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Fire #1
Consumed by Fire
Evangeline Morrissey remembers the last time she saw her husband: it was during their honeymoon, right before he stole her grandmother’s earrings and abandoned her. Now, five years later, the enigmatic man who’d broken her heart and destroyed her trust is back. But she’s not the same naive young woman who fell for him so easily.
Marrying Evangeline and letting her think he was nothing but a common thief had been James Bishop’s plan all along. As an assassin for the Committee, a covert agency dedicated to stamping out international crime, he had no business even thinking about marriage. But it was the only way to protect Evangeline after she’d unwittingly wandered into his operation against a group of human traffickers, placing herself in grave danger. And now that James’s vigilant watch over Evangeline’s life has revealed to his enemies that she’s his one true weakness, he must set out to have, to hold, and—above all—to protect his bride.
Marrying Evangeline and letting her think he was nothing but a common thief had been James Bishop’s plan all along. As an assassin for the Committee, a covert agency dedicated to stamping out international crime, he had no business even thinking about marriage. But it was the only way to protect Evangeline after she’d unwittingly wandered into his operation against a group of human traffickers, placing herself in grave danger. And now that James’s vigilant watch over Evangeline’s life has revealed to his enemies that she’s his one true weakness, he must set out to have, to hold, and—above all—to protect his bride.
327 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2015
384 people are currently reading
2228 people want to read
About the author
Anne Stuart
205 books2,062 followersAnne Stuart is a grandmaster of the genre, winner of Romance Writers of America's prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, survivor of more than thirty-five years in the romance business, and still just keeps getting better.
Her first novel was Barrett's Hill, a gothic romance published by Ballantine in 1974 when Anne had just turned 25. Since then she's written more gothics, regencies, romantic suspense, romantic adventure, series romance, suspense, historical romance, paranormal and mainstream contemporary romance for publishers such as Doubleday, Harlequin, Silhouette, Avon, Zebra, St. Martins Press, Berkley, Dell, Pocket Books and Fawcett.
She’s won numerous awards, appeared on most bestseller lists, and speaks all over the country. Her general outrageousness has gotten her on Entertainment Tonight, as well as in Vogue, People, USA Today, Women’s Day and countless other national newspapers and magazines.
When she’s not traveling, she’s at home in Northern Vermont with her luscious husband of thirty-six years, an empty nest, three cats, four sewing machines, and one Springer Spaniel, and when she’s not working she’s watching movies, listening to rock and roll (preferably Japanese) and spending far too much time quilting.
Anne Stuart also writes as Kristina Douglas.
Her first novel was Barrett's Hill, a gothic romance published by Ballantine in 1974 when Anne had just turned 25. Since then she's written more gothics, regencies, romantic suspense, romantic adventure, series romance, suspense, historical romance, paranormal and mainstream contemporary romance for publishers such as Doubleday, Harlequin, Silhouette, Avon, Zebra, St. Martins Press, Berkley, Dell, Pocket Books and Fawcett.
She’s won numerous awards, appeared on most bestseller lists, and speaks all over the country. Her general outrageousness has gotten her on Entertainment Tonight, as well as in Vogue, People, USA Today, Women’s Day and countless other national newspapers and magazines.
When she’s not traveling, she’s at home in Northern Vermont with her luscious husband of thirty-six years, an empty nest, three cats, four sewing machines, and one Springer Spaniel, and when she’s not working she’s watching movies, listening to rock and roll (preferably Japanese) and spending far too much time quilting.
Anne Stuart also writes as Kristina Douglas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews
April 17, 2015
★★★★★
5 Only-Anne-Stuart-Can-Write-These-Heroes Stars!!!
Un-put-downable!!!!! It's no secret that I'm a huge Anne Stuart fan, and Bastien from Black Ice will always be a favorite hero of mine. While I can't say that James has usurped Bastien's place in my heart for best ass hole gamma hero, I can say that he is neck and neck with the other Ice series heroes. This is what I feel like I've been waiting for since consuming the Ice series three years ago. More of the Committee...only Peter Masden is in charge now, and we have a whole new set of nearly-unloveable heroes and the women who effing OWN them.
Let's see if I can reel in the gushfest that's trying to spill onto my review space :D
A huge reason that I fangirl over Anne Stuart is because of how true she stays not only to her characters, but to her overall series. The Committee has never been (and I'm assuming never will be) anything less than a hardhearted, cold as ice group of people who do whatever it takes to right some wrongs. That's not to say that everything they do is ethical or legal. Hell no. But they get stuff done, and lucky for us, they give rise to some of the most intense heroes and heroines that have been written into romantic fiction. These people are just the same as they were when the series started.
In this book, the heroine starts out somewhat naive, somewhat lonely, and definitely searching for something that she doesn't know is missing. Somehow the universe deems it a fit time to introduce Evangeline to Bishop, a Committee operative and intrinsically hard hearted man. When she witnesses a murder, Bishop's sadistic partner insists on executing her. But as with all of Stuart's heroines, Evangeline has that intangible something that pulls out James' (Bishop's) protective side. But only for long enough to save the girl. Then, he abandons her and disappears.
And the rest is golden. It's a mental battle for a man who is as cold as they come...a man who has spent his life living with no emotion and no remorse, not to mention no tenderness or love. And poor Evangeline! Trying to move on and yet tied to a man she still loves, even though he wrecked and ruined her. It's the ultimate in the good vs evil dilemma. There is most definitely some evil in James, but his demons come out to play when his "wife" is threatened once again.
Throw these two together again, and the magic that is Anne Stuart is back with a vengeance! I am unreasonably excited about this new series. Especially if this is indicative of how much I'll love it!
Advance copy provided by the publisher for review
5 Only-Anne-Stuart-Can-Write-These-Heroes Stars!!!
Un-put-downable!!!!! It's no secret that I'm a huge Anne Stuart fan, and Bastien from Black Ice will always be a favorite hero of mine. While I can't say that James has usurped Bastien's place in my heart for best ass hole gamma hero, I can say that he is neck and neck with the other Ice series heroes. This is what I feel like I've been waiting for since consuming the Ice series three years ago. More of the Committee...only Peter Masden is in charge now, and we have a whole new set of nearly-unloveable heroes and the women who effing OWN them.
Let's see if I can reel in the gushfest that's trying to spill onto my review space :D
A huge reason that I fangirl over Anne Stuart is because of how true she stays not only to her characters, but to her overall series. The Committee has never been (and I'm assuming never will be) anything less than a hardhearted, cold as ice group of people who do whatever it takes to right some wrongs. That's not to say that everything they do is ethical or legal. Hell no. But they get stuff done, and lucky for us, they give rise to some of the most intense heroes and heroines that have been written into romantic fiction. These people are just the same as they were when the series started.
In this book, the heroine starts out somewhat naive, somewhat lonely, and definitely searching for something that she doesn't know is missing. Somehow the universe deems it a fit time to introduce Evangeline to Bishop, a Committee operative and intrinsically hard hearted man. When she witnesses a murder, Bishop's sadistic partner insists on executing her. But as with all of Stuart's heroines, Evangeline has that intangible something that pulls out James' (Bishop's) protective side. But only for long enough to save the girl. Then, he abandons her and disappears.
And the rest is golden. It's a mental battle for a man who is as cold as they come...a man who has spent his life living with no emotion and no remorse, not to mention no tenderness or love. And poor Evangeline! Trying to move on and yet tied to a man she still loves, even though he wrecked and ruined her. It's the ultimate in the good vs evil dilemma. There is most definitely some evil in James, but his demons come out to play when his "wife" is threatened once again.
Throw these two together again, and the magic that is Anne Stuart is back with a vengeance! I am unreasonably excited about this new series. Especially if this is indicative of how much I'll love it!
Advance copy provided by the publisher for review
April 2, 2015
My, my, my! This is Anne Stuart doing what she does so well and without any filters. I loved it, rawness and all.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine in the May issue. http://www.affairedecoeur.com.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine in the May issue. http://www.affairedecoeur.com.
March 13, 2025
5 Consuming Anti-Hero Stars!!!!
Anne Stuart is the master at writing this genre, she is a absolute genius when it comes to anti-hero's!!!!
This is book one in her "Fire" series, a spin-off of her "Ice Series", The Committee has expanded their operations to the United States and Bishop (the hero) is in charge of getting the new U.S. Branch of the Committee up and running.
Five years earlier Bishop married Evangeline "Angel" after a whirlwind courtship...she doesn't know that he married her after she sees something she shouldn't have and to protect her from being assassinated by The Committee he decides to marry her. After three days of wedded bliss for Evangeline, he disappears without a trace with a cherished and expensive memento her grandmother left her, she was crushed that she was taken in by a con man and common thief.
Now five years later and unbeknownst to her, her life is in danger from Bishop's enemies who learn of her existence from someone within "The Committee", someone holding a grudge against both of them, they know he has a soft spot for her, they target Evangeline to make him vulnerable which forces them back together and on the run from his enemies much to Evangeline's dismay.
The plot was fast paced, intense at times, and very exciting, the bad guy's are bad but Bishop is even BADDER. I absolutely love AS's anti-hero's, as I've said in the past, her hero's are definitely a guilty pleasure!!!!
Anne Stuart is the master at writing this genre, she is a absolute genius when it comes to anti-hero's!!!!
This is book one in her "Fire" series, a spin-off of her "Ice Series", The Committee has expanded their operations to the United States and Bishop (the hero) is in charge of getting the new U.S. Branch of the Committee up and running.
Five years earlier Bishop married Evangeline "Angel" after a whirlwind courtship...she doesn't know that he married her after she sees something she shouldn't have and to protect her from being assassinated by The Committee he decides to marry her. After three days of wedded bliss for Evangeline, he disappears without a trace with a cherished and expensive memento her grandmother left her, she was crushed that she was taken in by a con man and common thief.
Now five years later and unbeknownst to her, her life is in danger from Bishop's enemies who learn of her existence from someone within "The Committee", someone holding a grudge against both of them, they know he has a soft spot for her, they target Evangeline to make him vulnerable which forces them back together and on the run from his enemies much to Evangeline's dismay.
"You're my wife. If anyone's going to kill you, it's going to be me."
The plot was fast paced, intense at times, and very exciting, the bad guy's are bad but Bishop is even BADDER. I absolutely love AS's anti-hero's, as I've said in the past, her hero's are definitely a guilty pleasure!!!!
March 4, 2017
Consumed by Fire by Anne Stuart is the 1st book in her new Fire Series, a spin-off from her Ice Series.
James Bishop is an agent working for the American branch of the very secretive Committee.
He had married American academic, Evangeline Morissey and during their honeymoon disappeared without a word.
Five years later, he resurfaces in her life, after discovering that her life is in danger because of her links to him.
Evangeline is reluctant to trust him again but is soon on the run with him trying to evade the killers on their heels.
This was not one of my favourite books by this author. Whilst there's a lot of suspense and action, I found the lack of romance between the two main characters made me not engage totally with the story. The hero spent most of the time being totally nasty and snarky to the heroine and the plot relied more heavily on too much violence that I was not crazy about.
James Bishop is an agent working for the American branch of the very secretive Committee.
He had married American academic, Evangeline Morissey and during their honeymoon disappeared without a word.
Five years later, he resurfaces in her life, after discovering that her life is in danger because of her links to him.
Evangeline is reluctant to trust him again but is soon on the run with him trying to evade the killers on their heels.
This was not one of my favourite books by this author. Whilst there's a lot of suspense and action, I found the lack of romance between the two main characters made me not engage totally with the story. The hero spent most of the time being totally nasty and snarky to the heroine and the plot relied more heavily on too much violence that I was not crazy about.
November 6, 2015
3.3 stars
No one and I mean no one, writes assholes better than Anne Stuart. I hate myself for loving them and turning me into a damn cliche but they "ultimately have heart!", I say. No excuse, but there it is.
Thehero..anti-hero...asshole from this story crosses over the line so many times I lost count and in the beginning-ish, he says a comment about rape that would normally have me putting the book down and not finishing if Stuart didn't already have my trust as a reader, I know how her assholes work and knew what was truly going on.....or maybe Stuart has me brainwashed and scared to leave her. I don't know. I just know I loved to hate James Bishop, asshole extraordinaire.
*Reading other books by other authors and what others consider assholes, let me clarify something, this asshole is literate, not physically abusive (does kick the heroine at one point), and not gorilla in his possessiveness. I guess I just want to say he is a grown-up asshole. There is no doubt, he's an asshole and you're going to have find these type of men redeemable in order to like this story, assholes aren't for everyone, as it should be.
The story itself started off incredible, then started to slow down with repetitiveness of running from danger and the asshole wanting our heroine only to push her away again and again.
I don't know what to tell you all, I'm a Stuart addict and this story's asshole was so damn easy to hate/love. Also, their first sex scene in the shower is getting stored in the ol' memory banks for future considerations.
(Yes, I realize this isn't even a review but me trying to justify or talk through hate/loving the lead male character. But, you guys, I buried the lead,
I never had a chance)
No one and I mean no one, writes assholes better than Anne Stuart. I hate myself for loving them and turning me into a damn cliche but they "ultimately have heart!", I say. No excuse, but there it is.
The
*Reading other books by other authors and what others consider assholes, let me clarify something, this asshole is literate, not physically abusive (does kick the heroine at one point), and not gorilla in his possessiveness. I guess I just want to say he is a grown-up asshole. There is no doubt, he's an asshole and you're going to have find these type of men redeemable in order to like this story, assholes aren't for everyone, as it should be.
The story itself started off incredible, then started to slow down with repetitiveness of running from danger and the asshole wanting our heroine only to push her away again and again.
I don't know what to tell you all, I'm a Stuart addict and this story's asshole was so damn easy to hate/love. Also, their first sex scene in the shower is getting stored in the ol' memory banks for future considerations.
(Yes, I realize this isn't even a review but me trying to justify or talk through hate/loving the lead male character. But, you guys, I buried the lead,
I never had a chance)
October 3, 2016
★★★3 WHY ME Stars★★★
So, Consumed by fire started off as a really difficult read for me and that's putting it lightly.
The storyline began initially as dry as sandpaper and the characters turned out to be even more difficult to relate than I anticipated. I didn’t really root for James&Evangeline to end up as a couple even by the very end. In fact, It would probably make more sense if this book ended up with them parting ways since there was absolutely NADA indicating that their relationship was a love rather than just a lust story.
Character wise, James Bishop really came across criminally insane. I mean I know the author probably meant for him to be an asshole the first part of the book. But God ! Did he really have to stay that way to the last page?
Manhandling, threatening and insulting woman IS NOT A SEXY trait,at-least NOT to me.
If my (imaginary)ex-husband came back into my life and threatened me to murder while I was tied me to the bed, kidnapped me and hurled insults at me every 5 minutes and continued to mock me about my past.
I would probably hate him with every fiber of my being and probably resigned to the fact that he was going to dump my body into the first river he came by.
What I would NOT do is jump into bed with him.
So WHY A 3 STAR ? Why not just give this a one or two ?
About 40% into this book I was almost 100% sure I was going to end up giving this a 1 star.The only reason I went ahead and finished this book was because of the sole reason that I don't do DNFs. About 60% in we get to see a few chapters in his POV and for a moment their his characters seems almost redeemable TO THE READER mind you, AND NOT THE HEROINE since he doesn't open his mouth to offer her a kind word and just kept all his feelings in his head.
Even the ending didn't feel right and almost ended in a very unbelievable anti-climatic way.
Just for the bit of action,steamy scenes and the heroine 's attitude I've given this book a very lenient rating. (Huh,I guess I'm just in a good mood.)
WOULD NOT RE-READ or RECOMMEND.
So, Consumed by fire started off as a really difficult read for me and that's putting it lightly.
The storyline began initially as dry as sandpaper and the characters turned out to be even more difficult to relate than I anticipated. I didn’t really root for James&Evangeline to end up as a couple even by the very end. In fact, It would probably make more sense if this book ended up with them parting ways since there was absolutely NADA indicating that their relationship was a love rather than just a lust story.
Character wise, James Bishop really came across criminally insane. I mean I know the author probably meant for him to be an asshole the first part of the book. But God ! Did he really have to stay that way to the last page?
Manhandling, threatening and insulting woman IS NOT A SEXY trait,at-least NOT to me.
If my (imaginary)ex-husband came back into my life and threatened me to murder while I was tied me to the bed, kidnapped me and hurled insults at me every 5 minutes and continued to mock me about my past.
I would probably hate him with every fiber of my being and probably resigned to the fact that he was going to dump my body into the first river he came by.
What I would NOT do is jump into bed with him.
So WHY A 3 STAR ? Why not just give this a one or two ?
About 40% into this book I was almost 100% sure I was going to end up giving this a 1 star.The only reason I went ahead and finished this book was because of the sole reason that I don't do DNFs. About 60% in we get to see a few chapters in his POV and for a moment their his characters seems almost redeemable TO THE READER mind you, AND NOT THE HEROINE since he doesn't open his mouth to offer her a kind word and just kept all his feelings in his head.
Even the ending didn't feel right and almost ended in a very unbelievable anti-climatic way.
Just for the bit of action,steamy scenes and the heroine 's attitude I've given this book a very lenient rating. (Huh,I guess I'm just in a good mood.)
WOULD NOT RE-READ or RECOMMEND.
