Cinder's appearance at Gian's dojo sparks a protective and romantic instinct in him that catches the trainer by surprise. After finally escaping her abusive husband, Cinder has relocated from New England to Missouri and is taking steps to ensure that she will never be a victim again. As she learns martial arts from a master, Cinder is also learning to trust a man who is so different from the monster she married.
Burn (Indigo)
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Spousal abuse is never a pleasant topic but it's necessary here to understand character behavior and motivation. The lead couple is well developed and personable, which makes it easy to root for their happiness. Burn is well written with a rich supporting cast of characters."
- 4 Stars, Romantic Times Book Reviews Magazine
From the Author
When I was young, my mother would tell me, "Don't ever let a man hit you." Most of us probably believe this is something we don't have to be told, but when we're in love, or think we are, we sometimes place the demands and desires of others above our own well being. In Burn, Cinder White moves to a small midwestern suburb, a town called Webster Groves, to rebuild her life after surviving a murder attempt by her abusive ex-husband.
With the help of her best friend and the new friends who embrace her at a local martial arts studio, Cinder emerges from her shell of fear and anxiety to get on with the business of a normal life, all the while knowing that her possessive ex is still waiting for a chance to finish her.
Burn is the first book I've written since recovering from colon cancer and relocating from the East coast to Missouri, my home state. The streets my characters travel and the businesses they patronize are the very places I came to know again upon my return to the midwest, although some names have been changed in order to avoid trademark infringement lawsuits.
My heroine in Burn, Cinder, is based on a dear friend. This novel is my effort to give her the happy ending she so deserved. Giancarlo, the hero, is based on my current martial arts instructor, a veteran in whom resides incredible strength, knowledge, courage and skill matched only by his capacity for compassion, tenderness and understanding.Supporting character Chip is modeled after my first martial arts instructor, the man who in 1993 taught me that discipline and tolerance are partners...and that my first instinct in the face of insult should not be a crescent kick to the offending party's chin.
A host of women's advocacy groups, law enforcement officials, rape counselors, psychologists, social workers and victims of domestic abuse assisted me in researching spousal abuse and the toll it takes on individuals and families. I thank them all for sharing their wisdom and experiences with me, and for allowing me to share them with readers.
If any readers recognize themselves in Cinder, I urge them to go online or open a phone directory or go to the nearest emergency room to ask for help. There is no weakness in having the strength to ask for help to escape an abuser. No one deserves to be abused, and no one who claims to love you will abuse you. The National Domestic Violence hotline (1.800.799. SAFE or 1.800.799.7233) is an excellent place to start if you or someone you know needs help.
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More About the Author
I am a mother of four who writes full-time from a suburb outside St. Louis, Missouri. I began my writing career as a newspaper reporter in Boston, but after the birth of my first child, I took a desk job as a sports copy editor at the Boston Herald where I was the only female "rimmie" on the night desk. The men I worked with were incredible and, unbeknownst to most of them, have served as the real-life examples for several of the heroes in my romance novels.
Primarily, I write romance novels and picture books, but I've written educational text and young adult novels as well.
I'm often asked which I prefer writing, romance novels for adults or picture books for children. The question is rather like being asked which of your children you prefer.
I enjoy both genres. Both require lots of research and creativity, and both are satisfying in their own ways. I draw on real people and real life for my romance novels, which can turn readers off when a fictional character I've modeled after a real person doesn't behave as they'd like, or if they can't connect with the character.
For my picture books, I've always chosen real people, and I work hard to provide honest portrayals of my subjects. I love the freedom fiction allows me but I also love the unflinching truth of my picture books.
My fiction writing suffered in 2008, when I was diagnosed with colon cancer. The book I was writing at the time is evidence of the anger, frustration, confusion and fear I experienced during surgery, chemotherapy and their aftermaths. Since I put so much of my own experiences and relationships in my books, my writing became muddied by personal turmoil.
I like to think that as I recovered, so did my writing. Cancer gave me a fresh perspective and a fearlessness that I hadn't had before. My December 2011 release, Everything in Between, marks the end of my romance writing career. (Or so I keep telling myself!) That will be good news to some of my critics, but for those who like my writing, I'm attempting to branch into another genre.
I'm starting over anew, but I feel I'm up to the challenge. I owe my readers a debt of gratitude for their support, interest and encouragement over the years, and not just because they invest their time and finances in my work. In my darkest moments, readers have been the people who pulled me from despair and self pity. Readers are the ones who complete all of my stories, because without them, no story ever truly lives.
Primarily, I write romance novels and picture books, but I've written educational text and young adult novels as well.
I'm often asked which I prefer writing, romance novels for adults or picture books for children. The question is rather like being asked which of your children you prefer.
I enjoy both genres. Both require lots of research and creativity, and both are satisfying in their own ways. I draw on real people and real life for my romance novels, which can turn readers off when a fictional character I've modeled after a real person doesn't behave as they'd like, or if they can't connect with the character.
For my picture books, I've always chosen real people, and I work hard to provide honest portrayals of my subjects. I love the freedom fiction allows me but I also love the unflinching truth of my picture books.
My fiction writing suffered in 2008, when I was diagnosed with colon cancer. The book I was writing at the time is evidence of the anger, frustration, confusion and fear I experienced during surgery, chemotherapy and their aftermaths. Since I put so much of my own experiences and relationships in my books, my writing became muddied by personal turmoil.
I like to think that as I recovered, so did my writing. Cancer gave me a fresh perspective and a fearlessness that I hadn't had before. My December 2011 release, Everything in Between, marks the end of my romance writing career. (Or so I keep telling myself!) That will be good news to some of my critics, but for those who like my writing, I'm attempting to branch into another genre.
I'm starting over anew, but I feel I'm up to the challenge. I owe my readers a debt of gratitude for their support, interest and encouragement over the years, and not just because they invest their time and finances in my work. In my darkest moments, readers have been the people who pulled me from despair and self pity. Readers are the ones who complete all of my stories, because without them, no story ever truly lives.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Stretch in Reality and a Rehash of Enough,
This review is from: Burn (Indigo) (Mass Market Paperback)
This book was a difficult read. In fact it took me weeks to get through it when I can usually ply through a novel of this size in a day.First off the prologue although well written and suspensful really didn't fly for me. I just didn't get how the heroine could be attacked with so many people inside and outside the house, including a police officer. There is a struggle, so why didn't the heroine scream at least once? But of course, if she had the movers and police would have come running and the book would've have ended on page 5. We wouldn't be that lucky. Unfortunately after the prologue this book just falls apart. Besides the fact that the book reminded me of Jennifer Lopez's Enough-woman flees abusive husband, wants to learn how to fight- in truth I didn't like the heroine or the hero. And that's what drew me out of the book time and time again. Yes, I understand you were almost killed, but the heroine comes off as a true stick in the mud and still a victim of her circumstances. And I can almost buy this until she requests private lessons from a strange man she's just met and at night when no other classes are being held. Yeah right. From the way the heroine is written this didn't seem plausible. The hero could've been the saving grace of this story, but he wasn't. Most books have a male who's either Alpha or even Beta, but the hero was more like Gamma. I have never taken martial arts lessons, but I've watched enough movies and read enough books to know that the hero was essentially a push over and I felt like no one respected him. I couldn't get over how his employees simply ran over him by not showing up for work or not wanting to teach and how insubordinate even some of his students were specifically the heroine's friend. Mr. Miyagi would've kicked this guy's employees and students' butts without question. Furthermore because of my detachment from the characters, I didn't understand the hero's immediate attraction so soon after they met and with only a few monosyllabic exchanges. This isn't the first book I've picked up by Ms. Hubbard. The first was Tempting Faith, but it was the first I actually got through...eventually.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
BURN,
By Sabrina (Los Angeles, California) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Burn (Indigo) (Mass Market Paperback)
This was a very good story. The beginning of the story was disturbing to say the least but, I felt that Ms. Hubbard was able to portray just how twisted a situation Cinder was in prior to meeting Gian. Cinder and Gian's romance felt to me like it blossomed pretty quickly but, under the circumstances with all that was going - it didn't feel rushed. I'd love to see what happened with some of the secondary characters specifically Lucia and Zae. I really liked this book and wasn't ready for it to end.
15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Steamy,
By
This review is from: Burn (Indigo) (Mass Market Paperback)
I have read quite a few of Crystal Hubbard's books and I thoroughly enjoyed them, but I must say, "Burn" was my favorite of all time. My hat off to Crystal. She is an excellent writer. The way she weaves and describes the details makes me feel as if I'm there with the characters. "Burn" had the right amount of everything. Suspense, action, romance, etc. I didn't want the story to end. I thought Gian and Cinder had great chemistry and Zae was hilarious. I just hope she finally gets on with her life, after mourning her husband for so many years. Crystal, You Rock!
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