Dante's Fire

By: Jennifer Probst

Narrated by: Anne Johnstonbrown

Length: 3 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's Summary

From New York Times best-selling author Jennifer Probst.

It's time to meet a new kind of hero....

Dante Stark has a dark secret - a legacy left to him by his father, which is both a blessing and a curse. A traumatic experience as a small boy gave him special powers of healing, but it comes with a price. Destined to wander the world alone to heal others, he's accepted his fate. Until Selina Rogers forces him to confront his deepest fears, erotic desires, and question his capacity to love.

Selina Rogers has made a name for herself at Inferno Enterprises. She's tough, confident, and prepared to succeed. She's also built a world she believes is safe, until she's attacked and then saved by a masked stranger. As he helps her heal physically and emotionally, she becomes fascinated by his overwhelming power and gentle touch. Determined to show Dante the love he's been denying himself, Selina surrenders her heart, and dreams of a future with the mysterious man who completes her.

But will his dark legacy destroy them...or save them both....

©2014 Jennifer Probst (P)2014 Jennifer Probst

Loved the story!

Would you listen to Dante's Fire again? Why?

I would listen to Dante's Fire again! What a great story! It's unlike anything I have every read before. It's a wonderful CONTEMPORARY paranormal (super hero!) love story.

What other book might you compare Dante's Fire to and why?

I wouldn't compare this to any other book. This is a paranormal romance, unlike anything I have read before.

Which character – as performed by Anne Johnstonbrown – was your favorite?

Selina was my favorite character preformed by the reader.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

YES!!! The book runs about 3 1/2 hours, and I wanted to listen to it all at once! I may have had an earbud in a time or two while my husband was watching TV.

Great story

Would you listen to Dante's Fire again? Why?

I would. I really enjoyed the story and the person doing the narration.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Dante's Fire?

I think one of the most memorable moments for me was when Dante had the dream about what happened to his mother and how he received his scar.

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

This is the first performance that I had the pleasure to listen to.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I think there are several moments that move me because of the tenderness of Dante and how his love for Selena comes shining through whether he is Daniel or Dante.

Any additional comments?

I loved this story and enjoyed the modern take on a superhero. Looking forward to the next book in this series.

Mailman by Day - Hero by Night

Would you consider the audio edition of Dante's Fire to be better than the print version?

Haven't read print but will do so this weekend

What was one of the most memorable moments of Dante's Fire?

The moment Salina had just the tiniest idea that she recognized Daniel in Dante.

Which character – as performed by Anne Johnstonbrown – was your favorite?

Aside from Salina...I'm really hoping to hear more from her as Sage.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Mailman by day, hero by night...

Any additional comments?

Daniel lives a lonely life hiding out as the mailman for the business he secretly owns. He's wealthy and hot; a body to die for and eyes that pull you in. He's met plenty of women in his life, but none hold a candle to Salina.

Though he gets to avenge his mothers death and be a hero in the night by punishing dangerous men who harm women, a gift like Dantes can also be a curse. Helping women heal emotionally by offering pleasure and comfort is what Dante does best, but relationships are off limits because someone always gets hurt and he can't stick around... Or can he?

Salina is a smart, savy and beautiful business woman determined to make her way to the top of her firm. Walking home one night she is brutally attacked and nearly raped until Dante arrives and comes to her rescue. Though he only comes to her in the night she finds herself turning to Daniel in the day. There's a comfort and something familiar about each of them that she can't quiet place.

Can Dante keep his identity a secret or will Salina figure it out? Can't superheroes fall in love too?!

**jennifer probst you have done it again!! I love this book as I do the rest of your work and I cannot wait for more of this journey! ! Congrats on a job well done again!

Loved the story...

Where does Dante's Fire rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is the first book I've listened to and really enjoyed it.

What other book might you compare Dante's Fire to and why?

This is a paranormal romance, which I don't generally read. I read the book and was surprised with how much I enjoyed it. I loved the audio version just as much.

What about Anne Johnstonbrown’s performance did you like?

At first I wasn't too sure about her voice. But by the end of the book, I was captured by it.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I'm not very good with tag lines. Maybe...Firestorm of love.

A hot romantic story with a twist

Would you listen to Dante's Fire again? Why?

Probably. I enjoyed the story and I was able to relax listening to it. The narrator was good and she kept the story interesting at all times

What other book might you compare Dante's Fire to and why?

Actually, I don't think I've read or listened to anything similar and that's one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much.

What does Anne Johnstonbrown bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I liked how she changes her voice for the different characters and how she manages to express their feelings through her intonation.

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

Not really, but I still enjoyed the story immensly

Any additional comments?

This is a really intriguing story. It is not the normal romantic suspense story and I would really enjoy listening or reading more books in the series :)

Dante's Fire is HOT!

What did you love best about Dante's Fire?

The heroism, the uniqueness of Dante.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Dante's Fire?

The scene where Selina is attacked - the emotion.

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

No this is the first time that I have had the pleasure of listening to Anne Johnstonbrown's performance

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I could not put it down

My Kind of Hero

What made the experience of listening to Dante's Fire the most enjoyable?

It is always fun to hear your favorite book on audio Dante's fire is one of my favorites. ....The story had me hooked and drew me in from the first few lines; it was fast paced and lead to a finish that I did not expect at all. I cant wait for the next installment.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

I am sad to say though that I did not enjoy this version. The narrator's interpretation was off, a little annoying and when she played other roles they were just not right. .

Evil Beware

Dante Stark is a new type of superhero. When his mother was murdered, he came into his power. Now he has the ability to help women who are victims of sexual attacks heal and regain control of their life. His mark on the attackers stop them from harming others. During the day he works incognito in the mail room of the company he owns. There Dante meets Selina Rogers and is attracted to her, but he knows their will be no HEA for him. That is until he protects her from a violent attack and becomes her savior. He wants so much more. Does he dare take a chance? Dante and Selina are strong and compelling characters. Dante is a caring and tender man who wants to stop evil and protect the vulnerable. Selina will not be a victim. She's resilient and with Dante's help will recover. When she was assaulted, I got cold chills. The scene was so vivid and powerful that it took my breath away. Jennifer Probst's writing continues to grow as she tries a new genre. Dante's Fire is an amazing book. The narration by Anne Johnstonbrown adds to the power and emotional impact of the story. The audio was the icing on the proverbial cake.

Dante's Fire by Jennnifer Probst

Would you listen to Dante's Fire again? Why?

It was moving, such a wonderful experience. The audible version allowed for even more depth of emotion to an already powerfully written book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Hands down Dante Stark. I admired his character the most.

What does Anne Johnstonbrown bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The inflection and emotion the characters were feeling was so clear. So real.

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

Both. It was very touching. It also made my a bit angry, lol.

Any additional comments?

WOW! I wasn't sure what to expect from DANTE'S FIRE and certainly wasn't expecting it to have such an immediate connection to the main character, Dante Stark. I seriously felt his loneliness, his seclusion, his despair, and his yearning for more. Jennifer Probst easily pulls me into the emotion of her characters and her stories with every book I've read of hers, so I'm not sure why I thought this might be different. Maybe because it's different than any of the other books I've read from her. Dante's Fire has a paranormal or supernatural aspect to it that is new from her. I loved it!

I also think the fact that the format was an audiobook made a huge difference in how much I connected to the story. The experience of having someone reading to you with the inflections of a professional speaker/reader really does increase the enjoyment of the story.

Dante was orphaned at a young age and raised by an aunt after watching his mother be murdered at the hands of a gang of men. He has inherited the gift of healing and the use of the element of fire. Specifically he is literally "called" to the side of women when they are being assaulted to protect them and then to help them heal from the experience. Because of these abilities and the immediacy he has not been able to maintain a relationship aside from one with his friend, Chase. The only other person who is aware of his abilities and the problems they create. The only person Dante trusts and this leaves him with a very lonely life.

Dante may be a millionaire, but he must hide even that in order to keep up the secrecy of his gifts. His companies are outwardly ran by Chase as the CEO and face of the company, while Dante remains the named but not seen owner and takes a job at the core of the company. In his chosen role as mailroom worker, he is able to interact with and keep an eye on his employees. This is how he gets to know and fall in love with Selina Rogers. She is ambitious and determined to move up in the company from team leader through making the difficult and most profitable property acquisitions. As a woman in a male dominated field she has learned to be tough and blend well with her male coworkers, earning her a high level of respect by all.

Selina comes to look forward to her daily interactions with the obviously astute and intelligent Dante and finds herself attracted to the man she knows as Dan or Daniel despite his lower level position with the company. She grows to respect and value him, having a hard time ignoring the carnal feelings she has when around him. Dante too is drawn to Selina, but his history of failed relationships causes him to keep his distance. To keep it platonic, despite the fiercely erotic feelings she stirs in him.

As the synopsis says, Selina is attacked, and a masked Dante comes to her rescue. And as he is compelled to do, he helps her to heal past the pain and fear, just as he has done for countless other women. Selena finds herself drawn to her hero, to the comfort he offers, and to the sense of safety he provides. In their time together, both at work (as Daniel) and at night when Dante is masked they become close and fall for each other. Their emotional ties are powerful and beautifully written by Ms. Probst. I must also say, although Dante must spend time in a closed setting with all the victims he rescues, and it is in a way intimate, it is not sexual, there is no cheating.

I don't want to say much more, other than this was a beautiful and very touching story. Not long, just enough to thoroughly develop and establish the relationship between Selina and Dante. It leaves no doubt they have their HEA and is not a cliffhanger. Also, as it is the introduction to a new series it was the perfect length to leave me wanting more, eager to meet the other men/women with gifts similar to Dante's. 5 stars

~Complimentary audiobook received in exchange for a honest review~

I spilled my coffee!

Where does Dante's Fire rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is the 2nd Audio book I have ever read and the 1st on Audible.com I have to say I was impressed. I wasn't sure how I would like having a book read to me, especially in this genre but after the first chapter I was hooked. I was easily able to imagine the characters in my head, as I do when I am reading (The cover Art helped a lot! LOL). Mid-book I actually spilled my coffee when a scene became pretty intense and I reacted to the reader. :) The mess stayed where it was until the chapter was over because I was too engrossed to stop the book and clean it up.

What other book might you compare Dante's Fire to and why?

Dante's Fire was a good mix of contemporary romance and a paranormal genre book. I like to think it compares well with The Ghost in the Graveyard by Genevieve Jack. I get the same feelings as I hear the pages of the book. The strong Hero with a secret to hide type of novel.

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

I have not listened to one of Anne Johnstonbrown's readings before since this is only my second audio book but I really liked her performance. It took me a chapter to adjust to the voices and intonations but I found that by the second chapter her voice felt like a familiar friend reading to me over a cup of creamy coffee. I really liked it a lot more than I thought I would.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I wanted to finish it all in one day and if I had started earlier I probably could have. I had to stop the book to go to bed but I picked up right where I left off in the morning as soon as the kids left for school :)

Any additional comments?

I had to stop everything to focus on the story. Normally I can multitask while I am reading but this book demanded my full attention. I am so happy I read it, I deserve a break every once and awhile and this book was the perfect excuse!