Burn

By: Linda Howard

Narrated by: Joyce Bean

It’s true what they say: Money changes everything. And in Linda Howard’s red-hot novel Burn, the changes come fast, furious, and filled with the kind of sexy suspense, heart-stopping romance, beautiful people, and risky business guaranteed to give you the most bang for your buck.

Money certainly changes Jenner Redwine’s life when she wins a lottery jackpot. But it also costs her plenty: Her father rips her off and disappears, her fortune-hunting boyfriend soon becomes her ex, and friends-turned-freeloaders give her the cold shoulder when she stops paying for everything.

Flush with new money, Jenner can’t imagine ever finding a place in the world of the wealthy. Seven years later, though, she’s rubbing elbows with the rich, despite the fact she still feels like a party crasher. Luckily she finds an ally - and a guide to the rarefied realm of privilege - in shy, kind-hearted heiress Sydney Hazlett, who quickly becomes Jenner’s confidante and surrogate sister.

When Sydney invites Jenner on a charity cruise aboard a luxury liner, Jenner reluctantly agrees. But while she’s expecting - and dreading - two weeks of masquerade balls, art auctions, and preening glitterati, what she gets is more like a Hitchcock movie than a Love Boat episode. Taken hostage by a menacing stranger, Jenner must cooperate in a mysterious cloak-and-dagger scheme - or else. With nowhere to run, and with Sydney’s life as well as her own at risk, Jenner is drawn into a game of dizzying intrigue and harrowing danger. But as her panic gives way to exhilaration, and fear of her captor turns to fascination, Jenner rediscovers feelings she hasn’t had in years - and realizes she’s found a life worth living. If she survives.

©2009 Linda Howard (P)2009 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Entertaining Story

Lottery winner Jenner Redwine didn't know what to do with all of the money she won. When her new friend, wealthy heiress Sydney Hazlett, talks her into going on a Charity Cruise on a luxury liner, she thought it sounded like fun. But when Jenner arrives she realizes Syn never made it to the ship because she was kidnapped. Now Jenner must do everything a menacing stranger tells her to do or Syd will be hurt.

Linda Howard is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. Her plots are original, her characters are interesting, and her stories move fast. This book is no exception. I loved the setting on a cruise ship. Even if Jenner gets away from Cael and his team, there is nowhere to go. The dialogue is great. Jenner and Cael are both well-drawn characters and make the romance believable. The supporting characters are fun too and make me wish this book was the first in a series instead of a standalone. My rating: 5 Stars.

2024 Re-read: This time around I listened to the audiobook narrated by Joyce Bean. Bean does a stellar job bringing the characters alive in this book. I still loved the unique setting on the cruise ship. The romance was well done and believable. The supporting characters were great. My only problem was the first few chapters. I was confused by who Cael and the kidnappers were and what exactly they were trying to do. I wish it could have been clearer. Still, an entertaining story. My rating: 4.5 Stars.

Enjoy

Always a great story with intrigue, building romance and an ending with a bang! Linda never disappoints. Being able to see the story happening around you.

Great book

Would you consider the audio edition of Burn to be better than the print version?

I have enjoyed both the print and audio version of the book. Joyce Bean did a good job with the audio version. I have enjoyed listening to audiobooks while working, so I think I prefer the audio version as I can multitask.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The plot of this book was great

Have you listened to any of Joyce Bean’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

She does a very good job on all of the books she performs. Both Linda Howard and Joyce Bean have talent.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I found parts of the book to be suspenseful, funny, and gripping.

Narration ruined it

Joyce Bean is a great narrator but she sounds like a 60 year old with a cigarette in one hand and a scotch in the other, not like a twenty or even 30 something heroine. Not well cast.

One of Howard’s top books.

One of my favorite Linda Howard books.
Who hasn’t dreamed about what would happen, or what they’d do, if they won the lottery? That’s what happens to Jenner Redwine in part 1. She learns who is a friend and who isn’t.
Part 2 is 6 years later, when the new life Jenner has created, and her best friend, are at risk. Cael Traylor and his team are hired to do surveillance on the wealthy Frank Larkin during a charity cruise. Jenner and her friend Sydney will never forget their time with the group.
Cael keeps insisting it was just supposed to be surveillance!
Joyce Bean is a narrator who has stood the test of time. I can’t begin to guess how many of my audios were read by her. If Bean is the narrator, I always count on the book being that much better.
RECOMMEND!

Burn out

What did you like best about Burn? What did you like least?

This would have been a good fiction novel but it is not a romance novel. If you removed the sudden "love and forever" between the two characters it is a decent story, I just couldn't get over the rush ending. It was like LH ran out of patience with the writing and gave up.

What was most disappointing about Linda Howard’s story?

LH is my favorite author, but this fell very short. There's no character chemistry as in her other books. The main characters hate each and then BAM they're in love, not even hopeless romantic me could buy it.

What about Joyce Bean’s performance did you like?

Joyce Bean is one of my favorite narrators and did a great job as usual.

loved it

Linda Howard has a special way to involve you in the story from the get go and this one is no different. This one is great for audio.

Very good read

This book had it all but the humorous by-play between the two leading characters was irresistible. Loved it!

Great!

This book has it all - suspense, intrigue, laughter and romance! Linda Howard at her best!! Can not be beat!!

Not Hot Enough to Burn

Was it a believable romance? Aaaah--No. Was it hot---and ready to Burn? No scorch marks whatsoever. Did I like it, yeah, I kinda did. Though my IQ dropped several points, it was a harmless romance escape. If I was forced to go on a cruise by one of my friends, I am sure I would meet a handsome stranger just like the heroine of this story. Sometimes we don't want to read the news. Sometimes we just want to escape for an afternoon. It wasn't a great story, but I don't think that was its goal. And sometimes....that's ok.