miserable Wednesday morning!
Jared is still grieving the loss of his husband to cancer, and now the house he built has been destroyed and Jared feels destroyed too. Adam, with his ice blue eyes, rescues Jared from the blaze and visits him in rehab. Adam feels a powerful need to look in on Jared, to look AFTER Jared, and taking him to the cabin in the hills seems just the thing. And it was, till one of them says something, that sends them both into a tailspin and Adam has to return to work. After Jared runs, three years pass, and Jared’s glass work centres around his search for that perfect blue, the one that touches his soul. But it isn’t until Adam is injured, that Jared knows he’ll never find that perfect blue in a glass bauble.
I felt for both these guys. Adam, fighting his growing feelings for Jared, and Jared who is still recovering, and fighting all kinds of inner demons of his own.
They both have a say, in the third person. It’s hot and steamy in places, and deeply emotional in others.
It just hit THAT spot, you know? The warm and fuzzies one.
First I’ve read of this author, I’d love to read more!
4 solid stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
February 21, 2019
I listened to this in audiobook format... and it might have been a mistake.
I'm giving 2 stars because I think the story and the descriptions might make me give it another shot in text, and then I might find it enjoyable.
The guy narrating this book has a beautiful voice, but... gods... the narration itself was beyond awful. It was so overdramatic that I found myself holding my breath at times, and NOT in a good way. It was like hearing something sad, or happy, or very slice-of-life like "and then I ordered a burger", so it should sound, you know, sad, or happy, or very slice-of-life, right? Well, it wasn't the case. It all sounded overly intense, like the narrator was either just a breath away from orgasming or had just been kicked by a mule in the gut. At times of quiet introspection or parts that should have been sweet and quiet, the narration felt like running a marathon breathing through your mouth... after overeating. Or at least, that's how I imagine that would feel. It was uncomfortable and painful.
Seriously, the burning down of a house, admiring glass, reminiscing, having a heart-to-heart, and having sex, all sounded pretty much the same.
Also, I don't know if there were, I don't know, dividers or at least a few blank lines between each part of the story, but in this narration, it is hardly spaced, so I kinda got whiplash from one scene to another. I thought the narrator was doing yet another of his extremely long, breathy, overly dramatic pauses when it was actually moving from one scene to another, leaving me very confused.
Seriously, this guy should stop narrating books. Or at least, dedicate himself to narrate exclusively porn. That might work?
I'm giving 2 stars because I think the story and the descriptions might make me give it another shot in text, and then I might find it enjoyable.
The guy narrating this book has a beautiful voice, but... gods... the narration itself was beyond awful. It was so overdramatic that I found myself holding my breath at times, and NOT in a good way. It was like hearing something sad, or happy, or very slice-of-life like "and then I ordered a burger", so it should sound, you know, sad, or happy, or very slice-of-life, right? Well, it wasn't the case. It all sounded overly intense, like the narrator was either just a breath away from orgasming or had just been kicked by a mule in the gut. At times of quiet introspection or parts that should have been sweet and quiet, the narration felt like running a marathon breathing through your mouth... after overeating. Or at least, that's how I imagine that would feel. It was uncomfortable and painful.
Seriously, the burning down of a house, admiring glass, reminiscing, having a heart-to-heart, and having sex, all sounded pretty much the same.
Also, I don't know if there were, I don't know, dividers or at least a few blank lines between each part of the story, but in this narration, it is hardly spaced, so I kinda got whiplash from one scene to another. I thought the narrator was doing yet another of his extremely long, breathy, overly dramatic pauses when it was actually moving from one scene to another, leaving me very confused.
Seriously, this guy should stop narrating books. Or at least, dedicate himself to narrate exclusively porn. That might work?
July 14, 2022
Within months of losing his lifetime partner to illness, 37 yo Jared Kenny watches as a wild fire takes their home. Firefighter 24 yo Adam Collins can’t save the house but he provides Jared with comfort and support in the subsequent months, hoping for more. Although Jared could look at Adam’s deep blue eyes forever, he isn’t ready for another commitment so soon and rebuffs Adam. Three years later, Jared, now a celebrated artist specialising in deep blue glass, comes to his senses. This second-chances novella covers a lot of ground in not much time so it felt unevenly paced or rushed at times. Second chance stories that straddle the gap are always a wrench and I didn’t enjoy the lead up to the breakup - I kept asking myself why Jared would walk away. However, the second half really grew on me and answered my question: it was bad timing. Jared had been in a decades-old daddy / boy relationship and needed to grieve, sort his head, and face life on his own for a while before he started anything new or different with someone else - that made a lot of sense to me and I could appreciate the second-chances theme a lot more. I could also appreciate the symmetry of Adam looking after Jared then Jared looking after Adam. It says a lot about ZA Maxfield’s excellent writing that this gave me much food for thought. Audio narrator Shannon Gunn really threw his heart into this, he hit every feeling hard!
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