August 3, 2016
Review written August 3, 2016
3.6 Stars - Sizzling hot good romance suspense
I really liked my first by Anne Stuart, Shadow Lover (4 stars) a quite old romance from 1999, then some months ago. This one, Consumed by Fire is the first installment in a pretty new m/f suspense series (a spin-off to the popular Ice series).
A lot of heat, good action and thrilling suspense. There are also some heartbreaking touching romantic moments and a surprisingly drool worthy quite nasty anti-hero to look forward to. Maybe a tiny bit to much focus on the steamy parts for this lady, but nevertheless all in all to my like.
**********************************************
The American Uni Professor Evangeline Morrissey's and James Bishop's (an dangerous assassin for the Committee) bumpy acquaintance, to maybe be a lovestory, started in Italy five years ago. A priest was murded, the night was steaming hot, life changing stuff happened and hearts were crushed...
Quite intense... dramatic, bloody and somewhat raw, but hot, steaming hot, and we know from the start how it will end. The rock-hard (always painful hørny) very tough hero, without both soul & heart, will eventually soften and the (never ever girly-whining) heroine's tender heart will heal. We get a pretty edgy and simple dialogue with many angry 'bad' words and thoughts of revenge. Sometimes it gets a bit exaggerated, but our tough characters are always rudely rough ... and needy wistfully. — A adorable clever (guard-trained) German shepherd doesn't make it less interesting. Lovely, lovely dog Merlin.
I listened to the 10:47 hrs audiobook perfectly narrated by Jill Redfield. Looking forward to listen to book #2 (Driven by Fire) and get a more whirlwind scenes and high speed adventures with a fresh new lovecouple.
**********************************************
I LIKE - non-sweet romances like this at times
3.6 Stars - Sizzling hot good romance suspense
I really liked my first by Anne Stuart, Shadow Lover (4 stars) a quite old romance from 1999, then some months ago. This one, Consumed by Fire is the first installment in a pretty new m/f suspense series (a spin-off to the popular Ice series).
A lot of heat, good action and thrilling suspense. There are also some heartbreaking touching romantic moments and a surprisingly drool worthy quite nasty anti-hero to look forward to. Maybe a tiny bit to much focus on the steamy parts for this lady, but nevertheless all in all to my like.
**********************************************
The American Uni Professor Evangeline Morrissey's and James Bishop's (an dangerous assassin for the Committee) bumpy acquaintance, to maybe be a lovestory, started in Italy five years ago. A priest was murded, the night was steaming hot, life changing stuff happened and hearts were crushed...
‘She was a fighter and she never gave up. Thank God she didn’t trust him—otherwise she would have been trapped...’
“...I’m not one of your polite academics, Angel. I’m something you’ve never seen before, and you need to know who you’re with.”
As if she could forget, she thought weakly, staring at him, into his eyes, shaking so hard she thought she would fall apart. She tightened her grip on his shoulders, and he moved closer still, his strong, wet body covering hers,...’
Quite intense... dramatic, bloody and somewhat raw, but hot, steaming hot, and we know from the start how it will end. The rock-hard (always painful hørny) very tough hero, without both soul & heart, will eventually soften and the (never ever girly-whining) heroine's tender heart will heal. We get a pretty edgy and simple dialogue with many angry 'bad' words and thoughts of revenge. Sometimes it gets a bit exaggerated, but our tough characters are always rudely rough ... and needy wistfully. — A adorable clever (guard-trained) German shepherd doesn't make it less interesting. Lovely, lovely dog Merlin.
I listened to the 10:47 hrs audiobook perfectly narrated by Jill Redfield. Looking forward to listen to book #2 (Driven by Fire) and get a more whirlwind scenes and high speed adventures with a fresh new lovecouple.
**********************************************
I LIKE - non-sweet romances like this at times
May 30, 2016
The convos between them, the constant barbs and fighting, the TENSION! aaah. Perfection.
At the end of the book there is a short something about the author where it says:
"She has so many books she still wants to write that she plans to live forever."
I support this plan with all my heart :)))
September 9, 2016
This is something I haven’t done in a long time. I’m sitting and writing a review moments after finishing the book!!!!
I am one happy lady! I have found another author that has tickled my fancy when it comes to the ultimate prick for a leading man. And may I add she can writes some pretty HOT sex scenes!
Consumed by Fire is my first Anne Stuart book and I LOVED it. I’m not going to go into the plot because any little thing could ruin it for you but I will tell you why I loved it.
First and foremost, James Bishop. He was the ultimate prick. Even when he was trying to be nice he was a prick. His character was perfectly written (IMHO) and I couldn’t get enough of him. The minute he engaged in a relationship with “Angel” everything between them was volatile and intense.
And Evangeline Morrissey was perfectly written too. She was one sassy smartass that would take James Bishop on a ride he had not expected. Nor did she for that matter. When she wanted calm in her life she got turbulence, when she wanted simple she got crazy. I’m not sure who got under whose skin first but these two could not get enough of each other…..not that either would admit to it.
Then we have Merlin. I want a Merlin in my life. ❤ I loved the relationship he had with Evangeline. You could just feel how perfectly they fit together. What a protector he was and as everything came full circle in the book, well that was perfectly written too. Wait until you meet him.
And finally, the story line was unique is some ways and in other ways it wasn’t. But it was those unique things that made such a big difference for me. There was enough suspense that kept me fully engaged and wanting more. The hating and lusting that went on between Bishop and Angel created that thin line between love and hate and not knowing where they would land drove me crazy!
Have you not read a book by Anne Stuart? Then you must. She is a wonderful author. I didn't know much about her so I decided to GOOGLE her and quite frankly I was a bit surprised with what I found. I would have NEVER thought a woman at the age of 68 could write the sexual and sensual scenes that was in this book. I sure hope my mind thinks that way when I’m that age. :) God Bless her!
I am one happy lady! I have found another author that has tickled my fancy when it comes to the ultimate prick for a leading man. And may I add she can writes some pretty HOT sex scenes!
Consumed by Fire is my first Anne Stuart book and I LOVED it. I’m not going to go into the plot because any little thing could ruin it for you but I will tell you why I loved it.
First and foremost, James Bishop. He was the ultimate prick. Even when he was trying to be nice he was a prick. His character was perfectly written (IMHO) and I couldn’t get enough of him. The minute he engaged in a relationship with “Angel” everything between them was volatile and intense.
And Evangeline Morrissey was perfectly written too. She was one sassy smartass that would take James Bishop on a ride he had not expected. Nor did she for that matter. When she wanted calm in her life she got turbulence, when she wanted simple she got crazy. I’m not sure who got under whose skin first but these two could not get enough of each other…..not that either would admit to it.
Then we have Merlin. I want a Merlin in my life. ❤ I loved the relationship he had with Evangeline. You could just feel how perfectly they fit together. What a protector he was and as everything came full circle in the book, well that was perfectly written too. Wait until you meet him.
And finally, the story line was unique is some ways and in other ways it wasn’t. But it was those unique things that made such a big difference for me. There was enough suspense that kept me fully engaged and wanting more. The hating and lusting that went on between Bishop and Angel created that thin line between love and hate and not knowing where they would land drove me crazy!
Have you not read a book by Anne Stuart? Then you must. She is a wonderful author. I didn't know much about her so I decided to GOOGLE her and quite frankly I was a bit surprised with what I found. I would have NEVER thought a woman at the age of 68 could write the sexual and sensual scenes that was in this book. I sure hope my mind thinks that way when I’m that age. :) God Bless her!
September 29, 2018
2.75 stars
September 2, 2016
Loved this! Not perfect... but pretty damn close. The hero is a bit of an asshole... And you all know how much I love the jerks! This was my first Anne Stuart book.. and I must say.. I like her style! On to book 2!!!
September 3, 2016
4-1/2 stars rounded up. This was a tense action filled story that still managed to focus pretty closely on the main couple. As usual with AS the hero was pretty Gamma. He was not nice to the heroine much of the time. Although of course he was trying to protect her. She was naïve when she first met him but 5 years later when they meet again she has toughened up. She tried to fight back at least. Still if you're looking for a heroine who wins over the hero look elsewhere.
August 13, 2016
Consumed by Fire is a spin-off of Anne Stuart's ICE series. It is stand-alone.
I am a fan of Anne Stuart’s anti/gamma heroes. Like Bastian in Black Ice, James Bishop did not disappoint!
What to expect in many of Stuart’s RS books:
annoying, sometimes tstl heroine
fast-paced, predictable storyline with plot holes
romance without heart and flower, cheese
ruthless hero
James Bishop was not a swoony hero, but he gave the heroine two precious gifts that many alpha, beta , so-called swoony heroes out there should take note of.
I am a fan of Anne Stuart’s anti/gamma heroes. Like Bastian in Black Ice, James Bishop did not disappoint!
What to expect in many of Stuart’s RS books:
annoying, sometimes tstl heroine
fast-paced, predictable storyline with plot holes
romance without heart and flower, cheese
ruthless hero
James Bishop was not a swoony hero, but he gave the heroine two precious gifts that many alpha, beta , so-called swoony heroes out there should take note of.
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June 3, 2015
Anne Stuart clearly has her own voice and her own place in this genre, and I respect her very much for being unique and not interchangable in a subgenre where every plot and all characters seem to be the same.
You can expect action, thrilling plot lines that make you want to read on and on. You can expect an outstanding, kind-of-asshole hero who somehow worms his way into your reader's heart. And finally you can expect a heroine that is typical for Anne Stuart: overly naive and cheeky at the same time, some times overly annoying but somehow bearable.
A good, solid read with the cold, laid-back attitude expected from the author.
You can expect action, thrilling plot lines that make you want to read on and on. You can expect an outstanding, kind-of-asshole hero who somehow worms his way into your reader's heart. And finally you can expect a heroine that is typical for Anne Stuart: overly naive and cheeky at the same time, some times overly annoying but somehow bearable.
A good, solid read with the cold, laid-back attitude expected from the author.
May 15, 2015
Ever since I received an ARC of this number on Netgalley, I have been biding my time, savoring the delicious fuzzies that has been coursing through me at the thought of delving into an Anne Stuart novel, and that too a romantic suspense of the variety of the ICE series that first got me hooked onto her writing. If you have never read the wonderful books in the ICE series, worry not. The debut book of the Fire series works wonderfully well as a standalone though I would recommend reading the ICE series because ALL of them were FIVE STAR reads for me!
Consumed by Fire stars a member of the infamous Committee, a group of elite mercenaries of sorts funded by the richest of the rich, the aim to keep democracies functioning across the globe. Leaving the technicalities of all that aside, Bishop is a hero that perfectly fits the mold of heroes that Anne Stuart is famous for delivering, especially in her ICE series. Cold, aloof, and beautiful for the lack of a better word. Yes, the heroes Anne Stuart creates are nothing short of a work of art.
When Evangeline Morrissey encounters Bishop and his partner during one of their missions, Evangeline has no idea what she is getting herself into when she agrees to have dinner with a man as enigmatic as they come. Every brain cell that has made Evangeline the academic she is flees South, leaving her in the throes of passion of the kind she has never experienced before. But the next thing she knows, the man who takes her as his wife and gives her three days and nights of soul searing passion leaves her, taking her diamond earrings along with him.
Fast forward to five years later and Bishop once again enters her life, in the name of keeping her safe from his enemies that has found out that when it comes to him, his only vulnerability lies in the woman with whom he got married to all those years ago. Thus begins the ride of a lifetime, a story that sweeps you away on the sort of journey that only Anne Stuart and her mastery is capable of delivering. There is not a moment of dullness to be had, not a thing I would change in this absolute perfection of a novel that Anne Stuart has penned. Yet again, I bow down to the absolute wizardry behind every word she writes, the darkness in her novels exactly what this wretched soul of mine craves. There is none like Anne Stuart and I fear that there would never ever be!
I’ve missed the ICE novels. Knowing this was coming out within this year was a godsend. And getting my hands on it before it’s release was one of the best ‘gifts’ I could’ve ever received this year. Anne Stuart stormed her way into my reading life through her ICE series. I’ve neither forgotten nor left behind the memories of how each and every single book in the series made me feel. So to have a book that brought back with it the exact same feeling of exhilaration was more than enough reward for having waited patiently for a novel like this to come out. And thus once again dear Anne Stuart, you have proven to your fans that when it comes to writing books of the kind, none compares to you!
James Alexander Bishop; the man has a way with tangling your insides up with need, the need to see him fall hard and fall bad, the need to claim him as your own. You don’t get heroes who are demanding in bed and mushy and sweet out of it when it comes to Anne Stuart and especially the ICE series. What you get are men who tests the very limits of your acceptance & patience & yet somehow you can’t help but fall irrevocably in lust and love with every single one of them. James Bishop steals your heart from the minute his devastating brand of charm seduces the heart of Evangeline’s and nothing that he did thereafter could change the fact, which is saying a lot.
I loved the subtle differences in the heroine this story had to offer. In ICE novels, it’s almost always the case for the hero to be the one in icy control, forever able to deny his feelings for the woman who changes the very core of existence. The women though strong, tend to not be dangerous in their own right. With Evangeline I felt that she was more than equally matched for Bishop in more subtle ways. Like the way she could hold her own when it comes to him even with the sheer rage that courses through her veins coming across him five years after he’d abandoned her. The fact that she could stimulate his mind, push HIS comfort zone and make him face the reality of his messed up feelings when it comes to her was telling in itself. Pairing an academic and a professional assassin who strikes off sparks against each other that rivals even the most fiery of lightening storms; therein lies the sheer ingenuity that is Anne Stuart.
The perfect balance of romance, action & scorching hot sex, heated enough to melt a few of your brain cells and then some is what Consumed by Fire delivers. An apt title if you ask me, considering the fact that when Bishop and Evangeline come together, there’s nothing short of a major avalanche of feelings, angst and sexual tension happening that seems crazy enough to pull and claw at you until they give in to the visceral need deep inside of them. Loved Bishop and Evangeline & practically everything about the novel. And dear Anne Stuart, thank you for an ending that gave me the sort of closure I needed after the sort of wild roller coaster ride that was this novel. This one lands straight up in my favorites shelf. Can’t wait for Ryder’s story to come out!
Rating = 5/5
For more reviews & quotes, please visit www.maldivianbookreviewer.com>
Consumed by Fire stars a member of the infamous Committee, a group of elite mercenaries of sorts funded by the richest of the rich, the aim to keep democracies functioning across the globe. Leaving the technicalities of all that aside, Bishop is a hero that perfectly fits the mold of heroes that Anne Stuart is famous for delivering, especially in her ICE series. Cold, aloof, and beautiful for the lack of a better word. Yes, the heroes Anne Stuart creates are nothing short of a work of art.
When Evangeline Morrissey encounters Bishop and his partner during one of their missions, Evangeline has no idea what she is getting herself into when she agrees to have dinner with a man as enigmatic as they come. Every brain cell that has made Evangeline the academic she is flees South, leaving her in the throes of passion of the kind she has never experienced before. But the next thing she knows, the man who takes her as his wife and gives her three days and nights of soul searing passion leaves her, taking her diamond earrings along with him.
Fast forward to five years later and Bishop once again enters her life, in the name of keeping her safe from his enemies that has found out that when it comes to him, his only vulnerability lies in the woman with whom he got married to all those years ago. Thus begins the ride of a lifetime, a story that sweeps you away on the sort of journey that only Anne Stuart and her mastery is capable of delivering. There is not a moment of dullness to be had, not a thing I would change in this absolute perfection of a novel that Anne Stuart has penned. Yet again, I bow down to the absolute wizardry behind every word she writes, the darkness in her novels exactly what this wretched soul of mine craves. There is none like Anne Stuart and I fear that there would never ever be!
I’ve missed the ICE novels. Knowing this was coming out within this year was a godsend. And getting my hands on it before it’s release was one of the best ‘gifts’ I could’ve ever received this year. Anne Stuart stormed her way into my reading life through her ICE series. I’ve neither forgotten nor left behind the memories of how each and every single book in the series made me feel. So to have a book that brought back with it the exact same feeling of exhilaration was more than enough reward for having waited patiently for a novel like this to come out. And thus once again dear Anne Stuart, you have proven to your fans that when it comes to writing books of the kind, none compares to you!
James Alexander Bishop; the man has a way with tangling your insides up with need, the need to see him fall hard and fall bad, the need to claim him as your own. You don’t get heroes who are demanding in bed and mushy and sweet out of it when it comes to Anne Stuart and especially the ICE series. What you get are men who tests the very limits of your acceptance & patience & yet somehow you can’t help but fall irrevocably in lust and love with every single one of them. James Bishop steals your heart from the minute his devastating brand of charm seduces the heart of Evangeline’s and nothing that he did thereafter could change the fact, which is saying a lot.
I loved the subtle differences in the heroine this story had to offer. In ICE novels, it’s almost always the case for the hero to be the one in icy control, forever able to deny his feelings for the woman who changes the very core of existence. The women though strong, tend to not be dangerous in their own right. With Evangeline I felt that she was more than equally matched for Bishop in more subtle ways. Like the way she could hold her own when it comes to him even with the sheer rage that courses through her veins coming across him five years after he’d abandoned her. The fact that she could stimulate his mind, push HIS comfort zone and make him face the reality of his messed up feelings when it comes to her was telling in itself. Pairing an academic and a professional assassin who strikes off sparks against each other that rivals even the most fiery of lightening storms; therein lies the sheer ingenuity that is Anne Stuart.
