Title: Mastering the Flames
Series: The Beacon Hill Sorcerer 04
Author: S.J. Himes
Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Publisher: S.J. Himes (October 4, 2019)
Length: Novel (394 Pages)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: đź’–đź’–đź’– 3 Heart
Blurb: Guilt-ridden after the massacre of his family, Isaac Salvatore turned to binge drinking to escape the pain. Now twenty-four years old, Isaac is a recovering alcoholic woefully out of practice in the magical arts, leaving his fire affinity hanging on the edge of disaster. After a month of rehab, he returns to Beacon Hill and his family, determined to remain sober, learn to control his magic, and figure out a plan for his life that doesn’t involve drinking.
Constantine Batiste is the oldest, most powerful vampire in the city. Born in ancient Gaul, the bastard son of a Celtic king, his long life has been shrouded in tragedy and horrors. Recent mistakes have left him wary and determined to guard his clan from all foes. When two of his clan members fall victim to an ancient evil, he summons the Necromancer of Boston for aid. Accompanying his older brother to the Tower is the handsome young fire mage once wounded by Constantine’s arrogance, and their encounter reignites an attraction that burns within both Constantine and Isaac.
The answer to who is targeting the vampires of Boston is buried in the dark, early days of Constantine’s transition to an immortal life. Isaac finds himself saddled with a painful insight into the evil cutting a swath through the supernatural population of Boston. While his brother, Angel, takes over the hunt to find and stop the threat to the city, Isaac struggles to find a balance between helping his brother and finding his own purpose and place in the world, free from his brother’s shadow.
Falling in love wasn’t part of his plan, but mastering the flames that burn between him and Constantine soon becomes the most important thing in his life, even as an ancient evil seeks to destroy them.
ISBN: B07YM2XF52
Product Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK
Reviewer: Lisa
Review: Isaac had finally gotten to the bottom and needed help. He was finishing his time in the hospital trying to get over drinking. He had made one big mistake and didn’t tell them just how much he was drinking so it was harder then he had expected. Now home he is bout to see the one man he was in lust of, very powerful vampire.
Constantine missed the man he was falling for. He had screwed up and lost the ability to entice the young fire mage. Isaac’s brother marked him so it would never work again. That didn’t take away from the fact that he was falling in love. To bad for them someone is not only out to get the vampires but also for Isaac and Constantine.
It might have been a damn good story if it didn’t come off the way it does. It felt like the author was rambling and mixing up parts of the story. Also some of the words that were used was just plain nutty. It was long winded when a shorter story would have been better. It was so slow that it took me four days to finish, where it should have been maybe two hours. I liked the guys quite a bit but the story was just off to me. There was action but it was more of a blur then something you would have expected. There was a distinct feeling from Isaac that he wouldn’t be liked by the vampires but you saw just a handful in the story. So there was no reason for the way the character felt. There wasn’t even really any heat from his brother or his brothers mate.
There was some action as I said above but very little. You get a bit more romance but mostly how each other is feeling. The sex scenes were a bit dry and not all what one would expect. There was just something that made the story go in the opposite direction than it should have. The characters while charming were not as full as they should have been. You don’t see much of his brother, don’t get me wrong it is Isaac’s story, but you would expect his brother to be there more. Then they were all worried to death about the evil in the story being so hard to die, then one move does it, came off lame to me.
Overall the story was fine, not the best that I expected but was still a good read in the end. I can’t say that this is one of those stories that will be read more than just once, but I am afraid that it probably will just be put on the shelf. It was just to long winded with to much added in than was needed. I am sorry to say but this story just wasn’t my idea of fun.