Fast Burn

4.25 stars-- FAST BURN is the fourth (and final?) instalment in Lori Foster’s contemporary, adult BODY ARMOR romantic, suspense series focusing on the men and women who work for Body Armor Security. This is MMA fighter Brand Berry, and Body Armor manager Sahara Silver’s story line. FAST BURN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Told from several third person perspectives including Brand and Sahara FAST BURN follows the building relationship between MMA fighter Brand Berry, and Body Armor owner and boss Sahara Silver. Since the disappearance and presumed death of her brother Scott, Sahara Silver has taken over the hiring and management of Body Armor Security. Hoping to lure Brand Berry as a potential member of her security team Sahara battles between her head and her heart as her attraction to the MMA fighter begins to interfere in their professional relationship. When several threats against our heroine’s life implicate more problems for her missing brother Brand Berry steps in as Sahara’s personal bodyguard-both in and out of the office. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Brand and Sahara, and the potential fall-out as her brother’s past is seeking revenge, using Sahara as a pawn in a twisted game of vengeance and power. Brand Berry’s attraction to Sahara is tempered by her take-charge attitude, an attitude our hero knows very well. An alpha to the core Brand struggles with Sahara’s power and authority fearing falling in love with a woman who has the potential to emasculate our hero both in and out of the bedroom. Sahara is a strong-willed heroine who is not afraid to tell it like it is. Falling for Brand Berry meant occasionally stepping back and letting the man with whom she is falling in love, take charge in order to protect her life. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense. There is a large ensemble cast of familiar secondary and supporting characters including all of the previous story line couples: Leese and Catalina (Under Pressure #1), Justice and Fallon (Hard Justice #2), Miles and Maxi (Close Contact #3), and Sahara’s PA Enoch. We are introduced to Brand’s parents John and Ann, as well as Brand’s birth other Becky. The requisite evil has several faces, many connected to Sahara’s brother’s past. The world building continues to focus on protection, suspense, romance and love. The MMA aspect is negligible with only a couple of mentions about potential fights, in the future. FAST BURN is a fast paced, energetic and suspense filled story of revenge, power, secrets and lies. The premise is spirited, powerful and driving; the characters are rugged, determined and colorful; the romance is seductive and passionate. FAST BURN is an electrifying and dramatic story about two people pulled together by circumstance, attraction and love.

Lori Foster is known for her strong, sexy, alpha males and her strong, smart, beautiful female characters. Fast Burn has all that plus the bonus storyline of Sahara’s brother, Scott, and his adventures. I love in this book that the main characters, Sahara and Brand, were hot for each other but they also respect each other’s beliefs, thoughts, and dreams. They want to be together but know that working together is not the best option at this time. Together they work through what the other one is looking for in a relationship while not giving up what is important to them. In any relationship it is important for both people to compromise; Sahara and Brand prove it many times. Fast Burn is the first book in the Body Armor series that I have read but I’d imagine that the glimpses of life that we get at the employees of Body Armor is a chance for those that have read the first books in this series to catch up and see what their favorite characters are currently up to. Having this in a book is one of my favorite things about a series and I now am excited to go back and check out their stories. If you are a fan of alpha males, strong females, and twists and turns Fast Burn is the story for you. I recommend picking up your own copy.

This is the story I've been waiting for. Throughout the series we've gotten to know Sahara as the take charge, strong willed boss of Body Armor. Then there's Brand, MMA fighter, that Sahara wants to work for her but also just wants him. Although that feeling is mutual, they both like to be in control and don't want to give in. Then Sahara is kidnapped and Brand is playing the hero and not leaving her side. The chemistry between them is off the charts and sizzles the pages. This story has lots of kickass action, suspense, sizzling romance and even lighthearted humorous moments. The disappearance of her brother, who is presumed dead, was always in the backstory of the previous books and is resolved in this book. A must read of the series. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader copy of this book.