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Kilgore Fire #4
Controlled Burn
July Dupree and Dean ‘PD’ Hargrove fell head over heels in love. When PD comes home to tell July the good news about joining the SWAT team as a tactical medic, everything changes.
July can’t fathom why PD would want to be a cop in this day and age. Wasn’t it enough that he already had a dangerous job with the fire department? Now he has to add another, even more dangerous, job to the equation? With so many cruel people in the world who make a sport out of hurting cops just because of the badge they wear, she has to make him understand. But when he refuses to listen to her reasoning, she feels she has no other choice but to issue an ultimatum: her or the SWAT team.
Dean doesn’t like ultimatums. He’s furious with July for putting him in the awful position of having to choose between a dream and her.
July never believes for a second that he’d choose the SWAT team over her, but she is wrong.
A year later, they’re both still in love with each other, but neither one is willing to budge regardless of their feelings.
July’s feelings for Dean haven’t changed, in fact her love for him has only grown. But seeing him living his life seemingly unaffected by the loss of what they had breaks her heart over and over each time she sees him.
Dean has a good poker face, though. He’s just going through the motions of his life until finally, the smoldering embers of his feelings erupt into a full-on blaze of emotion, burning through everything but his love for July. When the smoke clears, Dean wants to know if they can reignite the fire of their love or is he destined to live his life in a constant state of controlled burn?
July can’t fathom why PD would want to be a cop in this day and age. Wasn’t it enough that he already had a dangerous job with the fire department? Now he has to add another, even more dangerous, job to the equation? With so many cruel people in the world who make a sport out of hurting cops just because of the badge they wear, she has to make him understand. But when he refuses to listen to her reasoning, she feels she has no other choice but to issue an ultimatum: her or the SWAT team.
Dean doesn’t like ultimatums. He’s furious with July for putting him in the awful position of having to choose between a dream and her.
July never believes for a second that he’d choose the SWAT team over her, but she is wrong.
A year later, they’re both still in love with each other, but neither one is willing to budge regardless of their feelings.
July’s feelings for Dean haven’t changed, in fact her love for him has only grown. But seeing him living his life seemingly unaffected by the loss of what they had breaks her heart over and over each time she sees him.
Dean has a good poker face, though. He’s just going through the motions of his life until finally, the smoldering embers of his feelings erupt into a full-on blaze of emotion, burning through everything but his love for July. When the smoke clears, Dean wants to know if they can reignite the fire of their love or is he destined to live his life in a constant state of controlled burn?
397 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 5, 2016
280 people are currently reading
809 people want to read
About the author
Lani Lynn Vale
162 books7,262 followersLani Lynn Vale is married to the love of her life that she met in high school. She fell in love with him because he was wearing baseball pants. Ten years later they have three perfectly crazy children and a cat named Demon who likes to wake her up at ungodly times in the night. They live in the greatest state in the world, Texas. She writes contemporary and romantic suspense, and has a love for all things romance. You can find Lani in front of her computer writing away in her fictional characters world...that is until her husband and kids demand sustenance in the form of food and drink.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
October 7, 2016
3.75 'Second Chance' Stars
Everyone who follows my reviews knows that first, I’m a huge Lani Lynn Vale fan, and second that Kilgore Fire is my favorite series from her, so it comes to no surprise that when this book landed on e-reader, I devoured it like a thirsty woman after going through a desert!
Controlled Burn delivered all the great elements that make Lani’s writing so addictive and I got deeply involved within PD and July’s story.
PD, whom we know from the previous books, and July have been one year apart after their six month relationship. It may seem that his job was the main reason for they break up, but that was just the very tip of the iceberg of problems that let to that downfall. I’ll leave the unveil of those reasons because I don’t want to spoiler the ride within the tale, but in my opinion they were both at fault at the time of their break up, just one a bit more than the other, specially given the event on itself.
Their time apart didn’t erase their need for one another, yes, they did everything to pretend the other didn’t impact on their lives, but deep down they never truly let go.
Fuck, who was I kidding? It didn’t matter what I did. She was always there. In my dreams. In my waking moments.
In my fuckin’ head twenty-four goddamn seven.
Although they were aware of their own feelings, there was also too many obstacles to overcome, and amongst them all the hurt they carried for they break up, and that resentment was one of the biggest, and it proved to be the hardest too.
“You said enough a year ago when you broke my heart.”
His eyes softened.
“Maybe,” he said. “But you broke mine, too, when you didn’t even try to fight for me.”
And here enters one of the reasons to which made me enjoy this book less than the remaining of the series, the foundation of Dean’s character. Yes, I was highly anticipating his story, but there were quite a few things that made me dislike the character in this book, and one of those was his very reasoning for being apart from the h. I do prefer better a man that fights for his h, instead of wanting for her to fight for him, like he mentioned more than once. That kind of contradicted his self proclaimed (mostly during sex) dominant alpha vibe in my eyes.
“You didn’t seem to have any problem letting go of me when you walked away. I wanted you to love me for me. All you needed to do was find a way to talk to me about your fears about my job so we could work through them together. Then we can go back to what we had! It’s what we both fucking want!”
I wanted her to fight for me. I wanted her to give me what she gave nobody else in the world. Her heart. Her trust. Her loyalty.
Things that she didn’t do. If I were being honest, things that I hadn’t earned from her either.
So, yeah, he came to realize his mistakes in that matter, but it still didn’t make me forget the attitude, and the big trigger for that was the OW constantly in the picture, Alexa (and his relationship with her). Kudos here to Lani for once again creating such believable characters that really made me want do go in July’s place and bitch slap the hell of that one – and smack Dean upside the head while I was at it, LOL. All that and some other situations made Dean one of my least favorite of Lani’s heroes, but there were also moments where I really loved him and how he loved July, and it proved LLV’s extraordinary talent, because she created this complex character that created so many emotions in me while reading it. Dean really did do that and more because after and despite the dislike I was rooting for him to get July, and he did prove that this time he wouldn’t let go. For anything or anyone…
“I’ve been living as half a man since I called it quits,” I told her. “I miss you with every breath I take,” I said. “I’m tired of not living. Come back to me. We’ll make it work. I swear.”
“You’re going to break my heart, I can tell,” she countered, devastation clear in her voice.
“And it’s mine to put back together,” I said gruffly. “If I break it, I’ll always fix it. Swear to Christ.”
While Dean created all these reactions from me, July was a steady love from the very beginning. Her love, compassion, strong mind and independence really did steal the show for me, and I couldn’t have loved her more! Lani always creates these fantastic heroines that take an equal role in their strength and sassiness to the heroes, which is rare in romance novels these days, and I love the author even more for that.
But not is drama and romance in this story, because we sure have, as per Lani Lynn Vale fashion, a lot of ROFL moments that had me literally doing that. This kind of sarcastic humor really can’t be beat.
“I’m not going to hell. If anyone’s going to hell, it’s you. You’re a heathen who doesn’t go to church,” he informed me.
I snorted.
“Right. ‘Church’ to you is a meeting with the boys from your club. Church to normal people means actually going into a house of God and worshipping him in a sanctuary, amongst other like-minded believers. You haven’t been to church in well over a decade, if not more,” I turned to Dean.
“A pessimist carries a knife with him in case of an attack.”
“And what would an optimist do?” he teased.
“They would carry a knife in case there was cake,”
These spontaneous moments breath some lightheartedness to the romantic suspense and add a completely new dimension to her books.
At some points, like the OW drama and the book’s climax, specially the outcome, it really reminded me of the author’s Kevlar to my Vest, but maybe it was only in my head, LOL!
I did love the story in general, and specially the female main character as I mentioned above, and Lani keeps on delivering these amazingly developed stories and proving over and over again why she is one of my all time favorite authors.
And the secondary characters… Wow! They deserve a spot of their own, and the way they are introduced and give us a taste of that humor and interactions too, while simultaneous giving us a glimpse into their own characters, is absolutely perfect! They integrate in the story effortlessly in the tale while enticing us with their own, like Wolf, whom I seriously can’t wait to read about!
Lani, can’t December please come any sooner?! Pretty please?!
I felt like the sun had come out for the first time in a year, that’s how dramatic the change in me and my disposition truly was. Where there used to be only rain and cloudy skies, now there was nothing but blue during the day and the moon and stars at night.
“You need to hurry up and come back to me,” I whispered, dropping my forehead to July’s fingers. “Because I’m about to fucking lose it without you. I can’t breathe without you, baby. I won’t survive without you.”
ARC kindly provided by the author via Enticing Book Journey Promotions in exchange for an honest review
For full review with Release Blitz, check out my blog post,
http://gisspotreviews.com/index.php/2...
Everyone who follows my reviews knows that first, I’m a huge Lani Lynn Vale fan, and second that Kilgore Fire is my favorite series from her, so it comes to no surprise that when this book landed on e-reader, I devoured it like a thirsty woman after going through a desert!
Controlled Burn delivered all the great elements that make Lani’s writing so addictive and I got deeply involved within PD and July’s story.
PD, whom we know from the previous books, and July have been one year apart after their six month relationship. It may seem that his job was the main reason for they break up, but that was just the very tip of the iceberg of problems that let to that downfall. I’ll leave the unveil of those reasons because I don’t want to spoiler the ride within the tale, but in my opinion they were both at fault at the time of their break up, just one a bit more than the other, specially given the event on itself.
Their time apart didn’t erase their need for one another, yes, they did everything to pretend the other didn’t impact on their lives, but deep down they never truly let go.
Fuck, who was I kidding? It didn’t matter what I did. She was always there. In my dreams. In my waking moments.
In my fuckin’ head twenty-four goddamn seven.
Although they were aware of their own feelings, there was also too many obstacles to overcome, and amongst them all the hurt they carried for they break up, and that resentment was one of the biggest, and it proved to be the hardest too.
“You said enough a year ago when you broke my heart.”
His eyes softened.
“Maybe,” he said. “But you broke mine, too, when you didn’t even try to fight for me.”
And here enters one of the reasons to which made me enjoy this book less than the remaining of the series, the foundation of Dean’s character. Yes, I was highly anticipating his story, but there were quite a few things that made me dislike the character in this book, and one of those was his very reasoning for being apart from the h. I do prefer better a man that fights for his h, instead of wanting for her to fight for him, like he mentioned more than once. That kind of contradicted his self proclaimed (mostly during sex) dominant alpha vibe in my eyes.
“You didn’t seem to have any problem letting go of me when you walked away. I wanted you to love me for me. All you needed to do was find a way to talk to me about your fears about my job so we could work through them together. Then we can go back to what we had! It’s what we both fucking want!”
I wanted her to fight for me. I wanted her to give me what she gave nobody else in the world. Her heart. Her trust. Her loyalty.
Things that she didn’t do. If I were being honest, things that I hadn’t earned from her either.
So, yeah, he came to realize his mistakes in that matter, but it still didn’t make me forget the attitude, and the big trigger for that was the OW constantly in the picture, Alexa (and his relationship with her). Kudos here to Lani for once again creating such believable characters that really made me want do go in July’s place and bitch slap the hell of that one – and smack Dean upside the head while I was at it, LOL. All that and some other situations made Dean one of my least favorite of Lani’s heroes, but there were also moments where I really loved him and how he loved July, and it proved LLV’s extraordinary talent, because she created this complex character that created so many emotions in me while reading it. Dean really did do that and more because after and despite the dislike I was rooting for him to get July, and he did prove that this time he wouldn’t let go. For anything or anyone…
“I’ve been living as half a man since I called it quits,” I told her. “I miss you with every breath I take,” I said. “I’m tired of not living. Come back to me. We’ll make it work. I swear.”
“You’re going to break my heart, I can tell,” she countered, devastation clear in her voice.
“And it’s mine to put back together,” I said gruffly. “If I break it, I’ll always fix it. Swear to Christ.”
While Dean created all these reactions from me, July was a steady love from the very beginning. Her love, compassion, strong mind and independence really did steal the show for me, and I couldn’t have loved her more! Lani always creates these fantastic heroines that take an equal role in their strength and sassiness to the heroes, which is rare in romance novels these days, and I love the author even more for that.
But not is drama and romance in this story, because we sure have, as per Lani Lynn Vale fashion, a lot of ROFL moments that had me literally doing that. This kind of sarcastic humor really can’t be beat.
“I’m not going to hell. If anyone’s going to hell, it’s you. You’re a heathen who doesn’t go to church,” he informed me.
I snorted.
“Right. ‘Church’ to you is a meeting with the boys from your club. Church to normal people means actually going into a house of God and worshipping him in a sanctuary, amongst other like-minded believers. You haven’t been to church in well over a decade, if not more,” I turned to Dean.
“A pessimist carries a knife with him in case of an attack.”
“And what would an optimist do?” he teased.
“They would carry a knife in case there was cake,”
These spontaneous moments breath some lightheartedness to the romantic suspense and add a completely new dimension to her books.
At some points, like the OW drama and the book’s climax, specially the outcome, it really reminded me of the author’s Kevlar to my Vest, but maybe it was only in my head, LOL!
I did love the story in general, and specially the female main character as I mentioned above, and Lani keeps on delivering these amazingly developed stories and proving over and over again why she is one of my all time favorite authors.
And the secondary characters… Wow! They deserve a spot of their own, and the way they are introduced and give us a taste of that humor and interactions too, while simultaneous giving us a glimpse into their own characters, is absolutely perfect! They integrate in the story effortlessly in the tale while enticing us with their own, like Wolf, whom I seriously can’t wait to read about!
Lani, can’t December please come any sooner?! Pretty please?!
I felt like the sun had come out for the first time in a year, that’s how dramatic the change in me and my disposition truly was. Where there used to be only rain and cloudy skies, now there was nothing but blue during the day and the moon and stars at night.
“You need to hurry up and come back to me,” I whispered, dropping my forehead to July’s fingers. “Because I’m about to fucking lose it without you. I can’t breathe without you, baby. I won’t survive without you.”
ARC kindly provided by the author via Enticing Book Journey Promotions in exchange for an honest review
For full review with Release Blitz, check out my blog post,
http://gisspotreviews.com/index.php/2...
September 4, 2019
July and PD"Dean's "book.
While I love LLV's hero's,this one I could have taken a mallet to his head!! Talk about an idiot who could not see the conniving, evil ,wannabe delusional ow !! God I despised that chick!!!!
I really felt for this heroine,she went thru a lot and then some.
The hero did redeem himself towards the end and I loved it when the evil ow got told off by the hero!
The only reason for not 5 starring this one is because of the blinders the hero had for the other woman till nearly 3/4's of the book,he should have wised up sooner the minute he knew that the heroine did not like nor trust her.
While I love LLV's hero's,this one I could have taken a mallet to his head!! Talk about an idiot who could not see the conniving, evil ,wannabe delusional ow !! God I despised that chick!!!!
I really felt for this heroine,she went thru a lot and then some.
The hero did redeem himself towards the end and I loved it when the evil ow got told off by the hero!
The only reason for not 5 starring this one is because of the blinders the hero had for the other woman till nearly 3/4's of the book,he should have wised up sooner the minute he knew that the heroine did not like nor trust her.
December 13, 2016
First of all, I have to tell you, Lani Lynn Vale is one of my favorite authors. Doesn't matter what book comes out, I have to absolutely read it. I can't have it any other way. Her books are just perfect for me. And while the style of these books is similar to each other, she can create amazing characters and plots, that add variety. Not one story is the same. Her heroes/heroines are all different and kind of amazing, each in their own way. And so it's no wonder, that I like some better than others (my absolute favorite is Silas).
Sadly PD, or Dean, isn't one of my favorite hero. I looked forward to his story, because hell, he seemed so hot and I just needed to know him better. Now that I've met him, I'm kind of disappointed. He can be really sweet and protective. He lives for his job at the firehouse and the S.W.A.T. team. He seemed to be really into July, but I can't determine if his feelings were real when they first got together. Because all they did was sleep and have sex together. His time was occupied by work, friends, his female friends and so on. He didn't spend time to get to really know July.
Their reason for the break up made me mad! I could totally understand July, why she didn't fight for him. I wouldn't want to fight for him either, if I heard what he told his "dear friend Alexa". I think it's also a man's job to fight for his woman. And when he does it, then said woman can actually fight for him too. Otherwise it seems just really not worth the effort. If I'm honest, I don't know Dean at all. Why he did these things the way he did it, why he held back, his issues with his family.
