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Book Review – Branded by Tara Sivec

01/13/2015

Burned by Tara Sivec

Branded (Ignite #2) by Tara Sivec, Second in a series of interconnected standalones

Contemporary romance

Burned by Tara Sivec was one of my Favorite Books of 2014. So when Branded came out, I jumped on it right away, looking forward to another mix of hot, suspenseful, unputdownable Tara Sivec. This time it’s about DJ and Phina and takes place right after Burned.

DJ and Phina were both in Burned. They are the best friends of the original characters, so while Branded can stand alone, you will get it a lot more if you read Burned first. DJ had been crazy about Phina since high school, but when the fireman/paramedic sees her again, all she does is express total hatred for him, though he doesn’t know why. Still, there is a major undercurrent of lust between the two that can’t be denied.

“I fucking HATE you!”

Phina had a really rough childhood, growing up with a dad who would burn her with cigarettes. Though he’s been in jail for years, Seraphina still brands herself as a way of coping with the rough times in her life.

“I can feel the rage simmering just below the surface, building up inside of me, making me crave the burn. I know that eventually, I’ll be forced to light a cigarette and add a few more ugly marks to my skin just to relieve the pressure.”

This is Phina’s ugly, shameful  secret. She thinks she is not good enough for anyone, and that nobody will ever accept her as she is. She never lets any man get close enough to her, because she never wants to have to take her panties off in the light where they could see her burns. But she likes sex, and DJ, in an effort to have her any way he could, offered to fulfill her wildest fantasy, and he did.

“I always wanted to know what it was like to be with two men at once, and he gave me that fantasy.”

DJ can’t handle it. Thinking back on that night just fills him with rage. She has pushed him away since, and that was the only way she would have him, but his jealousy is eating away at him. He knows she is fucked up, but he can’t stay away. She is nasty and hates him for an unknown reason, but he still can’t stay away, and refuses to give up.

“She was full of fire and piss and vinegar even back then. Now all of that fire is intermingled with something dark and twisted. It should make me want to run in the opposite direction, but I’m a fireman. We like to race right into the flames, not giving a shit if we got burned. Something tells me if I spend any more time with Phina, she’s going to leave me with more than a few scars.”

But when Phina starts getting threats and notes sent to her, of course, alpha-man DJ needs to take care of her, no matter how much her self hatred makes her push him away.

Branded Tara Sivec

Likes:

  • I absolutely LOVED DJ.
  • The banter.
  • Lots of Collin and Finnley from the first book.
  • Hot angry sex.
  • Amazing chemistry between the couple.
  • I never fully guessed what was going on.
  • The happy/sad twist.
  • The alternating POV’s with slight overlap. Often this can bug me, but I really like to see both feelings about the same scene, and Tara never made it seem like your read something twice.
  • Dax. I can’t wait to read more about him.
  • It seemed to be very well researched.

Dislikes:

  • It is a little too much like Burned.
  • I would have liked to see them channel a little of the need for pain into sex. I thought Tara was going there, but it didn’t.
  • Not as hot as the first.

Rating: 4.25 Stars-4.5 stars, 4.25 heat

 

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The Down & Dirty:

While I didn’t love Branded as much as Burned, it was still an amazing read from Tara Sivec. It wasn’t quite as epic, and was a bit too similar to Burned to earn it another 5 star rating in my book, but I still loved DJ and Phina’s story. While Burned was more erotic romance, I think this is more contemporary. I just love a book where true love can help heal a damaged person, and Tara did a beautiful job of doing just that. There was a lot of Tara’s specialties in Branded: some funny lines, sexy times, loads of suspense and romance. I can’t wait for Dax’s story, next.

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Ana’s Attic Book and Audiobook Blog was established in 2012.

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I reviewed 6 audiobooks in May. But I listed hundr I reviewed 6 audiobooks in May. But I listed hundreds of new book and audiobook releases for the month! Check them all out in my May recap. 

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The Night Huntress Series by @jfrostauthor is my a The Night Huntress Series by @jfrostauthor is my all-time favorite series. Both Feet in the Grave is the second book of the series updated and retold from the male POV, and let me tell you, I loved it just as much as the original!
đź“–Read it: https://amzn.to/3C9a1Ds
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đź’»My review: https://anasattic.com/both-feet-in-the-grave/
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I really wanted to love this! I never wanted to pu I really wanted to love this! I never wanted to put it down and DNF, but it still never felt believable to me, so I can’t fully recommend it. But check it out yourself. Both the book and audiobook are in Kindle Unlimited. 
đź’»My review: https://anasattic.com/the-one-who-loves-you-pippa-grant/
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Memorial Day is coming! Do you need a fun vacation Memorial Day is coming! Do you need a fun vacation read? Try Vacation Wars by @meghanquinnbooks and fall in love with Santorini!
Both the book and audiobook are FREE in KU or the audiobook is only a $1.99 upgrade if you aren’t in KU. 
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đź’»My review: https://anasattic.com/vacation-wars-meghan-quinn/
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5 star read! (My 2nd this year) I don’t read a l 5 star read! (My 2nd this year)
I don’t read a lot of fantasy. I’m not really a Harry Potter fan and ACOTAR didn’t live up to the hype. But the hardcover of The Fourth Wing is so pretty! I wanted it, but I will not buy a book for my shelf that I haven’t read, and I just had a feeling The Fourth Wing by @rebeccayarros would be amazing. I almost DNFd when I realized it was about dragon riders, but gave it a chance and FELL IN LOVE. The 20+ hours went by in a flash and I couldn’t stop listening! Check out my detailed, spoiler-free review.

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I love books that take place in the book world! Th I love books that take place in the book world! That’s only one of the reasons I loved My So Called Sex Life by @laurenblakelybooks so much. 

đź’»My review: https://anasattic.com/my-so-called-sex-life-lauren-blakely/
📚Read it: https://amzn.to/41Q7hWx
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I need to update my list of books about books: https://anasattic.com/books-about-books-or-booklovers/  Do you have any additions?

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The new Book and Audiobook releases are always the The new Book and Audiobook releases are always the top post at Ana’s Attic!
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If you haven’t read @catherinecowlesauthor yet, If you haven’t read @catherinecowlesauthor yet, YOU NEED TO. Echoes of You is just another example of an amazing novel filled with love, mystery, suspense, family and romance. I loved the connection that the couple had and the mystery kept me on my toes.
đź’»My review: https://anasattic.com/echoes-of-you/
đź“–Read it: https://amzn.to/3pgvw1U
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The only reason I am not giving The Long Way Home The only reason I am not giving The Long Way Home by @harper_sloan a full 5 stars is because I didn’t re-read the Corps Security Series first. Had I done that, I would have been a blubbering, crying fool instead of just tearing up. Like Harper has said, The Long Way Home is the ending to the Corps Security Series that you didn’t know you needed, and it was SO WORTH THE WAIT. Now that Harper is back writing, I hope she begins a new series that won’t require me to remember so much., because I love her writing so much!
đź’»My review: https://anasattic.com/the-long-way-home-harper-sloan/
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I love collecting foreign versions of my favorite I love collecting foreign versions of my favorite books!

I have gotten SO MANY messages thanking me for recommending my FAVORITE BOOK/AUDIOBOOK of 2022! Mary Jane by @jessicaanyablau was so amazing, especially in audio. This coming-of-age novel set in 1975 was different than what I usually read, and I so enjoyed seeing the 14-year-old sheltered heroine see what life is like nannying for a progressive family who happens to be hiding a rock star for the summer.

Mary Jane is the perfect summer read, especially if you grew up during this time, and the narration by @caitlin.kinnunen was absolutely outstanding.

I couldn’t recommend it more.

Thank you Jessica for this version of the book! I love it! 

đź’»My review: https://anasattic.com/mary-jane-by-jessica-anya-blau/
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I couldn’t stop listening to The Perfect Marriag I couldn’t stop listening to The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose. The storytelling and narration kept me riveted despite all the ridiculous plot holes. I had such a hard time giving this a star rating because I really enjoyed the listen even though the story truly made no sense and could never even come close to happening in real life. Still, I will for sure be checking out more of Jeneva Rose’s books after reading this and watching her hysterical TikToks.
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đź’»My review: https://anasattic.com/the-perfect-marriage-jeneva-rose/
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I love books that take place in the book world! Th I love books that take place in the book world! That’s one of the reasons I loved My So Called Sex Life by Lauren Blakely so much. 

đź’»My review: https://anasattic.com/my-so-called-sex-life-lauren-blakely/
📚Read it: https://amzn.to/41Q7hWx
🎧Listen: https://amzn.to/3UXN0Mk
(Narrated by Sebastian York and Vanessa Edwin)
My list of books about books: https://anasattic.com/books-about-books-or-booklovers/

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