Starting Fires

Wyrd Love, Book 5

By: Cynthia Diamond

Narrated by: Michael Ferraiuolo

Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's Summary

The greatest bounty hunter in the Wyrd has met his match. Now, he wants to claim her not for the money, but as his mate. 

Bill the Skinner is only one bounty away from his freedom. He just has to catch Kindle - a fiery phoenix - to escape the slaver's whip. But Kindle's blazing confidence and sensual air ignites an inferno inside him, leaving Bill not only chasing her but desiring her as well. Now, the troll wants to claim her as his own. If only it wasn't at the cost of his life. 

For 30 years, Kindle has run from the werewolf who put a price on her head. Now, the best bounty hunter in the Wyrd has come for her, and it will take more than a seductive smile and flirty wiggle to elude him. Bill's tenacity is unrelenting, and his heated kisses are even more powerful. But if she gives in to him, an eternity of pain from the hands of her worst nightmare awaits her.

©2018 Cynthia Diamond (P)2022 Cynthia Diamond

Could've been a 5* but still a solid 4! Fantastic!

Firstly, how many authors can go actual "Cars" on us and STILL make you not only buy in, but take this world just as seriously as you have throughout the entire series!?!?!? Not many. That's how many, but the talented Cynthia does just that. SHE MAKES YOU EMOTIONALLY ATTACHED TO A DAMN VEHICLE! To the extent in which I feel guilty as I type this for referencing Beast as a mere "car". Cynthia has built such a delightful world with this series (I can think of no other instance in which I used "delightful" in a book review) Delightful is the best description I can muster because that's precisely what it is. IMO it's very rare that any story teller can create a world with sooooo many different species and factions of mythological beings and make people take it seriously, but she does it. At no point do you feel like it's too much. Even though this series' romance is focal (which is why we're here) she does not skimp on story.

While I really adored Kendall, I wanted to RAGE at her over some of her interactions with Bill. She was constantly apologizing and feeling guilty for trying to run from him. Ya know, the guy who's delivering her to be raped, tortured, and murdered repeatedly for eternity. (Super important to note that while he suspected homeboy was a total puke, he did not know the depth of his depravity or what exactly puke had in store for h). While WE heard his inner monologue and knew where his head and heart was SHE DID NOT hear that inner monologue. What she did hear was "I'm taking you. you have no choice. IDGAF what happens to you." So, naturally I f**king raged when this h who I love everything else about APOLOGIZED to this effin guy. ESPECIALLY the last time. Everytime he said he'd "keep her safe" I kept hoping for her to remind him he was the least safest being for her anywhere in their vicinity, but she didn't. You know what she did do? Gaze at him adoringly and thanked him profusely. AGAIN she cannot hear his inner damn monologue. Now, outside of her not crushing him here and there as I longed for, I really liked their dynamic. Again, loved her. Just wanted her to get angry at him when the situation called for it. I loved how chipper she was though, no matter what. Just be chipper and also punch mf who kidnap you homegirl. Alas, there was no punching Bill in the throat, but nonetheless I love her.

The writing is fantastic. The rest of the series is fantastic. Also, I have DNFd almost every single book I've ever read/listened to that had a weak h. Truly, nearly every single one with the exception of maybe 5 in my life. This story and everything outside of that was so good that I not only finished it, but still gave it 4*. Almost every book I've rated low and dnf all cite "weak heroines". It's a credit to Cynthia that she can make you still like a heroine who possess the characteristic you hate most. That is not to say she was WEAK. She was not. the possessed an incredible strength. Not only was she able to not fall down into a black pit after what she went through, but she manages to be happy and chipper and KIND.
She was strong. I just wanted to see her throat punch Bill a couple times is all.

Again the H here is not horrible. He's awesome. I love him. He is fundamentally good and in an impossibile situation. He's amazing considering what hes endured as is she, however she did NOT know the him that we did. She suspected that's who he was but had zero confirmation of that.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, just as I have the rest of the books in this series. And I still freaking loved the heroine which is still blowing my mind (normally i would loathe an h who is appreciative toward an H showing her basic human decency). IDK how Ms. Diamond didb it. she's bewitched me and Kendall may just go down as one of my favorite wyrd beings, 2nd only to Tony. Also phoebe love me some her.

Cynthia is one of my favorites. She just so incredibly imaginative and such a fantastic story teller. I'm already counting down the days to the next book.

p.s. These are all stand-alones and while you can read in any order and still follow, I STRONGLY recommend reading the full series in order because it's just that much more of a treat and you'd definitely be missing out on alot of world building as the bulk of it is in the first few books.

And Piiiiiiper I need some more Piper in my life!

They get better with every book

I don't care if this turns into a 20+ book series I will read/listen to every single one. Great plots, compelling heros, creepy villans (really good job on this one Michael! ) and a romance that isn't toxic as heck?? I'm hooked for good.

Great book

This was a very enjoyable addition to the series and was a great book. Lovely surprise, too, as I’d thought the series was finished after the initial 4 books, but now I can see that there could be additional books after this one. Looking forward to them!