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Sparks of Desire #1

His Burning Desire

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Dragon shifter Connor O’Rourke loves his life as a firefighter, but one thing remains missing. His mate. She left him high and dry with only a note and the memory of her kiss. When several mysterious arsons are committed in Dallas, the shifter is called in to investigate and discovers Jenna working at the local firehouse.Jenna Dunne was betrothed to the strong and sexy shifter at birth. While there was no doubt she wanted to be his mate, she is a halfling and might never bear him the children he desires. With his species dwindling and the barbaric rules their society enforces, she knows Connor could toss her aside for another woman. There is only one thing she can do to save her heart. Run.Connor has two choices, free his mate from the bond that was started long ago or fight for the woman he loves. With an arsonist on the loose, Jenna’s life is in danger, and their chance for happiness may come too late.THIS BOOK IS A STAND ALONE STORY.

120 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 11, 2016

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About the author

Valerie Twombly

65 books502 followers
Award winning and bestselling author Valerie Twombly grew up watching Dark Shadows over her mother's shoulder, and from there her love of the fanged creatures blossomed. Today, Valerie has decided to take her darker, sensual side and put it to paper.

When she is not busy creating a world full of steamy, hot men and strong, seductive women, she juggles her time between a full-time job, hubby and dog, in Northern IL.

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5 stars
160 (48%)
4 stars
101 (30%)
3 stars
56 (17%)
2 stars
7 (2%)
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4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
Profile Image for Angela (Angel's Book Nook).
1,717 reviews978 followers
September 20, 2016

His Burning Desire features one of my favorite shifters, dragons. I love me some dragons, especially those oh so tempting Alpha Males. It’s a quick steamy second chance romance.

I liked the uniqueness of the dragons portrayed here. They don’t breathe fire, but they do like fire, she is their mistress. That aspect was new for me, something I have not read before with dragon shifters.

I didn’t like that they still follow old rules for the dragon society, but it’s set up for their to be change and if our couple can fix their relationship, they can be the first to help issue change.

Connor and Jenna where a likable couple. They have really issues and fears, so it was easy to relate and feel where they where coming from. These two didn’t communicate their fears and how they truly felt, which leads to Jenna leaving Connor, but fate won’t have them separated for long. They find each other again and the flame that never went out burns even brighter between them.

The steam factor was scorching and oh my the males get a little BDSM on their mates, but in an oh so sexy way.

I had a delightful time reading this seductive sultry romance. I would have liked more depth into the world and characters, more meat, but for a short read it was pleasurable.

Rated: 3 Stars

*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC copy provided by Author, Valerie Twombly with the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.

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Profile Image for Nicole.
536 reviews12 followers
October 12, 2016
What I look for in a good firefighter romance. (I've read a few; I've got requirements). 1. I like when they are really firefighters and you get to see the action, the thrill ride of putting out the fires. If they say they're firefighters but none of the fire fighting happens in the book, I will feel cold and sad. Give me the thrill. 2. Accuracy is important. I want to feel like I am getting inside information about the world inside the firehouse. I want the terminology to be there. It adds authenticity. 3. Hot, steamy romance.
What I love about Paige Tyler's series and Valerie's addition to her world is they contain all of my requirements to make the books awesome.
This was a fantastic addition to the Dallas Fire & Rescue world. Connor is a dragon/ firefighter, summoned to Dallas to investigate arson. He stumbles upon his estranged mate and can't resist her pull. They have a fantastic chemistry. We have a little role reversal here with Connor being the one a bit more romantic and Jenna being the one pushing him away and not wanting their bond. You could tell the book was well researched. The chemistry between the dragon and his mate was off the charts. I'm absolutely loving this and cannot wait for more from this series!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Robbins.
496 reviews9 followers
September 20, 2016
More than a fluffy little shifter romance, His Burning Desire has a depth and grit which a lot of contemporary stories are lacking. Add in handsome firemen and dragon shifters, and my day just got a whole lot hotter! I really enjoyed this book and would recommend to anyone looking for something spicy with a great story. I received an early copy of this story, for honest review.
Profile Image for Myst.
612 reviews16 followers
Read
February 3, 2017
Good story, the bdsm stuff I glossed over as it turns me off but I liked the idea about fire being their mistress. I hope we see more in the future about Kate or Derrick.

This is a voluntary review via the author, these thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for Jennifer Daniels.
Author 19 books50 followers
September 22, 2016
His Burning Desire is a great start to a brand new series.

Connor O'Rourke is a fireman sent to investigate an arson case in Dallas. But Connor is much more than that, he is a Dragon shifter. Once Connor arrives at his destination he finds his long-lost mate Jenna, a halfling. With emotions running high they worked together to try to solve these arson's and now murder cases of halflings.

Can they solve these crimes together and extinguish the fires or will their burning flames for each other get in the way.

Valerie Twombly has created a great new and different look at dragon shifters. Each character has been written and carefully sculpted and molded to create wonderful new characters, all with unique qualities. Once I started reading this book I could not put it down. Each page is better than the next. What a great start to a well written and creative masterpiece. I recieved this ARC copy for an honest review.
Profile Image for Petula.
3,167 reviews89 followers
September 29, 2016
Dragon shifter Connor O'Rourke is an arson investigator. He has been sent to Dallas to help their fire service catch a dangerous arsonist. He is in a difficult phase of his life, and that is distracting. Especially when he realises who else is in Dallas.
Jenna Dunne is a halfling dragon, with an ability that serves her well in her job as a paramedic. She left behind a man who could destroy her when she left her home town.
There is much more to the fires than is first thought. The person must be caught before the body count rises any further.
An all action story that grabs you on the first page and doesn't let go. Danger, sex and shifters with a very good story line. I loved it.
Profile Image for Bobbi.
731 reviews22 followers
October 9, 2016
Connor and Jenna are fighting their pull towards each other for totally different reasons. Connor only wanting understanding and answers. Jenna not wanting to lose him because she is a halfling with a lot of questions. When danger knocks at their doors life becomes a bit more hectic for them. As always Valerie Twombly pulled me into her world and left me there.
Profile Image for Jenn.
Author 7 books35 followers
October 16, 2023
Connor, the main male character, is a dragon-shifter who has been left by his mate, Jenna. This book delves into the complexities of relationships and the impact of miscommunication. Connor's journey is one of heartache and longing, a poignant exploration of love lost and the hope for a second chance. The emotional depth and vulnerability portrayed in his character are truly compelling. Twombly skillfully portrays the struggles of moving on after heartbreak, and Conner's resilience and growth throughout the story are inspiring.

The miscommunication between Connor and Jenna serves as a central theme, driving the plot forward and adding layers of tension and anticipation. It's a testament to Twombly's storytelling prowess that she expertly navigates this trope, keeping the reader engaged and invested in the characters' journey to understanding and reconciliation. As the story unfolds, we witness the evolution of their relationship, filled with heart-wrenching moments and glimmers of hope.

The steamy scenes didn’t quite hit the mark; The build-up was there with Connor’s impending Kamirth (Dragon Heat/Rutting) But the scenes were brief and I didn’t really get a great sense of emotion from them. The physicality was described, but the depth of passion and the emotional connection between the characters seemed to be lacking, leaving me yearning for a more visceral and intense exploration of their desires and feelings. It felt like a missed opportunity to truly capture the chemistry between Connor and Jenna and could have elevated those moments to a whole new level, making them more memorable and evocative for the reader.


I found the subplot involving the arson superb initially. The intrigue and suspense had me hooked, and wondering how it would unfold. However, when the resolution came and the bad guy was revealed and resolved in the same chapter, I felt this was rushed and would have loved a bit more threaded throughout the rest of the book. The buildup promised a more complex and engaging unravelling of the mystery, and it felt somewhat anticlimactic to have it all concluded so swiftly. Perhaps there are threads left intentionally open, hinting at potential developments in future novels in the series, which would be an exciting prospect, as I'm eager to see if these loose ends are addressed and if the narrative continues to evolve in subsequent stories.

This is my first book by the author Valerie Twombly. She highly impressed me with her ease-of-reading writing style; you can pick up this book and fall into it quickly. The way Twombly weaves intricate plots and vivid characters kept me engrossed on the very first page. The dialogues are natural and engaging, making the interactions between characters feel authentic and real. Twombly's descriptive prose paints a vivid picture of the settings, allowing me to immerse myself in the story with ease. I'm eager to explore more of Twombly's work and discover the depth and creativity that this author undoubtedly brings to their storytelling - despite my hang-ups about certain aspects of this book.
Profile Image for Jenn.
98 reviews1 follower
January 29, 2017
I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book. This is my review.

The start of the book introduces us to Connor, over 6ft of pure male. Not the normal dragon shifter to be found in other books, this one has a uniqueness about it. The dragon shifter can shift into any size of dragon apart from its natural predator which proved very useful further on into the story. The story starts with a fire burning out of control destroying everything in its path. He and his able team bring about the end to the fire and sees him heading home. A phone call changes everything, he is needed in Dallas, an arsonist leaving no clues, causing death and destruction. The last thing he expected was to find his missing mate, Jenna. I wont give away the story, no spoilers here. The book is well written in the author's unique style. With a strong story line and characters. I enjoyed the book, though I would of liked to of gotten to know the characters more. The book was short but enjoyable. I look forward to more dragon shifters. Thank you A********************
Profile Image for Jeanette Kelley.
300 reviews1 follower
January 29, 2017
I loved this book! It's my first book from this author and it was exciting. I love the characters and the plot was excellent. It grabbed my attention and held on to it to the last page. Will definitely read the series.
Profile Image for Virginia Lee.
2,532 reviews37 followers
Read
January 31, 2017
This is the first book in the series. The characters are fighting the draw that they feel for each other. When a case draws them together can they fight the sparks that ignite when they are together? Jenna is a Halfling and has run. When Jenna sees Connor again the pages start to steam up. Can Jenna get over the insecurity about being with a full dragon and give Connor a chance? Recommend this wonderful dragon shifter book
Profile Image for Dawn Carey.
722 reviews3 followers
January 31, 2017
Dallas Fire + Rescue

Burning hot storytelling that leaves you gasping for more . If you are looking for an awesome read look no further you've found it. This author really has a way of drawing you into the story.
Profile Image for Rachel.
272 reviews7 followers
March 7, 2022
Can’t even read this one after finding out he’s screwing humans after being with his mate already. I don’t care if she disappeared for 109 years, he shouldn’t be able to get it up for anybody else. And he certainly shouldn’t even consider going prowling for a “willing female”. I can’t read the few books in this collection where mates are spit on. Once you meet your mate there is NO OTHER. you have no desire for anybody else, you can’t get sexually excited by anybody else there is just a loyalty and complete devotion and that makes mates special but this is a disgrace to paranormal romances with mates. The worst part is, there is no need for this nonsense. They don’t have to screw random women, they could easily work out or shift and that would level them out from whatever was building in their system if they can’t reach or know where their mate is. Once a male meets his female, he shouldn’t even see other females and it should hurt if one were to touch him beyond a hug. I don’t care if he goes into dragon heat. He shouldn’t ever even consider releasing some pent up frustration with any other but his mate. MATES ARE ALL! Period! Edit the playboy and disloyal manwhore tendencies out of these few books because your others are great!
Profile Image for Vettech.
529 reviews14 followers
October 8, 2016
I'm a huge fan of this author, Valerie Twombly is masterful at creating some of the best paranormal/suspense romances out there. This book is a great start to what I'm guessing will be a an amazing new firefighter series.

Connor O'Rourke is a so very hot firefighter and also a sexy dragon-shifter. When a series of arson fires takes him to Texas, Connor can't believe his luck....to find the one woman that has captivated his every thought.

Beautiful Jenna Dunne, is a paramedic with a firehouse in Dallas, she is also a Halfling.....half human/half dragon. Having been betrothed to Connor at birth, Jenna believes unworthy to be the mate of a full dragon, so she flees.

When Connor and Jenna are near each other the sparks fly and the angels sing at the sexual/lust/love of these two feel for one another. I sure do love my dragon shifters and this book was very exciting, giving the reader both suspense and sexual attraction to melt the kindle into a gooy pile. Another winner from a fantastic author!
Profile Image for Stacy J..
1,346 reviews11 followers
February 6, 2017
What a hot book!!

What a wonderful second chance shifter book. Jenna was given to Connor at birth in an arranged marriage and mating. He watched and waited for her to grown up before he claimed her. Once it was time, he didn't want the old school rules to apply, he wanted Jenna to love him and mate with him because she wanted too not because she had too. Jenna being a halfling knows that she might not be able to give Connor children so she decides to run.

A year later, Connor is asked to help an investigation where he runs into Jenna again. This time he isn't leaving without some explanations.

