What do you think?
Rate this book
H.E.A.T. #1
A Flare Of Heat
There are times when I truly believe humanity will not survive.
Some of the last words spoken to Detective Lara Keen by her Criminal Investigations Bureau partner Carl Forrester before he died. They have haunted her ever since.
With a spate of murders to solve, a tip off about suspicious activities in a popular sex club, and the return into her life of the one man she never wanted to trust again, Lara's world becomes darker and much more sinister indeed. Having to rely on HEAT, Hauraki Emergency Assistance Team, Chief Investigator Damon Michaels in order to discover the reason behind a grisly body in a car boot fire just proves how disturbing Lara's life has become... on so many levels.
But with Carl's wise words in her head and a gut instinct many detectives would long to have, Lara is determined to join the dots before the killer strikes again. And if she has to get up close and personal with her new hot HEAT partner to achieve that? Well, that's just what good detectives do.
A sexy, sizzling crime-thriller sure to add a flare of heat to your night.
Some of the last words spoken to Detective Lara Keen by her Criminal Investigations Bureau partner Carl Forrester before he died. They have haunted her ever since.
With a spate of murders to solve, a tip off about suspicious activities in a popular sex club, and the return into her life of the one man she never wanted to trust again, Lara's world becomes darker and much more sinister indeed. Having to rely on HEAT, Hauraki Emergency Assistance Team, Chief Investigator Damon Michaels in order to discover the reason behind a grisly body in a car boot fire just proves how disturbing Lara's life has become... on so many levels.
But with Carl's wise words in her head and a gut instinct many detectives would long to have, Lara is determined to join the dots before the killer strikes again. And if she has to get up close and personal with her new hot HEAT partner to achieve that? Well, that's just what good detectives do.
A sexy, sizzling crime-thriller sure to add a flare of heat to your night.
350 pages, ebook
First published March 14, 2014
About the author
Nicola Claire
80 books734 followersNicola Claire lives in beautiful Taupo, New Zealand with her husband, two teenage boys and a Miniature Schnauzer named Rudy.
A bit of a romance junkie, she can be known to devour as many as half a dozen books a week if she drinks too much coffee. But her real passion is writing sexy, romantic suspense stories with strong female leads and alpha male protagonists who know how to love them.
So far, she’s written well over 70 books. She might have caught the writing bug; here’s hoping there’s no cure!
A bit of a romance junkie, she can be known to devour as many as half a dozen books a week if she drinks too much coffee. But her real passion is writing sexy, romantic suspense stories with strong female leads and alpha male protagonists who know how to love them.
So far, she’s written well over 70 books. She might have caught the writing bug; here’s hoping there’s no cure!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
December 4, 2014
I had planned on waiting to write a review so I could mull things over in my head for a bit... But I feel the need to express my immediate emotions before I forget. First, Nicola Claire is one of my favorite authors. Her Sweet Seduction series is the best and I can't recommend it enough! So when she asked if I'd be interested in an arc of her newest, somewhat darker crime drama series, I jumped at the chance! I knew right away I'd love it. (I'm psychic like that ;) ) So I read it and yes I loved it! The story was gripping and I was constantly engaged. I was irritated with my work schedule for interfering with my new love interest / book boyfriend favorite book. :D The characters were intriguing and I could read about them again and again. And apparently I will. ;) The only thing I didn't like was the fact that I got to the last page and it was... well, the last page. I wanted more immediately! Lara and Damon were awesomesauce! Damon was hot and such a great guy. He knew Lara so well and knew when to give her her space and back off, and he knew when to push her. He also knew how to give her the business! ;) *dreamy sigh* Lara was a kickass detective who could hold her own. She had her faults and her weaknesses, but she was the only female in her division and she stood her ground. I love a strong female lead and Ms. Claire did a great job with Lara. The story line itself had me guessing over and over. I even told a friend my theories as they progressed just so I could have it in writing when I was correct! (This only happened once, so far :| I have high hopes for the next book though!) Lol. I was literally on the edge of my seat gripping my kindle and blocking out the real world as I delved deeper and deeper into the drama unfolding before me. I needed to know what was gonna happen next. And it was so good! I will warn that there is a slightish abrupt ending that the author kinda foreshadows in her description of the series "Each couple will have three books of their own, making up a trilogy of trilogies." Which I neglected to see until after I finished the book. I was dumbfounded and kept trying to see where the rest of the story was. Alas, it was just an excerpt from her first Sweet Seduction book. (Also a great read btw!) So now it seems I have to wait until September when book 2 in her new awesome H.E.A.T. series will come out. I hate waiting, but I have a feeling this is gonna be worth it!
A big thanks to Nicola Claire for offering an arc of A Flare Of Heat for my honest review!
A big thanks to Nicola Claire for offering an arc of A Flare Of Heat for my honest review!
Shelved as 'heat-series-by-nicola-claire'
December 9, 2015H.E.A.T. is a Contemporary Romantic Suspense/Crime-Thriller Series and one very close to my heart.
Having spent several years working as a paramedic I have certainly seen my fair share of life and death. Most of which has left a lasting impression. It's not easy being an EMT, nor would I think it's easy being a fireman or police officer, both services I had a lot to do with on a daily basis. But, there was always time for a joke and a laugh, romances were springing up left, right and centre, and a more dedicated and caring bunch of people I have yet to meet.
