Book Review: Torch



Torch by Cambria Hebert
August 13, 2013
252 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Thriller
(contains: mature language, sex)
Source: eARC for Honest review

Book Blurb:

If you can’t take the heat… stay away from the flame.

Katie Parks has been on her own since the age of fifteen. All she’s ever wanted is a place to call her own—a life that is wholly hers that no one can take away. She thought she finally had it, but with the strike of a single match, everything she worked so hard for is reduced to a pile of smoking ash. And she almost is too.

Now she’s being stalked by someone who’s decided it’s her time to die. The only thing standing in the path of her blazing death is sexy firefighter Holt Arkain.

Katie’s body might be safe with Holt… but her heart is another story.

As the danger heats up, sparks fly and the only thing Katie knows for sure is that her whole life is about to go up in flames.

My Review:

Torch is a quick, sweet-at-times-steamy-at-others, read. We start out right in the midst of Katie's attempted murder, and soon thereafter get to meet Holt, the hot fireman. Circumstances arise, pushing Holt and Katie into each other's lives beyond the initial fire rescue. And along with the interesting happenings going on between them, we cannot forget that someone out there is still trying to kill Katie.

Katie and Holt are likeable characters and I enjoyed trying to figure out who this mysterious stalker was. The story kept me completely interested, and being that it isn't excessively long, it kept my attention until the very end. There's a bit of insta-love going on, but that sort of thing doesn't bother me much. I felt the genuine connection between Katie and Holt. There is also a bit of stereotypical hot fireman and shy librarian going on. Again, those didn't really bother me. It certainly fits a certain fantasy. I enjoyed reading about Holt and Katie and their developing relationship. Their bond was sweet and their chemistry certainly set off some fire alarms. 

A few things kept me from absolutely loving this one. Without spoilers, I'll just say the way Katie was immediately put into Holt's life was borderline creepy for me. It just didn't make sense ('stranger danger', anyone?). One person in Holt's life didn't really serve a purpose, and the lack of people in Katie's life seemed like a bit of a stretch (perhaps she could have at least called her boss or neighbor in the beginning). Also, while I enjoyed reading about Katie and Holt, I really enjoy a book that has some more secondary characters involved beyond a word or two, or a couple of scenes. It helps flesh out and give more dimension to the main characters when they have other relationships in their lives.

So while Torch does not rank as highly as Cambria's Death Escorts series for me (which I love!), it is still an enjoyable read and a great break from reality, with fun, sexy characters and an intriguing storyline. 

 

3 STARS

 

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