Review: Fire Always Burns

Fire Always Burns by Krista Lakes

Ahhhh, take a deep breath. Feel that? That's genuine Colorado Rocky Mountain air! Oh how I love a book set in my home state!

This story is such a hidden treasure! I found myself reading it in just two days, partly due to its approximately 200 pages in length, but mainly due to the smooth and captivating way it is written. I simply adored the accurate depiction of small town Colorado. If its one thing Lakes is good at, its depicting small town mentality. It doesn't matter if its the small mountain town of Conifer or my home town on the plains, the small town vibe is the same. As a recent transplant to the big city I've nicknamed the "island" of Dallas, I ate up these small town references. My favorite had to be the local library being attached to the property of the high school. (Notice the wording there: the high school. As in one school. Not one of the 55 schools in the district such as the district I now work in). I instantly thought of my high school and the library on the same property.

As for the story itself? It can be summed up in this quote found in the last chapter

"The fires of today lead to the forests of tomorrow." (Lakes 203)

I personally did not read the description on good reads or anywhere else. I simply just began with nothing but the title. At the beginning of each chapter there is a one paragraph description of a different stage of a forest fire. Sort of a time lapse. This fire imagery literally smoldered under the rest if the story. Clearly it was not happening as the story was, it would be one slow moving fire if that were the case. It instead foreshadows later events and personifies the characters inner struggles.

I saw this as a re-coming of age story. A redemption story. Though the characters in this novel have already come of age and entered the adult world through college, careers and kids, they screwed up along the way. Some have lived in guilt for a short time while others for around 20 years! Here is their second chance to reclaim their identity, rekindle an old "spark" of love and to learn respect themselves by going down memory lane to the "self" they were as teenagers.

What a sneaky sneaky story of redemption and second chances hidden in a steamy, sometimes scalding hot hot HOT little romance novel.

Speaking of hot, why yes this novel contains sex scenes. However I was pleased to find out they were realistic and intimate. Not porn. Not embarrassing to read or so fantasized it will make your husband angry because real sex just isn't like that. Romantic, intimate and most of all believable.

This novel, like a juicy sitcom, kept me wanting to turn more pages to unfold the mystery of Audrey and Rays long ago past and follow Holly and Andrew cheering them on to please, please end up together.

The downside to this book is its editing. There are quite a few typos throughout however, if I can get over it so can you. The writing is certainly good and it is simply typos not poor writing. This story is worth it. I believe it to be self published which would explain the typos. Oh editors, the unsung heroes of the literature world!

I would recommend this novel. Especially since for a limited time it's available for only $2.99!

Click here to order it.

http://www.amazon.com/Fire-Always-Burns-ebook/dp/B00BL6RS70/ref=la_B00AW3NJTY_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362592453&sr=1-1