The perfect balance of romance, action & scorching hot sex, heated enough to melt a few of your brain cells and then some is what Consumed by Fire delivers. An apt title if you ask me, considering the fact that when Bishop and Evangeline come together, there’s nothing short of a major avalanche of feelings, angst and sexual tension happening that seems crazy enough to pull and claw at you until they give in to the visceral need deep inside of them. Loved Bishop and Evangeline & practically everything about the novel. And dear Anne Stuart, thank you for an ending that gave me the sort of closure I needed after the sort of wild roller coaster ride that was this novel. This one lands straight up in my favorites shelf. Can’t wait for Ryder’s story to come out!
Rating = 5/5
For more reviews & quotes, please visit www.maldivianbookreviewer.com>
May 29, 2015
Review posted at: Swept Away By Romance
5 stars!!!!
If you’ve never read a book written by Anne Stuart, and want to read the very best she has to offer, then Consumed By Fire would be a fabulous place to start! This is quintessential Anne Stuart and can only be described as a nearly perfect read.
James Bishop is an operative in the top secret Committee (an organization that specializes in covert operations aimed at maintaining freedom throughout the world). The operatives are highly skilled assassins who are capable of just about anything to achieve their objective. They are mercenaries for hire and are ruthless killers.
Evangeline is an American and an extremely brilliant academic. She is a bit naïve and is initially completely taken with the enigmatic James Bishop. Their initial whirl wind romance ends in heartbreak for Evangeline wherein she is betrayed and ultimately abandoned by the man whom she thought she’d spend the rest of her life with.
Fast forward several years and James Bishop is forced to reenter Evangeline’s life in order to protect her. Little does Evangeline realize whom she married years ago, and the lengths to which her husband has gone to protect her throughout the years.
No author has the ability to engage me the way that this author does….and she does so repeatedly. She can make the most dangerous of men seem interesting, attractive, and irresistible.
What sets this book apart and puts it in my favorites of what she has written is her characterization of Evangeline. Stuart brilliantly portrays her not as a weak victim of James Bishop’s schemes and crimes, but as a brilliant and confident woman. She is furious with him for deserting her years before and doesn’t instantly fall into his arms. Her ability to challenge him on so many different levels was simply amazing. James Bishop, a man who has seen it all and who has done it all, is completely shaken off his firm foundation by this woman, and readers, this is a beautiful thing to behold.
Anne Stuart has really upped the ante with this book, and if this is any indication of what’s to come, her FIRE series will rival (if not top) her brilliant ICE series. I for one am ecstatic to on board for what is shaping up to be the reading ride of my life!
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley**
5 stars!!!!
If you’ve never read a book written by Anne Stuart, and want to read the very best she has to offer, then Consumed By Fire would be a fabulous place to start! This is quintessential Anne Stuart and can only be described as a nearly perfect read.
James Bishop is an operative in the top secret Committee (an organization that specializes in covert operations aimed at maintaining freedom throughout the world). The operatives are highly skilled assassins who are capable of just about anything to achieve their objective. They are mercenaries for hire and are ruthless killers.
Evangeline is an American and an extremely brilliant academic. She is a bit naïve and is initially completely taken with the enigmatic James Bishop. Their initial whirl wind romance ends in heartbreak for Evangeline wherein she is betrayed and ultimately abandoned by the man whom she thought she’d spend the rest of her life with.
Fast forward several years and James Bishop is forced to reenter Evangeline’s life in order to protect her. Little does Evangeline realize whom she married years ago, and the lengths to which her husband has gone to protect her throughout the years.
No author has the ability to engage me the way that this author does….and she does so repeatedly. She can make the most dangerous of men seem interesting, attractive, and irresistible.
What sets this book apart and puts it in my favorites of what she has written is her characterization of Evangeline. Stuart brilliantly portrays her not as a weak victim of James Bishop’s schemes and crimes, but as a brilliant and confident woman. She is furious with him for deserting her years before and doesn’t instantly fall into his arms. Her ability to challenge him on so many different levels was simply amazing. James Bishop, a man who has seen it all and who has done it all, is completely shaken off his firm foundation by this woman, and readers, this is a beautiful thing to behold.
Anne Stuart has really upped the ante with this book, and if this is any indication of what’s to come, her FIRE series will rival (if not top) her brilliant ICE series. I for one am ecstatic to on board for what is shaping up to be the reading ride of my life!
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley**
September 3, 2015
I gave this audiobook an A for both the story and narration at AudioGals*
If you’re looking for the perfect blend of suspense, action and off-the-charts chemistry, you do not want to miss Consumed by Fire! Reminding me of a cross between the hit television series Alias from the 2000s and Moonlighting from the 1980s, Consumed by Fire managed to hit a perfect bulls-eye for me. From the secretive covert agency dynamics, to the incredibly hot, witty and downright hilarious at times repartee between the hero and the heroine, this is one book that is chock full of rich, enjoyable material. Moreover, not only did I thoroughly enjoy the story, but I loved Jill Redfield’s rendition, which really added to the overall effect of this romantic suspense title.
See the full review at AudioGals.
If you’re looking for the perfect blend of suspense, action and off-the-charts chemistry, you do not want to miss Consumed by Fire! Reminding me of a cross between the hit television series Alias from the 2000s and Moonlighting from the 1980s, Consumed by Fire managed to hit a perfect bulls-eye for me. From the secretive covert agency dynamics, to the incredibly hot, witty and downright hilarious at times repartee between the hero and the heroine, this is one book that is chock full of rich, enjoyable material. Moreover, not only did I thoroughly enjoy the story, but I loved Jill Redfield’s rendition, which really added to the overall effect of this romantic suspense title.
See the full review at AudioGals.
June 4, 2017
Really liked this, and happy that Stuart is revisiting what I personally consider to be her best work...
This is the first book in a new series, a continuation of sorts of Stuart's 'Ice' series. Once again we have a gamma bad, bad boy working for 'The Committee'. Then he meets the woman who tilts his nefarious world off-kilter.
Fun read, recommended for fans of Stuart's writing. Readers not familiar with her writing style be warned. Stuart's "heroes" are not your garden variety punks, but assassins and coldly amoral...until they meet the right woman, of course.
As a side note, the cover of this book seriously sucks...
This is the first book in a new series, a continuation of sorts of Stuart's 'Ice' series. Once again we have a gamma bad, bad boy working for 'The Committee'. Then he meets the woman who tilts his nefarious world off-kilter.
Fun read, recommended for fans of Stuart's writing. Readers not familiar with her writing style be warned. Stuart's "heroes" are not your garden variety punks, but assassins and coldly amoral...until they meet the right woman, of course.
As a side note, the cover of this book seriously sucks...
February 9, 2017
3 ½ stars. Some parts are good.
AUDIOBOOK BREATH PROBLEM:
I wanted to buy the audiobook, but in the sample the narrator’s breaths were too loud. (Jill Redfield) I wish publishers would require narrators to use software that reduces breath noises. (At least that’s what I’m told is the solution.) Sadly I bought the kindle version instead of audiobook.
KINDLE:
I loved the Ice series which is full of things like “I hate you but I want you” or “I need to kill you but I want you.” This is book 1 in the Fire series which continues the Ice series. The Committee is a British CIA type organization, outside the government. Most of the agents are assassins.
James and Claudia are agents who kill a bad guy priest. Evangeline is a witness but doesn’t know it. James woos her and marries her to save her from Claudia who wants to kill her. A Committee rule won’t let agents kill spouses of other agents. James soon leaves Evangeline to protect her. Five years later bad guys are after Evangeline so James re-enters her life. She hates him for leaving her but she still loves him. He acts like he doesn’t like her, and he won’t acknowledge to himself that he does. There is a lot of I hate you interaction.
There are explicit sex scenes.
It was not as good as the Ice series, but it was good enough. There was too much mental pondering and rehashing past angst.
The best Ice books had more attention paid to the bad guys - giving the books more thriller qualities. In this book we don’t watch the bad guys or see their motivations. My favorite Ice books are Black Ice, Ice Blue and Ice Storm.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 327. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: about 6. Setting: current day various places Italy and U.S. Copyright: 2015. Genre: romantic suspense.
AUDIOBOOK BREATH PROBLEM:
I wanted to buy the audiobook, but in the sample the narrator’s breaths were too loud. (Jill Redfield) I wish publishers would require narrators to use software that reduces breath noises. (At least that’s what I’m told is the solution.) Sadly I bought the kindle version instead of audiobook.
KINDLE:
I loved the Ice series which is full of things like “I hate you but I want you” or “I need to kill you but I want you.” This is book 1 in the Fire series which continues the Ice series. The Committee is a British CIA type organization, outside the government. Most of the agents are assassins.
