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A Manhattan Sloane Thriller #1
Out of the Flames: A Manhattan Sloane Thriller
Newly minted San Francisco police detective Manhattan Sloane lets no one get close. Especially lovers.
Sloane has her reasons for keeping the world at arm’s length. But then her first childhood crush, DEA Agent Finn Harper, reappears and changes everything. Harper has arrived in San Francisco to investigate a new street drug weaving its way into the city—a drug that has personal ties for Sloane. The two find themselves thrown together as they team up to take down a ruthless cartel lord. Soon sparks fly as old feelings surface, forcing Sloane to face her past in order to build a new future.
Out of the Flames is the breakout debut novel by Stacy Lynn Miller. This is the first novel in the Manhattan Sloane romantic thriller series.
A Manhattan Sloane Thriller.
Genre: Romance, Thriller
Sloane has her reasons for keeping the world at arm’s length. But then her first childhood crush, DEA Agent Finn Harper, reappears and changes everything. Harper has arrived in San Francisco to investigate a new street drug weaving its way into the city—a drug that has personal ties for Sloane. The two find themselves thrown together as they team up to take down a ruthless cartel lord. Soon sparks fly as old feelings surface, forcing Sloane to face her past in order to build a new future.
Out of the Flames is the breakout debut novel by Stacy Lynn Miller. This is the first novel in the Manhattan Sloane romantic thriller series.
A Manhattan Sloane Thriller.
Genre: Romance, Thriller
263 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 21, 2020
42 people are currently reading
424 people want to read
About the author
Stacy Lynn Miller
20 books112 followersStacy Lynn Miller is a retired Air Force officer who found her passion for writing after leaving the service. With twenty years of experience wearing a badge, working with computers, and investigating cases, she has created multiple award-winning thriller and suspense series packed with strong sapphic women, gripping stories, and a perfect blend of intrigue and romance.
Stacy is a visually impaired, proud stroke survivor, mother of two, tech nerd, and chocolate lover. She's also a terrible golfer who managed to get a hole-in-one! When she's not busy writing, you can find her playing golf or enjoying a glass of wine (sometimes both) with her friends and family in Northern California.
Stacy is a visually impaired, proud stroke survivor, mother of two, tech nerd, and chocolate lover. She's also a terrible golfer who managed to get a hole-in-one! When she's not busy writing, you can find her playing golf or enjoying a glass of wine (sometimes both) with her friends and family in Northern California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
March 5, 2022
**'A book where the storyline seems to entirely resolved do not exist.The writer is continuously adding to the story..'
Pleasing read!
Enjoyed all the law enforcement activities but wasn't into the romantic relationships storyline. The romance (Avery & Sloane) needed depth and chemistry.
Still a recommended 1st book!
Pleasing read!
Enjoyed all the law enforcement activities but wasn't into the romantic relationships storyline. The romance (Avery & Sloane) needed depth and chemistry.
Still a recommended 1st book!
April 20, 2020
This was a very entertaining debut. I’m a big fan of reading and reviewing debut books. I love finding new authors to put on my must read list. I’ve noticed over the years that there are some publishers that are very good at finding new talent and Bella is one of those publishers. Just think in the last handful of years they have found (just to name a few) Tagan Shepard, Virginia Hale, Bette Hawkins, Carolyn Elizabeth, and the current queen of lesfic herself, EJ Noyes. That is some major talent and I’m hoping that they just found another author to join that list in Stacy Lynn Miller.
If you read my reviews you will know I have been whining a lot about not grabbing books that are angsty or drama packed lately. Maybe it’s my personal life, maybe it’s Covid, I just know I’m craving books that will make me feel and get my emotions running, the more tissues the better. And for whatever dumb luck I have, I’ve instead been reading cute, fluffy, and feel-good. I’m on a steak of quality books so I can’t really complain, but FINALLY this book brought on all the feels, and made me grab for the tissues. Thank you Stacy Lynn Miller for giving me the emotional book I was looking for.
While this is an easy 4 star book, I do have to say that in normal debut fashion, that this is not perfect. In fact, I had some trouble in the beginning of this book. I’ve read some other reviews, for this book, and this seems to be the common comment from most of us. The beginning is rocky. Miller designed a quick series of advents so she can cover a timeline of what happened in years, but so it only takes her a few chapters to describe. But because of the constant quick skipping ahead, you don’t feel comfortable reading. It’s like you can’t really settle down into the story. Fear not. Once the skips ahead stop, and the story goes back to a normal pace, it’s a whole new book. The last two thirds of this book is really good. It’s emotional, sweet, heartbreaking, and exciting all rolled into one. Miller just gets into this writing groove and the story is so much better for it. I think what it also is, is that you can feel her confidence growing as a writer. The fact she improves so much makes the book a lot of fun to read.
As a character driven reader, I was impressed by the characters. It’s not just the mains but all the secondary characters too. There is a teenager that is like the perfect teenage character ever and some good police characters too. There are characters you will love, and characters you will love to hate. And the important thing is that Miller makes you care about them so yes you might need the tissues just like I did.
While this does NOT end on a cliffhanger, there are some loose ends left open. The nice thing about that is it means at least one more book for us, and maybe even more. Without spoiling anything, with the way the events play out in this book, you will absolutely want a book two. This story is too big to cover in one book and I’m glad that Miller didn’t try to edit things down to fit into just one.
If you are looking for a book that is emotional, exciting, hopeful, and entertaining, you came to the right place. After the bumpy beginning, this turns into a very good debut. I see a lot of potential in Miller and I can’t wait to read book two.
A copy was given to me for a honest review.
If you read my reviews you will know I have been whining a lot about not grabbing books that are angsty or drama packed lately. Maybe it’s my personal life, maybe it’s Covid, I just know I’m craving books that will make me feel and get my emotions running, the more tissues the better. And for whatever dumb luck I have, I’ve instead been reading cute, fluffy, and feel-good. I’m on a steak of quality books so I can’t really complain, but FINALLY this book brought on all the feels, and made me grab for the tissues. Thank you Stacy Lynn Miller for giving me the emotional book I was looking for.
While this is an easy 4 star book, I do have to say that in normal debut fashion, that this is not perfect. In fact, I had some trouble in the beginning of this book. I’ve read some other reviews, for this book, and this seems to be the common comment from most of us. The beginning is rocky. Miller designed a quick series of advents so she can cover a timeline of what happened in years, but so it only takes her a few chapters to describe. But because of the constant quick skipping ahead, you don’t feel comfortable reading. It’s like you can’t really settle down into the story. Fear not. Once the skips ahead stop, and the story goes back to a normal pace, it’s a whole new book. The last two thirds of this book is really good. It’s emotional, sweet, heartbreaking, and exciting all rolled into one. Miller just gets into this writing groove and the story is so much better for it. I think what it also is, is that you can feel her confidence growing as a writer. The fact she improves so much makes the book a lot of fun to read.
As a character driven reader, I was impressed by the characters. It’s not just the mains but all the secondary characters too. There is a teenager that is like the perfect teenage character ever and some good police characters too. There are characters you will love, and characters you will love to hate. And the important thing is that Miller makes you care about them so yes you might need the tissues just like I did.
While this does NOT end on a cliffhanger, there are some loose ends left open. The nice thing about that is it means at least one more book for us, and maybe even more. Without spoiling anything, with the way the events play out in this book, you will absolutely want a book two. This story is too big to cover in one book and I’m glad that Miller didn’t try to edit things down to fit into just one.
If you are looking for a book that is emotional, exciting, hopeful, and entertaining, you came to the right place. After the bumpy beginning, this turns into a very good debut. I see a lot of potential in Miller and I can’t wait to read book two.
A copy was given to me for a honest review.
May 1, 2021
3.75 stars. This book started a bit rocky, but I was surprised by how much I liked it in the end, how it all comes together.
The book starts with a young Sloane, then makes a couple of time jumps highlighting only the most important details of Sloane’s life that shaped her into the person she is now. She’s is a police detective who lives for her job and keeps everybody at a distance, but then she meets her childhood crush Finn…. The flashbacks make up quite a chunk of the book and I did not totally get why this was necessary, but after finishing the book and considering this is the first book in a series I get why the author did it.
Another thing I was not expecting was the romance story in this book, I expected something totally different from reading the blurb. I liked both Sloane and Finn, although there is more focus on Sloane. Part of the story revolves around Sloane and Finn, but this book is only the beginning of their romance arc. At some point I was even afraid where Miller was going, as I was afraid there would be a case of infidelity, which was something where I really did not want to go, but I’m happy that Miller didn’t go there in the end. It did make the romance a bit complex to get into, but seeing that this is a continuing storyline and on what note the book ended I liked it. There was also a lot of angst and if you have trouble with books dealing with losing a loved one, then perhaps this is not the book you want to read.
Besides Sloane’s life story (I’m still hesitant to call it a romance at this point), there is also a drug ring crime story which kept me interested and made me want to know what would happen next. The story wraps up nicely at the end of the book, but the epilogue gives a teaser for what’s to come in the next book, so I had to read that right away as well.
There is a lot going on in this book, interesting characters with enough baggage to supply plenty of angst, some romance, and an interesting crime story. It’s a good first book in the series which makes me want to read more.
The book starts with a young Sloane, then makes a couple of time jumps highlighting only the most important details of Sloane’s life that shaped her into the person she is now. She’s is a police detective who lives for her job and keeps everybody at a distance, but then she meets her childhood crush Finn…. The flashbacks make up quite a chunk of the book and I did not totally get why this was necessary, but after finishing the book and considering this is the first book in a series I get why the author did it.
Another thing I was not expecting was the romance story in this book, I expected something totally different from reading the blurb. I liked both Sloane and Finn, although there is more focus on Sloane. Part of the story revolves around Sloane and Finn, but this book is only the beginning of their romance arc. At some point I was even afraid where Miller was going, as I was afraid there would be a case of infidelity, which was something where I really did not want to go, but I’m happy that Miller didn’t go there in the end. It did make the romance a bit complex to get into, but seeing that this is a continuing storyline and on what note the book ended I liked it. There was also a lot of angst and if you have trouble with books dealing with losing a loved one, then perhaps this is not the book you want to read.
Besides Sloane’s life story (I’m still hesitant to call it a romance at this point), there is also a drug ring crime story which kept me interested and made me want to know what would happen next. The story wraps up nicely at the end of the book, but the epilogue gives a teaser for what’s to come in the next book, so I had to read that right away as well.
There is a lot going on in this book, interesting characters with enough baggage to supply plenty of angst, some romance, and an interesting crime story. It’s a good first book in the series which makes me want to read more.
February 10, 2021
‘Out of the Flames’ by Stacy Lynn Miller is the first in the Manhattan Sloane crime drama/thrillers. It was also the debut novel from Miller and this was quite the introduction.
The story starts out when Sloane is 13 and lives through a traumatic tragedy and then jumps ahead by 18 years. It does a couple smaller time jumps before it settles into the main storyline. It can be jarring and may seem rushed at the beginning because there’s quite a lot going on with Miller doing a bit of an info dump. But by about 25% she hits a stride and takes off.
For a crime drama, I was surprised with the amount of angst and emotional roller coaster this took me on. It was an exciting and emotional journey for Sloane and the others involved in her life. Sloane, a San Francisco narcotics detective, is on the case when a new street drug Kiss, starts making the rounds. The main focus is on finding who is behind Kiss and its ties to a cartel. In the process, Sloane is reintroduced to her childhood crush Finn Harper, who is a DEA agent. However, Sloane has just celebrated her first-year anniversary with Avery, a crime scene investigator.
If you read my reviews, you know I’m a romance fan first and foremost, and while there is a romance in this, it isn’t the point. At least not at first. The romance is important to the story and gives it a more emotional kick as it raises the stakes for all involved. This is not a cheating story but it does show how life can be tragic and messy, especially when you work in potentially dangerous jobs.
I recommend this for fans of angsty crime dramas.
The story starts out when Sloane is 13 and lives through a traumatic tragedy and then jumps ahead by 18 years. It does a couple smaller time jumps before it settles into the main storyline. It can be jarring and may seem rushed at the beginning because there’s quite a lot going on with Miller doing a bit of an info dump. But by about 25% she hits a stride and takes off.
For a crime drama, I was surprised with the amount of angst and emotional roller coaster this took me on. It was an exciting and emotional journey for Sloane and the others involved in her life. Sloane, a San Francisco narcotics detective, is on the case when a new street drug Kiss, starts making the rounds. The main focus is on finding who is behind Kiss and its ties to a cartel. In the process, Sloane is reintroduced to her childhood crush Finn Harper, who is a DEA agent. However, Sloane has just celebrated her first-year anniversary with Avery, a crime scene investigator.
If you read my reviews, you know I’m a romance fan first and foremost, and while there is a romance in this, it isn’t the point. At least not at first. The romance is important to the story and gives it a more emotional kick as it raises the stakes for all involved. This is not a cheating story but it does show how life can be tragic and messy, especially when you work in potentially dangerous jobs.
I recommend this for fans of angsty crime dramas.
April 28, 2020
If you are looking for an adventure novel with mystery, intrigue, romance, and a lot of angst, then look no further than Out of the Flames by Stacy Lynn Miller. This is Ms. Miller’s debut novel, and if this book is any indication, I will definitely be looking forward to reading more of her work.
This particular story begins almost as a flashback telling the reader about a traumatic and life-changing event in the main character’s teenage years. It then moves forward twenty years to present day when the main character, Manhattan Sloane, is now a San Francisco Detective. She and her partner become involved in a narcotic investigation that will forever affect the lives of Sloane, her wife and stepdaughter, her partner Eric, and an old friend that Sloane hasn’t seen since that one fateful night twenty years ago.
I’m really impressed with how well this tale is written. The beginning is a bit slow because the author has to give so much of the back story, but the book quickly caught my interest as I continued to read. The story itself is excellent, and the characters are well-developed and easy to connect with. This book made me cry in several places. As I mentioned above, there is quite a bit of angst in this tale. I am very glad I read this book, though, and since this novel is the beginning of a series, I will be eagerly waiting for book two.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
Rainbow Reflections: http://rainbowreflections.home.blog/
This particular story begins almost as a flashback telling the reader about a traumatic and life-changing event in the main character’s teenage years. It then moves forward twenty years to present day when the main character, Manhattan Sloane, is now a San Francisco Detective. She and her partner become involved in a narcotic investigation that will forever affect the lives of Sloane, her wife and stepdaughter, her partner Eric, and an old friend that Sloane hasn’t seen since that one fateful night twenty years ago.
I’m really impressed with how well this tale is written. The beginning is a bit slow because the author has to give so much of the back story, but the book quickly caught my interest as I continued to read. The story itself is excellent, and the characters are well-developed and easy to connect with. This book made me cry in several places. As I mentioned above, there is quite a bit of angst in this tale. I am very glad I read this book, though, and since this novel is the beginning of a series, I will be eagerly waiting for book two.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
Rainbow Reflections: http://rainbowreflections.home.blog/
October 18, 2020
This is an enjoyable book, especially for a debut novel. We have the main character, Manhattan Sloane, on whom most of the book is focused on. She's a narcotics cop who works well with her partner. Her relationships and interactions are colored by her being orphaned young when her parents were killed in a car accident that she blames herself for. When a deadly drug called Kiss started circulating, Sloane was reintroduced to her childhood crush, Finn, who is now a DEA agent. The relationships in this book show the complexities of real life. Finn and Sloane have led their own lives through the years. And life tends to be messy. So if one is expecting the typical trope of girl re-meets girl, and sparks fly, it's not as simple and easy as that.
There're also trauma and death in this book, as they're dealing with drug dealers. I like that things are not very cut and dried, which reflects reality. While the ending is not a cliffhanger, some issues are left dangling, which suggests a book 2. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to reading that book.
There're also trauma and death in this book, as they're dealing with drug dealers. I like that things are not very cut and dried, which reflects reality. While the ending is not a cliffhanger, some issues are left dangling, which suggests a book 2. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to reading that book.
May 8, 2021
Review of the Manhattan Sloane Thriller series by Stacy Lynn Miller, audiobooks narrated by Lori Prince
I’ve had this series on my list to read for a long time so now that the audio narration of books 1 and 2 have been released, I decided to give them a try. I loved them and I can’t wait to read book 3, Beyond the Smoke, which is gonna be out very soon (July 2021).
Out of the Flames is book 1 on the series and this author’s debut novel. I admit that the beginning felt a bit choppy for me as it started with a couple of major events in Manhattan Sloane’s life that were separated from each other in big lapses of time which didn’t flow well for me. But after about 10% of the book, the story picks up and it’s a real page-turner.
Ms. Miller likes to put Manhattan through the wringer who – in her 30s – had enough heartbreak and suffering to last her a lifetime. Even though book 1 brings some resolution to the main investigation and to Manhattan’s personal life, it leaves the reader wanting for more. And more they get with book 2, From the Ashes, which picks up from where the previous book left.
From the Ashes doesn’t repeat the bumps of book 1 and takes the reader straight to the action and doesn’t let go until the end. Luckily, there’s also time for romance and relationship difficulties which balances the fast-paced action perfectly. Manhattan and Finn are dynamite together, both as investigation partners and as a couple. They make the reader cheer for their success on both grounds.
I have to warn that this series has some triggers in terms of graphic violence but it’s all justified and essential to the story. Ms. Miller knows how to keep the reader at the edge of their seats waiting for the other shoe to drop at any moment. That’s what you want in an action/crime book, and the author uses her professional experience in the armed forces to describe realistic scenes and situations.
Book 2 doesn’t finish in a cliffhanger but, as in book 1, there are some issues that aren’t completely solved and some decisions open up a number of possibilities. Apparently, the author has plans for future books beyond this one. I’m happy because Manhattan and Finn totally rock together.
Lori Prince narrated this series and really brings the story to life. Her pace is perfect, specially in the numerous nail-biting action scenes but also in the more intimate ones. As usual, her voices for the different characters are distinct, and, as a plus for me personally, she uses for Finn her dreamy “Thayer voice” (after Thayer Reynolds in the Curtis and Reynolds series by Carolyn Elizabeth). If you are looking for a fast-paced action thriller with endearing characters, then this one is for you. 4.5 stars.
Book 1 length: 9 hrs and 40 mins
Book 2 length: 9 hrs and 38 mins
Available in Scribd
I’ve had this series on my list to read for a long time so now that the audio narration of books 1 and 2 have been released, I decided to give them a try. I loved them and I can’t wait to read book 3, Beyond the Smoke, which is gonna be out very soon (July 2021).
Out of the Flames is book 1 on the series and this author’s debut novel. I admit that the beginning felt a bit choppy for me as it started with a couple of major events in Manhattan Sloane’s life that were separated from each other in big lapses of time which didn’t flow well for me. But after about 10% of the book, the story picks up and it’s a real page-turner.
Ms. Miller likes to put Manhattan through the wringer who – in her 30s – had enough heartbreak and suffering to last her a lifetime. Even though book 1 brings some resolution to the main investigation and to Manhattan’s personal life, it leaves the reader wanting for more. And more they get with book 2, From the Ashes, which picks up from where the previous book left.
From the Ashes doesn’t repeat the bumps of book 1 and takes the reader straight to the action and doesn’t let go until the end. Luckily, there’s also time for romance and relationship difficulties which balances the fast-paced action perfectly. Manhattan and Finn are dynamite together, both as investigation partners and as a couple. They make the reader cheer for their success on both grounds.
I have to warn that this series has some triggers in terms of graphic violence but it’s all justified and essential to the story. Ms. Miller knows how to keep the reader at the edge of their seats waiting for the other shoe to drop at any moment. That’s what you want in an action/crime book, and the author uses her professional experience in the armed forces to describe realistic scenes and situations.
Book 2 doesn’t finish in a cliffhanger but, as in book 1, there are some issues that aren’t completely solved and some decisions open up a number of possibilities. Apparently, the author has plans for future books beyond this one. I’m happy because Manhattan and Finn totally rock together.
Lori Prince narrated this series and really brings the story to life. Her pace is perfect, specially in the numerous nail-biting action scenes but also in the more intimate ones. As usual, her voices for the different characters are distinct, and, as a plus for me personally, she uses for Finn her dreamy “Thayer voice” (after Thayer Reynolds in the Curtis and Reynolds series by Carolyn Elizabeth). If you are looking for a fast-paced action thriller with endearing characters, then this one is for you. 4.5 stars.
Book 1 length: 9 hrs and 40 mins
Book 2 length: 9 hrs and 38 mins
Available in Scribd
December 18, 2021
3.5. I love angst but boy this one seemed to have some unnecessary moments. Parental choices were questionable all around. Crime seemed to be an afterthought. Hoping this is the full to the brim set up for the rest of the series.
Narration by Lori Prince was good.
Narration by Lori Prince was good.
July 24, 2021
Liked it, didn't love it.
My main issue is the utilization of dramatic things happening to the MC to make us have sympathy, where I didn't really feel the groundwork was put in. Plus the MC came off a little unlikable, selfish, and self sabotaging a lot of the time.
The beginning comes off very info dumpy to me, and the romance fast forwards ahead incredibly quickly, skipping over many important aspects to make us care for the couple and believe in them - weeks and months of their courtship just get skipped over by sentences, where the author has you believe they are something special - and you soon realize why they did that - as we get to the biggest action and hurt that happens... the problem is you never truly believe that connection, because it wasn't established well. There was little emotional impact, for me. It seemed clear we were always racing ahead to get to that penultimate moment. So I failed to be invested.
That doesn't mean I didn't cry, I did - but I mean I cry at stupid shit all the time, especially when hormonal -TMI?
We're just supposed to believe this closed off player Manhattan Sloane found 'the one' all of a sudden in a bisexual mother of a teen, who funnily enough aggressively goes after her, and then they're married within a year and together for another, and even the teen daughter accepts her, despite the MC not doing much to actually engage in that relationship, even in the aftermath of the main action/hurt... Like I kept waiting for some feeling and emotion to come, but it never really did... Sloane just sort of wallows in self pity for a while before getting a well-deserved kick up her arse, but again never really stepping up for her step-daughter. IMHO.
The drug story was interesting, but also kinda cliche IMHO. I feel like if you're ever watched the numerous police procedurals out there on the TV, you'll know what to expect for the most part.
OH Can I also mention, the character of Finn Harper calling her father DADDY all the time, made me physically revolt and cringe. EVERY TIME. You're a 32 year old woman!!!
Everyone else adored this one far more than I, but for me it left me wanting. So use your own discretion.
My main issue is the utilization of dramatic things happening to the MC to make us have sympathy, where I didn't really feel the groundwork was put in. Plus the MC came off a little unlikable, selfish, and self sabotaging a lot of the time.
The beginning comes off very info dumpy to me, and the romance fast forwards ahead incredibly quickly, skipping over many important aspects to make us care for the couple and believe in them - weeks and months of their courtship just get skipped over by sentences, where the author has you believe they are something special - and you soon realize why they did that - as we get to the biggest action and hurt that happens... the problem is you never truly believe that connection, because it wasn't established well. There was little emotional impact, for me. It seemed clear we were always racing ahead to get to that penultimate moment. So I failed to be invested.
That doesn't mean I didn't cry, I did - but I mean I cry at stupid shit all the time, especially when hormonal -TMI?
We're just supposed to believe this closed off player Manhattan Sloane found 'the one' all of a sudden in a bisexual mother of a teen, who funnily enough aggressively goes after her, and then they're married within a year and together for another, and even the teen daughter accepts her, despite the MC not doing much to actually engage in that relationship, even in the aftermath of the main action/hurt... Like I kept waiting for some feeling and emotion to come, but it never really did... Sloane just sort of wallows in self pity for a while before getting a well-deserved kick up her arse, but again never really stepping up for her step-daughter. IMHO.
The drug story was interesting, but also kinda cliche IMHO. I feel like if you're ever watched the numerous police procedurals out there on the TV, you'll know what to expect for the most part.
OH Can I also mention, the character of Finn Harper calling her father DADDY all the time, made me physically revolt and cringe. EVERY TIME. You're a 32 year old woman!!!
Everyone else adored this one far more than I, but for me it left me wanting. So use your own discretion.
April 18, 2020
This was a pretty good book. The first half was a little slow as it tried to find its feet and traction. The second half was is if a light had been switched on. It became gripping and very hard to put down. The main characters were unique and easy to connect with. I became so invested in the custody fight and the investigation that I read the entire last third in one chunk, reading far past when I intended to. But I had to find out how it all turned out before I put it down!
I was interested and pleased to see there will be another book. I already have my guesses for the identity of...whoops, can't tell you that.
LOL.
I was interested and pleased to see there will be another book. I already have my guesses for the identity of...whoops, can't tell you that.
LOL.
March 15, 2024
3 stars
Kinda good. Not exceptional, but a perfectly average crime thriller. I liked the teenage stepdaughter as a character. Usually kids are written weirdly. This one was not
Kinda good. Not exceptional, but a perfectly average crime thriller. I liked the teenage stepdaughter as a character. Usually kids are written weirdly. This one was not
January 3, 2021
I decided to start the new year with a new author and a new series. I didn’t find the time to read start this one last year, but with the many positive reviews, and a premise right up my ally I couldn’t just let this one sit on my TBR any longer.
The book doesn’t disappoint, I had some struggles with it for the first 20-30%, but that’s it. The struggles come from leaps in time and the many things that seem to happen off the page. The book starts when Sloane is 13 and loses her parents in a car accident. After that we jump about 20 years in time, from here on out the jumps are shorter, a couple of weeks, a couple of months up until a year or so. The book settles down when we get to the mystery/ crime of it and that is where it really starts to shine. It shows that the author used to work in law enforcement, the details on the crime(s) and the inner workings of police and DEA are things that can feel easily fabricated, blown out of proportion or just plain ridiculous. The author takes great care to not go there, it is very believable and it really suits the characters as well.
Speaking of the characters, Sloane might be a bit of a hard character to like, especially in the beginning of the book and towards 60-70%. But in the end I do like her, she is different from many of the characters you read about in these type of books. Finn seems like a fitting character for a crime and mystery series as well. I also like the secondary characters, Reagan, Eric, the Tenneys, they are well written and really add something to the story.
I can’t wait to read what happens in book 2.
The book doesn’t disappoint, I had some struggles with it for the first 20-30%, but that’s it. The struggles come from leaps in time and the many things that seem to happen off the page. The book starts when Sloane is 13 and loses her parents in a car accident. After that we jump about 20 years in time, from here on out the jumps are shorter, a couple of weeks, a couple of months up until a year or so. The book settles down when we get to the mystery/ crime of it and that is where it really starts to shine. It shows that the author used to work in law enforcement, the details on the crime(s) and the inner workings of police and DEA are things that can feel easily fabricated, blown out of proportion or just plain ridiculous. The author takes great care to not go there, it is very believable and it really suits the characters as well.
Speaking of the characters, Sloane might be a bit of a hard character to like, especially in the beginning of the book and towards 60-70%. But in the end I do like her, she is different from many of the characters you read about in these type of books. Finn seems like a fitting character for a crime and mystery series as well. I also like the secondary characters, Reagan, Eric, the Tenneys, they are well written and really add something to the story.
I can’t wait to read what happens in book 2.
May 19, 2021
Liked it enough though there were just too many death and too dramatic, more so for Sloane than Finn, for me to raise my hand and declare wholeheartedly that I loved Out of Flame. I generally loved drama and angst but there were just a tad too many and a bit too much...for me at least. Romance is not exactly the main theme in OOF but it is there in the background... It is more of a crime story on the drug cartel.
3 ⭐️
3 ⭐️
October 5, 2021
A real roller coaster of a book - too much going on for me to cope - my bad - but right from the start it was angst, angst, angst & I just couldn't relax.
October 12, 2020
Oooops, I finished this awhile ago amongst a handful of other books and didn't have time to make proper notes, sorry. I do remember quite enjoying this story, except for......that beginning. Oh god the beginning. Talk about a whiplash-inducing head spin, the pace was incredibly fast and all these things kept happening at such a frenzy. It almost made my stop reading. But once you get past the first 40ish pages, it starts to settle and the story is solid.
There are some tragic moments that cause deep anguish as a reader, like holy shit did the author seriously go there? I bet some of our (at least my) worst nightmares are included. Eeesh. There is some implausibility of said events however.....
All in all, I do recommend and am glad it's a series because by the end I enjoyed both Sloane and Finn, and am curious as to what comes next for them.
There are some tragic moments that cause deep anguish as a reader, like holy shit did the author seriously go there? I bet some of our (at least my) worst nightmares are included. Eeesh. There is some implausibility of said events however.....
All in all, I do recommend and am glad it's a series because by the end I enjoyed both Sloane and Finn, and am curious as to what comes next for them.
May 15, 2020
This was a great start to a new series to sink my teeth into... what I hope will be a series anyhow. It was an exciting read and I got the feels here and there too. I can't wait to see how the relationship between Sloane and Reagan grow, and of course, with Finn.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2020
What an emotional rollercoaster. From the book description and review comments, I know some unfortunate events were going to occur. Sadness did unfold but also good things. What appealed to my interest in this read was the self-talk and the desire to do the right thing. There are four main characters and interesting secondary characters. Avery Marcos and her daughter Reagan were both likeable and to the most extent well developed. You could feel the love and protectiveness they had for each other. Manhattan Sloane, SFPD detective with emotional weight on her shoulders. It was hard not to feel for the heartache Sloane faced while growing up. I also felt for her as she internalized her role in these unfortunate events. Finn Harper, DEA agent living with her own challenges and issues.
Slow to start but the characters and various storylines pulled me in and I was truly engaged. While reading, I thought about the various shapes families can take on, the impact of drugs on society, and the importance of friendship, relationships, and love.
ARC provided by Bella Books via NetGalley with thanks.
Slow to start but the characters and various storylines pulled me in and I was truly engaged. While reading, I thought about the various shapes families can take on, the impact of drugs on society, and the importance of friendship, relationships, and love.
ARC provided by Bella Books via NetGalley with thanks.
July 20, 2025
Heartwrenching but so good. I can't wait to dive into the next one!
April 6, 2020
Detective Sloane life change when her parents died in car crash and she the only one who survive she carries guilt that she couldn’t save her parents because of this she keeps everyone at arms length especially lovers. One day she meets CSI Avery and her world turn upside down and she finally met a woman who broken her walls down. Tragedy strikes when she is injured and her wife dies in explosions she blames herself because she thinks if she didn’t distract her wife because something she witness wasn’t what it seem her wife woulda had saw the bomb. As she mourns her wife she is battling control over keeping her teenage stepdaughter Reagan from her grandparents.
Finn is a DEA Agent and she arrive in San Francisco to investigate a new drug that killing people she surprises to run into Sloane and vice versus but when this new drug hit too close to home for Sloane she vow to get justice one way or the other. When Finn risk her job to help Sloane get justice it ends in tragedy and Sloane vow to get the people who killed her wife with the help of her partner Eric and Finn as she does this the crush she had on Finn when she was younger resurface but it’s not the right time because she mourning her wife and trying to be the mother her stepdaughter deserves.
I really enjoy this read and I’m looking forward to the next exstallment in this series.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
Finn is a DEA Agent and she arrive in San Francisco to investigate a new drug that killing people she surprises to run into Sloane and vice versus but when this new drug hit too close to home for Sloane she vow to get justice one way or the other. When Finn risk her job to help Sloane get justice it ends in tragedy and Sloane vow to get the people who killed her wife with the help of her partner Eric and Finn as she does this the crush she had on Finn when she was younger resurface but it’s not the right time because she mourning her wife and trying to be the mother her stepdaughter deserves.
I really enjoy this read and I’m looking forward to the next exstallment in this series.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
May 19, 2021
4.5 stars
Really, really, good story. But I have to save 2 things.
1. I cried, really cried, through the middle of this story. It...was...so...sad!!!
2. And...the ending is set up to go to book 2.
If you can live thru that...it was a GREAT story. And of course I am going on to book 2 and probably book 3 or where ever stacy lynn miller takes me...because you LOVE her characters. You want to be with them and see how they deal with their grief and career.
Im on to book 2, cause I cant release Finn and Sloane.
Plus there's a bunch of action and mystery thriller.
If you read this book, understand you will be hooked!!
Really, really, good story. But I have to save 2 things.
1. I cried, really cried, through the middle of this story. It...was...so...sad!!!
2. And...the ending is set up to go to book 2.
If you can live thru that...it was a GREAT story. And of course I am going on to book 2 and probably book 3 or where ever stacy lynn miller takes me...because you LOVE her characters. You want to be with them and see how they deal with their grief and career.
Im on to book 2, cause I cant release Finn and Sloane.
Plus there's a bunch of action and mystery thriller.
If you read this book, understand you will be hooked!!
July 12, 2021
Pretty good for a debut read. Looking forward to the rest of the books in the series.
March 2, 2025
I found this gem on my TBR shelves. I LOVE this book so much, I'm getting the next two books of the series. Manhattan Sloane had a great life, she has a crush on her friend Finn, and loving parents Then at the age of 13 she watched her parents die in a car accident. She thinks the accident was her her fault. Now 18 yrs later, she's a new detective. Because of the accident she never got serious with the women she dated. Then she met Avery Santos, and her daughter Reagan. This is just the outline of the beginning of this outstanding book! A FAVORITE! Definitely 5 stars!
April 26, 2020
This story you cannot read Without Kleenex in hand. Gut wrenching feelings from Sloan will transfer on to you. Seriously this is best book I read this year. It is very moving. The heart ache Sloan had to deal with is beyond comprehension. I love her character, it is strong even or maybe because of all the truma she went trough as a child. Again as an adult. Every time she lost somone she gained someone. Every loss was tragic and extremely painful. In general, you will love all characters in this book. So worth reading!
January 27, 2021
Wow, this was intense from beginning to end, from Sloane’s childhood accident in the first few pages to the last page. After that accident, the book jumps ahead 18 years to Sloane living and working in San Francisco as a newly-minted detective. Besides becoming a detective, she gets married to a widow with a daughter fairly early in the book, which sets up some of the future events. In the meantime, Finn, her childhood crush, gets introduced to readers. Then things happen, and there are some segments that were difficult to read.
This book kept me involved. It was an emotional roller coaster for me. I really liked Sloane and the emotional journey she was on. This may be a mystery novel, but I found Sloane to be a compelling character, wrestling with her fears and desires. I felt the other characters were also well thought out, especially those close to Sloane.
So much stuff happens to Sloane, both professional and personal. It was one thing after another, with lots of twists and turns in this story. I have to admit, for me, the setting was also a big part of my enjoyment. I grew up in and/or lived in the areas mentioned so it was easy to picture where all the scenes took place.
This book kept me involved. It was an emotional roller coaster for me. I really liked Sloane and the emotional journey she was on. This may be a mystery novel, but I found Sloane to be a compelling character, wrestling with her fears and desires. I felt the other characters were also well thought out, especially those close to Sloane.
So much stuff happens to Sloane, both professional and personal. It was one thing after another, with lots of twists and turns in this story. I have to admit, for me, the setting was also a big part of my enjoyment. I grew up in and/or lived in the areas mentioned so it was easy to picture where all the scenes took place.
May 17, 2020
Overcoming major trauma. Police mystery novel. Found the first quarter hard to get through (lots of time jumping) but the last half absolutely took off. I had to stay up all night to finish because I couldn't put it down. Billed as the first in a series, I look forward to seeing where this story will go.
Manhattan Sloane spent most of her young adult life running from attachments because she carried misplaced guilt for her parents' death and believes everyone who gets close to her dies. When she meets Avery, a CSI, however, while investigating a case, Sloane is swept up and has found a new lease on life.
But tragedy strikes again - no spoilers - and Sloane is left trying to bring down a drug cartel while overcoming injury and profound grief with the help of her long-lost, tween crush-turned DEA agent.
**I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
Manhattan Sloane spent most of her young adult life running from attachments because she carried misplaced guilt for her parents' death and believes everyone who gets close to her dies. When she meets Avery, a CSI, however, while investigating a case, Sloane is swept up and has found a new lease on life.
But tragedy strikes again - no spoilers - and Sloane is left trying to bring down a drug cartel while overcoming injury and profound grief with the help of her long-lost, tween crush-turned DEA agent.
**I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
March 7, 2021
Out of the flames is a well written, interestingly plotted gripping crime story with a beautiful Lesbian romance sub-plot, but (spoiler) beware of some heartbreak.
The main character, Manhattan Sloane, has had more childhood trauma than most ever think possible, but fate doesn’t give her a chance to continue repressing her pain, when she meets Avery, the beautiful crime scene technician, when investigating a new drug, that someone has started pushing in San Francisco.
As her relationship to Avery blossoms and she gets close to her daughter, too. Disaster strikes in various forms, challenging Sloane to her limits. What follows is an emotional struggle, that gets pretty close to breaking Sloane.
The character development in most of the “cast” is very insightful and in the end satisfying, but for Sloane and those she loves a very hard road to travel.
I read this in one day, as I simply could not put it down, once I had started. Now onto volume 2.
The main character, Manhattan Sloane, has had more childhood trauma than most ever think possible, but fate doesn’t give her a chance to continue repressing her pain, when she meets Avery, the beautiful crime scene technician, when investigating a new drug, that someone has started pushing in San Francisco.
As her relationship to Avery blossoms and she gets close to her daughter, too. Disaster strikes in various forms, challenging Sloane to her limits. What follows is an emotional struggle, that gets pretty close to breaking Sloane.
The character development in most of the “cast” is very insightful and in the end satisfying, but for Sloane and those she loves a very hard road to travel.
I read this in one day, as I simply could not put it down, once I had started. Now onto volume 2.
December 6, 2021
4.5 stars
December 27, 2020
🏳️🌈👩❤👩📚⚢🥃👮♀👩🔬🔥🕵️♀👩❤💋👩📖👭🏳️🌈
That’s in exchange of an honest review that I received an ARC of « Out Of The Flames » by Stacy Lynn Miller from Bella Books (via NetGalley). So, here it is !!
My rating : 4.5 ⭐️
I requested this book because I LOVE discovering new authors (even more promising and talented ones) & I haven’t been disappointed … « Out Of The Flames » is Stacy Lynn Miller’s debut novel. Oh no, it’s not perfect but it’s a very, very good one notheless …
The story sets in San Francisco and focuses on San Francisco police detective Manhattan Sloane (aka « just Sloane ») & DEA Agent Finley « Finn » Harper. Sloane and Finn were in junior high school & in choir together and, secretly attracted to each other. They never acted on their attraction which lasted until one fatal night when Sloane was 13 and her parents died in a car accident, where only she survived, before she went to live in SF with her grandmother. While overcoming this major trauma Sloane carried a misplaced guilt for her parents' death and she truly believed that anyone who would get close to her would die. So she spent most of the last two decades running from attachments and did her best to keep everyone at arm length, until she meets Avery Santos, mother of 14 years old Reagan & the head of the SFPD CSI lab … Finn and Slaone meet again over a drug case bringing Finn in SF, twenty years after their last encounter. Sloane, who is now a Sergeant with the SFPD in the Narcotics division, is happily married to Avery & Finn who is Assistant Special Agent in Charge with the DEA, has recently broken up (without totally ending things) with her long term girlfriend. After tragedy has striken and once again devastated Sloane’s world, Sloane and Finn team-up to take down a ruthless cartel lord. But there’s more than that …
The book is really well written and quite orgininal with a custody fight (against homophobic grandparents) in parallel of the investigation. … It’s very entertaining even if, at time, it’s very emotional (OK, TBH, my eyes watered more than once because the story'’s a real emotional roller coaster with many heartbreaking scenes … and for a sensitive persons like me, it was just natural to feel the characters’ pain as they dealt with their physical wounds and the loss of their loved ones)… But there’s so much more in it too, beginning by Love and Hope … There’s a good character development about the MCS who are realistic and there are also some great and very strong secondary characters … And, from my POV, the author's first hand knowledge of police work allows her to tell the story with a particular style adding to the realism of the story line. 😊😊
I know that it’s coming later this year (Fall 2020) but I really can’t wait to read Book 2 aka « From the Ashes » because I really want to know if my guess about the identity of the leak is the good one …
The only real negative point I’ve noticed is the ambiguity of the plot … Finn doesn’t come back in Sloane’s life when she’s a newly minted San Francisco police detective but almost two YEARS after that … This inaccuracy is wasting a tad the book because it gives the idea it’s just another « common » (and potentially boring) second-chance-in-love book when it’s definitely not this at all …
IDK for the others, but I think it could become a good movie, as a matter of fact, I’d love to watch Sloane’s entire journey on a big screen.
If I had to make a very short and quite different version of my review, it’d be something like this :
- Did I enjoy this book? => Yes, a lot …more than that as a matter of fact !!
- Did I find the characters believable? => Yes … because very realistic and touching
- Is this book now included in my « must be re-read »-list? => Yes …
- Will I purchase the paperback? => Definitely !! ASAP …
- Would I read another book by this author? => Yes !! Stacy Lynn Miller’s definitely a very promising author and I’ll follow her work very closely
- Would I recommend this book => Yes … to everyone 😉
🏳️🌈👩❤👩📚⚢🥃👮♀👩🔬🔥🕵️♀👩❤💋👩📖👭🏳️🌈
That’s in exchange of an honest review that I received an ARC of « Out Of The Flames » by Stacy Lynn Miller from Bella Books (via NetGalley). So, here it is !!
My rating : 4.5 ⭐️
I requested this book because I LOVE discovering new authors (even more promising and talented ones) & I haven’t been disappointed … « Out Of The Flames » is Stacy Lynn Miller’s debut novel. Oh no, it’s not perfect but it’s a very, very good one notheless …
The story sets in San Francisco and focuses on San Francisco police detective Manhattan Sloane (aka « just Sloane ») & DEA Agent Finley « Finn » Harper. Sloane and Finn were in junior high school & in choir together and, secretly attracted to each other. They never acted on their attraction which lasted until one fatal night when Sloane was 13 and her parents died in a car accident, where only she survived, before she went to live in SF with her grandmother. While overcoming this major trauma Sloane carried a misplaced guilt for her parents' death and she truly believed that anyone who would get close to her would die. So she spent most of the last two decades running from attachments and did her best to keep everyone at arm length, until she meets Avery Santos, mother of 14 years old Reagan & the head of the SFPD CSI lab … Finn and Slaone meet again over a drug case bringing Finn in SF, twenty years after their last encounter. Sloane, who is now a Sergeant with the SFPD in the Narcotics division, is happily married to Avery & Finn who is Assistant Special Agent in Charge with the DEA, has recently broken up (without totally ending things) with her long term girlfriend. After tragedy has striken and once again devastated Sloane’s world, Sloane and Finn team-up to take down a ruthless cartel lord. But there’s more than that …
The book is really well written and quite orgininal with a custody fight (against homophobic grandparents) in parallel of the investigation. … It’s very entertaining even if, at time, it’s very emotional (OK, TBH, my eyes watered more than once because the story'’s a real emotional roller coaster with many heartbreaking scenes … and for a sensitive persons like me, it was just natural to feel the characters’ pain as they dealt with their physical wounds and the loss of their loved ones)… But there’s so much more in it too, beginning by Love and Hope … There’s a good character development about the MCS who are realistic and there are also some great and very strong secondary characters … And, from my POV, the author's first hand knowledge of police work allows her to tell the story with a particular style adding to the realism of the story line. 😊😊
I know that it’s coming later this year (Fall 2020) but I really can’t wait to read Book 2 aka « From the Ashes » because I really want to know if my guess about the identity of the leak is the good one …
The only real negative point I’ve noticed is the ambiguity of the plot … Finn doesn’t come back in Sloane’s life when she’s a newly minted San Francisco police detective but almost two YEARS after that … This inaccuracy is wasting a tad the book because it gives the idea it’s just another « common » (and potentially boring) second-chance-in-love book when it’s definitely not this at all …
IDK for the others, but I think it could become a good movie, as a matter of fact, I’d love to watch Sloane’s entire journey on a big screen.
If I had to make a very short and quite different version of my review, it’d be something like this :
- Did I enjoy this book? => Yes, a lot …more than that as a matter of fact !!
- Did I find the characters believable? => Yes … because very realistic and touching
- Is this book now included in my « must be re-read »-list? => Yes …
- Will I purchase the paperback? => Definitely !! ASAP …
- Would I read another book by this author? => Yes !! Stacy Lynn Miller’s definitely a very promising author and I’ll follow her work very closely
- Would I recommend this book => Yes … to everyone 😉
🏳️🌈👩❤👩📚⚢🥃👮♀👩🔬🔥🕵️♀👩❤💋👩📖👭🏳️🌈
May 28, 2020
Overcoming a childhood of loss, Out of the Flames, details Manhattan Sloane's life of running from love and personal attachments. Sloane was a young teenager when both of her parents were killed in a car crash from which she survived. She witnessed both of her parents claimed by the flames from the crash. As a thirty=something San Francisco police detective in the narcotics division, Sloane avoids personal connections and is absorbed by her work. One day that changes when she meets Avery Santos who works down the hallway in the San Francisco Police Department CSI lab. Avery is the mother of a teenager named Reagan. Sloane and Avery grow close and eventually marry. They seemingly have an ideal, loving relationship. While working on a drug case, Sloane is reintroduced to her first childhood crush, DEA Agent Finn Harper. After another loss impacts Sloane's life, Finn and Sloane team up to take down a drug cartel kingpin.
This was a debut novel by Stacy Lynn Miller, whose military background, obviously helped in the writing of this book. The story was highly charged with action, thrills, but also balanced with romance and moments that left this reader in tears. The pace of the book was set immediately upon reading the first chapter and did not deter. My only issue with the book is the synopsis description lead me to believe more of the book would be about the developing relationship between Sloane and Finn. However, since this is a series with several unfilled questions in the last chapter and the epilogue, this reader hopes that the romance between Sloane and Finn fully develops in the next book of the series.
I received an ARC from Bella Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a debut novel by Stacy Lynn Miller, whose military background, obviously helped in the writing of this book. The story was highly charged with action, thrills, but also balanced with romance and moments that left this reader in tears. The pace of the book was set immediately upon reading the first chapter and did not deter. My only issue with the book is the synopsis description lead me to believe more of the book would be about the developing relationship between Sloane and Finn. However, since this is a series with several unfilled questions in the last chapter and the epilogue, this reader hopes that the romance between Sloane and Finn fully develops in the next book of the series.
I received an ARC from Bella Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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