Burning Boundaries (Elemental Evidence 2) by Bellora Quinn and Sadie Rose Bermingham

[Ulysses]

Burning Boundaries (Elemental Evidence 2)
By Bellora Quinn and Sadie Rose Bermingham
Published 2017 by Pride Publishing
Reviewed 2024

I realize I read the first book in this series when it was first published, and then lost track of the authors. I’m glad I found this, and got to see what became of Mari Gale and Jake Chivis. I’ve also bought the third book in this series (Surfacing Secrets) because the writing is very good and the characters are compelling.

Can people simply burst into flames? Is spontaneous combustion real? Given that these two men are elementals, and bear the bloodlines of powerful Air and Fire magic, it’s not as far-fetched as it might seem.

Mari (contracted from the amazing Finnish name Ilmarinen) Gale is being interviewed for a new job—a position in the secret service that would make great use of his amazing Air Elemental powers (which here translates into doing unheard of things with computer systems). Meanwhile, Jake is still looking for a new job, leaving his work with the Detroit Police Department far behind him.

And they’re still dating, months after the case they worked together turned them into a couple. But are they a couple? Mari’s mother, Annabel, seems to think so, and even Jake seems to think so; but Mari’s baggage makes it difficult for him to share that vision.

The distraction of this book—which, of course, is the main mystery—is a brief but violent fire in the basement dungeon of a BDSM bar above which Jake happens to rent an apartment. Two people die in this fire, and although they have no official ties, Jake’s friend on the Metropolitan Police asks his advice. Something is very weird about the fire, and about the man who seems to have started it.

Like the first book in this series, there is a fascinating and increasingly creepy mystery that brings both men and their special elemental skills into play.

More importantly, however, is the authors’ careful deep dive into the two men’s relationship. As with the first book, there is more on-page sex than I generally care about (but, again, very well done, and emotionally potent). There is no denying that these two men are interesting, and good, and OBVIOUSLY destined for each other. But the joy of books like this is watching the protagonists stumble into the truth that the reader can already see.

What I took away from this second episode is that these two men are special, and they need to be very careful about whom they let make use of their special talents. Not all of the bad guys interested in them are obviously bad; and not all the good guys (i.e. the government agencies who want their skills) are actually entirely good either.

Will they find the reason for the fire-related deaths? Will they get good jobs with benefits and security? Will they just admit what they feel for each other, already?

Very good. And I expect book 3 will be just as good.