Burning Alive by Shannon Butcher

Reviewed by Lucy

Adult read 18+

Every year, my public library has an amazing fundraiser call the book bag sale. I love this sale. Ten dollars will buy you two large tote bags which you are able to fill to the brim with book or all shapes, sizes, and genres. My shoulders hurt from lugging two totes while going nuts up and down the crammed aisles, but it was totally worth it for the 30+ books I brought home. The only downside is, there isn't much time to mill about, read the synopsis, or ponder. So the upside, I have a lot of new books, the downside, some are series books and unfortunately they are not book 1.

Anyway, in honor of the upcoming season, I've been getting into the spirit, broadening my reading base by getting better acquainted with the paranormal genre. One of the books that happened to find it's way into my reading bag was written by the wife of an author Winnie enjoys, Shannon Butcher. While the book was released in 2009 (okay so it's been around for a while), but it was new to me as well as number one in the series, so I gave it a try. 

The story is an urban paranormal romance in the Sentinel War series. The story begins with Helen, a humanitarian who cares for the elderly, having diner with Ms. Mabel at a local diner when she sees a man who has been at the center of a disturbing vision ever since she can remember. This man scares her and with good reason. It is Drake's smiling face she sees as she is burned alive. 

When Drake notices her, he is immediately drawn to her without understanding why. It doesn't take long before he finds himself approaching her, as if not in his control. As he gets near her, touches her, he realizes that she is a source of comfort and for a sentinel like himself, this is an impossibility.

While the story centers on these two individuals, there are many points of view and side stories throughout the novel. I personally thought this helped to add to the back story of the Sentinel race, which I thought was interesting and well written. It didn't take long before the story really took off, the plot unfolded nicely, held a good pace, keeping me interested to see where it all lead. I enjoyed her first novel enough to continue on in the series. I'd give it 4 out of 5 on the rating scale.

http://www.amazon.com/Burning-Alive-The-Sentinel-Wars/dp/0451412710

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/burning-alive-shannon-k-butcher/1100310344?ean=9781101046586