Fever

A Great Start

It’s one of those good news/bad news types of days. Deep breath. . . .

The Cover: This is not Teague Creek. Someone please enlighten me on who has the final say on book covers because in my train of thought – it is not usually the author. Someone dropped the ball here BIG TIME. And yes, I want my cover to match what I’m reading!

Teague’s “Ability”: This is a major part of Teague’s character and plays a vital role in many scenes. Yet his “burn” is never fully explained the how, why, what, etc. Highly disappointed.

The DOD: The Department of Defense is involved somehow in Teague’s “ability”, but once again, their role never comes to fruition. I was left with unanswered questions once the last page was turned. Why and how were they involved in the incident that started the whole mess? What did they do to cause Teague’s Ability?

The Sex: Or lack of, should I say. With Paul on the cover, published by Kensington Brava, and a title of FEVER, I expected smokin’ hot, stoke the flame sex. Nope – Nem – Nyet! The sex didn’t start until page 233 and then, IMHO, one more after that for a grand total of *drum roll here* two scenes. For all of the “fire” that burned in Creek, the sex scenes were mild and simmering.

This is your basic prison escape, hostage taking, “I’m Innocent”, and a few others for good measure, completely packaged into an HEA. I would call it a “romantic suspense light” with a twist of paranormal. I found FEVER to be an easy read. I didn’t have to stumble and grumble over countless spelling, grammar, or editing errors. (Yes, I do that, but you never hear about it until I start notating/counting them!) Creek was a bit of a screw-up at times, but that is to be expected. . . escaped convict on the run. Alyssa is a little spitfire with a touch of Stockholm Syndrome. One character I found very interesting is Mitch, Alyssa’s brother. He makes quite an impact – need to know more about this guy!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A GraveTells Review: March 2012 Book of the Month - A gritty, st

A GraveTells Review: March 2012 Book of the Month - A gritty, steamy "must read"

4.5/5 Hearts

Ok first i just have to say mmmm, firemen! You know that combination of muscles, vulnerable boy-next-door charm, outgoing attitude, and life-risking savior complex that makes them so irresistible and lethal to a woman's libido? Well Teague Creek has all of that. In spades. This dude is the whole package.

Despite his offensive tattoos and the fact that you meet him as a convict, Teague is sexy and commanding right from the start. Take-charge but not rude, determinedly protecting and tending his prisoner but not weak or gullible, capable but not overconfident, and respectful and thankful for the little things. I liked that he had a reason to be so fit (those sexy muscles we ogle on the covers of books don't sculpt themselves, peeps!) and Alyssa recognized just how much time and effort that level of "wow" and *drool* requires. I think we take that for granted a lot with our heroes, like their strength just magically pops in out of nowhere. It's no wonder Alyssa found herself unintentionally attracted to him- I was too! And if you're stressing about the tattoos (bald, muscle-bound convicts with swastikas on their heads and Aryan clovers on their knuckles generally make me want to run the other direction), don't... they aren't as permanent as you might expect.

Their chemistry is searing and paced leisurely enough to be believable. In a hostage situation, especially when the man is fresh out of a three year prison stint, it would be easy to rush the pace of attraction between them, but Ms. Swan masterfully draws it out with lingering touches and looks, even as the characters themselves hesitate over Stockholm syndrome and the intense physical need resulting from Teague's time on the inside. As hot as their physical passion is (and that's without being too explicit!), their fledgling emotional connection is remarkably strong. Teague's acceptance of the mess his life has become, combined with his absolute need to protect and shelter, really touches me. This is a man who can wear the violent psychopathic prison facade as a shield when he needs to, but still manages to retain the vulnerable sense of self that prison so effectively strips away.  His personality practically begs you to care for him while obstinately keeping you at arm's length.

Fever's characters are complex and compelling, complicated and endearing, unique and memorable. The storyline is a mystery that unravels thread by interesting thread, and leaves the reader craving the next book in the series just to spend more time with the characters. This is the first book in a unique series about a group of firefighters whose lives were all supernaturally changed by a brutal warehouse explosion. I love that it's such a fresh new perspective for a series, and if the level of skill Ms. Swan shows in Fever for weaving a story with compelling, touchingly flawed characters is any indication about what's in store, I can't wait to read the rest! Fever is a must-read!

Review shortened to fit submission requirements. This book was provided by the publisher and no compensation was received for this review. Reviewer opinions are true and uncensored.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

OMG... yep it's worth those three little letters right there! J

OMG... yep it's worth those three little letters right there!

Joan hits a home run with me her first out of the gate! Suspense thriller with a paranormal aspect unlike anything available out there today. If you want a story, and I mean a full on well plotted beginning to end story then Fever is for you. I love how the drive of the story is pulled along by the hero's conflict and resolution as opposed to the hero always being the rescurer of the heroine!

From the moment it begins to its blazing conclusion, Fever by Jo

From the moment it begins to its blazing conclusion, Fever by Joan Swan is intense, steamy and overall very satisfying.

If only movies were this good, I'd be in heaven.

Don't get put off by the outward appearance of the book itself, Fever is not like other romance, at least, not the ones I've been reading. The twists and turns of this book kept me guessing until the very end! The action, danger and mystery perfectly balanced out the sexual tension between Teague and Alyssa so that Fever didn't feel like I was reading a woman's sexual fantasy about getting it on with an escaped convict. Joan Swan gave backgrounds to these two characters, lives, loved ones they both wanted to get back to desperately. That desperation eventually drives them together and it's the intense attraction to one another that binds them.

As the hero, Teague is different. Sure he's got the classic good looks with a body to die for but on the inside, he's more human than any other male character I've ever met. He's not cocky, vain or arrogant. He's desperate, lonely and afraid. He doesn't want to go back to prison of course, but he has a more important reason to keep out of the reach of the police and other, more dangerous people. However, as desperate as he is for his freedom, Teague still doesn't have it in him to be the hardened criminal everyone thinks he is. Every step of the way he protects Alyssa, whom he mistakes for someone else, from his fellow escaped convict (and racist, so be warned there are racial slurs but they didn't bother me as it's just a story and stories need realism), Taz.

Alyssa is no shrinking violet, even though she finds herself hostage to two escaped convicts, she's not going down without a fight. Sure, occasionally she does or says stupid things that could have had grave consequences but with the mentality of "I'm going to die anyway" it's understandable. She's smart, quick witted and tough. I thought for sure she's going to start wailing at any moment and get on my nerves, but no, she kept herself in tact, knowing that tears and showing fear would make things worse for her. Alyssa is tenacious. Once she begins to doubt Teague's reason for being in prison, she doesn't let up until she discovers over looked facts in his case. She believes in him, even when he doesn't. She's not afraid to go toe to toe with Teague, or any one else for that matter and that's what made me like her even more.

As with all books in a series, you get to meet characters that will eventually (I'm assuming) take the lead in their own books. These secondary characters were well thought of and given just enough "Page Time" to pique your interest but not too much as to take your attention away from the real stars of the story.

I completely loved this book, more than I thought. It went up to my expectations and blew them into the next country. Being more of a fan of action movies than rom-coms, this book appealed to me on so many levels yet still maintained the criteria of a romance novel. Fever kept me up until the wee hours of the morning, I just couldn't put it down. It was sexy, fast paced and filled with action, suspense and mystery. Once I was finished reading it, I went to sleep with a smile on my face. I can't wait for the next book in the series because I have officially added Joan Swan and The Phoenix Rising series to my "Favorite Authors" and "Must Have" lists.

Sizzling hot with tons of heart pounding suspense

Fever by Joan Swan starts with a bang with a serious case of mistaken identity that sets the stage for a sizzling hot romantic suspense novel that will leave your pulse racing. The character of Teague Creek is the token bad boy with a rough exterior that hides his gentler side. The way each of the characters play off one another and their dialogue is just one of the things that I love about this book. I found myself liking the characters Alyssa and Teague more and more as the story progressed because Alyssa was not afraid to fight back at all and while Teague does certain things most people wouldn't do, I was able to understand the reasoning behind his actions. I mentally applauded when Luke and Teague overcame their differences and worked together to stop Vasser, someone from Teague's past who is ruthless and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. The relationship between Alyssa and Teague proves that the line between love and hate is indeed a thin one.

