Firestorm | Romantic Reads and Such

Tags

Book Review, D.B. Sieders, Firestorm, Southern Elemental Guardians series

I am so happy to be able to once again bring you this series. If you like paranormal romances then this is a must read. Make sure you hit the bottom of this post for your way to get a chance to get free reads!

*****

In Firestorm (Southern Elemental Guardians Book 3), Wind and Fire Collide in a Storm of Mythic Proportions

Mermaids and water elemental guardians have held center stage until now, and while they make an appearance in Book 3, Firestorm is all about air and fire. Air elemental guardian Bruce made a great wingman in the first two books—he’s one of those surprise characters who started out as a subplot in Book 1 and managed to run away with every scene in which he appeared. As the hero of Firestorm, readers will finally understand what motivates his quest to bring positivity and light to those in his circle and what drives his mercurial nature.

Rogue Phoenix Serafina, his heroine, has spent a lifetime suppressing her connection fire out of fear. Her protective instincts are a strong as Bruce’s, common ground that brings them together in spite of their vastly different natures. They’ll need that common ground if they’re to stop rebellious air elementals from exploiting the power of the Phoenix to destroy earth’s elemental balance—especially as they’re growing attraction heightens the stakes.

*****

Firestorm

Southern Elemental Guardians Book 3

by D.B. Sieders

Fantasy Romance – Griffyn Ink

Cover Design – Julie Schroeder Designs

Blurb:

He’s running from the past. She’s running from the future.

Bruce, prince of the American Sylph and guardian of wind and air, loves mixing business with pleasure. An immortal with excessive appetites, he wields his considerable powers to satisfy them so he can forget his past transgressions. But when he discovers a rogue Phoenix on the loose, pleasure comes with the risk of catastrophe.

After nearly a century in hiding, Serafina is forced to fight against a conspiracy to resurrect the Phoenix. Uniting three of her kind could disrupt earth’s elemental balance, unleashing a fiery apocalypse. Can she trust the seductive, mercurial Sylph prince to help her, or will her untested passion and fire doom them both and all they hold dear?

Buy Links: Amazon, Barnes&Noble, iBooks

*****

Excerpt:

Well, speak of the devil.

Bruce blended so well in the shadows she almost missed him. Wings wrapped around his body like a blanket, he still shivered. Dark smudges rested below his closed eyes. Must’ve been a long night for him, and his tight jaw and furrowed brows spoke volumes about the concerns he carried with him into a fitful slumber.

Well no wonder. What little Lorelei had shared about Bruce’s sister had Sera worried about his visit. Perhaps he’d received disturbing news about Brandt, too. Gods, she was tempted to jerk him awake and grill him for details, but he clearly needed rest.

He needed comfort, too.

This fascinating, playful, high-handed and gentle by turns creature encompassed unexpected depths he kept well-hidden, but beneath the veneer of carefree mischief maker, he’d proven a capable and determined leader, a protector, a source of irritating yet effective motivation, and a generous spirit. He’d had a hand in bringing Lorelei and Vincent together, as well as Lorelei’s sister and her consort—probably countless others based on the stories Lorelei shared with her. Sylphs were famous purveyors of happiness, light, and love.

Who gives him happiness, light, or love?

Perhaps she could do that for him, at least in this moment. After all he’d done for her, it was the least she could offer, and at no personal sacrifice. She wanted him, too, and the comfort and light he could give her.

Sera settled beside him, careful not to disturb his sleep, wrapped arms and wings around him, and planted a gentle kiss on his cheek. Her yelp of surprise morphed into a breathy sigh when he rolled and gripped her in a fierce embrace. She hadn’t meant to wake him.

Wait, he wasn’t awake. Long-lashed lids fluttered but didn’t open. No, he’d reached for her in his dream, clinging to her in the midst of whatever storm tormented his mind. Was it her he wanted, or just a warm body?

She ran her hands over his powerful shoulders, caressing the juncture between shoulder blade and wing. A shuddering sigh and groan of delight from the Sylph rewarded her efforts. Hmm, she could grow addicted to that sort of response. But she needed to make certain he knew to whom he responded.

“Wake up, sleeping Prince,” she whispered, caressing his face from high cheekbones down along a strong jaw. Those lips, normally curled into a smirk, had softened in sleep and proved irresistible. She moved closer, nuzzling his neck and running her lips over his skin, skin graced with the scents of springtime’s new life carried on a cool breeze. “Wake up and I’ll kiss you.”

He opened his eyes, his strange and mesmerizing yellow gaze filled with confusion and heartbreaking despair that morphed into longing and the unbearable beauty of hope. “Am I dreaming?”

“No,” she whispered.

“Then kiss me, Serafina.”

*****

Review:

It’s easier to state this up front – I will reference the other books in the series in my review, however this one can stand alone so don’t worry if this is where you decide to start. For those of you who have been reading this series, I’m sure you’ve been just as anxious as I have to see cocky (but still loveable) Bruce meet his match. I even mentioned it in my review for Lorelei’s Lyric, but I definitely didn’t see Serafina coming … and neither did he 🙂

Like with the other books, Sieders gives readers a wonderful complex world – not just with there paranormal element but the personal as well as the political. There’s a lot of inner-workings between the different factions of the elementals and she does a great job of describing it in a way that is pretty easy to apply to society today without getting overly preachy. It helps you see not only their world in a way that you can understand but also gives you a chance to look at your own a little differently as well.

While there is danger and intrigue over the Phoenix resurrection & potential apocalypse, there’s also a lot of drama with Bruce and Sera. He’s been carrying a lot of guilt over some decisions he’s made throughout his very long life. While she’s spent her much shorter one living in fear and hiding who she is, never really living. But meeting each other, and the unrest that has caused it, puts them in a situation where they could help each other address their troubles. And find themselves falling in love at a time when they least expect it.

While this one came off as a little more traditional in the paranormal romance genre than the first two books, Sieders still delivers a well-written and intriguing supernatural world with a plot that pulls you in and characters that keep you turning pages until the very end. I know there’s more to come and I’m intrigued to see what direction she’s decides to take her stories next.

(Make sure you look below to see how you can get a copy of Three Wishes, Southern Elemental Guardians Book 2.5 – one of those in-betweener stories that is perfect to give you a little more about the world you’ve grown to love and also a tiny peek at what’s to come here in book 3 … it’s not necessary to read it, or any of the other stories, to enjoy Firestorm since it can easily stand on its own. But why wouldn’t you want to get even more of this fun series and its entertaining characters.)

*****

Author Info:

Award-winning author D.B. Sieders was born and raised in East Tennessee and spent her childhood hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains, wading barefoot in creeks, and chasing salamanders, fish, and frogs. She and her family loved to tell stories while sitting around the campfire.

Those days of frog chasing sparked an interest in biology. She is a working scientist by day, but never lost her love of telling stories. Now, she’s a purveyor of unconventional fantasy romance featuring strong heroines and the heroes who strive to match them. Her heroes and heroines face a healthy dose of angst as they strive for redemption and a happily ever after, which everyone deserves.

D.B. Sieders lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband, two children, three cats, and her very active imagination.

You can find D.B. Sieders on her Website, Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads

*****

Giveaway: