Blaze [Mass Market Paperback]

Susan Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1992

In her attempts to persuade Jon Hazard Black, the Harvard-educated son of an Absarokee chief, to sell his land claim to her father, Boston heiress Blaze Braddock unwittingly captures Black's heart with her fiery spirit. Reprint.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (August 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553299573
• ISBN-13: 978-0553299571
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #322,630 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #50 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Romance > Authors, A-Z > ( J )

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A mistake of blazing proportions, January 26, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Blaze (Mass Market Paperback)

Because of the average star rating and the generally glowing reviews I decided that for my first foray into Susan Johnson's novels I'd choose Blaze (and Outlaw). A mistake of blazing proportions (pun intended). This book has gone straight into the charity sack. Why? Well, usually I wish a book could go on forever, not this one - it was too long and I think a lot of it could have been cut out to improve the rambling and convoluted plot; I found myself skim reading it, which is something I very rarely do. As for the hero (Hazard) and heroine (Blaze) - I disliked both intensely up until the very end, only slightly redemying themselves in my eyes. But what about the sexual tension and the sex? Very mundane. It's hard to see why Hazard was thought to be such a great lover. As for Blaze, she came across as desperate, and not in an attractive 'romantic' way. Love, you ask? I reply that until the very end of the book I was not sure if they loved each other; their relationship was not 'loving'. Moreover, Hazard doubted Blaze until very near the end; in my opinion in order to love you also need to trust them.

As I got Outlaw at the same time and read them within days of each other it was hard not to compare them and find the similar in a lot of ways. I don't know if this is Susan Johnson's formula, but this is what I noticed: hero has a lot of sex with lots of different women before meeting heroine, meets and has sex/sexual encounter with heroine very quickly after meeting, stops having sex/sexual encounter with the heroine (and not uncommon for the hero to then have sex with someone else), hero has sex with the heroine, hero *suddenly* realises he loves heroine and vice versa, more sex, a misunderstanding or separation occurs, hero and heroine reunite. All pretty standard historical fare, which is not a bad thing. I suppose the problem I have with Blaze is that I found the relationship between the heroine and heroine unconvincing, added to the fact I found both unattractive. However, Outlaw is a lot better. I believed that Outlaw's hero and heroine (both attractive characters, although the hero was a bit annoying) did love each other by half way through, and they did have a loving relationship for about half the book; I still was not keen on the first half.

I'd recommend Outlaw over Blaze, and in any case I'll be very careful about which, if any, Susan Johnson books I chose in future.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost perfect, but not quite., June 2, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Blaze (Mass Market Paperback)

This was a fabulous story, but it did have its faults. First of all, this was my first Susan Johnson book and I had heard she was similar to Robin Schone in regards to hot sex scenes. Well, I was VERY disappointed in that regard. The sex scenes were typical of a romance novel and there was nothing hot or particularly sexy about them. There is a part in the story where Blaze and Hazard have been apart and a terrible misunderstanding has occurred between them. They finally end up in bed together and the sex just falls flat. It could have been an incredibly moving, sensual experience, but it really fizzled instead.

Another problem I had was the failure of the main characters to resolve misunderstandings. They have a HUGE one where Hazard actually thinks Blaze betrayed him and tried to have him killed. Instead of talking it through, they ignore it. Hazard finally realizes (I'm assuming) that Blaze was innocent, but there is no verbal communication about it. I mean, if I thought somone was trying to kill me, I would want some clarification from them before I had sex with them and built a life with them! :)

Despite this shortcomings, this was a great book. It was great writing and an interesting story. I am looking forward to reading the next in this series, "The Silver Flame."

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars simply the best.., October 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Blaze (Mass Market Paperback)

Having read thousands of book, only 3 authors have had an the effect of a bomb going off inside my head. Susan Johnson would be one. Blaze was the first S Johnson novel I read, and without a doubt the best. It took about a minute and half to realize there was something 'different' about her style of writing. She is definitely an author who breaks all of the standard 'formula' rules.

I wouldn't recommend Ms Johnson's books if you are looking for the 'traditional' soft/romantic moonlight, poetry and candles - 'don't come near me with that big thing', done-to-death type of story. Personlly, I expect, and like more for my money and reading pleasure. As they say; comedy is not pretty, and her books are not for the weak at heart. On the other hand, if you are looking for depth, historical relevence, with characters you can almost see and feel, S Johnson is the author for you. As any experienced reader will tell you, the difference between her books and the thousands of others is very simple. Ms Johnson's books, in a nutshell, just plain *kicks ass*..

With of course, 'Blaze' kicking the biggest one of all.. :>