Fire Inside: A Chaos Novel by Kristen Ashley

Burn Baby, Burn!


 My review title sums up how I feel about this novel... but I'll take a few minutes to clarify the use & placement of my adjectives. First of all, if it were possible, I would love to give a standing ovation or tip my hat to the outstanding Ms. Kristen Ashley for delivering a truly awesome book - again. I always, ALWAYS, look forward to the days I know one of her books are releasing...regardless which book series it is from because I know I am guaranteed a phenomenal read, every time. (She never disappoints, ever.)

Moving on to 'Fire Inside: A Chaos Novel', I have so much time invested in this book (from various characters & other events that took place in previous books) that I felt like I was sort of getting acquainted with 'old friends' when I started reading. Does this mean this book can't be a stand alone? Not at all... at least, I don't think so. However, for me, I think my experience was even more powerful BECAUSE I knew the characters and I knew what each one of them had been through... the paths they traveled to arrive where they are today. A few reviewers mentioned that they found Lainie annoying & I could see that from one perspective...especially if the reader wasn't aware of her past. Me, I found Lainie was much stronger than I thought she would be, especially for as much as she has been through over the years...so it's all about the perspective & interpretation. And Hop? Well, he surprised me too, in a variety of ways. I expected him to be a much 'harder' man. Beneath that 'rough' exterior was a soul that had the ability to heal much more that I anticipated.

What I loved even more about this novel is that Kristen Ashley keeps the emotions real. She doesn't try to hide the depth of pain her characters are feeling or the shame that Lainie still carries with her at times. Lainie's mother is an alcoholic and we (the readers) can feel the moments of embarrassment that Lainie experiences when dealing with her & the moments of righteous anger when she is speaking with her father. The emotions are a truly, truly moving and powerful element in this story and Kristen Ashley has done a fantastic job reflecting them in a way that her audience can absolutely relate to the characters, 100%... it's amazing.

So when I wrapped up the novel this afternoon, I was left with a couple of thoughts... I totally loved the title, "Fire Inside". I felt like I had a 'fire inside' of me while I was reading this novel & there were moments I was 'burning'... from emotions and yeah, from the kicking sexy scenes too! It is said that a writer's job is to 'evoke emotions' when writing a story... well, Kristen Ashley has done that & more in this story!!

I loved it to the moon & back! And I'm still on fire inside!