Tuesday, July 20, 2010

The Viking Goodness of All Fired Up

All Fired Up
Author: Kristen Painter
Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 1011 KB
Print Length: 272 pages
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
This book is available on Amazon.

Summary: Alrik Gunn knows from bitter experience that change isn’t always for the better. From the woman who annihilated his Viking clan to the goddess who tricked him into centuries of slavery, betrayal has dogged his existence. The Goddess of Love is going to let him avenge his family, but for a price. As a Phoenix—a merchant of change—he must grant a human woman three chances to change her life.

When former Irish dancer Calleigh McCarthy tosses a carved-bird statue that belonged to her ex into a roaring bonfire, she unwittingly summons an honest-to-god Phoenix. A sexy, irresistible Viking who offers her an unbelievable bonus—three get-out-of-her-crappy-life-free cards. She’ll take it, even if it means guarding her cautious heart against the dark pain behind Alrik’s eyes.

I bought All Fired Up on a whim because, as many of you know, I've only been reading romance for a couple of years and I have much catching up to do. I'm not a traditional romance reader, having spent years reading Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror. I read the teaser for All Fired Up and decided I needed to read it on my Kindle. It has all the elements I enjoy: magic, humor, a hot Viking warrior and romance. I found myself laughing out loud throughout the entire book, but by the end the author had me in tears.

I loved the mix of characters in All Fired Up. Calleigh's family is Irish, Alrik is a Viking who was living in Ireland, and later we meet other Phoenix males including a Roman, and the god and goddess who control them. The author has a charming style of writing that makes the reader feel as if they know the characters or want to know more about them. We WANT them to be happy and we care about them.

All Fired Up is a fast paced, fun and charming paranormal romance. I have to add that you cannot beat the price on the Kindle edition for a full sized novel. It was well worth the money (under $4.00), and I will be reading Ms. Painters other novels, plus looking for a second Phoenix novel (crossing my fingers and toes that she writes another one!).

~Moonsanity

CymLowell