This is their story, furnished with a little of my imagination, doctored to show the best (and on occasion the worst) of what humanity goes through every single day; sometimes challenging, sometimes exciting, and at others a mix of mysterious and chilling.
But first and foremost it's a romance series, because I absolutely believe in that old adage: "love makes the world go 'round."
For more information about H.E.A.T. and my other Contemporary & Paranormal Romance Series, please visit my website: http://nicolaclairebooks.blogspot.com/
Having spent several years working as a paramedic I have certainly seen my fair share of life and death. Most of which has left a lasting impression. It's not easy being an EMT, nor would I think it's easy being a fireman or police officer, both services I had a lot to do with on a daily basis. But, there was always time for a joke and a laugh, romances were springing up left, right and centre, and a more dedicated and caring bunch of people I have yet to meet.
This is their story, furnished with a little of my imagination, doctored to show the best (and on occasion the worst) of what humanity goes through every single day; sometimes challenging, sometimes exciting, and at others a mix of mysterious and chilling.
But first and foremost it's a romance series, because I absolutely believe in that old adage: "love makes the world go 'round."
For more information about H.E.A.T. and my other Contemporary & Paranormal Romance Series, please visit my website: http://nicolaclairebooks.blogspot.com/
Shelved as 'free-read'
November 20, 2015Free 11-20-15 (Romantic Suspense)
http://www.amazon.com/Flare-Of-Heat-H...
http://www.amazon.com/Flare-Of-Heat-H...
March 14, 2019
Crime and passion compete for this female detective's focused attention
First let me say that I love Nicola Claire! I am truly honored that she saw fit to send me an ARC copy of this book, knowing how much I was looking forward to it. I stumbled upon Ms. Claire's Sweet Seduction series while browsing the free Nook books page while her Sweet Seduction Sacrifice was free. I'm so glad I grabbed it because I have since devoured every book in the series as well as starting her Elemental Awakening series, and falling in love with Nicola's writing. A Flare of Heat is book one in a new romantic suspense/crime series that follows in the same vein as the Sweet Seduction series, but taking it further into the world of police, firemen, and other emergency personnel.
Summary:
Detective Lara Keen has had a difficult few months. She's finding very few leads on a case involving a sex club, is still grieving the loss of her long-time CIB partner and mentor, Carl Forrester, and is suffering from increasingly disturbed sleep from the events surrounding his death. As if Lara doesn't have enough going on in her life and with her work, her world becomes just that little bit darker and dangerous when she's called to an early morning crime scene involving murder by fire. Not only is the scene of the crime a location Lara found herself just hours before with an informant, but it also reintroduces a man Lara never thought she could trust again. Chief Investigator Damon Michaels is a member of H.E.A.T., Hauraki Emergency Assistance Team, and Lara was involved with him for a short period of time a while back, but the relationship ended in heartbreak. Even so, Lara still looks for Damon at any fire related crime scene or keeps her ears open for any hint of conversation that involves him or his division. With this new case, Lara and Damon are thrown together as temporary partners trying to solve the real reason behind why someone would burn a person alive, and how this killing connects with the previous death of another informant that had met with Lara hours before their death. Despite Lara's life becoming more complicated with the latest developments, Damon offers insight and entrance to the sex club scene that will help provide much needed clues in the investigation of the possible illegal use of the date rape drug. It also means even more time spent with the man her body can't seem to keep from responding to. It's terrible timing, but avoidance is thrown out the window and Lara is forced to acknowledge what went wrong between her and Damon. Correcting life-long bad habits is a slow process and stopping a killer takes priority, although she realizes she's missed Damon in her life. With the words of the man she idolized in her head, Lara determines to connect the dots and listen to the evidence in order to prevent more deaths, even if that means getting intimately close with her own personal H.E.A.T agent. When the evidence leads them to a most unexpected lead, Lara will fight with her own guilt, questions of why, and wondering if her gut instinct is as powerful as she once thought. With feelings of betrayal and hurt she will need to dig deep for a strength she wasn't sure she possessed and use all the trusted support she can find in order to deal with the explosion and subsequent fall-out of what the clues have revealed, and to determine what comes next.
I loved Lara from the first. She's a dedicated cop and loyal partner. She was incredibly intense and badass, but all with a feminine flare. She added depth and opened a whole new world of thought with how she went about her cases and also how she's dealt with the loss of her trusted partner. Her and Damon together was hot. I love how it was a second chance type romance and while it was present, romance wasn't at the forefront of the story. Damon was sweet and I only wish we could have gotten a bit of the story from his POV. I loved seeing Ryan from the Sweet Seduction series, and we are introduced to several other new characters that I'm guessing will be featured in later books. The story was entertaining and really made my brain work. I was super close to pulling out my own whiteboard to write down the evidence we had collected and try my hand at case-mapping. Haha. Even now, I'm running through possible scenarios, links, and conversations from the book. While the story did end, it ended with what I like to call a semi-cliffhanger. Parts of the plot were concluded, but with those conclusions, more questions were asked with no easy answers and a whole new journey begins. We are left wondering where we go from here and what will happen when we get there. Ms. Claire has outdone herself yet again. Her ability to interweave so many details and information while still developing her characters and throwing in romance, danger, and suspense is nothing short of amazing. I am hooked and cannot wait for book two. Great job Nicola! Keep 'em coming. <3
First let me say that I love Nicola Claire! I am truly honored that she saw fit to send me an ARC copy of this book, knowing how much I was looking forward to it. I stumbled upon Ms. Claire's Sweet Seduction series while browsing the free Nook books page while her Sweet Seduction Sacrifice was free. I'm so glad I grabbed it because I have since devoured every book in the series as well as starting her Elemental Awakening series, and falling in love with Nicola's writing. A Flare of Heat is book one in a new romantic suspense/crime series that follows in the same vein as the Sweet Seduction series, but taking it further into the world of police, firemen, and other emergency personnel.
Summary:
Detective Lara Keen has had a difficult few months. She's finding very few leads on a case involving a sex club, is still grieving the loss of her long-time CIB partner and mentor, Carl Forrester, and is suffering from increasingly disturbed sleep from the events surrounding his death. As if Lara doesn't have enough going on in her life and with her work, her world becomes just that little bit darker and dangerous when she's called to an early morning crime scene involving murder by fire. Not only is the scene of the crime a location Lara found herself just hours before with an informant, but it also reintroduces a man Lara never thought she could trust again. Chief Investigator Damon Michaels is a member of H.E.A.T., Hauraki Emergency Assistance Team, and Lara was involved with him for a short period of time a while back, but the relationship ended in heartbreak. Even so, Lara still looks for Damon at any fire related crime scene or keeps her ears open for any hint of conversation that involves him or his division. With this new case, Lara and Damon are thrown together as temporary partners trying to solve the real reason behind why someone would burn a person alive, and how this killing connects with the previous death of another informant that had met with Lara hours before their death. Despite Lara's life becoming more complicated with the latest developments, Damon offers insight and entrance to the sex club scene that will help provide much needed clues in the investigation of the possible illegal use of the date rape drug. It also means even more time spent with the man her body can't seem to keep from responding to. It's terrible timing, but avoidance is thrown out the window and Lara is forced to acknowledge what went wrong between her and Damon. Correcting life-long bad habits is a slow process and stopping a killer takes priority, although she realizes she's missed Damon in her life. With the words of the man she idolized in her head, Lara determines to connect the dots and listen to the evidence in order to prevent more deaths, even if that means getting intimately close with her own personal H.E.A.T agent. When the evidence leads them to a most unexpected lead, Lara will fight with her own guilt, questions of why, and wondering if her gut instinct is as powerful as she once thought. With feelings of betrayal and hurt she will need to dig deep for a strength she wasn't sure she possessed and use all the trusted support she can find in order to deal with the explosion and subsequent fall-out of what the clues have revealed, and to determine what comes next.
I loved Lara from the first. She's a dedicated cop and loyal partner. She was incredibly intense and badass, but all with a feminine flare. She added depth and opened a whole new world of thought with how she went about her cases and also how she's dealt with the loss of her trusted partner. Her and Damon together was hot. I love how it was a second chance type romance and while it was present, romance wasn't at the forefront of the story. Damon was sweet and I only wish we could have gotten a bit of the story from his POV. I loved seeing Ryan from the Sweet Seduction series, and we are introduced to several other new characters that I'm guessing will be featured in later books. The story was entertaining and really made my brain work. I was super close to pulling out my own whiteboard to write down the evidence we had collected and try my hand at case-mapping. Haha. Even now, I'm running through possible scenarios, links, and conversations from the book. While the story did end, it ended with what I like to call a semi-cliffhanger. Parts of the plot were concluded, but with those conclusions, more questions were asked with no easy answers and a whole new journey begins. We are left wondering where we go from here and what will happen when we get there. Ms. Claire has outdone herself yet again. Her ability to interweave so many details and information while still developing her characters and throwing in romance, danger, and suspense is nothing short of amazing. I am hooked and cannot wait for book two. Great job Nicola! Keep 'em coming. <3
July 22, 2016
When I’m talking about this book and explaining how it’s written, I like to refer to one of my all-time favorite cops, JD Robb’s Eve Dallas. Nicola Claire’s heroine, Lara, has just lost her partner, so not only is she dealing with the loss of her mentor, but now she has a case that partners her with an old lover. You feel Lara’s grief, even as she tries to hide it from everyone, going so far as to talk to her mentor in her mind. She is a tough cop, but she knows when she can rely on a fellow cop and also the man she gave her heart to once. There were plot twists galore, some I could see coming and others that snuck up on me, and while Lara is dealing with the two intertwining cases, she’s also falling back into love with Damon, and boy is the love making hot. This is a great romantic crime thriller, I like seeing the inner workings of Lara’s mind as she thinks through the cases, her interactions with fellow cops and especially one of her informants.
It was hard to choose 3 quotes for my review, because I love Nicola’s writing so much. I’m in awe with how quickly she writes and publishes a new book. Plus, she has a few different series that are all unique from each other. If you’ve read her Sweet Seduction series, you’ll recognize a few names in this series, but they are completely separate and not needed to understand this series.
I chuckled, which seemed to infuriate him more. "Sorry," I murmured, watching as his shoulders relax a little and then I added, "I'm just picturing you turning green like the Incredible Hulk."
******************************************************************************
It was slow and tender, the soft glide of flesh on flesh. The quiet moans of need and hunger. The exquisiteness of sated relief. "Yes," and "More," and "Please," the only whispers to break the sighs. His and mine. It was beautiful.
**************************************************************************
"I don't deserve you," I whispered and he smiled. "I was thinking how lucky I am," he offered.
It was hard to choose 3 quotes for my review, because I love Nicola’s writing so much. I’m in awe with how quickly she writes and publishes a new book. Plus, she has a few different series that are all unique from each other. If you’ve read her Sweet Seduction series, you’ll recognize a few names in this series, but they are completely separate and not needed to understand this series.
I chuckled, which seemed to infuriate him more. "Sorry," I murmured, watching as his shoulders relax a little and then I added, "I'm just picturing you turning green like the Incredible Hulk."
******************************************************************************
It was slow and tender, the soft glide of flesh on flesh. The quiet moans of need and hunger. The exquisiteness of sated relief. "Yes," and "More," and "Please," the only whispers to break the sighs. His and mine. It was beautiful.
**************************************************************************
"I don't deserve you," I whispered and he smiled. "I was thinking how lucky I am," he offered.
March 11, 2019
ARC received by author for an honest review.
A Flare Of Heat begins wit Lara going to a crime scene where the victim was burned in a car. Due to this type of fire a member of the H.E.A.T team must come out to help with this. The problem is the member who came out is Lara's ex lover who she hasn't had anything to do with in six months. Now she's going to have to put up with him a lot since her partner died, and he's the only one who can partner with her to solve this crime. But the bodies keep piling up and the clues lead them to a shocking discovery. With tension at an all time high, and death on the horizon Lara and her ex are going to have to come to some kind of agreement even if it means jumping back into bed...
I really liked this book. It is more like a crime drama type of book than anything else, but a huge splash of romance thrown in there. The story was written really well, with the main characters being very awesome. Especially the heroine, she's intense, and a badass. What more could you ask for? I really liked her a lot, and I loved her and Damon together as well. They made a perfect team to solve this case. Now the ending wasn't exactly a cliffhanger, but it did sort of leave us guessing as what the heck is going to happen now. But it left me feeling very excited about the next book. So now I can not wait for it!
A Flare Of Heat begins wit Lara going to a crime scene where the victim was burned in a car. Due to this type of fire a member of the H.E.A.T team must come out to help with this. The problem is the member who came out is Lara's ex lover who she hasn't had anything to do with in six months. Now she's going to have to put up with him a lot since her partner died, and he's the only one who can partner with her to solve this crime. But the bodies keep piling up and the clues lead them to a shocking discovery. With tension at an all time high, and death on the horizon Lara and her ex are going to have to come to some kind of agreement even if it means jumping back into bed...
I really liked this book. It is more like a crime drama type of book than anything else, but a huge splash of romance thrown in there. The story was written really well, with the main characters being very awesome. Especially the heroine, she's intense, and a badass. What more could you ask for? I really liked her a lot, and I loved her and Damon together as well. They made a perfect team to solve this case. Now the ending wasn't exactly a cliffhanger, but it did sort of leave us guessing as what the heck is going to happen now. But it left me feeling very excited about the next book. So now I can not wait for it!
November 29, 2015
The first book in Nicola Claire's H.E.A.T. series. Detective Lara Keen is sent to an arson case where there is a dead body to investigate and discovers that the victim was known to her. The HEAT Chief Investigator Damon Michaels is also known to her. Lara and Damon had once been lovers until Lara believed he had cheated on her. Now they must put aside their past and work together before one of them ends up dead.
I loved Ms. Claire's Sweet Seduction series and I was excited to see another series by her. This series is loosely connected to the Sweet Seduction by characters and location and even references to certain events. There is even a cliffhanger as there are unresolved issues that will be addressed hopefully in future additions to the series. I like Lara but I did feel she had a communication problem. Damon was a good character too but not what I'd call uber-alpha. While the romance was good and satisfying I did think it focused more on the mystery/investigation than the Sweet Seduction series did.
I loved Ms. Claire's Sweet Seduction series and I was excited to see another series by her. This series is loosely connected to the Sweet Seduction by characters and location and even references to certain events. There is even a cliffhanger as there are unresolved issues that will be addressed hopefully in future additions to the series. I like Lara but I did feel she had a communication problem. Damon was a good character too but not what I'd call uber-alpha. While the romance was good and satisfying I did think it focused more on the mystery/investigation than the Sweet Seduction series did.
March 8, 2014
http://ripeforreader.blogspot.ca/2014...
My rating: 5 of 5 ⭐️
Haunted by the memories of her partner, Detective Lara Keen is struggling to make sense of a series of murders that all seem to involve her or perhaps a case she is actively involved in. Doing her best to keep up her outward tough act for the boys back at the precinct, she feels the void left behind by her partner's death. When called to yet another scene, this one involving a fire, her resolve is shaken even further when she is forced to team up with a man who she's already let too close once before.
Alerted to any calls involving suspicious fire, HEAT Chief Investigator Damon Michaels halfway expected to bump into Lara at the scene. And after being officially partnered up to follow through on the investigation, it becomes clear to Damon that whatever was between them, is not over by a long shot. She may have pushed him away once, but he won't let that happen again. Especially when it appears she is too close to the investigation.
After her initial irritation and being teamed up with Damon, Lara finds that his presence actually has more of a stabilizing effect on her than a disturbing one. They work well together and although she would be the last to admit it, Lara trusts him. Trying to find any connective tissue between the murder cases and her active drug rape investigation also allows her more insight in some issues that Damon had kept under wraps.
Inevitably working together closely is not helping Lara to keep her distance, and Damon is ready to pick up where they left off months ago. With Damon's determination apparent, Lara realizes that resistance is futile and with the way the case is developing, she is glad to know she has one person firmly in her corner...
******
HEAT is right!! FRICKIN' hot and fabulous!!!
I've gotta tell you...... I love Nicola Claire. And if you haven't heard of her yet, shame on you!! I have reviewed some of her SWEET SEDUCTION series about a Security Company, and those books were fantastic!! She also has a few paranormal series that are not as much in my ballpark, but I have read and reviewed one... MIXED BLESSING and it too was fantastic!
This is the first book of a brand new series, H.E.A.T., which stands for Hauraki Emergency Assistance Team. The series is situated in or about Auckland, New Zealand and takes a close look at the gritty underbelly of the city and those put in place to protect it.
Lara is a detective for the Criminal Investigations Bureau and comes from a long line of law enforcement. Her world has always been clearly defined in right & wrong, black & white, without any mitigating circumstances or gray areas.
With his background in Fire Inspection, Damon is well aware that things are not always as they seem, and sometimes you have to wade through the smoke to get a clearer picture. He also knows that together, he and Lara would make quite a formidable team. It would just take her a little longer to see it.
The characters are deliciously complex and so very well matched in their contrast. Their antagonism does not detract from the obvious heat and chemistry between them and once ignited, they burn up the pages. The storyline is beautifully woven and eerily devious and will keep you on the edge of your seat til the very last page.
Just a note; Although this is a story in itself, part of the plot is ongoing, and I believe will be the backdrop for at least some of the novels to follow.
I was excited when I learned Nicola was writing a whole new series. Now that I've read the first book, I am beyond thrilled and cannot wait for the next one!! Five fat goosebumped stars!!
✨A scalding hot, gritty and sinister, new kick-a$$ thriller!!✨
**ARC provided in return for an honest review.**
My rating: 5 of 5 ⭐️
Haunted by the memories of her partner, Detective Lara Keen is struggling to make sense of a series of murders that all seem to involve her or perhaps a case she is actively involved in. Doing her best to keep up her outward tough act for the boys back at the precinct, she feels the void left behind by her partner's death. When called to yet another scene, this one involving a fire, her resolve is shaken even further when she is forced to team up with a man who she's already let too close once before.
Alerted to any calls involving suspicious fire, HEAT Chief Investigator Damon Michaels halfway expected to bump into Lara at the scene. And after being officially partnered up to follow through on the investigation, it becomes clear to Damon that whatever was between them, is not over by a long shot. She may have pushed him away once, but he won't let that happen again. Especially when it appears she is too close to the investigation.
After her initial irritation and being teamed up with Damon, Lara finds that his presence actually has more of a stabilizing effect on her than a disturbing one. They work well together and although she would be the last to admit it, Lara trusts him. Trying to find any connective tissue between the murder cases and her active drug rape investigation also allows her more insight in some issues that Damon had kept under wraps.
Inevitably working together closely is not helping Lara to keep her distance, and Damon is ready to pick up where they left off months ago. With Damon's determination apparent, Lara realizes that resistance is futile and with the way the case is developing, she is glad to know she has one person firmly in her corner...
******
HEAT is right!! FRICKIN' hot and fabulous!!!
I've gotta tell you...... I love Nicola Claire. And if you haven't heard of her yet, shame on you!! I have reviewed some of her SWEET SEDUCTION series about a Security Company, and those books were fantastic!! She also has a few paranormal series that are not as much in my ballpark, but I have read and reviewed one... MIXED BLESSING and it too was fantastic!
This is the first book of a brand new series, H.E.A.T., which stands for Hauraki Emergency Assistance Team. The series is situated in or about Auckland, New Zealand and takes a close look at the gritty underbelly of the city and those put in place to protect it.
Lara is a detective for the Criminal Investigations Bureau and comes from a long line of law enforcement. Her world has always been clearly defined in right & wrong, black & white, without any mitigating circumstances or gray areas.
With his background in Fire Inspection, Damon is well aware that things are not always as they seem, and sometimes you have to wade through the smoke to get a clearer picture. He also knows that together, he and Lara would make quite a formidable team. It would just take her a little longer to see it.
The characters are deliciously complex and so very well matched in their contrast. Their antagonism does not detract from the obvious heat and chemistry between them and once ignited, they burn up the pages. The storyline is beautifully woven and eerily devious and will keep you on the edge of your seat til the very last page.
Just a note; Although this is a story in itself, part of the plot is ongoing, and I believe will be the backdrop for at least some of the novels to follow.
