Blaze (Phoenix Rising #2) by Joan Swan

 
The hotter they come, the harder they fall…
With a man like him, every mission becomes personal…
Ever since FBI agent Keira O’Shay started tracking a young boy named Mateo, she’s felt a connection even her empathic abilities can’t explain. She needs to save Mateo from the cult leader holding him hostage. Nothing can interfere with that—not even the reappearance of Luke Ransom, the hot-as-hell fire captain she’s regretted walking out on for three long years.

Losing Keira left Luke vulnerable—in every way. When they were together, the powers each possesses were mysteriously enhanced. But it’s the sexy, surprising woman beneath the tough exterior that Luke’s really missed. Even if she betrayed him utterly. And even if agreeing to help her uncover a government conspiracy means watching his life and his heart go up in flames again...

 Five Stars

Five Fast-paced, Fantastic Stars!!!

Make room for this romance-suspense junkie, because I'm doing cartwheels all over this book! Yes, the sequel to FEVER pushed all the right buttons for me. Can you tell that I found it fantastic? Well, I did!

Blaze mainly focuses on Keira O'Shay and Luke Ransom. Both were part of the firefighting team whose lives were forever changed in that warehouse fire that was first mentioned in Fever. Going into Blaze, I liked that these two already had an established relationship, even if they hadn't seen each other in 3 years. Keira and Luke's lives intersect again when Keira, who is now an FBI agent/sniper, has a mission to rescue a little boy. I must say that the opening sequence of events is not only explosive, but we also get to see how well Keira and Luke work together on many levels.

“Luke stood on the opposite side, looking tattered and sexy as hell sporting his rifle and that goddamned semiautomatic strapped to his thick, muscular thigh. Why, why, why did she find that so...hot!” --Keira

I have no idea how she found the strength to walk away from this man 3 years ago...well, I do, but you've got to read and find out yourself. After reading Blaze, I now understand why Luke was the way he was in Fever. The love of his life walked away from him and his dreams, and he had been hurting all this time. Now, circumstance has thrown their lives back together, but can he trust her to not hurt his heart again? Whatever the outcome, what I loved about this couple is that they are awesome at taking on the bad guys.

“If it's your fight, it's my fight.” --Luke

“We stick together, right? I've got your back.” --Luke

Ladies, Luke doesn't mind that she leads the way in the fight either. Mmmm...gotta love a man that lets the woman take the reigns! Keira is one of my most favorite kick-ass heroines that I've come across. Even with all her issues I completely understand and love her!

Joan Swan gives her fans another thrill ride in BLAZE, complete with lots of action, fast-paced scenes, and sizzling romantic tension. Alyssa, Teague, and Mitch all have prominent secondary roles. Mitch...oh man, he is really something! I really, really hope he gets his own book. More of the conspiracy behind that infamous warehouse fire is revealed, and there's so much more left to uncover in the next books! I am so there for book 3. Bring it on!!!

Update:

RUSH (Phoenix Rising #3) releases August 27, 2013. I'll be posting my review soon!

YES!!! Mitch's book is book #4, SHATTER.

Expected release date is December 31, 2013