James and Claudia are agents who kill a bad guy priest. Evangeline is a witness but doesn’t know it. James woos her and marries her to save her from Claudia who wants to kill her. A Committee rule won’t let agents kill spouses of other agents. James soon leaves Evangeline to protect her. Five years later bad guys are after Evangeline so James re-enters her life. She hates him for leaving her but she still loves him. He acts like he doesn’t like her, and he won’t acknowledge to himself that he does. There is a lot of I hate you interaction.
There are explicit sex scenes.
It was not as good as the Ice series, but it was good enough. There was too much mental pondering and rehashing past angst.
The best Ice books had more attention paid to the bad guys - giving the books more thriller qualities. In this book we don’t watch the bad guys or see their motivations. My favorite Ice books are Black Ice, Ice Blue and Ice Storm.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 327. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: about 6. Setting: current day various places Italy and U.S. Copyright: 2015. Genre: romantic suspense.
March 17, 2019
Είχα όρεξη να διαβάσω ένα contemporary romance και αποδείχτηκε ωραία επιλογή!
July 2, 2015
เราพูดอยู่เสมอว่า คาแร็คเตอร์ที่เป็นนางเอกของแอนน์ สจ๊วตต้องทน เนื่องจากพล็อตเรื่องมักจะทำให้พวกเธอต้องผจญภัยสารพัด แถมพระเอกออกแนวโหด ในหลายเรื่องเขาใช้เวลาตัดสินใจว่า จะฆ่าเธอดีหรือไม่ ที่สำคัญตอนจบส่วนใหญ่ เธอต้องเป็นฝ่ายเลือกที่จะไปหาพระเอก ไม่ใช่เขาที่มาหาเธอ เราพยายามนึกนะคะว่า มีเรื่องไหน ที่พระเอกเป็นฝ่ายไปง้อนางเอก แต่นึกไม่ออกค่ะ
เล่มนี้เมื่อมองเผิน ๆ ก็เข้าข่ายพล็อตเรื่องแนวแอนน์ สจ๊วตนะคะ โดยเฉพาะเมื่อเธอย้อนกลับมาในโลกของ The Committee หรือที่หลายคนเรียกว่าชุดไอซ์ เรื่องนี้เป็นเล่มแรกในชุดที่มีชื่อว่า ไฟร์ ซึ่งเล่าเรื่องสมาชิกขององค์กร The Committee เช่นเดียวกัน แต่เป็นสาขาที่ตั้งในอเมริกา (ในขณะที่ชุดไอซ์ สำนักงานใหญ่อยู่ที่ลอนดอน)
เอแวนเจลีน อาจารย์มหาวิทยาลัยที่มาใช้เวลาพักร้อนที่อิตาลี พร้อมไปกับศึกษาสถาปัตยกรรมเพื่อใช้ในการทำวิจัย ตามสไตล์พล็อตของแอนน์ สจ๊วต เธอไปอยู่ผิดที่ผิดทาง เลยไปเป็นพยานในการลอบสังหารที่เกิดขึ้นในโบสถ์ และแม้ว่าเธอไม่รู้ตัวว่า กำลังเห็นอะไร แต่ก็กลายเป็นเป้าหมายเรียบร้อยแล้ว
ทางเดียวที่เจมส์ บิชอปจะรักษาชีวิตของเอแวนเจลีนจากเพื่อนร่วมงานที่ต้องการปิดปากพยาน ก็คือแต่งงานกับเธอ (เรารู้ค่ะว่า พล็อตมันเน่า) เพราะกฎขององค์กรก็คือ ไม่ทำร้ายคนในครอบครัวของสายลับ (ให้สายลับจัดการปัญหาในบ้านกันเอง) ซึ่งด้วยเหตุผลบางอย่างที่เจมส์ไม่เข้าใจ เขาตัดสินใจแต่งงาน และทิ้งเธอไปหลังจากนั้นเพียงสามวัน
แต่เจมส์ไม่ได้ไปจากชีวิตของเอแวนเจลีนอย่างที่เธอคิด ตลอดเวลาห้าปีที่ผ่านไป เขารู้ทุกความเคลื่อนไหว และเมื่อเห็นได้ชัดว่า เธอตกเป็นเป้าหมายของศัตรูที่ต้องการล่อเขาให้มาติดกับ เจมส์เดินกลับเข้าไปในชีวิตของภรรยาอีกครั้ง
ขอบอกว่า เรื่องนี้เป็นงานของแอนน์ สจ๊วตที่หวานมาก อ่านไปเกิดอาการจิกหมอนไปพลาง ๆ ไม่เคยคิดว่า เธอจะเขียนเรื่องได้โรแมนติกขนาดนี้ ต้องบอกว่า เอแวนเจลีนเป็นนางเอกที่โชคดีมาก ๆ จะมีหนังสือสักกี่เล่มของเธอ ที่พระเอกเป็นฝ่ายไปหานางเอก (อาจจะไม่ขอโทษ) แต่มีของมาฝาก + ล่อให้เธอมาใช้ชีวิตร่วมกับเขา
เราชอบพล็อตเรื่องที่เจมส์ และเอแวนเจลีนใช้เวลาอยู่ด้วยกันเกือบตลอดทั้งเรื่อง (แม้จะมีช่วงเวลาห้าปีที่เธอคิดว่า เขาทิ้งเธอไป) การที่เจมส์บอกตัวเองตลอดเวลาว่าไม่แคร์เธอ แต่ทุกการกระทำทำให้เราต้องอ่านไปยิ้มไป เขารู้จักและสังเกตทุกรายละเอียดในชีวิตของเธอ เขาเทรนหมาเพื่อให้มันคุ้มครองเธอด้วยซ้ำ
หลังจากหลายปีที่เรารู้สึกว่า แอนน์ สจ๊วตผ่อน ๆ ลงไป เล่มนี้เธอกลับมาแล้วค่ะ เป็นหนังสือที่เราอ่านแล้วมีความสุขมาก ๆ โดยเฉพาะในช่วงเวลาที่เรากำลังเซ็งอยู่พอดี เรียกว่า มาได้ถูกที่ถูกเวลาจริง ๆ
คนที่ไม่เคยอ่านงานของแอนน์ สจ๊วตมาก่อน เราแนะนำที่เล่มนี้เลยนะคะ สำหรับคนที่อ่านอยู่แล้ว คงไม่ต้องบอกอะไรมาก นอกจากรีบ (วิ่ง) ไปหามาอ่านโดยด่วน
เล่มนี้เมื่อมองเผิน ๆ ก็เข้าข่ายพล็อตเรื่องแนวแอนน์ สจ๊วตนะคะ โดยเฉพาะเมื่อเธอย้อนกลับมาในโลกของ The Committee หรือที่หลายคนเรียกว่าชุดไอซ์ เรื่องนี้เป็นเล่มแรกในชุดที่มีชื่อว่า ไฟร์ ซึ่งเล่าเรื่องสมาชิกขององค์กร The Committee เช่นเดียวกัน แต่เป็นสาขาที่ตั้งในอเมริกา (ในขณะที่ชุดไอซ์ สำนักงานใหญ่อยู่ที่ลอนดอน)
เอแวนเจลีน อาจารย์มหาวิทยาลัยที่มาใช้เวลาพักร้อนที่อิตาลี พร้อมไปกับศึกษาสถาปัตยกรรมเพื่อใช้ในการทำวิจัย ตามสไตล์พล็อตของแอนน์ สจ๊วต เธอไปอยู่ผิดที่ผิดทาง เลยไปเป็นพยานในการลอบสังหารที่เกิดขึ้นในโบสถ์ และแม้ว่าเธอไม่รู้ตัวว่า กำลังเห็นอะไร แต่ก็กลายเป็นเป้าหมายเรียบร้อยแล้ว
ทางเดียวที่เจมส์ บิชอปจะรักษาชีวิตของเอแวนเจลีนจากเพื่อนร่วมงานที่ต้องการปิดปากพยาน ก็คือแต่งงานกับเธอ (เรารู้ค่ะว่า พล็อตมันเน่า) เพราะกฎขององค์กรก็คือ ไม่ทำร้ายคนในครอบครัวของสายลับ (ให้สายลับจัดการปัญหาในบ้านกันเอง) ซึ่งด้วยเหตุผลบางอย่างที่เจมส์ไม่เข้าใจ เขาตัดสินใจแต่งงาน และทิ้งเธอไปหลังจากนั้นเพียงสามวัน
แต่เจมส์ไม่ได้ไปจากชีวิตของเอแวนเจลีนอย่างที่เธอคิด ตลอดเวลาห้าปีที่ผ่านไป เขารู้ทุกความเคลื่อนไหว และเมื่อเห็นได้ชัดว่า เธอตกเป็นเป้าหมายของศัตรูที่ต้องการล่อเขาให้มาติดกับ เจมส์เดินกลับเข้าไปในชีวิตของภรรยาอีกครั้ง
ขอบอกว่า เรื่องนี้เป็นงานของแอนน์ สจ๊วตที่หวานมาก อ่านไปเกิดอาการจิกหมอนไปพลาง ๆ ไม่เคยคิดว่า เธอจะเขียนเรื่องได้โรแมนติกขนาดนี้ ต้องบอกว่า เอแวนเจลีนเป็นนางเอกที่โชคดีมาก ๆ จะมีหนังสือสักกี่เล่มของเธอ ที่พระเอกเป็นฝ่ายไปหานางเอก (อาจจะไม่ขอโทษ) แต่มีของมาฝาก + ล่อให้เธอมาใช้ชีวิตร่วมกับเขา
เราชอบพล็อตเรื่องที่เจมส์ และเอแวนเจลีนใช้เวลาอยู่ด้วยกันเกือบตลอดทั้งเรื่อง (แม้จะมีช่วงเวลาห้าปีที่เธอคิดว่า เขาทิ้งเธอไป) การที่เจมส์บอกตัวเองตลอดเวลาว่าไม่แคร์เธอ แต่ทุกการกระทำทำให้เราต้องอ่านไปยิ้มไป เขารู้จักและสังเกตทุกรายละเอียดในชีวิตของเธอ เขาเทรนหมาเพื่อให้มันคุ้มครองเธอด้วยซ้ำ
หลังจากหลายปีที่เรารู้สึกว่า แอนน์ สจ๊วตผ่อน ๆ ลงไป เล่มนี้เธอกลับมาแล้วค่ะ เป็นหนังสือที่เราอ่านแล้วมีความสุขมาก ๆ โดยเฉพาะในช่วงเวลาที่เรากำลังเซ็งอยู่พอดี เรียกว่า มาได้ถูกที่ถูกเวลาจริง ๆ
คนที่ไม่เคยอ่านงานของแอนน์ สจ๊วตมาก่อน เราแนะนำที่เล่มนี้เลยนะคะ สำหรับคนที่อ่านอยู่แล้ว คงไม่ต้องบอกอะไรมาก นอกจากรีบ (วิ่ง) ไปหามาอ่านโดยด่วน
November 18, 2015
ARC provided by the Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am not a fan of formula writers. Nicholas Sparks and Danielle Steele come to mind. With Sparks, the ending is always unhappy; with Steele the romance is so sappy you want to gag. Anne Stuart has her own formula: Secret Agent Man (SAM) and the Sweet Young Thing (SYT). SYT finds herself in the middle of the SAM's operation and SAM must make a sacrifice to save the SYT. Of course, SSA falls in love with the SYT, but he calls is terminal lust. SYT is so naïve that she just doesn't know that she is hooked up with a SAM. In the end the baddies are routed and the SAM and the SYT live Happily Ever After (HEA). I happen to enjoy this particular formula and Anne Stuart has an amazing way of making each incarnation of it different and unique.
Evangeline (SYT) takes a rest stop at an old chapel in the hills in Italy. Something wakes her and she discovers an old man at his prayers and two tourists. She has a conversation with the tourists and as a storm is about to break, James Bishop (SAM) offers to give her a ride to town where he proceeds to wine and dine and sleep with her. The next morning he takes her to Venice and marries her. Bishop's partner, Claudia, didn't like a witness to her presence at a Committee hit on the old man. Claudia wants Evangeline dead. James isn't into murder unless it is absolutely necessary. But James knows that Claudia is a psychopath who really enjoys the act of killing, even an innocent, and he marries Evangeline to protect her. He leaves Evangeline after 4 days, protected but destroyed by his betrayal.
Five years later, James is back because the old man they his had a family that would stop at nothing to eliminate James and Evangeline is a way to bring him in. She is really pissed at his reappearance and knows that this is not the man she knew in Italy. He is differently something else. What, she will need to determine as he takes her from the Canadian border to New Orleans dodging murders along the way.
I am not a fan of formula writers. Nicholas Sparks and Danielle Steele come to mind. With Sparks, the ending is always unhappy; with Steele the romance is so sappy you want to gag. Anne Stuart has her own formula: Secret Agent Man (SAM) and the Sweet Young Thing (SYT). SYT finds herself in the middle of the SAM's operation and SAM must make a sacrifice to save the SYT. Of course, SSA falls in love with the SYT, but he calls is terminal lust. SYT is so naïve that she just doesn't know that she is hooked up with a SAM. In the end the baddies are routed and the SAM and the SYT live Happily Ever After (HEA). I happen to enjoy this particular formula and Anne Stuart has an amazing way of making each incarnation of it different and unique.
Evangeline (SYT) takes a rest stop at an old chapel in the hills in Italy. Something wakes her and she discovers an old man at his prayers and two tourists. She has a conversation with the tourists and as a storm is about to break, James Bishop (SAM) offers to give her a ride to town where he proceeds to wine and dine and sleep with her. The next morning he takes her to Venice and marries her. Bishop's partner, Claudia, didn't like a witness to her presence at a Committee hit on the old man. Claudia wants Evangeline dead. James isn't into murder unless it is absolutely necessary. But James knows that Claudia is a psychopath who really enjoys the act of killing, even an innocent, and he marries Evangeline to protect her. He leaves Evangeline after 4 days, protected but destroyed by his betrayal.
Five years later, James is back because the old man they his had a family that would stop at nothing to eliminate James and Evangeline is a way to bring him in. She is really pissed at his reappearance and knows that this is not the man she knew in Italy. He is differently something else. What, she will need to determine as he takes her from the Canadian border to New Orleans dodging murders along the way.
July 21, 2019
Looks like this is a spinoff of Anne Stuart's Ice series. I've read books 1 & 2 of the Ice series. After reading book 1 of the Fire series, I'm beginning to see a formula
Something bad is about to happen or has happened
Heroine is in the wrong place at the wrong time
Hero sees heroine and feels the need to protect heroine
Instant attraction/love
Heroine is idiotic and asks stupid questions
Great action
Hero saves heroine
HEA
Something bad is about to happen or has happened
Heroine is in the wrong place at the wrong time
Hero sees heroine and feels the need to protect heroine
Instant attraction/love
Heroine is idiotic and asks stupid questions
Great action
Hero saves heroine
HEA
March 22, 2015
Pet peeves aside, an EXCELLENT read. Full review to follow once I can get to a computer.
4.5/5
4.5/5
January 28, 2019
For me this entire story was like being on a roller coaster ride. From the first page to the very last page; I hated it, I loved it, I hated it, and then I loved the ending. I was back and forth with it so many times I was making myself dizzy.
At one point I thought it was the dumbest thing to write about a woman that couldn't remember a man she spent three days with having the best sex of her life. Stupid, right?
But then came the best line in a scene: “You bastard,” she said in a low, vicious voice. If he was disturbed that she’d taken the gun he didn’t show it. “There you go,” James Bishop said calmly. “I was worried you’d forgotten me.”
A big anticipation for me was waiting for what I knew was going to happen regarding Merlin. And, when I was right I was giddy and charmed.
That charm was lost with one kick. It didn't matter that the heroine just couldn’t seem to keep her mouth shut. Yes, I loved the h, but most of the time she was TSTL. And, she might have deserved the kick. But, she didn’t know what to hell was going on! Yep, this is where the compelling suspense story lost me as a fan. Or, so I thought… Are you dizzy yet?
I thought there was going to be a big fat hole in the plot. It kept stringing me along. At 50% this is what the narrative gives me. “Now was the time to whisper words of love, of guilt, of reassurance. Now was the time to comfort her.” Nope, it wasn’t the time! It took three quarters of the story for the h to get to the truth. If you are a reader like me, a hopeless romantic, you will vacillate reading this story just like I did.
The Hero never graveled, and in my opinion he needed to. As much as I tried I just couldn't love this anti-hero. I kept waiting to change my mind, but it didn't happen until the last chapter of the damn book! For almost all of the book it was all about the explosive sex. I presume that’s what the title is supposed to represent.
Now, how do you rate a book that you hated it, and love it. There were things I didn’t care for with the authors writing style. But, I have got to give the storyline its merit. Because it was an enthralling suspense novel with hot sex and a smidgen of romance thrown in. Great Read/Great Writing.
At one point I thought it was the dumbest thing to write about a woman that couldn't remember a man she spent three days with having the best sex of her life. Stupid, right?
But then came the best line in a scene: “You bastard,” she said in a low, vicious voice. If he was disturbed that she’d taken the gun he didn’t show it. “There you go,” James Bishop said calmly. “I was worried you’d forgotten me.”
A big anticipation for me was waiting for what I knew was going to happen regarding Merlin. And, when I was right I was giddy and charmed.
That charm was lost with one kick. It didn't matter that the heroine just couldn’t seem to keep her mouth shut. Yes, I loved the h, but most of the time she was TSTL. And, she might have deserved the kick. But, she didn’t know what to hell was going on! Yep, this is where the compelling suspense story lost me as a fan. Or, so I thought… Are you dizzy yet?
I thought there was going to be a big fat hole in the plot. It kept stringing me along. At 50% this is what the narrative gives me. “Now was the time to whisper words of love, of guilt, of reassurance. Now was the time to comfort her.” Nope, it wasn’t the time! It took three quarters of the story for the h to get to the truth. If you are a reader like me, a hopeless romantic, you will vacillate reading this story just like I did.
The Hero never graveled, and in my opinion he needed to. As much as I tried I just couldn't love this anti-hero. I kept waiting to change my mind, but it didn't happen until the last chapter of the damn book! For almost all of the book it was all about the explosive sex. I presume that’s what the title is supposed to represent.
Now, how do you rate a book that you hated it, and love it. There were things I didn’t care for with the authors writing style. But, I have got to give the storyline its merit. Because it was an enthralling suspense novel with hot sex and a smidgen of romance thrown in. Great Read/Great Writing.
March 8, 2015
I went into this new series not realizing it's a spin-off of Anne Stuart's ICE series. I couldn't be happier she's returning to this world! The first book, Black Ice (Sebastian, sigh...), is probably one of my favorite books. Anne Stuart has perfected and mastered the ability to take the most extreme and unrepentant a$$hole alphas and make me come back for more. I can't think of another author who can create such complex heroes as she does in each of her stories. She did the same thing with her Fallen series under the name Kristina Douglas.
In no way do you need to read the ICE series to follow along with this spin-off. Peter Madsen is still the head of the Committee and is mentioned several times, but is indirectly involved. A few of the other characters are mentioned, but nothing to keep the reader from understanding the purpose of the Committee from earlier stories. The concept for this series is the opening of a branch in the US. Another character is set up for a future book (this one jinxes himself by basically saying no woman would tie him down) and I can't help but think not everything should be assumed as resolved from this story (see my hidden spoiler #1 below).
The book has a lot of internal monologues where I did find my mind drifting at times. I liked the story being told from both points of view as it helps the reader get into the minds and motivations for the characters. Evangeline changes quite a bit. I didn't always love her character (the early or later version), but I did like how she dished it right back to James and didn't let him walk all over her. She also showed her vulnerable side that did not escape James's notice no matter how hard she tried. James... well, as with all of Stuart's characters, you love to hate him and watch him fall. It may not be sweet and romantic, but Stuart always clues the reader into the chipping away at her alpha's resolve.
Two parts of the book have left me with questions, but in no way are they significant game changers for the overall story. Only insignificant moments, but continue to linger in my mind... BEWARE THIS 1ST ONE IS A SPOILER AS IT GIVES AWAY A BIG REVEAL OF THE PLOT.
(Oh, if you remember this from the ICE series... that wonder healing ointment reappears!)
Again, I'm beyond excited Anne Stuart has returned to this world! I'm excited about the next character's book to watch him fall to his knees!
I received a copy of this story through NetGalley from the publisher/author for an honest review. THANK YOU!!!
In no way do you need to read the ICE series to follow along with this spin-off. Peter Madsen is still the head of the Committee and is mentioned several times, but is indirectly involved. A few of the other characters are mentioned, but nothing to keep the reader from understanding the purpose of the Committee from earlier stories. The concept for this series is the opening of a branch in the US. Another character is set up for a future book (this one jinxes himself by basically saying no woman would tie him down) and I can't help but think not everything should be assumed as resolved from this story (see my hidden spoiler #1 below).
The book has a lot of internal monologues where I did find my mind drifting at times. I liked the story being told from both points of view as it helps the reader get into the minds and motivations for the characters. Evangeline changes quite a bit. I didn't always love her character (the early or later version), but I did like how she dished it right back to James and didn't let him walk all over her. She also showed her vulnerable side that did not escape James's notice no matter how hard she tried. James... well, as with all of Stuart's characters, you love to hate him and watch him fall. It may not be sweet and romantic, but Stuart always clues the reader into the chipping away at her alpha's resolve.
Two parts of the book have left me with questions, but in no way are they significant game changers for the overall story. Only insignificant moments, but continue to linger in my mind... BEWARE THIS 1ST ONE IS A SPOILER AS IT GIVES AWAY A BIG REVEAL OF THE PLOT.
(Oh, if you remember this from the ICE series... that wonder healing ointment reappears!)
Again, I'm beyond excited Anne Stuart has returned to this world! I'm excited about the next character's book to watch him fall to his knees!
I received a copy of this story through NetGalley from the publisher/author for an honest review. THANK YOU!!!
March 1, 2022
4 Hard Ass Stars!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a nice surprise! I’ve wanted to try an Anne Stuart for a long time, so I’m happy my library had this one and that my friend pushed me to read it!
It was hard to feel any kind of “romance” with this couple at first, but it was the kind of thing that grew over the course of the book. So by the end, I definitely felt their love and connection. I loved that these characters were on a journey the whole time; it made for a very entertaining read.
My only issue was that I didn’t love James. I totally understand his reasons for keeping her at arms length, but he just wasn’t my favorite hero.
All in all, a great story and I will definitely be reading more from this author! 💕
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a nice surprise! I’ve wanted to try an Anne Stuart for a long time, so I’m happy my library had this one and that my friend pushed me to read it!
It was hard to feel any kind of “romance” with this couple at first, but it was the kind of thing that grew over the course of the book. So by the end, I definitely felt their love and connection. I loved that these characters were on a journey the whole time; it made for a very entertaining read.
My only issue was that I didn’t love James. I totally understand his reasons for keeping her at arms length, but he just wasn’t my favorite hero.
All in all, a great story and I will definitely be reading more from this author! 💕
July 22, 2016
Evangeline Morrissey remembers the last time she saw her husband: it was during their honeymoon, right before he stole her grandmother’s earrings and abandoned her.
ANGEL
Now, five years later, the enigmatic man who’d broken her heart and destroyed her trust is back. But she’s not the same naive young woman who fell for him so easily.
James
Marrying Evangeline and letting her think he was nothing but a common thief had been James Bishop’s plan all along. As an assassin for the Committee, a covert agency dedicated to stamping out international crime, he had no business even thinking about marriage.
But it was the only way to protect Evangeline after she’d unwittingly wandered into his operation against a group of human traffickers, placing herself in grave danger.
And now that James’s vigilant watch over Evangeline’s life has revealed to his enemies that she’s his one true weakness, he must set out to have, to hold, and—above all—to protect his bride.
This is one of my favorite authors. I read, reread and collect her books. It's a very intense read, but what do you expect from Romantic Suspense. It stays true to the overall feel and formula of the Ice series without being tired or recycled.
June 2, 2015
My first Anne Stuart book & definitely not my last.
This book had a fast start. Evangeline, the h is a college professor on a research tour in Italy. James, the H, is a.... (to be revealed as the book goes along). I had a problem/question with how & why James and his colleague were spotted at the scene of a crime. If they were so skilled, how could they let that happen? Oh well, I went with it. There's instant sparks between James & Evangeline. The romance was dominated by the angry sexual encounters. I kept waiting for either of them to confess their feelings. James goes to tremendous lengths to protect Evangeline "Angel". She kept telling him NOT to call her that. OK, her preference, but she does push him away. James does keep his distant between the sexy times. I love the writing. I wish that there was some good ol' romance. They had a lot of banter-more hostile than just banter. The BIG reveals of the bad guy(s)- two separate parts were terrific. I'm sure that there will be a sequel to this novel. There's an HEA/HFN- but no epilogue. As I mentioned, I enjoyed Anne's writing. I will be reading more from this author. Thanks to Crista/Krista Lyn for recommending this author to me (many times!). 4.25 stars. I recommend for those that like romance/spy/thriller books & this is spin off from the Ice series (I have to read those too).
This book had a fast start. Evangeline, the h is a college professor on a research tour in Italy. James, the H, is a.... (to be revealed as the book goes along). I had a problem/question with how & why James and his colleague were spotted at the scene of a crime. If they were so skilled, how could they let that happen? Oh well, I went with it. There's instant sparks between James & Evangeline. The romance was dominated by the angry sexual encounters. I kept waiting for either of them to confess their feelings. James goes to tremendous lengths to protect Evangeline "Angel". She kept telling him NOT to call her that. OK, her preference, but she does push him away. James does keep his distant between the sexy times. I love the writing. I wish that there was some good ol' romance. They had a lot of banter-more hostile than just banter. The BIG reveals of the bad guy(s)- two separate parts were terrific. I'm sure that there will be a sequel to this novel. There's an HEA/HFN- but no epilogue. As I mentioned, I enjoyed Anne's writing. I will be reading more from this author. Thanks to Crista/Krista Lyn for recommending this author to me (many times!). 4.25 stars. I recommend for those that like romance/spy/thriller books & this is spin off from the Ice series (I have to read those too).
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