I was excited when I learned Nicola was writing a whole new series. Now that I've read the first book, I am beyond thrilled and cannot wait for the next one!! Five fat goosebumped stars!!
✨A scalding hot, gritty and sinister, new kick-a$$ thriller!!✨
**ARC provided in return for an honest review.**
December 17, 2014
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
Very pleasantly surprised by this crime drama with a dash of hot sexy firefighter mixed in! Actually if there would have been a little more sexiness I might have raised my review. Such a great whodunit, I had no idea what was going on & ever twist & turn was a surprise, I couldn't put the book down, I had to know what happened. There are three crimes going on - informants are being murdered, girls are being roofied & assaulted in a sex club, and the fire investigators at HEAT are being targeted by an arsonist. We never know if they are related to one another but we know that Lara & Damon are being thrown together for a reason. I instantly loved Lara Keen, a police detective in Auckland who was trained by Carl, the partner she idolized. She is dealing with the loss of Carl while also trying to mend her broken heart. Damon, the hot sexy tall, dark & handsome fire investigator, was her man for 6 months until Lara walked away & didn't let Damon explain himself. The murderer - or murderers & arsonists - want Lara & Damon to work together to solve these cases & being together again with Damon is too hard for Lara to resist - and God knows, we don't want her to! I loved their dynamic relationship. Lara definitely wears the pants in the relationship, has made this career her top priority, but she can be soft & sweet at times & Damon turns her to mush. After a hard day Lara invites Damon into a bubble bath with a glass of wine which turns into a very hot scene!! Damon is all alpha male but he strongly supports Lara's career & he makes it clearly known he misses & loves Lara. When his violent side comes out to play it is a big surprise, until we discover his alpha protectiveness over Lara & his sister are to blame. Everything Lara knows is turned on its head with a spectacular ending to the investigations, but we know it isn't the end since we still only have a few pieces to the puzzle. If you've love the author's Sweet Seduction series you'll love how mobster Declan King is involved in this series as well. This book was very well written, I loved the crime drama as well as the wonderful "HEAT" from Lara & Damon! Best Lara line: "The last time I had more than a few curt words to say to Damon Michaels he ended up inside my head, plastered against my body and way too far into my pants." Best Damon line: "Must I eff the detective out of you?"
Very pleasantly surprised by this crime drama with a dash of hot sexy firefighter mixed in! Actually if there would have been a little more sexiness I might have raised my review. Such a great whodunit, I had no idea what was going on & ever twist & turn was a surprise, I couldn't put the book down, I had to know what happened. There are three crimes going on - informants are being murdered, girls are being roofied & assaulted in a sex club, and the fire investigators at HEAT are being targeted by an arsonist. We never know if they are related to one another but we know that Lara & Damon are being thrown together for a reason. I instantly loved Lara Keen, a police detective in Auckland who was trained by Carl, the partner she idolized. She is dealing with the loss of Carl while also trying to mend her broken heart. Damon, the hot sexy tall, dark & handsome fire investigator, was her man for 6 months until Lara walked away & didn't let Damon explain himself. The murderer - or murderers & arsonists - want Lara & Damon to work together to solve these cases & being together again with Damon is too hard for Lara to resist - and God knows, we don't want her to! I loved their dynamic relationship. Lara definitely wears the pants in the relationship, has made this career her top priority, but she can be soft & sweet at times & Damon turns her to mush. After a hard day Lara invites Damon into a bubble bath with a glass of wine which turns into a very hot scene!! Damon is all alpha male but he strongly supports Lara's career & he makes it clearly known he misses & loves Lara. When his violent side comes out to play it is a big surprise, until we discover his alpha protectiveness over Lara & his sister are to blame. Everything Lara knows is turned on its head with a spectacular ending to the investigations, but we know it isn't the end since we still only have a few pieces to the puzzle. If you've love the author's Sweet Seduction series you'll love how mobster Declan King is involved in this series as well. This book was very well written, I loved the crime drama as well as the wonderful "HEAT" from Lara & Damon! Best Lara line: "The last time I had more than a few curt words to say to Damon Michaels he ended up inside my head, plastered against my body and way too far into my pants." Best Damon line: "Must I eff the detective out of you?"
March 17, 2016
Absolutely loved this book, and a fantastic start to a new series! I adore Nicola's Sweet Seduction series, and I was thrilled when I saw she was starting a new series that had a bit of overlap. Some of the SS characters do make an appearance (yay!) but this series is definitely all its own. I also LOVE the idea of a trilogy of trilogies...can't wait to see how that turns out!
First off, Lara and Damon are a fantastic pair! Both strong on their own but so much better together. They have a history and are thrown back together when investigating a fire/murder. I am a sucker for second chance romances, and this one is done right.
The plot is also fantastic. I don't know how to explain it without giving key details away, but it was unique, interesting, and kept me engaged throughout the story. I wouldn't say that this book ends with a cliffhanger per say, but it definitely leads into book 2. I couldn't wait, so I immediately downloaded the second book in the series (yay KU!) and started right away!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this series and hope the author continues soon!
First off, Lara and Damon are a fantastic pair! Both strong on their own but so much better together. They have a history and are thrown back together when investigating a fire/murder. I am a sucker for second chance romances, and this one is done right.
The plot is also fantastic. I don't know how to explain it without giving key details away, but it was unique, interesting, and kept me engaged throughout the story. I wouldn't say that this book ends with a cliffhanger per say, but it definitely leads into book 2. I couldn't wait, so I immediately downloaded the second book in the series (yay KU!) and started right away!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this series and hope the author continues soon!
March 16, 2014
Really a 4.5... Not a 5 only because there's 2 more books before the story is complete. This was a stronger police procedural with a romance. It was not as fun as the Sweet Seduction series but it was really well written, kept me guessing all the way through. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the story which sucks because I'm also desperately waiting for more of Nicola's books in several other of her series. She has fast become one of my favorite authors!
May 7, 2014
Wow! Loved the book. The characters had so much chemistry. I would love to have Damon take lead more often but its refreshing for the heroine to actually have backbone and you dont really get that in books such as crime thriller romance. The amount of twits and actually thinking like a detective. At times I was like 'its this person, ah no its this person'. Nearly 2/3 through I figured out who it was, something gave it away. Cant wait for the next book. This book I recommend!
October 28, 2014
Its no secret that Nicola is now one of my favourite authors, but this book is one of her best yet! There so many twists and turns that i was gasping the whole way through. The story is a fantastic thriller with a dash of romance amd a whole bucket of story. The characters are solid Id love to see this as a tv series!! BRILLIANT!
November 10, 2014
ARC ~~ A Flare of Heat pulls you in from the very beginning and keeps you turning the pages. Lara and Damon have great chemistry and heat. I enjoyed the unexpected twist towards the end and look forward to how it plays in the next book.
March 29, 2015
Wow...an exciting who done it
A puzzle that keeps unfolding with a surprising twist at the end. Nicola Claire has written an exciting story that will drive you nuts trying to put the pieces together. A very cool read!!
A puzzle that keeps unfolding with a surprising twist at the end. Nicola Claire has written an exciting story that will drive you nuts trying to put the pieces together. A very cool read!!
March 30, 2015
A great police thriller !!
A great police thriller that actually shows how cops feel and handle the horrors of their jobs. Not all manly man BS but the reality. What a great thrilling read !!!!
A great police thriller that actually shows how cops feel and handle the horrors of their jobs. Not all manly man BS but the reality. What a great thrilling read !!!!
May 13, 2014
Terrific...fantastic...loved it!
October 23, 2022
A detective's informants are being murdered in gruesome ways. She is mourning her lste partner and paired with a former over from another agency. Can she resist him and solve the murders?
This book was tedious and predictable. The romance was a yawn. The pairing was not believable especially in view of the prior history. The characters are not interesting or engaging. Left me cold.
This book was tedious and predictable. The romance was a yawn. The pairing was not believable especially in view of the prior history. The characters are not interesting or engaging. Left me cold.
Want to read
April 28, 2022🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/28/2022)! 🎁
June 19, 2016
"A Flare of Heat" is a romantic suspense story that takes place in Auckland, New Zealand. Lara is investigating why the snitches of her former partner keep getting killed off , suspicously right after she met with them. He ex boyfriend, Damon, is called in to partner with her after one snitch is found in the trunk of a car burned up and a member of the HEAT team is required. While trying to solve her mentor/ex partner's death and the death of his informants, she also has a side investigation of "roofies" in a known BDSM sex club. With all the twists in the plot and side investigations it keep you on your toes. Not everything is as it first appears, and she continues to hear her mentor prompting her as goes along trying to solve the case. Can she solve it, save her love life, and save her career all at the same time? I guess you need to read it to find out.
This is a pretty clean romantic suspense story and it focuses more on the mystery at hand, romance, and less on the sexual frustration of the characters. Although there is some of that in the pages of "A Flare of Heat", but it won't overwhelm the storyline.
Here's the link for this book on Amazon where it is currently free:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
This is a pretty clean romantic suspense story and it focuses more on the mystery at hand, romance, and less on the sexual frustration of the characters. Although there is some of that in the pages of "A Flare of Heat", but it won't overwhelm the storyline.
Here's the link for this book on Amazon where it is currently free:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
February 7, 2015
Flare of heat by Nicola claire
Firstly of fluke to say thank you to Nicola in allowing me to read this book for my blog reading the sheets, in exchange for an honest review.
Lara is a cop in the CIB unit. She's investigating some murders that she thinks tie together, all she needs to do is piece together the clues and see what she finds. She's finding it hard, however, since her police partner, and hero, Carl, died. He was Lara's only companion in the work field and taught her everything she now knows. Will he help her solve the case by being that voice in her head that tells her to listen to her gut? Or will he steer her in the wrong direction?
This is a brilliant read and I can't wait to read more from this series
Firstly of fluke to say thank you to Nicola in allowing me to read this book for my blog reading the sheets, in exchange for an honest review.
Lara is a cop in the CIB unit. She's investigating some murders that she thinks tie together, all she needs to do is piece together the clues and see what she finds. She's finding it hard, however, since her police partner, and hero, Carl, died. He was Lara's only companion in the work field and taught her everything she now knows. Will he help her solve the case by being that voice in her head that tells her to listen to her gut? Or will he steer her in the wrong direction?
This is a brilliant read and I can't wait to read more from this series
March 29, 2015
THIS TAKES PLACE AUKLAND IN NEW ZEALAND, SO THE TERMINOLOGY OF SOME THINGS WAS VERY DIFFERENT BUT DID NOT TAKE AWAY FROM THE STORY AT ALL. THE STORY LINE IS TOLD FROM THE MAIN CHARACTER’S POV DETECTIVE LARA KEEN A 3RD GENERATION COP. STORY CENTERS ON LARA & DAMON, HE’S AN INVESTIGATOR FOR THE FIRE DEPT. THEY ARE AFTER A SERIAL KILLER AND A FIRE STARTER. I HAD ONE BIG PROBLEM WITH THE STORY, LARA’S CONSTANT TALKING AND DESCRIBING HER FEELINGS ABOUT EVERY THING (omg please shut-up go back to the case). I WOULD HAVE ENJOYED JUST THE FACTS OF WHAT PERTAINED TO THE STORY AND LESS OF HER MUSINGS. THERE WAS SOME HOT SEX SCENES BETWEEN LARA AND DAMON. THIS IS A SERIES SO IT DID KINDA END BUT LEFT SOME THINGS UP IN THE AIR FOR THE NEXT BOOK, NOT A BAD READ. ;)
May 15, 2016
This book had more twists and turns than most which kept me guessing right up until the end. I thought it was well written although I get bored with the extended, graphic love scenes. There is a lot to be said for the old fashion presentations with innuendo rather a blow by blow detail.
I was somewhat disappointed that the story was left hanging. There is something somewhat dishonest about a book that is only part of a story. That being said I will probably purchase the second book in the series, even though usually I will strike an author who uses that ploy from my future reading list.
I was somewhat disappointed that the story was left hanging. There is something somewhat dishonest about a book that is only part of a story. That being said I will probably purchase the second book in the series, even though usually I will strike an author who uses that ploy from my future reading list.
April 11, 2015
Wow, just ... wow
This book ain't perfect, but it's darned good. There are some editing fails: the occasional extra apostrophe, the occasional incorrect capitalization, a missing word here and there. And the don't matter. The story is that good.
I appreciate that the heroine is tough and competent, acknowledged expert at her job. I also appreciate that her hero doesn't interfere with that, he's more partner than savior. He actually respects her as a law enforcement professional.
I'm going to enjoy this series.
This book ain't perfect, but it's darned good. There are some editing fails: the occasional extra apostrophe, the occasional incorrect capitalization, a missing word here and there. And the don't matter. The story is that good.
I appreciate that the heroine is tough and competent, acknowledged expert at her job. I also appreciate that her hero doesn't interfere with that, he's more partner than savior. He actually respects her as a law enforcement professional.
I'm going to enjoy this series.
June 22, 2016
This is set in Auckland, New Zealand and Lara is a Detective with CIB. Her partner ,idol, and mentor was killed in action while waiting for her to join him to follow up on a lead to a case they are working on. She has inherited her former partners informants and they are being murdered right after meeting with her. After the latest victim was burned to death in the trunk of a car Damon Michaels with HEAT which is part of the Fire Service has been assigned to work with her in solving these crimes. Just one problem: they have a past history which Lara wants to remain in the past.
April 23, 2015
This book was pretty standard fare. Although I did like the fact that Lara was a tough cop. And seemed realistically a cop unlike can sometimes happen with an authors depiction of a female cop. I also liked that Damon accepted her place as a cop. The mystery wasn't really all that mysterious to me. And spoiler: I hate when a cop seemingly turns bad and their partner has no clue. It just seems sort of outlandish. I enjoyed it but didn't immediately go searching for the rest of the series.
December 7, 2021
A broken hero
She owed everything about investigative skills to Carl, except her gut feelings. He left her one day and everyone believed him dead. She left her man, Demon, due to her fear mainly to give too much but justified as betrayal. An arsonist case brought them together. Lots of mystery, homicides, and intriguing messages left behind the bodies, hard to pinpoint who or where are these coming from. Hard to leave the story once you've stared reading it.
She owed everything about investigative skills to Carl, except her gut feelings. He left her one day and everyone believed him dead. She left her man, Demon, due to her fear mainly to give too much but justified as betrayal. An arsonist case brought them together. Lots of mystery, homicides, and intriguing messages left behind the bodies, hard to pinpoint who or where are these coming from. Hard to leave the story once you've stared reading it.
November 22, 2015
Loved this book! Loved the characters, the story line and everything else. I felt like I was on scene with how well the book was written. I felt the pain, the happiness and oh the sexual tension, haha. This is my first book by this author and I am looking forward to reading more by her. I would definitely recommend this book, you will not be disappointed!
March 14, 2015
crime meets romance
Better than the sweet seduction series, this first novel in the spin off series is about 50:50 crime drama to romance. Worthwhile reading. 3.5
Better than the sweet seduction series, this first novel in the spin off series is about 50:50 crime drama to romance. Worthwhile reading. 3.5
April 7, 2015
Good storyline.
It will be interesting to see what happens in the next book of the series. I can't wait to read book2.
It will be interesting to see what happens in the next book of the series. I can't wait to read book2.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews