The second book in the Star Canyon series, this book was an easy read that I devoured. You get a little back story of book 1, but even if you hadn’t read it, this one was easy to follow.

Dr. Kayla Wright has a black cloud hanging over her head for a fire than many say she accidentally commited, and she will do anything to prove her innocence. Romero Dark has always been drawn to Kayla, but his prominence in the community has kept him at Bay for fear of what might be said, and what he might drag his family through (which they have been through more than their share in the last year!).

This read surprised me. There were definitely multiple mysterious turns (that really strengthened the plot and characters of the story) that had me reading on at a furious rate to see what would happen. The developing romance between Kayla and Romero was definitely spicy and pushed me forward. Past the beginning, which was harder to get into, this was a really good read! Can’t wait for more in this series!!

This book was all over the place. The story was disjointed and hard to follow. I wanted to stop reading the story several times - but kept with it to see if it would get better.

This story starts really slowly and nothing is happening. there just isn't enough momentum to keep me going

DNF (sorry)

I received a copy of this book for free from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

A story about two people who are working at a relationship while the town still recovers from the fire in the last book. Also from the loss of the fire captain but there are some strange going on around the fire and the missing person? Did he or did he not parish in the fire? This will all effect Dr. Kayla Wright who had been hoping to start a romance with Romero Dark. But what she thinks she had seen was about Captain Dark and just as they get hot with body heat does she want to put out the flame with something she thinks she saw? Will Romero listen or will he just walk away? Read this hot story to find out.

While I did like this book and the characters it started off really slow and then it was really rushed at times and that kinda ruined it for me the overall storyline was really good I just think it needed pacing a bit better but that could just be on me.

I really liked this book. I was given a copy through NetGalley for an honest review. I've read Tina Leonard before and have always enjoyed her books. In this book Kayla is a research doctor who has had a cloud hanging over her head since a fire broke out and supposedly killed a beloved member of the community. Romero was one of the sons of the man and after his "death" found out lots of surprising things about the father they didn't know about, including that the ranch they all grew up in was left to a cousin who he owed a lot of money to. Kayla and Romero were atracted to each other but Kayla was keeping a huge secret about that night that eventually came out. There was a ton of family drama and town hysterics, but overall I couldnt put the book down until I finished. I hope there will be more books as I didn't feel this was the end of the story.

Branded by Fire by Tina Leonard is the second book in the Star Crayon Series concerning the Dark Family. Burned by a Kiss is the first book, which starts the mystery concerning the patriarch of the family. This book continues that big theme, but instead of providing any answers, the characters and the reader are left with more questions.

In fact, y thoughts while reading this book were of the saying, “What a tangled web we do weave.” That is certainly what happens as the family continues to look for answers. As much a family drama and mystery as it is a romance. However, life goes on for this family, so this is Romero and Kayla’s story. Even that is happenstance which seems pretty much par for the Darks. Still I have come to love this rowdy family, especially outsider Nick.

There are only a few supporting characters so unless you confuse the brothers, this is an easy story to keep up with the characters. The facts, however, are an entirely different matter, especially when the motto is, “One man’s truth is another man’s fiction.” This is small town life up close and personal with all the bad mixed in with the good. Something bigger is going on in this town, it is not all good.

I voluntarily read this book as an advance copy! The comments regarding the book are all my own thoughts and feelings.

This book started off a bit slow for me. Once I got a bit further into the story it was a good read! I enjoyed the various characteristics and each of them with their own idiosyncrasies. The only issue I had was the last name of the main characters. For some reason the name Dark just seemed so phony. Maybe, it was intentional to go along with the story, but have to admit every time I read the name it rubbed me the wrong way! Definitely want to read more of this family to find out what really happened that night!

As far as I can tell this is the 2nd book in the series. The first book had the veterinarian Emma and Santana, and this one is his brother Romero and the Doctor Kayla's romance. A lot of side stories that are more confusing than anything, for example, her house gets trashed, but nothing is ever resolved. And the supposed death of Romero's dad is still hanging out there. I also didn't like how the family treats Nick, the cousin who has been nothing but kind and generous to them. And I definitely do not like his sister, and do not see why so many people give in to her manipulations. Overall though, I Iiked the story and the main characters, and highly recommend this story. Will read the next in the series when it comes out, as my curiosity is needing some answers.

This was an interesting story and I had a bit of a hard time getting into the characters. Kayla Wright was a scientist who had been suspected of setting a fire at the warehouse she worked and contributing to the death of the Captain Dark, the fire chief. Kayla was innocent but the rumors that had been spread around town about her involvement had made her a social pariah. She was also secretly in love with Captain Dark's son, Romero, and was good friends with his sister, Sierra.

Romero was one of four Dark brothers. He had noticed Kayla and didn't want to think of her as a killer. He was attracted to her and wanted to get to know her better. Some crazy circumstances led to their marriage in Vegas. And as time went on and Kayla began to trust in Romero's protection of her, she began to share her secrets with him and his family. There were secrets about circumstances the night of the fire that she had been bottled up in her since then. She was only too happy to let them out. Would her marriage to Romero be damaged by these secrets or could they work through them to make a beautiful marriage?

There were a lot of details in this book that were left hanging. It wasn't necessarily a cliffhanger, which I hate reading, but I felt there were a LOT of loose ends that were tied up neatly at the end of the book. If it is a cliffhanger and these are to be resolved in other books, it didn't grab my attention and make me want to read the next book.

I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am not sure my disconnect with this book is because I hadn't read the first book of the series or simply this just wasn't for me. The basic plot was interesting and suspenseful. The details felt rushed, jumbled or incomplete and I kept going back to read sections to see if I had somehow missed what was happening. In an effort to carry this mystery through the rest of the series I can understand situations not being resolved but it was the thoughts or conversations I had to go back and look over.

The main thing is this story is very interesting and I still have a desire to read the next book in a quest to solve the mystery of Captain Dark.

I really like Branded by Fire. I have hopes that the mystery/mysteries surrounding the Dark family will begin to unravel more and more as future books in this series come out. Romero and Kayla have like this chemistry that is hard to describe other then they have both secretly liked/loved each other. You get the sense that they can't stand each other much either. I love how Sierra meddles and the romance of Romero and Kayla unfold. Both are protective of family. Kayla will do anything to protect her friends. Once Romero and Kayla give in to each other you can tell its meant to be. A book with a bit of mystery, meddling family and town folks and a strong family dynamic. If you love any and all of those then pick this one up.

What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Part of a series: Star Canyon
Standalone
HEA

I look forward to reading more from this author.