Hi guys, we have Felice Stevens stopping by on her A Walk Through Fire blog tour, there’s a great excerpt and Zane’s review for you to enjoy, so check out the post <3 ~Pixie~
A Walk Through Fire
Felice Stevens
Years after running away from an abusive foster family, Asher Davis still inwardly struggles with the guilt of leaving his foster brothers behind. He’s climbed to unimaginable heights as a ruthless, high-powered attorney, creating a life of power and control. He takes whatever and whoever he wants.
Blaming himself for the death of his parents, Dr. Drew Klein retreats into a shell of loneliness, merely going through the motions of life. After a disastrous, short-lived marriage, Drew decides to leave his lucrative medical practice to set up a clinic for abused young men and women. The decision has more repercussions than Drew could ever imagine when the dark and sensual Ash Davis volunteers to help.
Although Drew isn’t gay, Ash is inexplicably drawn to him. He vows to simply bed him and forget him like he’s done with every other man. However, Drew’s sweet and caring nature and unexpected passion stun and frighten Ash, who questions his right to any happiness at all. And when Ash befriends an abused young man who unwittingly draws the clinic into danger, threatening Drew’s safety and that of his beloved grandmother, Ash discovers that there is nothing he won’t sacrifice to protect the love he never thought he’d find.
Excerpt
“Have a drink, Drew, and tell me why you’re here.” Ash sipped his vodka and stared at him over the rim of his glass.
“No, thanks, I’m driving. But I do want to talk to you.” The man was a study in contrasts. Drew couldn’t think of a time he hadn’t seen Ash perfectly dressed, every hair in place, looking like he’d stepped out of a men’s fashion magazine.
Tonight however…well he looked off-kilter. Though he still had on his clothes from earlier, that white button down shirt and black slacks, the shirt was wrinkled and unbuttoned lower than he’d ever seen.
Dark stubble shadowed along his jaw, and his hair lay unkempt and disheveled. Drew shifted on the sofa.
“Look, I know this may sound stupid, but my grandmother was concerned about you, so she asked me to stop by and check up on you.”
“And of course you do everything your nana says.”
Drew’s face flamed. “Fuck you, Davis.”
A tiny smirk hit the corner of Ash’s lips. “What’s the matter, Doc? The truth hurts?”
The bastard. After all the nice things his grandmother had said about him, how she’d worried about him, this was his response? To act like the snide sarcastic son of a bitch he was at their first meeting? How dare he treat her concern as if it were nothing? And to think he’d actually thought they were friends.
“What the hell do you know about the truth, huh? No one knows anything about you; you have no friends, no lover.” He stood, ready to leave. “No wonder you’re all alone. No one cares about you. You aren’t worth it.” Shit, he’d never spoken so cruelly to anyone. But then again, no one had ever gotten under his skin like Ash Davis.
Like a snake uncoiled, Ash jumped off the sofa and grabbed him by the shoulder. “Take that back.”
“What’s the matter, Davis? The truth hurts?” He mimicked Ash’s earlier words to him, and saw a flare of anger gleam in those colorless, glittering eyes.
“You fucking bastard. Who are you to say I’m not worth it, that no one cares about me? I have friends.
People like me. Don’t you ever say I’m not worth it. I matter goddamn you. I fucking matter.”
Ash tried to grab onto him, but Drew wrenched away and took off for the door, speaking over his shoulder.
“People don’t like you, Ash, they want to fuck you because you’re beautiful. That’s not liking. That’s not a friendship. How many relationships have you ever had with another man? You’ve never even had a boyfriend or a permanent relationship have you, because you have to have a heart. You have to care about someone. How can you value someone else in your life when you don’t even value yourself?”
About Felice
I have always been a romantic at heart. I believe that while life is tough, there is always a happy ending just around the corner. I started reading traditional historical romances when I was a teenager, then life and law school got in the way. It wasn’t until I picked up a copy of Bertrice Small and became swept away to Queen Elizabeth’s court that my interest in romance novels became renewed.
But somewhere along the way, my tastes shifted. While I still enjoys a juicy Historical romance, I began experimenting with newer, more cutting edge genres and discovered the world of Male/Male romance. Once I picked up her first, I became so enamored of the authors, the character-driven stories and the overwhelming emotion of the books, I knew I wanted to write my own.
I live in New York City with my husband and two children and hopefully soon a cat of my own. My day begins with a lot of caffeine and ends with a glass or two of red wine. I practice law but daydream of a time when I can sit by a beach somewhere and write beautiful stories of men falling in love. Although there is bound to be angst along the way, a Happily Ever After is always guaranteed.
Social Media Links
Review
Title: A Walk Through Fire
Author: Felice Stevens
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Long Novel (250 pages)
ISBN: 978-1-62300-622-8
Publisher: Loose ID (November 25th, 2014)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 hearts
Reviewer: Zane
Blurb: Years after running away from an abusive foster family, Asher Davis still inwardly struggles with the guilt of leaving his foster brothers behind. He’s climbed to unimaginable heights as a ruthless, high-powered attorney, creating a life of power and control. He takes whatever and whoever he wants.
Blaming himself for the death of his parents, Dr. Drew Klein retreats into a shell of loneliness, merely going through the motions of life. After a disastrous, short-lived marriage, Drew decides to leave his lucrative medical practice to set up a clinic for abused young men and women. The decision has more repercussions than Drew could ever imagine when the dark and sensual Ash Davis volunteers to help.
Although Drew isn’t gay, Ash is inexplicably drawn to him. He vows to simply bed him and forget him like he’s done with every other man. However, Drew’s sweet and caring nature and unexpected passion stun and frighten Ash, who questions his right to any happiness at all. And when Ash befriends an abused young man who unwittingly draws the clinic into danger, threatening Drew’s safety and that of his beloved grandmother, Ash discovers that there is nothing he won’t sacrifice to protect the love he never thought he’d find.
Purchase Link: http://www.loose-id.com/a-walk-through-fire.html
Review: I have been waiting to read “A Walk Through Fire” since the moment I heard author Felice Stevens was writing another book. I really liked her first book, “Rescued” and wanted to see what she was going to do next. After (FINALLY) getting to read it, I am very happy to report that it was well worth the wait. I was captivated from the start – didn’t stop reading until I reached the very last word. The storyline is strong with multiple arcs that reel you in. The characters are well defined and written in a way that you just want to know everything about them. Their development is such that you care about even the supporting characters, who by the end of this book are like one big family.
Speaking of characters – I absolutely love a broody broken alpha with a mysterious past. If he’s an unapologetic slut on top of it, that makes him even more interesting. If a heart of gold lies beneath the hardened exterior, I’m a goner. So, no surprise, I fell hook line and sinker for Ash. Someone who is portrayed as callous and uncaring on the surface and at the same time puts himself on the line to help underprivileged kids just screams out “I CAN BE SAVED!!!”.
Drew is equally a mess, just in a different way. A nice ‘straight’ guy, with a tragic past of his own, he’s focused on the clinic he’s starting up, and the last thing he expects is his own curiosity to be piqued by all things Ash. He’s intrigued, no matter how much he’s warned off, and the more inappropriate Ash seems, the more Drew tries to pull back, the more he’s drawn in.
The connection between Drew and Ash is apparent, and their attraction is palpable. Their friendship/relationship runs the gamut from amusing to heart-breaking, but is never boring. And the sex – talk about a walk through fire! HOT HOT HOT!!! Love these two together. Love how though neither is truly innocent they are each other’s firsts in many ways. Love how they are at times sexy as hell, and at times just so sweet. And wow, there were definite fan-yourself-hot moments.
Beyond the main story of Ash and Drew is the other focus – the foster care storyline. Felice Stevens does not shy away from the issues with children in foster care. In fact she shines a bright light on them, from the kids that come to the clinic, to Asher, who is still very troubled by his past. Though a sub-plot, this is a very relevant arc and reaches far and wide. It affects everyone under its umbrella, family and friends alike.
This is by no means an easy read. There are graphic situations and circumstances that may gut you and/or break your heart. But there is also love and loyalty and redemption and the (guaranteed by the author herself) HEA that will mend you and leave you smiling through the tears.
If you like a sexy love story that draws you in, makes you laugh, breaks you down and then fixes you, grab that box of tissues – “A Walk Through Fire” is the one for you.