I loved July, and I felt her heartbreak. It was a real and living thing. I hated that she had to go trough it. And I hated that she had to "fight" with Alexa because of Dean. I hated that Dean had no clue, at all! And that chick Naomi? What the hell was going on with HER?
Then there was July's abduction. It was pretty sudden, didn't see it coming. At all! And then she's held captive for 3 months! By two douche bags. I don't know why they abducted her, and why her brother Wolf was investigating them. I don't know why they didn't find her sooner. And I have no idea, why they did to July what they did to her. For me it was all too much, too cruel. I just couldn't imagine something like that.
July's injuries were serious. She loses her hand and her foot/leg is shattered. After three months of abuduction, and her injuries she seemed so normal, so fine. She did wonder what happened to her hand, but that was it. She bounced right back. Dean and her didn't talk about it at all. What her captivity was like, what he did at the time, how she's dealing with all that. That seems to be my main issue with this story. It was like: "Hey, I was away for a few months, lost my hand, but everything is all right now, because I have a beautiful baby girl and my man by my side."
That said, I can't wait for WOLF. I have to read his book, NOW! Need to fall in love with him. But I'm already dreading it a little bit, because we got a hint about two women in this story. Hannah and Raven. So who's it going to be?
Sadly PD, or Dean, isn't one of my favorite hero. I looked forward to his story, because hell, he seemed so hot and I just needed to know him better. Now that I've met him, I'm kind of disappointed. He can be really sweet and protective. He lives for his job at the firehouse and the S.W.A.T. team. He seemed to be really into July, but I can't determine if his feelings were real when they first got together. Because all they did was sleep and have sex together. His time was occupied by work, friends, his female friends and so on. He didn't spend time to get to really know July.
Their reason for the break up made me mad! I could totally understand July, why she didn't fight for him. I wouldn't want to fight for him either, if I heard what he told his "dear friend Alexa". I think it's also a man's job to fight for his woman. And when he does it, then said woman can actually fight for him too. Otherwise it seems just really not worth the effort. If I'm honest, I don't know Dean at all. Why he did these things the way he did it, why he held back, his issues with his family.
I loved July, and I felt her heartbreak. It was a real and living thing. I hated that she had to go trough it. And I hated that she had to "fight" with Alexa because of Dean. I hated that Dean had no clue, at all! And that chick Naomi? What the hell was going on with HER?
Then there was July's abduction. It was pretty sudden, didn't see it coming. At all! And then she's held captive for 3 months! By two douche bags. I don't know why they abducted her, and why her brother Wolf was investigating them. I don't know why they didn't find her sooner. And I have no idea, why they did to July what they did to her. For me it was all too much, too cruel. I just couldn't imagine something like that.
July's injuries were serious. She loses her hand and her foot/leg is shattered. After three months of abuduction, and her injuries she seemed so normal, so fine. She did wonder what happened to her hand, but that was it. She bounced right back. Dean and her didn't talk about it at all. What her captivity was like, what he did at the time, how she's dealing with all that. That seems to be my main issue with this story. It was like: "Hey, I was away for a few months, lost my hand, but everything is all right now, because I have a beautiful baby girl and my man by my side."
That said, I can't wait for WOLF. I have to read his book, NOW! Need to fall in love with him. But I'm already dreading it a little bit, because we got a hint about two women in this story. Hannah and Raven. So who's it going to be?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2017
Eu gosto muito desta autora e leio todos livros dela.
Confesso que achei o herói meio fraco e a amizade dele com Alexis me deixou muito brava. Eles quase transaram e ele ainda continuou melhor amigo dela. Mesmo sabendo que ela queria mais dele.
Ele não lutou pelo amor da heroína.
Nossa heroína vem de um passado traumático e eles não tiveram tempo de aprofundar a relação porque os dois só tiveram tempo de transar e nada mais. Por isto foi fácil para Alexis plantar a semente da dúvida na cabeça do herói. Que no meu entender foi muito influenciável pela opinião da suposta amiga.
A história além do romance entre os heróis também tem a investigação policial sobre a quadrilha que sequestra mulheres para tráfico sexual.
Nossa heroína acaba sendo alvo da quadrilha com resultados devastadores.
Achei uma boa história com cenas de sexo bem quentes adicionado ao drama todo.
Recomendo!
-------------------------------
I really like this author and read all her books.
I confess that I found the hero a little weak and his friendship with Alexis made me very angry. They almost had sex and he still continued her best friend. Even knowing that she wanted more of him.
He did not fight for the love of heroin.
Our heroine comes from a traumatic past and they didn't have time to deepen the relationship because the two just had time to have sex and nothing more. For this was easy for Alexis to plant a seed of doubt in the mind of the hero. Which in my opinion was very influenced by the opinion of the supposed friend.
The story beyond the romance between the heroes also has the police investigation on the gang who kidnaps women to sex trafficking.
Our heroine ends up being the target of the gang with devastating results.
I found a good story with very hot sex scenes added to the whole drama.
Recommend!
Confesso que achei o herói meio fraco e a amizade dele com Alexis me deixou muito brava. Eles quase transaram e ele ainda continuou melhor amigo dela. Mesmo sabendo que ela queria mais dele.
Ele não lutou pelo amor da heroína.
Nossa heroína vem de um passado traumático e eles não tiveram tempo de aprofundar a relação porque os dois só tiveram tempo de transar e nada mais. Por isto foi fácil para Alexis plantar a semente da dúvida na cabeça do herói. Que no meu entender foi muito influenciável pela opinião da suposta amiga.
A história além do romance entre os heróis também tem a investigação policial sobre a quadrilha que sequestra mulheres para tráfico sexual.
Nossa heroína acaba sendo alvo da quadrilha com resultados devastadores.
Achei uma boa história com cenas de sexo bem quentes adicionado ao drama todo.
Recomendo!
-------------------------------
I really like this author and read all her books.
I confess that I found the hero a little weak and his friendship with Alexis made me very angry. They almost had sex and he still continued her best friend. Even knowing that she wanted more of him.
He did not fight for the love of heroin.
Our heroine comes from a traumatic past and they didn't have time to deepen the relationship because the two just had time to have sex and nothing more. For this was easy for Alexis to plant a seed of doubt in the mind of the hero. Which in my opinion was very influenced by the opinion of the supposed friend.
The story beyond the romance between the heroes also has the police investigation on the gang who kidnaps women to sex trafficking.
Our heroine ends up being the target of the gang with devastating results.
I found a good story with very hot sex scenes added to the whole drama.
Recommend!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2016
3.25**
Great until...
I have a few questions...
WHat the heck happened?
Was she sold, raped, what?
How/why was she stabbed????
What's up with his parents?
What's up with Alexa?
Great until...
I have a few questions...
WHat the heck happened?
Was she sold, raped, what?
How/why was she stabbed????
What's up with his parents?
What's up with Alexa?
June 12, 2023
It was all fine and dandy until our female lead got kidnapped for 3 months, then the male lead found her crucified with a sword stuck in her abdomen, clearly pregnant, and after being rushed to the hospital, her dominant arm had to be amputated, her legs were shattered, and her baby was born premature.... Bro this just came out of no where like the way I physically reeled when I got this ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2020
i love lani lynn vale’s books. i’ve read a ton of them and will eventually get through all of them. but this book was an epic disaster. it was messy, confusing, and there were so many plot holes.
[spoilers ahead]
this book starts off with dean and july breaking up because she was upset that he got shot and his nurse convinced him she was nuts and he should call it quits. and he did.
a year later, they’re still madly in love and miserable. he decides life is too short and they should be together, but she’s hesitant because she doesn’t want to get her heart broken. so he decided the way to win her back was to play out her darkest fantasy, which is a rape scene. ew. gross. so messed up. who tf fantasises about something that traumatises millions of people everyday? but once she does give in and they get back together, they’re super domestic the next day (i’m talking her cooking him dinner and doing his laundry at his house) and then there was so many sex scenes for a while. i skimmed like three or four chapters of it. and then out of no where, her high school boyfriend and classmate kidnap her. she’s missing for three months. while pregnant. they abuse her and end up impaling her into the wall. her baby somehow miraculously survived even though the sword was in her stomach. she also had many injuries that required surgery and her hand was amputated. but she woke up after three months of captivity, abused with one less arm and she was happy as a clam.
this book was a disaster. very disappointed because i’ve read 35 lani lynn books so far and enjoyed them all, but didn’t like this one at all.
