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A review by theeditorreads
Over the Flames by Nichole Severn
5.0
Over the Flames is the second-chance romance of recently divorced investigative journalist Arden Olsen and FBI Special Agent (Violent Crimes Unit) Lawson Mitchell.
[a:Nichole Severn|5763145|Nichole Severn|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1544285676p2/5763145.jpg] is back with a brand-new series and the first book is as incendiary as its title!
Trigger Warning: Arson, Violence, Serial Killing
Synopsis:
Arden is determined to uncover the killer who murdered her mentor and friend, Baldwin Webb. Then there is her ex-husband Lawson who has a deep distrust of journalists and who feels that she is just getting in the way of him doing his work. But what they both don’t realise is the lengths the killer will go to once they set their sights on Arden.
Review:
Now, the question that arises is how someone who has barely started her career could be in the crosshairs of a serial killer? This is the first book I have read where the supposed perpetrator is caught within the first half of the book. Or are they? Caught so soon?
Well, let’s rewind a bit. Because the title itself is an indication of how suspenseful and romantic this book is. Before that, let me just share how anything with the word “fire” or “flames” always brings to my mind this cheesy and famous Shayari (made cheesy because of its Bollywood-style representation, maybe):
While there are many interpretations, it roughly translates to “The path of love is fraught with danger, and to truly overcome them, one has to go through them.” (Pardon my translation skills.) The literal translation is rather more interesting. “This love is not easy, just know that there’s a river of fire and (to attain that love, I/we) have to drown in it.”
I so wish I could connect this Shayari and the story in some way, but alas, the story is way better because it kept me on my toes with the suspense that it continuously oozed.
Arden and Lawson grew apart after they lost their only (young) daughter to a medical condition; they could not be there for each other and instead tried to find ways to overcome their mutual grief, although separately. But fate brought them together when Arden discovers her mentor’s remains and it is Lawson who is there to handle that case (as well as two previous cases where death seemed to have occurred in a similar manner).
From there starts their journey of growing close and drifting apart, of digging up the past, the recriminations of not being there when the other needed them the most… On the one hand, while Lawson may seem battle-hardened, he is not immune to the horrors that human nature can sometimes come up with.
And on the other hand, there’s Arden who is still new to the investigative journalism world and trying to find her footing when another wave of grief threatens to immobilize her when she sees how much of a painful death her mentor had to face.
The best thing about the story is the investigative journalism, especially the way Arden and Lawson put together the clues that make them inch closer to the murderer. Set in Vashon Island, Arden wants to prove that her mentor may not be the person he was being made out to be, all the while trying to make her ex see that she was far from the story-hungry journalists that he so disliked; where Lawson, in his own way, wants to protect his ex and does not want her to be involved in the dangers that he faces every day.
Thus starts a rollercoaster of a journey where the fire is the other starring character as it burns through it all. (Funny how I love using the rollercoaster reference when I’ve never been on one.)
Over the Flames has an interesting epilogue, where it basically introduces the series, even after our happy couple come together for eternity. The author also provides a sneak peek into the next book in the series, Into the Veins, which I daren’t read because I will not survive otherwise.
Thank you to the author for an e-ARC of the book.
Originally posted on:
Shaina's Musings
[a:Nichole Severn|5763145|Nichole Severn|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1544285676p2/5763145.jpg] is back with a brand-new series and the first book is as incendiary as its title!
Trigger Warning: Arson, Violence, Serial Killing
Synopsis:
Arden is determined to uncover the killer who murdered her mentor and friend, Baldwin Webb. Then there is her ex-husband Lawson who has a deep distrust of journalists and who feels that she is just getting in the way of him doing his work. But what they both don’t realise is the lengths the killer will go to once they set their sights on Arden.
Review:
Now, the question that arises is how someone who has barely started her career could be in the crosshairs of a serial killer? This is the first book I have read where the supposed perpetrator is caught within the first half of the book. Or are they? Caught so soon?
Well, let’s rewind a bit. Because the title itself is an indication of how suspenseful and romantic this book is. Before that, let me just share how anything with the word “fire” or “flames” always brings to my mind this cheesy and famous Shayari (made cheesy because of its Bollywood-style representation, maybe):
ye ishq nahīñ āsāñ itnā hī samajh liije
ik aag kā dariyā hai aur Duub ke jaanā hai
-Jigar Moradabadi
While there are many interpretations, it roughly translates to “The path of love is fraught with danger, and to truly overcome them, one has to go through them.” (Pardon my translation skills.) The literal translation is rather more interesting. “This love is not easy, just know that there’s a river of fire and (to attain that love, I/we) have to drown in it.”
I so wish I could connect this Shayari and the story in some way, but alas, the story is way better because it kept me on my toes with the suspense that it continuously oozed.
Arden and Lawson grew apart after they lost their only (young) daughter to a medical condition; they could not be there for each other and instead tried to find ways to overcome their mutual grief, although separately. But fate brought them together when Arden discovers her mentor’s remains and it is Lawson who is there to handle that case (as well as two previous cases where death seemed to have occurred in a similar manner).
From there starts their journey of growing close and drifting apart, of digging up the past, the recriminations of not being there when the other needed them the most… On the one hand, while Lawson may seem battle-hardened, he is not immune to the horrors that human nature can sometimes come up with.
And on the other hand, there’s Arden who is still new to the investigative journalism world and trying to find her footing when another wave of grief threatens to immobilize her when she sees how much of a painful death her mentor had to face.
The best thing about the story is the investigative journalism, especially the way Arden and Lawson put together the clues that make them inch closer to the murderer. Set in Vashon Island, Arden wants to prove that her mentor may not be the person he was being made out to be, all the while trying to make her ex see that she was far from the story-hungry journalists that he so disliked; where Lawson, in his own way, wants to protect his ex and does not want her to be involved in the dangers that he faces every day.
Thus starts a rollercoaster of a journey where the fire is the other starring character as it burns through it all. (Funny how I love using the rollercoaster reference when I’ve never been on one.)
Over the Flames has an interesting epilogue, where it basically introduces the series, even after our happy couple come together for eternity. The author also provides a sneak peek into the next book in the series, Into the Veins, which I daren’t read because I will not survive otherwise.
Thank you to the author for an e-ARC of the book.
Originally posted on:
Shaina's Musings