All Things Burn

by Jodie Slaughter

[Angie]

All Things Burn was a quick, sexy bit of afternoon delight! Halle is being stalked by her college boyfriend. As a lawyer for women suffering domestic abuse, she's all too familiar with how this can end for her. So she takes matters into her own hands by hiring a hit man. Callum is great at his job, but this becomes more than just a job to him. He is instantly attracted to Halle and must protect her at all costs, even if that means going off script a bit to keep her close.

All Things Burn gets straight to the point, since it is pretty short given the limited time frame (the characters repeatedly mention that it's been "weeks," while technically true, the reality is that it's been two weeks). Halle hires Callum and their first meeting is full of insta-lust which carries over to their first phone call. From there, these two cannot keep their hands and lips off of each other! By time the hit comes around, these two are practically living together! Their relationship is surprisingly normal, with no random fight or extraneous drama. Just good sex and conversation.

My only real complaint about All Things Burn is that the stalker plot was very much in the background. It was essentially just used as the way Halle and Callum meet. Joshua had been sending Halle all kinds of "romantic" gifts, as well as some threatening letters. And he even tried to cozy up to her mother at the grocery store! However, after Halle hires her hit man, Joshua disappears. If he was keeping that close of an eye on her, why didn't he notice Callum constantly coming and going from her apartment? I wanted more stalkery goodness! I needed more "If I can't have you, no one can!" At least that piece of crap gets what's coming to him.

I did really enjoy All Things Burn. I just wish there had been more at stake! I was never on the edge of my seat, wondering if Joshua was going to get Halle this time, or go after Callum. I loved how Halle refused to just roll over and take Joshua's abuse though. She does a complete 180 from the woman we met in the prologue. Of course, there's a happy ending. It was surprisingly sweet and domestic, but I found it believable for these two.