[spoilers ahead]
this book starts off with dean and july breaking up because she was upset that he got shot and his nurse convinced him she was nuts and he should call it quits. and he did.
a year later, they’re still madly in love and miserable. he decides life is too short and they should be together, but she’s hesitant because she doesn’t want to get her heart broken. so he decided the way to win her back was to play out her darkest fantasy, which is a rape scene. ew. gross. so messed up. who tf fantasises about something that traumatises millions of people everyday? but once she does give in and they get back together, they’re super domestic the next day (i’m talking her cooking him dinner and doing his laundry at his house) and then there was so many sex scenes for a while. i skimmed like three or four chapters of it. and then out of no where, her high school boyfriend and classmate kidnap her. she’s missing for three months. while pregnant. they abuse her and end up impaling her into the wall. her baby somehow miraculously survived even though the sword was in her stomach. she also had many injuries that required surgery and her hand was amputated. but she woke up after three months of captivity, abused with one less arm and she was happy as a clam.
this book was a disaster. very disappointed because i’ve read 35 lani lynn books so far and enjoyed them all, but didn’t like this one at all.
April 5, 2020
For me this book left me with to many questions unanswered. When the book started all you hear is Dean complaining to his best girl friend how July doesn't like his job and he can't see it going on with how she reacts. Why is he telling Alexa instead of trying to figure shit out with July?
A year goes by and they have avoided each other but now they are turning over houses next door to each other. Now he is all up in her business. When she gets hurt Dean rushes her to the hospital but of course he gets Alexa to take care of her as he runs out for a SWAT call.
They get back together and not much longer July is kidnapped. What the hell? Why was she kiddnapped? What happened? What kind of person is kidnapped, tortured and who knows what else and walks away with no trauma.
Dean was a disappointment. All through the previous book it implies that Naomi and Dean could possible be starting something and then he just starts ignoring her when July drops back nto the picture.
I wish authors when they are writing multiple series that intertwine would make a list of which series to read first so that you aren't reading something that hasn't happened yet in a different series.
A year goes by and they have avoided each other but now they are turning over houses next door to each other. Now he is all up in her business. When she gets hurt Dean rushes her to the hospital but of course he gets Alexa to take care of her as he runs out for a SWAT call.
They get back together and not much longer July is kidnapped. What the hell? Why was she kiddnapped? What happened? What kind of person is kidnapped, tortured and who knows what else and walks away with no trauma.
Dean was a disappointment. All through the previous book it implies that Naomi and Dean could possible be starting something and then he just starts ignoring her when July drops back nto the picture.
I wish authors when they are writing multiple series that intertwine would make a list of which series to read first so that you aren't reading something that hasn't happened yet in a different series.
August 4, 2017
July Dupree and Dean "PD" Hargrove danced around the attraction they had for one another for awhile before Dean made his move and was building a life with July. The problem is Jul didn't like his job and when he gets a job with SWAT it is the breaking point. Problem is he didn't take a chance to talk it through or see where July was coming from.
July didn't fight for Dean, but her past taught her one thing, everyone leaves. A year later her heart is still broken and she has tried to keep her distance from Dean but when the house she is working on is next to the house Dean is working on, sparks fly.
I had avoided this one for what reason I have no idea but man did I make a mistake not picking it up earlier. This is one of the best in the series. I loved July, she is stubborn and defiant when it comes to Dean. Dean is a magnetic and you see a completely different side to him. WOW.
July didn't fight for Dean, but her past taught her one thing, everyone leaves. A year later her heart is still broken and she has tried to keep her distance from Dean but when the house she is working on is next to the house Dean is working on, sparks fly.
I had avoided this one for what reason I have no idea but man did I make a mistake not picking it up earlier. This is one of the best in the series. I loved July, she is stubborn and defiant when it comes to Dean. Dean is a magnetic and you see a completely different side to him. WOW.
February 11, 2018
Wtf?? It was f***g sick! It's safe between the MCs but what the kidnappers did to the h was hard to read.
Done with this author.
Done with this author.
October 5, 2016
I really enjoyed this one, as I do all LLV stories. The sex in this one was definitely hotter than her usual, IMO.
I just have a couple of things that I felt could have been fleshed out or resolved more than they were--
I just have a couple of things that I felt could have been fleshed out or resolved more than they were--
October 5, 2016
Lani Lynn Vale’s Kilgore Fire series has fast become a favorite of mine. I love how she blends the stories of the new cast of characters in this series with fan favorite characters from her other Kilgore, Texas-based series, and in the case of this story, her Uncertain Saints MC series. This series is hot, hot, hot – and it has nothing to do with fires.
I’ve been waiting for Dean’s story since he was introduced in the first book of the series, and Vale did not disappoint with this character. He’s an all-alpha male, perhaps one of the most alpha that Vale has ever written, and if you’ve read her work, then you know that’s really saying something. He’s dominant, he’s bossy, he likes a bit of kink with his sex, and he knows what he wants, both in the bedroom and out.
July is a strong and sassy heroine. She’s got some demons from her childhood, though, and unfortunately, they fed into her insecurities and tainted her relationship with Dean. Their relationship was on the fast-track – Dean and July fell for each other deep, hard and instantly. But some miscommunications along with July’s demons and the fact that Dean didn’t fully grasp them or their impact on her, fueled their relationship’s downfall. A long, heartbreaking year apart later, and neither one of them has really moved on from the other. They want to be together, but there is a lot they need to work through to get there.
The love story of Dean and July isn’t the only thing happening in Controlled Burn, though. Not by a long shot! Lani Lynn Vale has weaved a positively riveting suspense plot into this story, and I was on the edge of my seat reading it. Vale knows exactly how to deliver the ‘shock and awe’ factor in her books, and let me tell you, she really did that here. It unexpected, exciting and really held my attention – I couldn’t get through it fast enough. I never fail to devour her books when one lands on my Kindle, but this series it different. It’s just so much more intense, raw and gritty than readers have seen from Vale in her previous works. Yet even with the darker, sexier, gripping storyline, incredibly Lani has still managed to hang onto that unique sense of humor that her readers love and expect to find in her stories. It’s right there, threaded throughout the story, popping up in expected places and ways. I loved it and this book.
I adore this series, and this was a fabulous addition to the series. Heart aching, heart racing and full of heat and humor, Lani Lynn Vale’s Controlled Burn gets 5 smooches from me!
~ Danielle Palumbo
I’ve been waiting for Dean’s story since he was introduced in the first book of the series, and Vale did not disappoint with this character. He’s an all-alpha male, perhaps one of the most alpha that Vale has ever written, and if you’ve read her work, then you know that’s really saying something. He’s dominant, he’s bossy, he likes a bit of kink with his sex, and he knows what he wants, both in the bedroom and out.
July is a strong and sassy heroine. She’s got some demons from her childhood, though, and unfortunately, they fed into her insecurities and tainted her relationship with Dean. Their relationship was on the fast-track – Dean and July fell for each other deep, hard and instantly. But some miscommunications along with July’s demons and the fact that Dean didn’t fully grasp them or their impact on her, fueled their relationship’s downfall. A long, heartbreaking year apart later, and neither one of them has really moved on from the other. They want to be together, but there is a lot they need to work through to get there.
The love story of Dean and July isn’t the only thing happening in Controlled Burn, though. Not by a long shot! Lani Lynn Vale has weaved a positively riveting suspense plot into this story, and I was on the edge of my seat reading it. Vale knows exactly how to deliver the ‘shock and awe’ factor in her books, and let me tell you, she really did that here. It unexpected, exciting and really held my attention – I couldn’t get through it fast enough. I never fail to devour her books when one lands on my Kindle, but this series it different. It’s just so much more intense, raw and gritty than readers have seen from Vale in her previous works. Yet even with the darker, sexier, gripping storyline, incredibly Lani has still managed to hang onto that unique sense of humor that her readers love and expect to find in her stories. It’s right there, threaded throughout the story, popping up in expected places and ways. I loved it and this book.
I adore this series, and this was a fabulous addition to the series. Heart aching, heart racing and full of heat and humor, Lani Lynn Vale’s Controlled Burn gets 5 smooches from me!
~ Danielle Palumbo
July 29, 2025
REREAD. I loved Dean and July! Their relationship was so intense. I am so glad they got back together. But, the ending...so shocking!! I was floored! Such a good book.
July 6, 2022
French & English reviews
Une romance à laquelle j'ai un peu moins accroché ...
Le drama était TOP (OMG cette fin avec le trafic humain !!! L'état de July !!) mais j'ai moins accroché aux personnages ... PD était parfois un peu trop un c*nnard (cette scène au restaurant sérieux !) et j'aurais aimé que July ait un peu plus de répondant !
Bref, pas mon tome préféré mais une romance qui se lit bien =)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A romance I was a little less hooked on ...
The drama was GREAT (OMG that ending with the human trafficking !!! July's state !!) but I was less attached to the characters ... PD was sometimes a little too much of an *ssh*le (that scene at the restaurant !? Seriously ??) and I would have liked July to be a little more sharp !
In short, not my favorite book but a nice little romance =)
Une romance à laquelle j'ai un peu moins accroché ...
Le drama était TOP (OMG cette fin avec le trafic humain !!! L'état de July !!) mais j'ai moins accroché aux personnages ... PD était parfois un peu trop un c*nnard (cette scène au restaurant sérieux !) et j'aurais aimé que July ait un peu plus de répondant !
Bref, pas mon tome préféré mais une romance qui se lit bien =)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A romance I was a little less hooked on ...
The drama was GREAT (OMG that ending with the human trafficking !!! July's state !!) but I was less attached to the characters ... PD was sometimes a little too much of an *ssh*le (that scene at the restaurant !? Seriously ??) and I would have liked July to be a little more sharp !
In short, not my favorite book but a nice little romance =)
August 26, 2024
This book was simply beautiful in a multitude of ways, the biggest being how they fought their way back to each other. I loved that, from the beginning, we were thrown into angst. Most books take you through the stages of a relationship in order from beginning to the angsty middle and then finally the happily ever after. But this story was unique in that before we know anything about the characters, they are already not together and haven't been for some time. So right from the start you get to experience the constant gut punch that can only come from excellent storytelling and intriguing characters you can't get enough of. But the biggest shocker came in the last few chapters and to say I am still reeling from it is an understatement. On one hand I feel like it was rushed and we had more details, but in the next breath I am glad it played out as it did because the details we did get won't soon vacate my brain. It's as if you can see it coming, you know you need to look away, but you couldn't stop if you tried. It was one of the most beautifully tragic events I've ever read in a book and you'll never see it coming. It's a subject that really hasn't been tackled in any of her books before now, but she really does the character's justice. And the more I think about it, I feel as if the details were vague for a reason, that being a pivotal character involved will be getting their own story soon. So it will all come full circle and I cannot wait to read that one! It involves another beloved character we met many book back in a different story and I've been dying to revisit him. But back to the main event...
I loved that the pain wasn't one sided or black and white. Even though it seemed as if everything fell on Dean's shoulders in the beginning, and he definitely had his fair share of the blame, July wasn't completely innocent in it all. Like so many relationship problems, it boiled down to fear and miscommunication. Oh, and a meddling see-you-next-Tuesday ;-) But oh how I loved the delicious pain of seeing their hearts break over and over again. I'm such a masochist when it comes to literature but I make no apologies. Because through that pain, it only served to mold them into a stronger couple. A couple who could weather any storm, and they especially needed that for what was to eventually come. I just loved the way they loved each other. No secrets, everything out in the open, confident in who they were as individuals and together, sexually open to try new things. I love that when they finally got their stuff figured out they openly communicated. There was no question in their minds that they were meant to be together. They fit together so flawlessly which made their time apart that much painful. I loved every minute of this book and read it in practically one sitting. I'm eager to see who the next Kilgore Fire characters will be, but until then I'll happily survive off Dragon riders and Uncertain bikers. Can't recommend this phenomenal series enough!
I loved that the pain wasn't one sided or black and white. Even though it seemed as if everything fell on Dean's shoulders in the beginning, and he definitely had his fair share of the blame, July wasn't completely innocent in it all. Like so many relationship problems, it boiled down to fear and miscommunication. Oh, and a meddling see-you-next-Tuesday ;-) But oh how I loved the delicious pain of seeing their hearts break over and over again. I'm such a masochist when it comes to literature but I make no apologies. Because through that pain, it only served to mold them into a stronger couple. A couple who could weather any storm, and they especially needed that for what was to eventually come. I just loved the way they loved each other. No secrets, everything out in the open, confident in who they were as individuals and together, sexually open to try new things. I love that when they finally got their stuff figured out they openly communicated. There was no question in their minds that they were meant to be together. They fit together so flawlessly which made their time apart that much painful. I loved every minute of this book and read it in practically one sitting. I'm eager to see who the next Kilgore Fire characters will be, but until then I'll happily survive off Dragon riders and Uncertain bikers. Can't recommend this phenomenal series enough!
October 5, 2016
***This and other reviews can be found at www.imasweetandsassybookwhore.com ***
*ARC*
So if you have read the other reviews I have been writing the fact that I have been in a horrible book slump is nothing that isn’t already news. I 99.9% of the time have always loved Lani’s books so when I started Controlled Burn I hoped and prayed to the book gods that I would love Controlled Burn and I did. This one, I think has been the most emotional and angst filled for this book whore. When a couple breaks up but neither are ever able to fully heal and move on that makes some of the most emotional reconciliations there are. I will admit I started off hating Dean and don’t even get me started on that whore Alexa, we will get to her in a moment. I thought maybe Dean wasn’t meant for July but I was wrong.
These two go through a lot; I think Dean really did know how much he screwed up the previous year because he was miserable without July, just like she was miserable without him. I understood why July was the way she was and could one hundred percent be behind her and her feelings. Dean, like I said I wasn’t happy with him from the start but once he decided to get his head out of his ass he proved that he was worthy of July. The hell they suffered should never ever have happened to them or anyone else and I cried more than once during this book.
Now let me quickly mention the whore that should have had an ass beating from the very start. Alexa. This is one of those things that I wish the author would have given us closure on, especially her relationship/friendship with Dean. I think he needed to step up and put her in her place and he didn’t so that did take away from how much I loved him. She should have been dealt with and in a way that she would never have tried to cause another riff between them again. Can you tell I hate her? No? Well I hate her and I hope we never have to read about her again.
Sorry, about that little bit of nastiness above. Controlled Burn is my favorite of the series so far. I love how Ms. Vale really does weave all of her series together beautifully; we see old favorites and find new ones. I think though, the next book may actually top Controlled Burn in angst, tears, and heart break, I can’t wait to read it but at the same time I know I am going to be broken after I do. This is another must read by Lani Lynn Vale and one I highly recommend!
*ARC*
So if you have read the other reviews I have been writing the fact that I have been in a horrible book slump is nothing that isn’t already news. I 99.9% of the time have always loved Lani’s books so when I started Controlled Burn I hoped and prayed to the book gods that I would love Controlled Burn and I did. This one, I think has been the most emotional and angst filled for this book whore. When a couple breaks up but neither are ever able to fully heal and move on that makes some of the most emotional reconciliations there are. I will admit I started off hating Dean and don’t even get me started on that whore Alexa, we will get to her in a moment. I thought maybe Dean wasn’t meant for July but I was wrong.
These two go through a lot; I think Dean really did know how much he screwed up the previous year because he was miserable without July, just like she was miserable without him. I understood why July was the way she was and could one hundred percent be behind her and her feelings. Dean, like I said I wasn’t happy with him from the start but once he decided to get his head out of his ass he proved that he was worthy of July. The hell they suffered should never ever have happened to them or anyone else and I cried more than once during this book.
Now let me quickly mention the whore that should have had an ass beating from the very start. Alexa. This is one of those things that I wish the author would have given us closure on, especially her relationship/friendship with Dean. I think he needed to step up and put her in her place and he didn’t so that did take away from how much I loved him. She should have been dealt with and in a way that she would never have tried to cause another riff between them again. Can you tell I hate her? No? Well I hate her and I hope we never have to read about her again.
Sorry, about that little bit of nastiness above. Controlled Burn is my favorite of the series so far. I love how Ms. Vale really does weave all of her series together beautifully; we see old favorites and find new ones. I think though, the next book may actually top Controlled Burn in angst, tears, and heart break, I can’t wait to read it but at the same time I know I am going to be broken after I do. This is another must read by Lani Lynn Vale and one I highly recommend!
October 1, 2016
Review by: Jennifer
(5 stars)
Here is your PSA: This is part of a series, please read the previous stories before reading this.... in fact I think you should read all her books before you read this... as there is mention of things that happened in one of the other series... and lets just face it.. that's crazy to read in the middle of a series.
July has been in love with Dean from the moment she met him, and for 6 months they had a good thing going... but with holding herself back at times and not telling Dean everything, she freaks out every time he has a call out with SWAT.
Dean LOVES being with a first responder and he feels that SWAT is also part of his calling, but July hates it, and he isn't going leave his jobs. Catching the tail end of a conversation, July makes the tough choice of giving Dean what he needs, and its not her. A year later they are thrown back together, and both fight the attraction and love they feel for the other. Will they figure out a middle ground or just give up?
So right off the bat I wanted to cry and throat punch a heffer. These are things I found that only Lani Lynn Vale can bring out in me. July.... there is something about her character that makes me want to give her a big freaking hug. PD/Dean, I have a love hate with him... He jut proves that men are so clueless sometimes. Now this had a little something.... we will say different from the other books that Lani has written.... a bit more of the BDSM theme, and I LOVED it! In fact I want more from Lani that have the BDSM theme; I could totally see her rocking that! This book also proves that Lani is never predictable! 5 stars isn't enough for this, like 20 stars!
(5 stars)
Here is your PSA: This is part of a series, please read the previous stories before reading this.... in fact I think you should read all her books before you read this... as there is mention of things that happened in one of the other series... and lets just face it.. that's crazy to read in the middle of a series.
July has been in love with Dean from the moment she met him, and for 6 months they had a good thing going... but with holding herself back at times and not telling Dean everything, she freaks out every time he has a call out with SWAT.
Dean LOVES being with a first responder and he feels that SWAT is also part of his calling, but July hates it, and he isn't going leave his jobs. Catching the tail end of a conversation, July makes the tough choice of giving Dean what he needs, and its not her. A year later they are thrown back together, and both fight the attraction and love they feel for the other. Will they figure out a middle ground or just give up?
So right off the bat I wanted to cry and throat punch a heffer. These are things I found that only Lani Lynn Vale can bring out in me. July.... there is something about her character that makes me want to give her a big freaking hug. PD/Dean, I have a love hate with him... He jut proves that men are so clueless sometimes. Now this had a little something.... we will say different from the other books that Lani has written.... a bit more of the BDSM theme, and I LOVED it! In fact I want more from Lani that have the BDSM theme; I could totally see her rocking that! This book also proves that Lani is never predictable! 5 stars isn't enough for this, like 20 stars!
October 2, 2016
Read and reviewed for 2 Gilrs Who Love Books
Trigger warnings
This is book 4 in The Kilgore Fire series. I have not previously read the other 3 but I still really enjoyed Dean and July's story. Controlled Burn was steamy and fast paced. There was a few times i found myself cursing Dean and wondering how the hell he was likeable. For example......Dean and July find themselves in the hospital and July needs medical attention in the start of the book. Dean is speaking with a nurse who he has had some type of relationship with which caused a riff with him and July. Dean pops over to ask July when her birthday is...they have been broken up at this point for about a year but had dated for six months so it could be reasonable that he forgot her birthday except for the fact that they SHARE the same birthday. This issue is addressed at the very end of the book but in my opinion it should have been brought up sooner.
Another thing that took away from this other wise great story was some confusion.
A few times it is hinted that July has a secret reason why she hates Dean working for the swat team. but then later the very thing we think she keeping a secret is talked about in a flash back so its not really a secret at all.
if not for these few things I could see myself giving this book a full 5 stars. Instead I am going with 3.5 but I do intend to read the other 3 books while I wait for book 5 Raven and Wolfe's story!!!!
Trigger warnings
This is book 4 in The Kilgore Fire series. I have not previously read the other 3 but I still really enjoyed Dean and July's story. Controlled Burn was steamy and fast paced. There was a few times i found myself cursing Dean and wondering how the hell he was likeable. For example......Dean and July find themselves in the hospital and July needs medical attention in the start of the book. Dean is speaking with a nurse who he has had some type of relationship with which caused a riff with him and July. Dean pops over to ask July when her birthday is...they have been broken up at this point for about a year but had dated for six months so it could be reasonable that he forgot her birthday except for the fact that they SHARE the same birthday. This issue is addressed at the very end of the book but in my opinion it should have been brought up sooner.
Another thing that took away from this other wise great story was some confusion.
A few times it is hinted that July has a secret reason why she hates Dean working for the swat team. but then later the very thing we think she keeping a secret is talked about in a flash back so its not really a secret at all.
if not for these few things I could see myself giving this book a full 5 stars. Instead I am going with 3.5 but I do intend to read the other 3 books while I wait for book 5 Raven and Wolfe's story!!!!
October 26, 2016
Hmm....
Right so anyone who knows me knows lani Lynn is one of my favourite authors ... probably my favourite actually. So you know that I completely devour her books like a crazy lady.
This is not my favourite by a long shot.
Know I'm not going to put all the blame on PD (dean). However... he pissed me off enough to not like him through a lot of this book.
He was charismatic yes. He was also great when they finally got their shit together. But wow did he come across a total self-centred asshat. His reasoning in the beginning was utter bull and only a tiny part of why they did work and it seriously erked me that he did not really take responsibility for the fact that he allowed another female to have influence in his decision and still didn't get rid of the cow until way past me wanting to junk punch him.
July wasn't an innocent party either however in my opinion didn't have as much responsibility as he did in their breakup or arguments and honestly in her position I understood why she acted the way she did about his jobs due to her past experience. But I felt as if it was made out to be her fault for a long while. I. Didn't . Care. For. That. Shit. How ever like I said she wasn't all innocent either.
I loved them together when they finally got their heads out of their arses and as per Lani spun a fantasic story with some crazy funny sexy delicious moments with a side of angst in there. And wow did she out do her self with that ending!!!! That was hella emotional rollercoaster.
So yes I'll keep loving Lani but I MPs won't re-read this one.
xo
Right so anyone who knows me knows lani Lynn is one of my favourite authors ... probably my favourite actually. So you know that I completely devour her books like a crazy lady.
This is not my favourite by a long shot.
Know I'm not going to put all the blame on PD (dean). However... he pissed me off enough to not like him through a lot of this book.
He was charismatic yes. He was also great when they finally got their shit together. But wow did he come across a total self-centred asshat. His reasoning in the beginning was utter bull and only a tiny part of why they did work and it seriously erked me that he did not really take responsibility for the fact that he allowed another female to have influence in his decision and still didn't get rid of the cow until way past me wanting to junk punch him.
July wasn't an innocent party either however in my opinion didn't have as much responsibility as he did in their breakup or arguments and honestly in her position I understood why she acted the way she did about his jobs due to her past experience. But I felt as if it was made out to be her fault for a long while. I. Didn't . Care. For. That. Shit. How ever like I said she wasn't all innocent either.
I loved them together when they finally got their heads out of their arses and as per Lani spun a fantasic story with some crazy funny sexy delicious moments with a side of angst in there. And wow did she out do her self with that ending!!!! That was hella emotional rollercoaster.
So yes I'll keep loving Lani but I MPs won't re-read this one.
xo
October 4, 2016
I’ve read all the books in Kilgorie Fire Series and I have to say this is the sexiest one yet, but it also has a story that keeps you turning those pages as quickly as you can to see what happens next, especially towards the end.
Even though this is the fourth book in the series, it can be read as a standalone, but I think you should read them all, simply because they’re worth reading.
It’s hard to decide what I liked most about this book–––the story or the characters. I’ll start with the characters. You know a book is good when you either love or hate the characters. In this case, I found I loved some characters and I really hated a few of them, enough to make my skin crawl. Of course, I loved Dean and July, the main characters. I’ll let you discover the ones I hated. I wasn’t sure about July’s brother at first, but the more I got to “know” him, the more I grew to like him.
The story was surprising. It started as a contemporary romance, but then a subtle story thread begins to play an integral part in the whole story, and this book really takes off. This was about the time I could not put this book down.
All I can say, is “Bring on Book 5”.
Even though this is the fourth book in the series, it can be read as a standalone, but I think you should read them all, simply because they’re worth reading.
It’s hard to decide what I liked most about this book–––the story or the characters. I’ll start with the characters. You know a book is good when you either love or hate the characters. In this case, I found I loved some characters and I really hated a few of them, enough to make my skin crawl. Of course, I loved Dean and July, the main characters. I’ll let you discover the ones I hated. I wasn’t sure about July’s brother at first, but the more I got to “know” him, the more I grew to like him.
The story was surprising. It started as a contemporary romance, but then a subtle story thread begins to play an integral part in the whole story, and this book really takes off. This was about the time I could not put this book down.
All I can say, is “Bring on Book 5”.
October 9, 2016
I love LLV stories, how even though they me be a different series there are interconnecting characters. This is July and Dean's (PD) story. If you've read this author before you know what to expect - she delivers great romance with a touch of suspense.
Here's why this one was not a 5 star read for me - I love my alpha man and Dean is that EXCEPT when he wanted July to fight for him. I believe him to be totally wrong in the break up and the way he did it. Which brings me to my second issue - Alexa. I didn't feel there was a resolution there. And finally, I wanted to know what happened during the 3 months (although I feel we may get some of these details with Raven and Wolf). July just seemed to bounce back from the event too easily.
Having said that - I really enjoyed the story and look forward to ANYTHING Lani puts out.
Here's why this one was not a 5 star read for me - I love my alpha man and Dean is that EXCEPT when he wanted July to fight for him. I believe him to be totally wrong in the break up and the way he did it. Which brings me to my second issue - Alexa. I didn't feel there was a resolution there. And finally, I wanted to know what happened during the 3 months (although I feel we may get some of these details with Raven and Wolf). July just seemed to bounce back from the event too easily.
Having said that - I really enjoyed the story and look forward to ANYTHING Lani puts out.
October 5, 2016
July Dupree and Dean ‘PD’ Hargrove have done this before. They fell in love hard and fast but when Dean's job proved to be too much for July - they went their separate ways. Miserably.
One miserable year later, both of them are tired of faking happiness for the sake of their friends and family. Dean is ready to get his woman back. July is ready to prove that she is tough enough to handle Dean's job. Both of them are ready to be happy.
Back together and happy again, life takes it's toll and turns their world upside down. I wasn't expecting that little (huge) twist so just be ready for a big shocker.
Great great book! Loved seeing old couples again. Can't wait to see more!
One miserable year later, both of them are tired of faking happiness for the sake of their friends and family. Dean is ready to get his woman back. July is ready to prove that she is tough enough to handle Dean's job. Both of them are ready to be happy.
Back together and happy again, life takes it's toll and turns their world upside down. I wasn't expecting that little (huge) twist so just be ready for a big shocker.
Great great book! Loved seeing old couples again. Can't wait to see more!
October 10, 2016
2.75 stars
August 24, 2020
3.25 stars
I hate giving LLV books anything less than 4 stars but not every book can be a winner. As much as I wanted to love this story there was just something missing. Sometimes I hate reading second chance romances because the romance is already built at that point and we don’t get to see it. We just get glimpses of the past to help us along and that doesn’t always work for me. Another thing is I felt like the drama at the end was a bit glossed over, like how did everything go down, we needed more information there. Other than that; it was pretty good. I’m sad that I’m on to the last book, I quite enjoyed this series.
6/10 might recommend
I hate giving LLV books anything less than 4 stars but not every book can be a winner. As much as I wanted to love this story there was just something missing. Sometimes I hate reading second chance romances because the romance is already built at that point and we don’t get to see it. We just get glimpses of the past to help us along and that doesn’t always work for me. Another thing is I felt like the drama at the end was a bit glossed over, like how did everything go down, we needed more information there. Other than that; it was pretty good. I’m sad that I’m on to the last book, I quite enjoyed this series.
6/10 might recommend
October 6, 2016
Gahhhhhhh!!! Holy Jebus! This is the second book that I have had the opportunity to read by Ms. Vale and Holy Jebus was it awesome. I can now say that I have totally fallen in love with her writing style and the way she depicts her characters in these stories. Her writing is damn near flawless, as an editor I mark up every book I read and this one had very few mistakes or issues with it. Vale's ability to draw the reader in and keep them literally on the edge of the chair is great. Controlled Burn delivers just the right amount of humor, hawt, sexy moments, plenty of suspense and second chances.
Dean "PD" Hargrove and July Dupree met just over a year ago. They spent six months together before it all fell apart. Dean is a firefighter and paramedic, but he also helps out with the local SWAT team and July just can't get past the fact that he puts himself in harms way. Basically, July gave him an ultimatum, which resulted in them calling it quits. Now a year after their split they find themselves as neighbors, each working on a house to flip, when July falls through a window, Dean is there to take care of her. What they both come to realize when they see each other is that the love they had for one another has not gone away. July has been hurt way to much on her life to even consider giving Dean another chance, but boy, oh boy, is that man persuasive! Talk about a sexy as hell, all alpha man! The banter between the two of them if hilarious at times. But Dean is so sweet, nurturing and determined to prove to July that he is worth fighting for.
When July's brother Wolf asks her to help him out with a case, she is hesitant to do so. I the end Dean is there to help her. When the case takes an ugly turn of events, Dean and Wolf find themselves working together to bring it all to a close, but will they work fast enough? July is Dean's whole world and he will stop at nothing to make her happy.
Seriously, I really can't and won't say more. I don't want to give away the story. Just go buy this sweet, sexy, suspenseful, erotic read. You will not be disappointed. Vale gave me the feels. I could not put this one down and I found myself reading until I would fall asleep. I had to know what would happen next!
5 Feel the Burn Stars!
Dean "PD" Hargrove and July Dupree met just over a year ago. They spent six months together before it all fell apart. Dean is a firefighter and paramedic, but he also helps out with the local SWAT team and July just can't get past the fact that he puts himself in harms way. Basically, July gave him an ultimatum, which resulted in them calling it quits. Now a year after their split they find themselves as neighbors, each working on a house to flip, when July falls through a window, Dean is there to take care of her. What they both come to realize when they see each other is that the love they had for one another has not gone away. July has been hurt way to much on her life to even consider giving Dean another chance, but boy, oh boy, is that man persuasive! Talk about a sexy as hell, all alpha man! The banter between the two of them if hilarious at times. But Dean is so sweet, nurturing and determined to prove to July that he is worth fighting for.
When July's brother Wolf asks her to help him out with a case, she is hesitant to do so. I the end Dean is there to help her. When the case takes an ugly turn of events, Dean and Wolf find themselves working together to bring it all to a close, but will they work fast enough? July is Dean's whole world and he will stop at nothing to make her happy.
Seriously, I really can't and won't say more. I don't want to give away the story. Just go buy this sweet, sexy, suspenseful, erotic read. You will not be disappointed. Vale gave me the feels. I could not put this one down and I found myself reading until I would fall asleep. I had to know what would happen next!
5 Feel the Burn Stars!
July 11, 2017
Running the emotional circuit
This book was great. It was interesting and well written. From the beginning, it pulled me in emotionally. It made me angry, I laughed and cried.
This book was great. It was interesting and well written. From the beginning, it pulled me in emotionally. It made me angry, I laughed and cried.
January 10, 2025
This was rather a hot mess riddled with plot holes and an unlikeable MMC.
So disappointed
So disappointed
August 19, 2022
4.5 Stars! Loved this book. Different from the series. I’m not reading her MC books. But, I will definitely be reading Raven & Wolf’s book next! I’ve loved Wolf ever since I first read about him.
January 27, 2025
It's about a guy who supposedly works multiple jobs, fireman/paramedic and SWAT medic, and also "always" works, "always" takes other people's shifts, doesn't leave any time for his relationship. He's also "always" hanging out with his friends. He also has time for the fireman's BBQ every week. Then he even has a third job, a house flipping business. He must live in a universe with 48 hour days and 14 day weeks, to "always" do so many things.
The blurb says the conflict is about his dangerous jobs. And it kind of is. But they break up in the first chapter because of his jobs, so that doesn't really supply the conflict for the rest of the book.
After the breakup, they still live in a small town and both flip houses. Somehow the small town has a booming real estate market. They end up flipping 2 houses that are next door to each other, so it's a forced proximity situation. Y'all. I can't tell you how boring it is to read about house renovations. House renovations while Dean keeps giving July shit and won't leave her alone is even less exiting. And July is written as truly too incompetent to do anything right. She can barely adult, much less reno a house. She would have died several times if Dean, superior in every way and competent in everything, weren't right next door to save her. I rolled my eyes so hard.
Dean seemed to just like the drama of July not liking his job. He wanted someone who "fought for him" and didn't "submit to his whims." But he went forward with his whims and took the job with SWAT whether she liked it or not. He actually said to her that he expected them to talk through her fears so they could just go back to normal, instead of breaking up. In other words, he expected her to change her mind about his SWAT job. He wasn't going to change his mind about the SWAT job.
Due to some past experiences with her brother being a cop or something, she was never going to change her mind, no matter how much they talked about it. Because she understood perfectly everything you could talk about, like the statistics on dangerous jobs. The problem wasn't statistics, it was that she had a personal experience with her brother. Dean just thought he could talk his way around it. But the truth is, they are just incompatible.
She also tries to tell him about how he's "always" working and "always" hanging around his friends is a problem in itself, without the dangerous nature of the job, because it meant they were pretty much never alone together. They only spent time alone if they were having sex. His only response was "Oh yeah? Well, sometimes you babysit your nephew, so who's fault is that?" I was rolling my eyes again. She babysat her nephew 6 times in 6 months. But he did that narcissist thing, that anything she does makes everything her fault and not his fault at all.
In order to try and get her back, he talks to her brother to learn all these things he didn't know about her, because he never talked to her. Their whole relationship was sex.
There's also a slight wannabe OW, his female friend who's a nurse he met because he's a medic. He lets her influence his decisions about July a bit, but he's not cheating with her or anything.
There's also a kidnapping, near death thing near the end that makes it easier for them to not care that they are completely incompatible and just get back together.
The blurb says the conflict is about his dangerous jobs. And it kind of is. But they break up in the first chapter because of his jobs, so that doesn't really supply the conflict for the rest of the book.
After the breakup, they still live in a small town and both flip houses. Somehow the small town has a booming real estate market. They end up flipping 2 houses that are next door to each other, so it's a forced proximity situation. Y'all. I can't tell you how boring it is to read about house renovations. House renovations while Dean keeps giving July shit and won't leave her alone is even less exiting. And July is written as truly too incompetent to do anything right. She can barely adult, much less reno a house. She would have died several times if Dean, superior in every way and competent in everything, weren't right next door to save her. I rolled my eyes so hard.
Dean seemed to just like the drama of July not liking his job. He wanted someone who "fought for him" and didn't "submit to his whims." But he went forward with his whims and took the job with SWAT whether she liked it or not. He actually said to her that he expected them to talk through her fears so they could just go back to normal, instead of breaking up. In other words, he expected her to change her mind about his SWAT job. He wasn't going to change his mind about the SWAT job.
Due to some past experiences with her brother being a cop or something, she was never going to change her mind, no matter how much they talked about it. Because she understood perfectly everything you could talk about, like the statistics on dangerous jobs. The problem wasn't statistics, it was that she had a personal experience with her brother. Dean just thought he could talk his way around it. But the truth is, they are just incompatible.
She also tries to tell him about how he's "always" working and "always" hanging around his friends is a problem in itself, without the dangerous nature of the job, because it meant they were pretty much never alone together. They only spent time alone if they were having sex. His only response was "Oh yeah? Well, sometimes you babysit your nephew, so who's fault is that?" I was rolling my eyes again. She babysat her nephew 6 times in 6 months. But he did that narcissist thing, that anything she does makes everything her fault and not his fault at all.
In order to try and get her back, he talks to her brother to learn all these things he didn't know about her, because he never talked to her. Their whole relationship was sex.
There's also a slight wannabe OW, his female friend who's a nurse he met because he's a medic. He lets her influence his decisions about July a bit, but he's not cheating with her or anything.
There's also a kidnapping, near death thing near the end that makes it easier for them to not care that they are completely incompatible and just get back together.
October 8, 2016
Controlled Burn
Lani Lynn Vale
4.5 stars
The Kilgore Firemen are back … and others too. A certain MC group makes an experience as well. YESSSS! There is one coming that Im so ready for and have been waiting and waiting .. but not saying who it is. Anyway …
Dean and July have a past. Seeing him again would wreck her; she isn’t strong enough to stay away but she has to. Being independent has brought her so much and being with Dean again would be devastating. She still hasn’t healed her wounds from before. If only ….
Dean was frustrating for me. Omg I wanted to punch him in the balls so many times and say get with the program. He is bossy and full of himself yet over protective of what and who he wants. What he wants is July. The past was a mistake. Letting her go was a mistake. The mountains they need to move and the walls they need to crush are huge and hard.
I loved July – she is independent, strong, sassy, and a take no crap kind of woman. That is my kind of lead female. She made “herself.” No one gave her anything to get to where she is. I had to sit on this one for a bit because I was mad when I was reading it. Really mad … HAHA!
There is a character in this one that is just a full on witch. I couldn’t stand her from her first words and knew she was going to be an issue. I wont say much more but I wanted to drag her by her hair out of the picture and like I said at the same time d**kpunch Dean. The cover says it all for me. There is some arrogance there in those eyes. I want to get toe to toe with Dean and say .. Man what the heck!??!!! Do you not see ... ?????
Love the characters – love all the series and am a huge fan. Keep writing away Lani. We are anxiously awaiting you know who. LAWDT please help me when that one comes out. --- Oh and one more thing .. there is another character at the end that I think we will be hearing more about down the road somewhere. Just not sure in whos backyard she will show up. Cant wait for that one either!
Thank you for the ARC Lani. Review to post to Ramblings From Beneath The Sheets.
Lani Lynn Vale
4.5 stars
The Kilgore Firemen are back … and others too. A certain MC group makes an experience as well. YESSSS! There is one coming that Im so ready for and have been waiting and waiting .. but not saying who it is. Anyway …
Dean and July have a past. Seeing him again would wreck her; she isn’t strong enough to stay away but she has to. Being independent has brought her so much and being with Dean again would be devastating. She still hasn’t healed her wounds from before. If only ….
Dean was frustrating for me. Omg I wanted to punch him in the balls so many times and say get with the program. He is bossy and full of himself yet over protective of what and who he wants. What he wants is July. The past was a mistake. Letting her go was a mistake. The mountains they need to move and the walls they need to crush are huge and hard.
I loved July – she is independent, strong, sassy, and a take no crap kind of woman. That is my kind of lead female. She made “herself.” No one gave her anything to get to where she is. I had to sit on this one for a bit because I was mad when I was reading it. Really mad … HAHA!
There is a character in this one that is just a full on witch. I couldn’t stand her from her first words and knew she was going to be an issue. I wont say much more but I wanted to drag her by her hair out of the picture and like I said at the same time d**kpunch Dean. The cover says it all for me. There is some arrogance there in those eyes. I want to get toe to toe with Dean and say .. Man what the heck!??!!! Do you not see ... ?????
Love the characters – love all the series and am a huge fan. Keep writing away Lani. We are anxiously awaiting you know who. LAWDT please help me when that one comes out. --- Oh and one more thing .. there is another character at the end that I think we will be hearing more about down the road somewhere. Just not sure in whos backyard she will show up. Cant wait for that one either!
Thank you for the ARC Lani. Review to post to Ramblings From Beneath The Sheets.
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