Adrenaline junky. Adventure traveler. Extreme sport sensation. They’re all labels Riley Harrison—known to the world as Phoenix—wears as easily as the tattoos covering his body. But it’s his role as undercover operative for Linear Tactical’s kidnap and ransom unit that makes his blood sing. Riley uses his celebrity status to help infiltrate locations and situations nobody else can get into.In. … situations nobody else can get into.
In. Out. The fight is usually over before the bad guys know it’s begun or that Riley was involved.
But his skills and celebrity status won’t help when he discovers the woman he loves is keeping unbearable secrets and in a danger he never could’ve imagined.
She wants Riley to stay far away from her.
That’s not going to happen.
But he’ll have to be willing to lose everything to save her. To save them.
Phoenix will learn you have to burn before you can rise.
★★★★★
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Fantastic book. I have been waiting to read the story of Girl Riley and Boy Riley, who have been part of the Linear Tactical team from the beginning, and this surpassed my expectations. As usual, Janie grabbed my attention from the first page and didn’t let go until I finished. At least this time, I was smart enough to start reading it early in the day, so I didn’t have to pull an all-nighter to finish it. However, nothing else got done…
Girl Riley, aka Riley Wilde, aka Wildfire, is a nurse at the local hospital and good friends with the other LT women. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed her parts in earlier books as she supported her friends. There were hints of trouble coming her way in Echo, and that trouble is identified in this book, changing her life forever. Wildfire is devastated at the news and has a bleak view of her future.
Boy Riley, aka Riley Harrison, aka Phoenix, is a well-known extreme sports figure. He loves the travel and adventure of his chosen work. Phoenix also occasionally provides help to the Linear Tactical team by providing cover for some of their trickier operations. The story opened with one of those operations, a gripping section that hooked me right from the start.
The relationship between Phoenix and Wildfire was a close one from the time they met three years earlier. I loved the part that chronicled that meeting. Phoenix was adorable in his bid to grab Wildfire’s attention. A long-distance relationship isn’t easy, but they have carried theirs out successfully by talking almost daily by phone or video chat. All of their friends can see how perfect they are for each other. When Wildfire receives some life-altering news, she takes a grim look at her future. Determined not to hold Phoenix back, she breaks up with him but doesn’t tell him why. Phoenix is confused by her actions as he noticed no looming problems in their relationship. He returns to Oak Creek, determined to get to the bottom of it. The annual Wyoming Adventure Race is just the excuse he needs to work his way back into her life.
I ached so much for Wildfire. The news she received upended her life, and the uncertainty that faces her consumes her thoughts. She believes that staying with her would ruin Phoenix’s life, but cutting him loose breaks her heart. It’s a little easier when he’s at a distance, but his arrival back in Oak Creek strains her determination to the breaking point. Seeing her in person, Phoenix quickly realizes that something serious is going on with Wildfire. The sparks between them are as hot as ever, giving him hope, but her belief in herself is gone. I loved his refusal to give up on them even though he didn’t know what was wrong. The sunrise scenes were fantastic, romantic, and yet intense with Phoenix’s desire to show her that he was there for her. The scene that started at one bridge and ended at another was heart-wrenching as Wildfire struggled to save Phoenix, then the celebration of life and love, and concluded with Wildfire’s confession.
My heart broke for Phoenix as he struggled to come to terms with it all. The advice he received from Wyatt, Zac, and Annie was critical in helping him understand how best to help Wildfire. However, it took nearly losing him, and Phoenix’s refusal to give up, for her to believe that they could be together. He completely won my heart when he said: “You’re still going to be my Riley. My Wildfire. You’ll just come with a set of wheels.” By the time the ending came, there was no doubt in Wildfire’s mind that she and Phoenix belonged together.
This wouldn’t be a Linear Tactical book if it didn’t come with some gripping suspense. The undercover rescue at the beginning was fantastic. I loved seeing Phoenix’s quick wits in action. That was over and done pretty quickly, but Phoenix wasn’t allowed to relax. His participation in the WAR was unplanned and created some unexpected trouble. His abilities are well-known and appear to have stirred up some resentment. A series of unexplained problems escalate in danger, putting Phoenix’s life at risk. Just when I thought I had it figured out, an unexpected twist changed everything. The final confrontation with the perpetrator was intense and heartbreaking. But his troubles aren’t over yet. Someone from the past is on a quest for revenge, and Wildfire ends up in the middle of it. Phoenix’s fear for her leaped off the page and kept me riveted as he and the Linear Tactical team sprang into action. Their teamwork is always amazing, and this was no exception. The final face-off between Phoenix and his adversary was terrifying as the depths of his evil became clear. I swear I jumped as if I actually heard that last shot, and felt their relief as they made their escape.
And lastly, Janie, when it came to Wildfire and her diagnosis, you nailed it. The fear, the uncertainty, the dread of being a burden can eat away at self-confidence, as it did for her. I felt her pain as she tried to push Phoenix away “for his own good.” Her frustration on those occasions when her body failed her was portrayed beautifully, as was her determination to hide her struggles. Her need to prove to herself that she could still do things was a critical step in moving forward, and resisting Phoenix’s urge to help was part of it. And finally, learning how to ask for and accept help when she needed it would make her future much more satisfying. I also loved Phoenix and his resolve to win Wildfire back and find out what had changed her so drastically. His reactions were realistic and understandable. Above all, it was his love for her and belief in her that made their future together possible. I loved the peek into their future in the extra epilogue.
I’m a BIG fan of the Linear Tactical Series, so I was so excited for the release of Phoenix! The great things about these books, is you can read them as a stand alone book. Boy and Girl Riley have become two of my favorite characters in the series. Boy Riley is not at all what I thought he would be. I think that was my favorite part of the book. Girl Riley broke my heart. I can’t imagine wanting to carry such a heavy burden by herself. Crouch once again created characters that were able to handle the unimaginable. Highly recommend this and the whole series
This is book 7 in the Linear Tactical series and it features Girl Riley and Boy Riley/Phoenix. For the last three years these two have been head over heels in love and they have a mostly long distance relationship. She’s a nurse in Oak Creek, Wyoming and he’s a world renowned YouTuber, famous for his extreme sports. One break-up call from her and his world is turned upside down. He has no idea why but he doesn’t believe it. Now he’s bound and determined to find out why, hopefully fix whatever has gone wrong between them and he’s just in time for WAR. The Wild Wyoming Adventure Race that is put on by Linear Tactical every year. I can say with confidence that he was NOT expecting the truth he’s about to encounter. I certainly wasn’t.
Tears were a real thing reading this book. The mystery and suspense were awesome! Totally unexpected! The action and suspense at the end was also totally unexpected. I didn’t think there were enough pages left to finish the story but this author navigated it masterfully. BRAVO! I’m SUPER excited for the next book in this fabulous series.
I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.
I absolutely loved this installment in the A Linear Tactical romance, it’s well-written with a wonderful fast-paced storyline, there is plenty of intrigue and drama, the emotion between boy Riley and Girl Riley is deep and intense from the beginning. The Rileys are wonderful characters, well developed with great personalities. Loved this book and the series. Definitely recommended.
As part of her ARC group, I received this book directly from the author in exchange for this review. I have become a fan of her and the Linear Tactical series. The story in Phoenix did not disappoint and I liked that we got the story of Boy and Girl Riley, even though they were not operators for Linear Tactical. This is a complete standalone story, but it might help to read the other books, just to better understand the secondary characters and how they all fit together.
Although neither Riley is a full-time part of Linear Tactical, we see at the beginning of the book that Boy Riley has been able to help the team out when they need it. It adds an interesting portion to the character that is Boy Riley, who is a YouTube star that does extreme sports activities all over the world. I thought it was interesting how they had a three-year relationship with him traveling so much, but always coming back to her. In this book we also learn that something has changed with Girl Riley and she takes the news severely, so she decides to end their relationship.
After calling to end their relationship, Girl Riley takes her nursing skills to a wilderness competition that is run by the Linear team. Thinking that work will help distract her from the other things going on in her life until Boy Riley shows up to participate. This story had a lot of action and suspense, but also a great story between the Riley’s and how they work on these issues.
This story completely blew me away. It’s a bit of a departure from most of the previous books in that there’s a lot of focus on the relationship between Boy Riley and Girl Riley. But don’t worry, there’s still lots of action and intrigue throughout the book. I adored Boy Riley. He would move heaven and earth to make Girl Riley happy. She, on the other hand, frustrated the living daylights out of me. It always makes me grind my teeth to witness someone doing something self-sacrificing and hurtful – like ending a relationship – “for the other person’s good”. It never winds up working out well for anyone. In the midst of all this relationship drama, we also get piles of other personal drama too. And just when it looks like everything’s back on an even keel, plot twist! But that’s all you’re getting out of me because I don’t want to spoil anyone’s reading enjoyment. The set up for what looks like is going to be the next couple has me dying to get my hands on the following book already.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author.
The Riley’s, Phoenix and Wildfire. Love their names and I loved them together.
Wildfire is getting ready to do a challenging adventure race when she gets bad news that could change everything. Will Wildfire tell Phoenix what is going on with her? Will Wildfire and Phoenix have a future together?
Janie Crouch has done it again. This book tugs at your heart strings, it’s emotional and a page turner. This book pulls you in and won’t let you go til the end. I loved this book and highly recommend it.
Phoenix and Wildfire are great names for this amazing couple who came to life on the pages of this amazing read. It was an emotional, suspenseful read with twists and turns that kept me turning the pages until the end. It was another great addition to this amazing series. I can’t wait to read the next book.
This was a really good story with some challenges that I wasn’t expecting. It has two good main characters who have had a very loving history that I enjoyed. And then…a huge bump in their road. The story gets more emotional from this point on without getting weepy or sappy.
I also liked that we got to see both of their P.O.V.’s.
I will mention that The focus is on both of them being the Riley’s threw me off a bit at first as I was reading. – But after a little bit I got into the flow of Boy Riley (Phoenix) and Girl Riley (Wildfire).
The strong bond of friendships and sense of community in the Linear Tactical team continues in this story as well.
The author has a few surprising twists towards the end of the book that were REALLY good. I never saw them coming but they were intense with plenty of dangerous action.
But there is also a really sweet surprise that adds to their H.E.A.
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
YES!!! Boy and girl Riley finally get their story and man oh man…what a story. These two have been together for awhile and out of the blue, girl Riley breaks up with boy Riley but he is having none of that and comes back to Oak Creek to face his girl and while there joins the annual WAR that’s set up in the wilderness by the Linear boys. Girl Riley received some life altering news and doesn’t want to saddle boy R with it, so she lets go of the one person she loves more than anything to set him free. But she is stubborn and doesn’t want to tell him the reason she ended it, he has a race he needs to concentrate on and with someone tampering the race, boy R will need all his attention on it if he is going to survive WAR.
I could read this book again and again and again as it’s not your typical read from this author and it didn’t diminish anything…nada…zero..zilch…nor did the story lack in any way. These two have a relationship and one is trying to repair it….they’re not strangers or past friends getting a second chance, they are established, in love, and have been a great couple for years, heading towards marriage down the road.
An amazing read with steam, a love that is lasting and learning to live and support each other with news that alters two people’s course in life, standing beside one another, no matter what. And of course the obstacle course that lasts days in the wilderness testing endurance and physical abilities, sprinkle a bit of suspense with action when lives are in danger, with a surprise twist as to who did the sabotage and you have another out of the park hit by this author.
Once again the story flowed beautifully, the characters were amazing, and the descriptions were spot on.
*I voluntarily read an advanced copy and expressed my honest opinion*
Phoenix is the seventh book in the Linear Tactical series, but reads well as a stand alone. Girl Riley and Boy Riley are absolutely perfect for each other, until all of a sudden, Girl Riley breaks up with Phoenix. Determined to find out why and win her back, Phoenix must participate in one of the hardest activities a professional extreme sports athlete can do, while emotionally battling Riley, but will he make it through alive?
Oh my goodness, this book was such a fantastic read, and I completely feel in love with Girl and Boy Riley! This book starts off with a big dose of suspense that immediately sucks me in, but it was truly the connection between the characters that kept me turning pages and loving every moment of this book. Boy Riley, aka Phoenix, is determined. He loves what he does, but loves Girl Riley even more. I loved his protective nature, I loved his compassion, and loved that he was willing to do much to achieve his goals. Girl Riley, aka Wildfire, has a new personal battle to fight and wants to protect herself and Boy Riley. She had such a big heart, was caring, and I loved her will to help others. They made such a fantastic team, had an intense connection, a lot of passion, but I feel like love was what drove them the most. There’s a ton of suspense in this story, between the Linear Tactical team and events, as well as the WAR competition! I highly recommend this book and this series – you won’t regret reading them all!
I absolutely loved this story!! It was a fantastic read! I might even have to say that this is my favorite book so far! I just adored Boy Riley and Girl Riley. They weren’t favorite characters prior to starting this book either. But something just resonated with me from the very beginning. I loved both of their attitudes and outlooks that just defined their personalities. I loved really getting to know more of how they met and came together and made their relationship work. In some ways, I always felt a little skeptical of it working when mentioned in previous books and once this started, that changed very fast. They were so committed to each other and of working through the long distance and giving the other person what they needed in order to make it work. I was awed and it just cemented my love for them. Now early on, Girl Riley breaks up with Boy Riley as she has just gotten her definitive diagnosis of MS. She has her reasons for doing so. I loved Boy Riley’s reaction to essentially drop everything and go to her. It just showed how much she came first. I loved the way that they interacted with each other as he tried to figure out what had happened and refused to give up. They just have a connection that you could feel while reading the book. I love the call tags that they have, Phoenix (Boy Riley) and Wildfire (Girl Riley). It really fits them and it fits them as a couple. Everything about this story was well done. I thought that Janie Crouch did a fantastic job with the MS and allowing readers who don’t know much, or anything, about it to understand without being overwhelmed. This book has plenty going on to hold your attention. I was absolutely not ready to leave Girl Riley and Boy Riley. I really hope that we get to see more of them in future books. I can’t wait to get the next book in the series and not only see other past characters but hopefully more of our Riley’s.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Phoenix is Boy Riley and Girl Riley’s story. It was slightly different to the other books in the Linear Tactical Series, but just as addictive. I was hooked from the start and devoured in one sitting.
I love all these characters. Could quite happily read these stories over and over.. Can’t wait to see who’s story is next.
An amazing addition to the Linear Tactical series. Riley Harrison or “Boy Riley” as he is called by the Linear Tactical team and Riley Wilde or as she is called “Girl Riley” shared an immediate attraction when they met four years ago. Now as he continues with his extreme sports career, she has received some unexpected health results that have knocked her world sideways. They have travelled all over the world together as he presses the limit to perform death defying stunts. As a nurse, and with what she knows about her possible future, how can she interfere with his career and the life he loves? When she says that they are over, he returns to Oak Creek to find out what has changed. A thrilling story as he competes in a tournament while danger, from his past, is stalking him. Ms. Crouch is an expert at writing thrilling, yet tender stories with characters that will remain in your heart. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation from the author. (by paytonpuppy)
I have been waiting with bated breath for this one. I have wanted to read about the Rileys since they were first mentioned.
This story did not disappoint. I really liked the interplay between the characters and although I wanted to smack girl Riley on occasion I like how she developed.
If you are looking for a romance with some danger mixed in I think you will enjoy this story. Happy reading.
4 1/2 STARS!
An electrifying connection! With book eight in her always exciting Linear Tactical series, Janie Crouch brings us a sweet and steamy love story mixed with a boatload of mystery and intrigue in PHOENIX.
Riley Harrison AKA Phoenix is delightful. He makes his dreams come true every day living on the edge, but he’s super down to earth and doesn’t hesitate to lend a hand when needed and to rush to a loved ones side when something is happening.
Riley Wilde AKA Wildfire has been super supportive of a long distance relationship since they fell hard for each other three years ago, but times have changed and she’s not going to be able to be the same easy-going love he’s been enjoying.
I highly recommend this book and the entire series. I did not like the same name game at all, and don’t recommend confusing your reader like this, but as long as you can keep track of them as their nickname, the story was pleasing. Looking forward to more to come in this danger infused series!
Once again a Linear Tactical that has nonstop action, suspense, and romance. A hidden enemy who is desperate and a hidden enemy health wise can either draw Phoenix and Rylie apart or together keeps you reading until the very end. Very close to being my favorite.
This story was fantastic, centered around a 6 day endurance race. Boy Riley and Girl Riley and their relationship. I enjoyed the change of pace in this book. Some mystery, some typical linear action with the speed up pace and last-minute take your breath away predicament; and not to mention the romance drama and steam of their beautiful relationship. What a great book! I love how each of Janie’s books nor just in this series but in all of them are so different. The only constant is the wonderful dynamics in the relationship she builds as she writes. Truly a great book and fantastic series!
This was an ARC and one I’m so happy to give an honest review about.
Phoenix is book 8 in the Linear Tactical series by Janie Crouch. This is Boy Riley Harrison (Phoenix) and Girl Riley Wilde (Wildfire)’s story.
It was a bit different than previous books but still a good read. You still get the action, drama, angst, total feels, suspense , intensity and romance but at the same time, the story is featured around Boy Riley and Girl Riley and their relationship. Things happen with their relationship , and Boy Riley does 6 day endurance race. Trust me, tons of action takes place. Keep tissues on hand and prepare to be on edge of your seat. Get ready to go the distance. Another sizzling read!
My Rating: 4.5 stars ********
Here we are, eight books into the Linear Tactical series, and if I’ve learned anything, it’s not to say that this is my favorite couple because Janie Crouch will prove me wrong. Soooo, I’m not gonna say it even though Boy Riley and Girl Riley are absolutely lovable and totally unputdownable. Both Girl Riley and Boy Riley, aka Wildfire and Phoenix, are kind of Linear Tactical adjacent, but they’re no less a part of the family. Their story is a terrific combination of sweet, sexy, heartbreaking, and frustrating. Broken up or not, Phoenix and Wildfire are magnetic. They couldn’t stay away from each other if their lives depended on it. Of course, this wouldn’t be a Linear Tactical story without some danger and suspense, and that comes from two angles in this one. We also get to visit with some past favorites in the series. That said, this one does still stand on its own, but once you meet these wonderful characters, you’ll want to know more about them, and they’re all great characters with engaging stories. Phoenix just happens to be the latest. All in all, the Riley’s story is another impossible to put down romantic suspense in a whole series of them.