Different

When I first heard about this story online I couldn't wait for it to come out. We read it for our book club. I have mixed feels about this book. I sometimes felt a little lost in what was going on and I also felt the story didn't have a ton to do with fire fighting. On the other hand many of the characters were just great. I loved Mitch and found him to be very funny. I think this is one of the story lines that will get better the more books you read in the series.

Excellent new series! Dr. Alyssa Foster is a radiologist at St.

Excellent new series!

Dr. Alyssa Foster is a radiologist at St. Jude’s hospital. She’s competing with another doctor for a new position at the hospital and has two weeks to prove she’s the better choice when her life gets turned upside down by a prisoner taking her hostage in his bid for his escape.

Teague Creek is in prison for murder. He plans his escape and the radiologist is his key to making the whole plan work. He complains of pain so he can be sent to the hospital for scans and takes the doctor hostage, makes his escape with another prisoner, trades her for someone he loves and heads for the border. A fairly simple and straightforward plan, right? Only, his plans go every which way but right. The only thing he accomplishes is his escape. After that, well, Murphy’s Law takes over for the beleaguered Teague and the adventure begins.

Excellent read! Well-written, excellent plot, interesting well-developed characters and smooth-flowing. I had a hard time putting the book down. I can’t wait to read the stories for the other characters in this series.

*The publisher provided a copy of this book to me for review. Please see disclaimer page on my blog.

I am a very fast reader, and it depends for me on how fast a boo

I am a very fast reader, and it depends for me on how fast a book moves. Fever moves and moves quickly.I loved that Ms. Swan didn't cut corners either, it's gritty in the places you look for grit and tender where it counts.You will fall for Dr. Alyssa Foster who is kidnapped by prison escapee Teague Creek. Teague is a a wrongfully convicted felon in a high-security prison and all he wants to do is prove that he's innocent. Fever is a non stop thrill ride that left me wanting more. It made me laugh, cringe and cry in many different places. It's sensual not sexual meaning I can sell it to customers who love romance but don't need every other chapter to be a steamy scene. Romantic suspense readers who don't pick this book up will be truly be missing a great read.

Action, suspense and romance in a raw and powerful story.

This is one of those books where you jump right into the action and it never stops. Teague Creek is an inmate coming in for a medical exam. At the last minute, Dr. Alyssa Foster is asked to fill in for a colleague with a prior commitment. Alyssa is in the wrong place at the wrong time and Teague is too preoccupied with escaping to notice that Alyssa isn’t the technician he is supposed to be taking hostage.

Teague is intriguing from the moment he walks into the exam room. His swastika tattoos, muscular body and shaved head present one image but the author does a great job of letting you know there is more than meets the eye when it comes to Teague. As you get to know him you see he’s an innocent man. Prior to being wrongfully convicted he was a firefighter, paramedic and all around great guy. One unfortunate fire at a warehouse exposed Teague to chemicals at a secret government facility and his life has never been the same.

Alyssa has been working her ass off for years to become a doctor. She only has two more weeks until she’s done proving herself and gets the position she has been working her entire adult life to achieve. When Teague takes her hostage she is more pissed off than scared. She fights him whenever she can and she mouths off to him every chance she gets. I liked that because I could see myself reacting the same way. She is smart and feisty, a combination I always love.

Teague’s escape is one catastrophe after another and the entire time Alyssa is irritating the crap out of him. Slowly Alyssa and Teague come to depend on the other and a bond is formed. Alyssa starts to see that Teague isn’t what she assumed he was and, despite his threats, has in fact been protecting her all along. She also notices that he has some rather strange abilities. Eventually they figure out that it’s these abilities which have targeted Teague and some important government officials are trying to make sure nobody ever discovers them and the secrets they could reveal.

I don’t think I can emphasize enough how much action there is in this book. It’s one difficult situation after another and the entire time there is an attraction building between Teague and Alyssa. The romance is secondary to the action but the anticipation and build up of the romance are wonderful and very well done. The two aspects of the story blend together very well. The twists and turns were great, they kept coming and many were unexpected. I love a book that surprises me along the way.

A couple things did bother me about the book, I wish the cause of Teague’s special abilities had been explored a little more in depth. The conclusion of the story happened really fast too. I had to go back and reread parts just to make sure I caught it all. Other than that, it was a great book. If you like conspiracy theories and suspense types of books then pick this one up, you won’t be disappointed.

The cover is not the only hot aspect of this romantic suspense d

The cover is not the only hot aspect of this romantic suspense debut novel by Joan Swan. I have one word for you: UNPUTDOWNABLE. This genre is not usually my cup of tea ( in addition to the suspense element, FEVER features also a paranormal twist), but in this case I found myself devouring this well executed novel page after page, totally absorbed by the riveting and well-paced storyline , by the compelling and fully nuanced characters, by the emotional depth and scorching romance.
During the explosion of a warehouse where experiments for the advancement of military warfare were secretly conducted, firefighter/paramedic Teague Creek and his team are exposed to some chemicals that will give him the power to control and manipulate heat. When Teague starts investigating the true nature of those chemicals and his “mutation”, the government secret services set him up with false accusations of aggravated murder and lock him in jail for life. Life in prison for a crime he never committed is too much to bear, especially when outside there is a five years old daughter he will never have the chance to hold in his arms again and a new and healing love he desperately needs.
Driven by sheer desperation (he would rather die than go back to jail and witness horrors and tortures), he breaks free during a medical check-up and kidnaps a young doctor (Alyssa Foster) with the intention to exchange his hostage with his daughter, flee the country and start a new life elsewhere. What initially seems to be a further complication (the kidnapping of Doc Alyssa Foster), turns out to be a blessing and the tool of his redemption.
Teague and Alyssa’s relationship is the thing that I loved the most about the book: their chemistry is so palpable, their emotional connection deep and immediate, their dialogues mesmerizing, their mutual need so heartwarming. There is great intensity in this book and an overall feeling of right proportions between action and romance, character development and sensuality.
As for the accusations made by some readers regarding the author’s indulgent use of vulgar language and racial slurs, please mind that it’s less extensive than some reviews may lead you to believe and it needs to be read only as part of the characterization of a particular character throughout a limited number of pages (compared to the length of the novel), certainly not such a defining aspect of the whole book. Realistically, I wouldn’t expect the secondary character in question to express himself in a different manner. The use of a certain language is true to the context and adds to the credibility and consistency of the character.
For me it was a 5 stars plus reading and I wholeheartedly recommend it. I will definitely put my ends on Blaze, the second installment in this series, as soon as it will be released.

4.5 Stars - Gutsy, sexy and action packed! I’m going to s

4.5 Stars - Gutsy, sexy and action packed!

I’m going to start this review a bit differently. A lot of people don’t give this book a chance because of racial slurs and downright ugly language. Yes, this book has those factors in it, but it is not the book. The individual who talks like that doesn’t last long. This is NOT his story. It’s an unpleasant reality that there are people out there that still think and talk like this, but like I said…It is a reality. I have to give kudos to the author for not sugar coating the truth no matter how objectionable it is.

Teague had it all once upon a time. A loving wife, a beautiful child and a career he enjoyed immensely. One tragic event changed his life forever, unbeknown to him. From that moment on, his life took a downhill plummet. He has lost nearly everything and now he has nothing left to lose. Determined to take back the one thing that is most precious in his life; he takes a chance and breaks out of prison. Now all he has to do is reach his final goal and to hell with everyone in his way.

Dr. Alyssa Foster is having a really tough day. Exhausted and beat, she has no idea she just entered a storm. Now she is being held captive by two men; one who does nothing but hate her for living and the other that confuses her all the way down to her toes. No matter what, she must survive. She has too much to live for and she has worked too hard to let these men ruin her life.

Things don’t look promising for these escapees. If they are not fighting among themselves, they have gangs, the police and an unknown entity after them. They are running out of time and things are not looking better but worse.

This is one high octane ride! Fever is sexy, dark, mysterious and kick-butt. I loved the chemistry between Teague and Alyssa. She is one smart cookie and she doesn’t take any crap. Their adventure is definitely a roller coaster ride from start to finish.

In her blurb about herself, Ms. Swan mentions that she writes romance suspense with a paranormal twist. I would agree. While this story is NOT a paranormal romance, it does have a different element/feel to it. I would have to compare it to Spiderman, if you will. Parker got bit by the radioactive spider and now he has these amazing abilities. I know it’s kind of geekish of me to compare it like that, but that is the best comparison that I could come up with. So there is no supernatural in this book, just the unnatural. This is romance with a little extra edge. It works - trust me!

Heck, if you don’t pick up the book for the cover alone, I would have to question your sanity, just kidding. Fever really is a great read. Full of suspense and action, but tender loving moments that steamed up my glasses. If Ms. Swan is making this a series, I’m on board and will be in line for the next installment. I loved her voice and she knows how to write hot sexy romance with clever dialog. These are all bonuses in my view. Great job and well done!!

Enjoyable Read

Reviewed By~Jen
Review Copy Provided By~ARC by Author

I'll admit that for the first 100 pages or so, I was confused. Don't get me wrong, I was pulled into a fast paced adventure as Teague takes Alyssa hostage as he breaks out of prison. But I was unsure how this fugitive was going to be the hero of the book and wondered how the romance was going to play out. But I kept reading and was rewarded with a wonderful debut novel by Joan Swan. Ms. Swan took me on a roller coaster ride from confusion to clarity, laughs to tears, and action scenes to love scenes. Add in a touch of paranormal and this story has just about everything you could want.

I was quite intrigued with the mysterious Teague, an escaped felon who keeps showing cracks in his bad boy facade. I wanted to understand his motivation for breaking out of prison and why it seems that every government agency under the sun is trying to capture him. And then there's his intense attraction to his hostage, Alyssa. Alyssa was a little harder for me to understand. I like that she was a strong, vocal woman. However, while I understand the attraction between Teague and Alyssa, I found it hard that she so readily believed him and decided to help him. It was the one thing in this story that kept me from truly loving this novel.

All in all, this is a solid debut and I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series. And for lovers of romantic suspense, check this one out

Heartbreaking and suspenseful...

My Review:
This is a book that I have been looking forward to for months. Finally, my pre-ordered copy showed up and I devoured this book within hours of it's arrival. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down. It surpassed all of my already high expectations...OMG, I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!


This is the first in a series of books about a group of firefighters who got caught up in a warehouse explosion. Something was in that explosion which affected the group, but it's affected them all in different ways. Certain key players within the government is trying to cover it all up.


This first book follows Teague, who has developed a thermokinesis ability (his body reaches extreme heats when he's faced with strong emotion) and he can also heal with touch. The warehouse explosion and the subsequent quarantine, which happened five years ago, began the start of a breakdown of his life. His wife committed suicide and his brother in law (his former best friend) decided to sue for custody of Teague's daughter, Kat. The past three years he's been in San Quentin serving a life sentence for a murder that he was framed for because he kept asking questions about the warehouse event. He doesn't care about anything else besides escaping and getting to his little 6 yo daughter, Kat. To say that he is disillusioned with the world is putting it mildly. He's lost all faith in pretty much everything. The only thing he knows is that he loves his little girl desperately and needs to be with her.


Alyssa is a doctor who was covering for a tech the day that Teague was brought in for an exam. In a case of mistaken identity, Teague kidnapped her during his escape. I liked Alyssa's character. She's terrified, but that doesn't stop her from fighting back. She is tough and scrappy and constantly comes up swinging. But she's also incredibly intelligent, fair, and compassionate. As Teague constantly does things to protect her even when he himself is threatening her, she starts to see him differently.


This book is heartbreaking and suspenseful. I just couldn't see how it could all work out. Even though Teague didn't commit the original crime, he's committed a whole bunch since his escape, but this is not a bad guy. He was a paramedic and firefighter. This is someone who committed his life to saving others, but somehow got caught up in these horrible circumstances and he can't find a way out. This book is brilliant. The twists and turns....just Wow! It's an absolutely amazing read and Joan Swan is an amazing story teller. I was riveted from the very moment I started it.


There are still lots of questions to be answered about what happened to these firefighters and I am anxiously awaiting the next installment in the series. We've already seen glimpses of a couple of the other guys...I am thinking all the books are going to be this hot...Yay!! Definitely something to look forward to.

Sizzling Thrill Ride WOW! Joan Swan's debut romantic-suspense

Sizzling Thrill Ride

WOW! Joan Swan's debut romantic-suspense novel, FEVER, is a thrill ride you won't want to miss! When San Quentin prisoner, Teague Creek, former firefighter and paramedic, is transported to a San Francisco medical center for a medical exam, he sets his plan for escape in motion. His plans include taking a specific hostage, but what he didn't know is that the hospital would be short staffed that evening, and he mistakenly takes another person. As Teague and another inmate escape with Dr. Alyssa Foster as their hostage, the suspense just builds and builds from there!

Teague and Alyssa are both strong characters that have obvious chemistry from the beginning. Teague is wrongly accused, hardened from prison life and determined to escape to not only prove his innocence, but to get to the person who matters to him the most. Alyssa is career-driven and strong-willed. She stands up to Teague and fights him from the beginning. When the situation they're in intensifies and Alyssa gets injured, they gradually learn to rely on each another. Ms. Swan does a great job building their romance too. Teague and Alyssa are physically attracted to one another from the get go. Their trust and emotional bond gradually strengthens as they seek answers. Throughout most of the book, these two keep resisting one another to the point of utter frustration, but when they finally get together it is so worth it!

Negative comments: Not much. I know many people will be sensitive to the racial slurs spoken in this book. I don't like reading about bigotry either, but Swan wrote a particular character very honestly even though he is rather despicable.

One of my favorite moments that made me laugh was when a certain character was belting out a song in the car. Joan Swan, how did you know I love that band? I just had to sing along too!

FEVER is a fantastic start to Swan's Phoenix Rising Series. The paranormal aspect is minimal and used well. Teague was exposed to something in a warehouse explosion and ends up having constant high body heat. He is literally hot to touch and is still learning how to control his power. There were six surviving people from that explosion, so maybe we'll learn more about the others in future books. In this book Luke and Mitch are great secondary characters, and I wanted to learn more about them. Hopefully they will get their HEA in the next books as well.

Fever is Hot!

I have been hearing a lot of buzz about this book for the last few months and now that I have read it, I understand what all the hoopla was about. Not only is Teague the perfect hero, strong, thoughtful, protective and sexy, but Alyssa is a heroine that isn’t going to take trouble from anyone, not even desperate criminals escaping from prison. On top of the awesome characters, this story hits the ground running (literally—prison break remember) and it just doesn’t stop ‘til you hit the last page, and it has everything: desperate criminals, kidnapping, gang members, cops, FBI, knife fights, gun fights, fires…even wolves (but not the werewolf kind). Definitely pick this up and make sure you have plenty of time to read since the worst thing was trying to pick a place to stop and go to sleep.

I am in love with Joan Swan

Fever is Joan Swan's break out novel. I had the great pleasure of getting to read an ARC of Fever. LOVED!!! LOVED!!!! LOVED this book!!!
Joan has created a world for us that starts with a single event. A Fire. A warehouse fire. A warehouse fire that will forever change the life's of the men and women caught in that fire.
In Fever we meet Teague Creek an man on the run. On a mission to get to the one person he loves the most and nothing or no one will stand in his way. Teague is a tough talking, tough looking man who deep down is very loving and tormented by the past. I loved Teague. Loved to see how he grows over the course of this book. How he changes, how he tries to protect the ones he loves, even the one that have hurt him in the past. But Teague's biggest lesson learned is to Trust. To trust those around him.
Alyssa kicks butt. For a girl who was in the wrong place at the wrong time she makes a great heroine. I love to watch her stand up to these tough talking guys and bring them to their knees.
I loved this book and can't wait for the second installment in this series
Kelly
Books-n-Kisses

Highly Recommended

Once in a while I read a book that I can’t put down. It’s the kind of book that I think about when I’m folding laundry or driving to the store or jogging around the neighborhood. I wonder how the characters are possibly going to solve their problems and end up together. And I stay up late, even though it means functioning on four hours of sleep, because I cannot wait to find out how the novel ends. I hadn’t read a book like that in a long time. Until I picked up Joan Swan’s debut, Fever. From the initial pages of Fever, Swan had me wondering how she was possibly going to make this story work. A beautiful doctor as a heroine isn’t too unconventional. A convicted murderer as a hero is pretty much unheard of. Alyssa Foster is a physician with a bright future and a lot of competition. She’s beautiful, tired, and overworked. She doesn’t like having to work on prisoners as patients, but she has to suck it up because the hospital is short staffed. Lucky for Teague Creek, Alyssa also has a bad boy fetish. But then who wouldn’t have a bad boy fetish with a gorgeous guy like Teague Creek half-naked in front of you, whether he’s a prisoner from San Quentin or not. But Alyssa’s normal life is shattered when Teague kidnaps her and takes off. His companion is a lowlife scum who would just as soon rape and kill Alyssa, but Teague protects her. She soon realizes he has her mistaken with someone else, and she fears when he discovers who she really is, and that he doesn’t need her anymore, Teague will kill her. Teague Creek is not your average hero. He has special powers, whereby he can actually burn or heal with his hands. Alyssa calls it thermokinesis, and basically it means he can control his body temperature. Teague has other secrets, but I won’t reveal those because I found it so delicious and exciting to puzzle out all the little mysteries in this book, and I think you will too. This story moves fast. Swan’s pacing is excellent. The novel is also hot—no pun intended. Alyssa and Teague have so much sexual tension the pages of my ARC were crackling. When they finally make love, Swan makes it incredibly romantic and poignant too. Fever is an awesome book, so much so I can’t even believe it’s a debut. Joan Swan has a dazzling future ahead of her. I highly recommend this novel.

Fast-paced, super sexy, extremely suspenseful, engaging story!

For full review including excerpt and dialogue highlight, please visit Reader's Edyn at: ~~~ readersedyn (dot) blogspot (dot) com ~~~ Review: ~~~ Holy Wow! I was completely blown away by this debut novel. I absolutely fell in love with both main characters and have an overwhelming urge to read about the fabulous supporting characters. I was engaged from the first page and the book never let me go until it ended. My only regret was that it did end. I found myself frequently looking at how much was left to read, knowing I was nearing the final pages, and wishing more pages would magically appear. ~~~ Teague – love that name, by the way – is not what he first seems. In fact, he couldn’t be anything further from his first impressions. I thoroughly enjoyed how Ms. Swan only let us in on his true background in bits and pieces. She didn’t lay it all out there and immediately flip the reader’s mind, she let the reader gradually reassess just exactly who this man was much in the same way Alyssa did. Alyssa is constantly grappling for the right thread of truth to cling to throughout her entire “ordeal” with Teague. I say ordeal for lack of a better word, but please don’t misunderstand. There are some high points within this ordeal. She makes an immediate judgment call about Teague’s character, which seems pretty accurate given the circumstances. And who could blame her? But as the hours tick by (the book takes place in the span of a few days), she begins to war within herself. Is Teague who he seems to be, or it there a real human being somewhere within; a human being she is drawn to despite trying desperately not to acknowledge such a longing. As the deception unfold – and there is a whole lot of deception, Yo! – Teague and Alyssa’s roles dramatically switch from the first couple of chapters. And their sexual chemistry? Holy hotness Batman! Ms. Swan knocked it out of the park by allowing the sexual tension to build to a blazing desire, making their surrender to each other that much better. ~~~ Ms. Swan is an author to watch. With a debut like this, I have high hopes for her future releases. She clearly has a gift in writing. Overall, Fever is a fast-paced, super sexy, extremely suspenseful, engaging story. I was beyond satisfied with this read and look forward to many more in the future. Blaze is already on my TBR list! My recommendation? Buy! This! Book! You will not be disappointed. ~~~ (Uncorrected proof provided by Kensington for review.)

Hot and Original

First let me say that Teague is 1000% swoon worthy (and I LOVE the cover). Yes, he's an escaped convict but from the beginning you know there's more to his story. It's like you immediately know that he didn't do what he's convicted of. It takes a while to learn what exactly he did, and then once you do everything you thought you had figured out is flipped upside down.

There are so many different parts to the story it really does take until the last page to finish putting the puzzle together. I appreciated this as there were a couple of times I was disappointed to think I had it figured out, but it wasn't done yet. When I'd turn the page and see that indeed I had predicted what would happen AND there was more I was elated.

The chemistry and tension between Teague and Alyssa is great. You can feel the push and pull between them wanting to be with each other while at the same time knowing that they shouldn't- or at least thinking they shouldn't. Alyssa is a very strong female character that knows exactly what she wants in life, and is pissed off that Teague has messed all of it up. Teague is an alpha male that knows exactly when to back off form a woman who isn't afraid to tell him to shut up. I loved both characters almost from the first page.

FEVER isn't the paranormal read that you'd expect. Yes, Teague is a little off and so are a few others (but you won't be overwhelmed by a bunch of characters with superpowers) but while it plays into the story a little, you won't get lost in all the intricacies. For me it was more a contemporary suspense than a paranormal. I would highly recommend reading FEVER!

WOW!!!

I love when a debut author hits it out of the park. Joan Swan has done that and then some. She’s given readers an intense and suspenseful story infused with a romance that grows as secrets are revealed, all with an underlying paranormal element that gives the Phoenix Rising series its base, on which Ms. Swan has built exciting characters and storylines.

Alyssa Foster has worked hard to keep her medical career on an upward track, culminating in a promotion she’s ready to knock out the competition for. She’s on overload and tonight, because they’re short staffed, she’s taking care of prisoners from San Quentin. Two inmates come in, and what she gets for ogling a handsome man with a rock-hard bod is danger and fear when they force her on the wildest ride of her life that will change her forever.

Not willing to give up a chance at freedom after years of incarceration for crimes he didn’t commit, Teague Creek plots to take a hostage central to his plans to return to the one girl who means everything to him. But plans have a way of going wrong, and things do go wrong for Teague. The woman he grabs has more backbone than any female he’s ever met. Alyssa gives him trouble from the beginning. His partner in crime is also trouble, but Teague needs him for now. And the guy is slime to the core. He’s a racist who acts on his ignorance. Some readers may not like the slurs this jerk spews, but it’s real and honest, but it's fun when such characters meet their destiny. Don’t let that put you off this book, because you’ll be missing a terrific read. Then Teague finds out he has the wrong hostage. What the hell is he supposed to do now?

But as Alyssa learns Teague’s story, as she sees the gentleness in him, the love and protection for those he cares about, her perception of him goes through a pivotal change. She also sees his regret at how he’s treated her during this ordeal. As all of the people involved with Teague’s case begin to emerge and the stakes for them both climb higher, Alyssa knows there’s no use denying what she feels for him. And their love scenes sizzle and steam like you wouldn’t believe. Especially since it’s been so long for Teague, thinking he’d never touch a woman again. Amid all of this Alyssa adds her expertise to what he’s accumulated concerning the case, hoping to help him clear his name, but Teague is resigned to the fact that he’ll never have a normal life again.

Ms. Swan does an excellent job at keeping all characters straight for the reader, never confusing you with the intricacies of the mystery. Teague is a wonderful hero. His softer side is revealed little by little, and you love him more each time you glimpse his internal emotion, and never do you question his masculinity. Alyssa is the perfect heroine for me. She’s sharp and stands up for herself, even against a convict, but she also shows fear and anxiety where it’s needed. She’s never TSTL and not too much of a kick-ass heroine to make her hard and standoffish.

We also meet Luke, Teague’s best friend. The paranormal ability Teague possesses was caused by a warehouse fire fought in his former firefighter life. Luke was also affected, though his ability is different from Teague’s, and the mystery behind it all is not revealed here but will continue on in Luke’s book, Blaze, out in October.

What an all-consuming, thrilling, and passionate first book from Joan Swan. It’s action packed, the pace never slows down, and the romance is gradual and definitely