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teresajluvs2read's review
5.0
Beware of a Flash Fire, it might be hotter than you think
Clara is an DOD investigator who tracks down missing US citizens and returns them home one way or the other. But on a trip to Mexico City to retrieve remains, she meets Walker who has his own agenda, tracking down the "No nose" drug lord and his brothers remains. Her father contacts her with a request off the books to retire Rosarita, who had been a one time fling, he regretted having. Clara reluctantly agrees to try and locate her, however little does she know that her dad, the General, has asked Walker to watch over and help Clara. They are chased, kidnapped and find out not everything is as it seems when they eventually find Rosarita, but along the way both Clara and Walker start to have feelings for each other. BencHmark returns to the U.S. after being he'd hostage by one of the men who Walker is trying to locate, she asks him to come back to her in one piece. I loved that the Christmas present was in the driveway, banging headboard when the two finally get together and Grandma Lucy's comment about a pool table in the basement were all incorporated into the ending. All in all the book is well worth buying.
Clara is an DOD investigator who tracks down missing US citizens and returns them home one way or the other. But on a trip to Mexico City to retrieve remains, she meets Walker who has his own agenda, tracking down the "No nose" drug lord and his brothers remains. Her father contacts her with a request off the books to retire Rosarita, who had been a one time fling, he regretted having. Clara reluctantly agrees to try and locate her, however little does she know that her dad, the General, has asked Walker to watch over and help Clara. They are chased, kidnapped and find out not everything is as it seems when they eventually find Rosarita, but along the way both Clara and Walker start to have feelings for each other. BencHmark returns to the U.S. after being he'd hostage by one of the men who Walker is trying to locate, she asks him to come back to her in one piece. I loved that the Christmas present was in the driveway, banging headboard when the two finally get together and Grandma Lucy's comment about a pool table in the basement were all incorporated into the ending. All in all the book is well worth buying.
labraden's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Not only is it important for her work as investigator for the DOD's Personnel Recovery Unit to find Rosita Ruiz in Mexico, it is also imperative that Clara Roberts find her in order to keep her dying father's indiscretion with the young woman under wraps. Clara's facilitator is supposed to be Light Walker, but after meeting him, she quickly learns that his good looks hide a ruthless mercenary. Light recognizes that Clara is in over her head dealing with Mexican cartel's in order to find this missing girl, and that she jeopardizes his mission of revenge against those who killed his brother, so he does everything he can to get Clara to go home. However, her determination derails all of his attempts to get her to leave and causes him to not only respect her but also care for her as well.
Flash Fire hits all the right notes for a romantic suspense/adventure. Clara is a spunky heroine whose positive traits have been overlooked by men until she meets Light Walker, the rugged hero, who grows to appreciate her. The characters and the plot are well developed including believable action and a skillfully executed story line that builds to a satisfying conclusion. The romance is a slow burn that takes time enough to create a credible relationship between the leads. Even though the story elements seem extremely effective, for whatever reason, I found it difficult to connect with the characters. Overall, however, Flash Fire is a successful romantic suspense/adventure that keeps the reader engrossed until the very end.
Flash Fire hits all the right notes for a romantic suspense/adventure. Clara is a spunky heroine whose positive traits have been overlooked by men until she meets Light Walker, the rugged hero, who grows to appreciate her. The characters and the plot are well developed including believable action and a skillfully executed story line that builds to a satisfying conclusion. The romance is a slow burn that takes time enough to create a credible relationship between the leads. Even though the story elements seem extremely effective, for whatever reason, I found it difficult to connect with the characters. Overall, however, Flash Fire is a successful romantic suspense/adventure that keeps the reader engrossed until the very end.
deannasworld's review
5.0
Dana Marton has surprised me yet again. After Forced Disappearance, I thought I knew what to expect from her, but instead Flash Fire kept me guessing every step of the way, in turns intensely action-packed, filled with danger, and hilariously funny. I'm not even certain if Ms Marton intended this to be a funny book but there are so many parts of the story that tickled my funny bone just right. There were some excellent laugh out loud moments that were very memorable. It's not comedy, slapstick funny, but funny in keeping with the high adrenalin story. Perhaps Ms Marton intended the funny bits to tone down the intensely dangerous situation Walker and Clara were in?
"No matter what her father wanted, no way was Clara going to partner up with Light Walker. He’d suggested a tarantula for a snack, for heaven’s sake."
Walker might just be the most badass hero I have ever met. He's utterly ruthless and unapologetic about his behaviour and he's a complete guy's guy.
"The shorts had been a bad idea, he could tell that right then and there. They were a light material, red, an inch-long lace edging the hems. Combined with cowboy boots, they created an interesting effect. In his pants. "
But he's also funny while being a guy's guy.
"The thought of her long legs wrapped around his waist definitely held appeal. Except, while he was contemplating talking her out of her pants, the look in her eyes said she was contemplating shooting him. "
"She must have had an odd expression on her face, because he said, “Hey, don’t look so scared. C4 is actually pretty stable. You could juggle with it and nothing would happen.” He probably did juggle explosives. Sweet Jungle Jesus. "
And he's kind and compassionate even though those finer qualities are buried deep down within him and he keeps a lid on it. On a black and white scale, Walker is all shades of grey but mostly bordering on black. He's an awesome hero and exactly the kind of guy you want by your side in a dangerous and difficult situation, but I don't think he's life partner material as he is. Fortunately, as he gets to know Clara, she helps him rediscover his finer qualities and she makes him want to be a better man. Kudos to Clara for accepting Walker as he is and trying to change him. Walker lives by his own code of right and wrong, and I loved he does figure out what's right, what's wrong and what's worth living for.
"It was down to her and Walker. Loose cannon Walker. No allegiance Walker. Cares about nothing but his own agenda Walker."
I like Clara. She's strong, brave and tenacious as hell. Kind of like a dog with a bone. She just doesn't let go.
"She was no GI Jane by any means, but there was a doggedness about her that was beginning to worry him. She might be a rookie investigator, but so far she’d stood up to everything he’d thrown at her. He was beginning to have a dreadful suspicion that she might be more difficult to get rid of than he had first anticipated."
Thrust in a situation she neither understands nor can she get out of without help, Clara is tough and resilient. She's also somewhat naive until Walker opens her eyes to the reality of the situation she is in.
This story was one hell of a ride from start to finish even though at the start, the situation surrounding Clara being asked to go on this particular recovery assignment was a little distasteful, but it all comes full circle at the end. All is not what it seems.
I'm really impressed with Ms Marton's writing and storytelling and I'm looking forward to the next book.
See more from Deanna's World
"No matter what her father wanted, no way was Clara going to partner up with Light Walker. He’d suggested a tarantula for a snack, for heaven’s sake."
Walker might just be the most badass hero I have ever met. He's utterly ruthless and unapologetic about his behaviour and he's a complete guy's guy.
"The shorts had been a bad idea, he could tell that right then and there. They were a light material, red, an inch-long lace edging the hems. Combined with cowboy boots, they created an interesting effect. In his pants. "
But he's also funny while being a guy's guy.
"The thought of her long legs wrapped around his waist definitely held appeal. Except, while he was contemplating talking her out of her pants, the look in her eyes said she was contemplating shooting him. "
"She must have had an odd expression on her face, because he said, “Hey, don’t look so scared. C4 is actually pretty stable. You could juggle with it and nothing would happen.” He probably did juggle explosives. Sweet Jungle Jesus. "
And he's kind and compassionate even though those finer qualities are buried deep down within him and he keeps a lid on it. On a black and white scale, Walker is all shades of grey but mostly bordering on black. He's an awesome hero and exactly the kind of guy you want by your side in a dangerous and difficult situation, but I don't think he's life partner material as he is. Fortunately, as he gets to know Clara, she helps him rediscover his finer qualities and she makes him want to be a better man. Kudos to Clara for accepting Walker as he is and trying to change him. Walker lives by his own code of right and wrong, and I loved he does figure out what's right, what's wrong and what's worth living for.
"It was down to her and Walker. Loose cannon Walker. No allegiance Walker. Cares about nothing but his own agenda Walker."
I like Clara. She's strong, brave and tenacious as hell. Kind of like a dog with a bone. She just doesn't let go.
"She was no GI Jane by any means, but there was a doggedness about her that was beginning to worry him. She might be a rookie investigator, but so far she’d stood up to everything he’d thrown at her. He was beginning to have a dreadful suspicion that she might be more difficult to get rid of than he had first anticipated."
Thrust in a situation she neither understands nor can she get out of without help, Clara is tough and resilient. She's also somewhat naive until Walker opens her eyes to the reality of the situation she is in.
This story was one hell of a ride from start to finish even though at the start, the situation surrounding Clara being asked to go on this particular recovery assignment was a little distasteful, but it all comes full circle at the end. All is not what it seems.
I'm really impressed with Ms Marton's writing and storytelling and I'm looking forward to the next book.