This story was fun to read!
Profile Image for Karen.
785 reviews31 followers
February 7, 2017
When I started this one, I wasn't sure I would be able to finish it. But I kept going and am so glad I did! I would have liked it to be longer to get to know the characters more, but a great story. Connor and Jenna were meant for each other, it just took time for them to actually tell the other one how they felt. Love a good dragon shifter story and to have him be a firefighter too, double bonus!
3,562 reviews15 followers
October 18, 2016
Dallas Fire & Rescue: His Burning Desire is the first book I've read by Valerie Twombly but it won't be my last. This is a fairly short read, perfect for those paranormal lovers with limited time for reading. Ms Twombly has delivered a well written book. Her awesome characters are exactly right for this story. Connor and Jenna's story has plenty of suspense, humor and sizzle to hold the reader's attention. I enjoyed reading His Burning Desire and look forward to reading more from Valerie Twombly in the future. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
Profile Image for Christine Woinich.
2,959 reviews26 followers
January 31, 2017
This is a second chance story. Jenna ran from Connor because she felt that she would be unworthy. Connor waited for her to return on her own. By accident, Connor finds her as danger comes close, and he throws caution to the wind when he almost loses her. I enjoyed the suspense side of the story as well as the romance. When Connor saved Jenna as well as others, I fought back the tears. I recommend this story.

I received a copy of this story as a gift, and this is my unsolicited review.
Profile Image for Kathryn Linke .
2,116 reviews24 followers
October 19, 2016
His story full of love lust romance and suspense. I'm not generally a fan of paranormal romance it's not usually a genre that I read but Valerie Twombly has written engaging and entertaining read.
Connor and Jenna are dragon shifters and together have an intense connection this is a great addition to the Dallas fire and rescue kindle world books.
Profile Image for Kelly.
15 reviews4 followers
October 16, 2016
Another awesome read from Valerie. I look forward to many more.
120 reviews3 followers
July 28, 2024
3.5 stars

There were really interesting and unique aspects of dragon lore in here - for example the MMC can specify what size and kind of dragon he wants to shift into depending on what he needs to do. And there's a dragon council with quite strict laws on their dragon society interactions with humans. It's a shame there wasn't more development of these elements.

There's a lot of potential. It felt like someone's first book, like the concepts needed to be drawn out a bit. Like, a conflict arose but the dialogue resolved the conflict too quickly.

For example, during this end of book battle with the bad guy,

"Seize him," a strong female voice commanded. ... "We will take him home and he will face death," she stated calmly. ...
"What the hell is going on? You knew what he was doing? Connor tried to hide the edge in his tone and remember who he was speaking to. "Things need to change." He pulled his shoulders back. "Things will change."
This time she granted him a smile. "It is past time, Connor, but your breaking our laws will not help."
"It was necessary and I would do it again."
A twinkle appeared in her eyes. "You are what the future needs. Both you and your mate will have a seat on the council and help us bring our people into the current century."


The book gave us resolutions too matter-of-factly and too quickly for us to have enough emotional connection to the characters or conflict.

There is no cheating, they are each celibate during their time apart before the book began. The FMC, believing the MMC has moved on, is trying to convince herself to date and allows a coworker who is a friend to kiss her, in an attempt to test whether she can feel anything for anyone else.

Side characters are delivered to us but not developed at all.
Profile Image for Annie.
1,883 reviews13 followers
May 11, 2018
Great story

Connor is a few centuries old dragon shifter, and firefighter. A year ago his fiancee left him asking him to break their bond. Heartbroken Connor has thrown himself into his job. Connor is ordered to Dallas to investigate a string of arsons, where Jenna has fled.
Jenna ran the day after Connor asked her to marry him and complete their bond, leaving only a note. Being a halfling , their is a possibility that she won't be able to have children with Connor. Dragon law would give him the right to cast her aside and choose another mate. Her fear of losing Connor sent her running. Now he has found her.
Connor has found Jenna and it couldn't a at a worse time. He is heading into a mating lust and has an investigation to conduct. He wants answers. When his investigation point to one of their own, Jenna could be in danger.
A fast paced and steamy romance. Loved Connor. Had a hard time liking Jenna. Connor was nothing but living towards het, even if he didn't day the words. While her fears were vaild, she wasn't honest with herself, and ended up causing a lot of hurt. Really felt for Connor and her friend Derrick. She really caused them a lot of pain. In the end some good came out of it, in Connor bring offered a place on the council. Overall a great story.
Profile Image for Victoria Rebecca Hawkes.
481 reviews1 follower
November 12, 2024
Dragon shifter Connor O’Rourke loves his life as a firefighter, but one thing remains missing. His mate. She left him high and dry with only a note and the memory of her kiss. When several mysterious arsons are committed in Dallas, the shifter is called in to investigate and discovers Jenna working at the local firehouse.Jenna Dunne was betrothed to the strong and sexy shifter at birth. While there was no doubt she wanted to be his mate, she is a halfling and might never bear him the children he desires. With his species dwindling and the barbaric rules their society enforces, she knows Connor could toss her aside for another woman. There is only one thing she can do to save her heart. Run.Connor has two choices, free his mate from the bond that was started long ago or fight for the woman he loves. With an arsonist on the loose, Jenna’s life is in danger, and their chance for happiness may come too late.

