Caz's Reviews > Fire in the Heart

I've given this an A for narration and a B+ for content at AudioGals.

Note: I originally reviewed all three in the set together

Here’s a little treat (well, three little treats!) for anyone (like me!) suffering withdrawal symptoms after Hailey Turner’s fabulous Metahumans Files series came to an end earlier this year – the novellas that slot into the later part of the story arc. Unsurprisingly, these won’t work as standalones as they assume listeners know who these people are and The Story So Far, so if you’re intrigued, I’d strongly recommend going back to the beginning – In the Wreckage – and working your way through the whole series. The narration is fantastic, the characters are engaging and the stories are action-packed, clever and really well-put together. (Oh, and steamy ;)) If you like military-based romantic suspense stories with a bit of sci-fi thrown in, then you really should check it out.

Note: There will be spoilers for the rest of the series in this review.

Fire in the Heart

Sean and Alexei get married at long last – but although the wedding goes off without a hitch, the same can’t be said for the honeymoon. Arrived at the luxury resort of Fortuna sur Mer off the coast of France, Sean and Alexei are only there a day before it seems their quiet, peaceful together-time is over. Liam Wessex has come to the island following a tip that the traitorous former CIA Deputy Director Carter Bennett is there, too, facilitating an arms deal. Bennett had a hand in the attack on Alexei and Sean in Boston and in the showdown with Pavluhkin that almost turned to tragedy the year before – and there’s no way Alexei and Sean are going to walk away from a chance to bring him down.

Fire in the Heart is typically action-packed and steamy Metahuman Files fare – with explosions, chases, shootouts and superhuman powers, Alexei being, well, Alexei (no idea why he’s so bloody endearing, but he is!) and our first glimpse of Liam’s soon-to-be love interest, MI6 Agent Oliver Archer – and boy, do the sparks fly there! The mission to apprehend Bennett doesn’t go quite to plan, but we’re left with things nicely set up for the events of In the Solace,

I don’t know what I can say about Greg Boudreaux’s performances here that I haven’t said already several times before. He’s been the voice of Jamie and Kyle and Alexei and Sean, and all the other members of Alpha Team since 2018, imbuing them all with personality and life and really bringing out the emotional connections the author has created between them all, the friendships and camaraderie and the deeper romantic feelings between the central couples. He’s clearly completely at home in this universe; the large cast of characters is consistently performed and easily identifiable, the action scenes are well paced, and the love scenes are always on point – sexy and never over the top.

The Metahuman Files is one of the best action/adventure/romance series around; I’ve loved every minute I’ve spent in this world and I revisit my audio collection regularly. If you’re a fan of the series chances are you’ve pounced on these three novellas already (they’re available individually – I just opted to review them all together) – if you haven’t, you should definitely add them to your wish list.

This review originally appeared at AudioGals.