See more from Deanna's World
booksuperpower's review
4.0
Flash Fire by Dana Marton is a 2015 publication. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
“What anger wants, it buys at the price of soul” - Heraclitus
DOD agent Clara Roberts is in Mexico working on an ‘off the books’ missing persons case and has been told to expect help from Light Walker, only to find the man is a mercenary with no loyalties to any one side, and that their agendas are in direct opposition. Light will do whatever it takes to scare Clara off so he can complete his personal mission. But, Clara doesn’t scare easy and the two end up in a hopeless standoff. Who will win the battle of wills? Will Clara find the missing teen, she is searching for? Will Light finally have his revenge against the drug cartels? Can they get out of the jungle with their lives and hearts in tact?
This story is one of the edgiest novels by Dana Marton I’ve read. It has all the elements that romantic suspense enthusiast, love- such as a hot ex-SEAL hero, a kick – butt heroine, a dangerous location, two emotional backstories, and plenty of sexual chemistry. But, this one is especially gritty, with some graphic depictions of drug lords, human trafficking, and the utter disrespect for human life.
While it’s obvious Light is carrying around a lot anger, that it controls him and has turned him into a hardened vigilante, running hard and fast and as far away as possible from his grief and pain, I had a feeling I would eventually come to like him, plus he had redemption written all over him.
Clara has my sympathy right away due to her fragile family life, and the very awkward position she finds herself in. I admired her tenacity and how her loyalty to family spurs her forward and in the process, she softens and captures Light’s heart.
Being a person that likes a little realism in my stories, even if the imagery or subject matter is a little uncomfortable, I was impressed by the risk the author took in writing such a dark hero, with a no holds barred picture of the conditions in Mexico, the jungle, the cold blooded criminals and their own brand of politics and backstabbing and double crosses.
For me the romance was pretty low key, although there is an underlying attraction between the characters from the start It’s a pretty slow burn, but eventually it catches fire, and becomes more emotional after the two come through a tense and bloody battle together and live to tell the tale.
Sometimes, the romance has to take a backseat in a book that is as explosive and action packed as thin one, but the couple definitely has their moments.
Overall, I enjoyed this fast-paced story, filled with explosions, a little comic relief here and there, sharp dialogue, twist and turns, and an emotional, but a special love story to top it off.
4 stars
“What anger wants, it buys at the price of soul” - Heraclitus
DOD agent Clara Roberts is in Mexico working on an ‘off the books’ missing persons case and has been told to expect help from Light Walker, only to find the man is a mercenary with no loyalties to any one side, and that their agendas are in direct opposition. Light will do whatever it takes to scare Clara off so he can complete his personal mission. But, Clara doesn’t scare easy and the two end up in a hopeless standoff. Who will win the battle of wills? Will Clara find the missing teen, she is searching for? Will Light finally have his revenge against the drug cartels? Can they get out of the jungle with their lives and hearts in tact?
This story is one of the edgiest novels by Dana Marton I’ve read. It has all the elements that romantic suspense enthusiast, love- such as a hot ex-SEAL hero, a kick – butt heroine, a dangerous location, two emotional backstories, and plenty of sexual chemistry. But, this one is especially gritty, with some graphic depictions of drug lords, human trafficking, and the utter disrespect for human life.
While it’s obvious Light is carrying around a lot anger, that it controls him and has turned him into a hardened vigilante, running hard and fast and as far away as possible from his grief and pain, I had a feeling I would eventually come to like him, plus he had redemption written all over him.
Clara has my sympathy right away due to her fragile family life, and the very awkward position she finds herself in. I admired her tenacity and how her loyalty to family spurs her forward and in the process, she softens and captures Light’s heart.
Being a person that likes a little realism in my stories, even if the imagery or subject matter is a little uncomfortable, I was impressed by the risk the author took in writing such a dark hero, with a no holds barred picture of the conditions in Mexico, the jungle, the cold blooded criminals and their own brand of politics and backstabbing and double crosses.
For me the romance was pretty low key, although there is an underlying attraction between the characters from the start It’s a pretty slow burn, but eventually it catches fire, and becomes more emotional after the two come through a tense and bloody battle together and live to tell the tale.
Sometimes, the romance has to take a backseat in a book that is as explosive and action packed as thin one, but the couple definitely has their moments.
Overall, I enjoyed this fast-paced story, filled with explosions, a little comic relief here and there, sharp dialogue, twist and turns, and an emotional, but a special love story to top it off.
4 stars
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