This dragon shifter romance was brilliant from beginning to end and the story line was very creative which made the book thoroughly enjoyable. The characters of this book made the book very intriguing and it also made it very difficult to put down. Valerie Twombly has written a fabulous book here and I would recommend this to any reader who loves dragon shifter romances.
Profile Image for Jackie.
2,554 reviews
December 23, 2019
Not quite 4 stars, rounded up.
At 120 pages, this is just barely past being a novella (I consider anything under 100 pages a novella). I read this in about 2 hours. I tend to not like novellas as they usually lace world building or character development. This book fell into that category. While it is unique, with a little different twist- than other dragon stories, with differences of the "dragon" kind of shifters in general. This did flow well, and it did hold my attention. The plot was fleshed out, but the world building was a bit lacking. A few times I felt like I must have missed a previous book or that this was a based off another series with world building there in that series. I didn't care enough to check into my theory of previous book or another series by this author. While I did like the main characters, I felt that they weren't as developed as I would have liked, in turn making them not quite fleshed out enough. While I did enjoy this, it was not enough to want to read the next book in the series.
Profile Image for JodyL.
1,644 reviews5 followers
December 30, 2017
Dragon mates

This is the first book I have read by this author and it won't be the last. I will be looking into the Kindle Worlds Dallas Fire and Rescue series also to see if there are anymore paranormal stories written in that world.
Conner and Jenna have been betrothed since she was a baby and he was three hundred years old. He is a full blood dragon shifter and she is only half.
She left him a year ago because she thought that there were going to be problems because of an elder rule. She just left him a note with no explanation.
She lives in Dallas, where he as a special firefighter, is sent to help find an arsonist turned murderer.
Jenna and Conner then have to confront the past, the rules, their feelings and find the arsonist.
I truly enjoyed reading this story. I see that Derrick, a secondary character will be getting his own book soon. It is on my tbr list! Don't miss this intriguing book!
1,359 reviews4 followers
November 2, 2017
Thoroughly Entertaining Story

His Burning Desire is the first Dallas Fire and Rescue book I've read. It won't be the last. Dragon shifter, Connor, is as hot as the fires he investigates. Jenna, his runaway fiance, is an EMT with the Dallas Fire Department. Someone is setting fires and people are dying. Can Connor discover who the arsonist is and protect Jenna from harm? This book has some really sexy love scenes, action, and mystery. The Dragon world that Connor and Jenna are a part of is refreshingly different from other Dragon shifter stories I've read. Their culture and special powers are quite inventive. I am so looking forward to reading more of the Dallas Fire & Rescue series and Valerie Twombly's books, too.
Profile Image for Robin.
229 reviews2 followers
May 1, 2025
I give it a 3.5 stars. There was something about the female character that just annoyed me. And the main male character was to calm and just not angry like the author was making him out to be. The story was good, but it was too quick in capturing the bad guy. It was a very short read and not use to reading something this short. Spice was a 1.5.

I was told from the person who gave me the series that she couldn’t read it because it was to sexual. I went in thinking it was like the normal spicy books I read.

It’s still good, don’t get me wrong. It’s a HEA book and good if you like short and quick. I just didn’t finish it too quick because I was having trouble with the female main character and that’s just me. It’s my opinion and no one else’s.
391 reviews
September 18, 2023
Just couldn’t put it down!

What an amazing story! I loved getting some of the background to Jenna’s and Connor’s lives, according to this author’s dragon world, and the integration dragons had made into the human world. The strongly worded demands of the ruling council seemed so archaic to me, and I certainly could understand Jenna’s fears. And the fact that the elders found change unimaginable and an anathema to progress was relatable to modern society and the past 50 years or so through the present. (Lots of food for thought!) I became totally wrapped up in this story and look forward to reading more in the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews