I deal in murder and mayhem.I’m the best at what I do.Frankie Helburn is supposed to be an easy job. A means to flush her father out of hiding.Simple. Except there isn’t anything simple about Frankie or the secrets she’s keeping. She’s stubborn as hell and the sexiest god damn thing I’ve ever seen, sending dark, dirty animalistic desire coursing through my veins. She’s cocaine with legs. I’m a … sexiest god damn thing I’ve ever seen, sending dark, dirty animalistic desire coursing through my veins.
She’s cocaine with legs. I’m a f*cking addict before I’ve even had a taste.
Frankie isn’t mine to keep. But if her father doesn’t show his face, she will be mine.
To KILL.
more
*An absolute smoking 5 star read* Wished I could give it more than 5 stars!
T.m. Frazier has done it yet again! Seriously, I don’t know how she does it sometimes but Up in Smoke was everything I wanted and more. It took me back to the King series and I absolutely adored that. From beginning until the end of the book, the story gripped me and never let me go! It was intriguing and had you guessing what would happen next!
Smoke has always been a loner and growing up with no one and nothing around him, he’ll do whatever it takes to get his job done and that makes him one of the best but also a very dangerous man you don’t want to mess with. When he takes on the job to find the daughter of the man he believes killed someone very close to him, he’ll do everything in his power to get the revenge he so desperately needs…
Frankie has done everything in her power to not being found but she always knew that day could come soon and that day is here sooner than she thought. But the more she and Smoke get to know each other, even in these circumstances, something deeper between them connects. But Frankie hides a secret that will find its way out…
In the end, all that was hidden will come out and Smoke will have to see a truth that was buried…
What a fantastic book this is! A tale of revenge, of love, of heartache. It’s full of mystery, intrigue and violence. It’s raw and dark and I loved it. Frankie may be physically small, but emotionally she is strong, feisty and determined. She’ll let nothing stand in her way, even if that means sacrificing herself. I loved everything about her. Smoke is brutal and broken, multi layered but perhaps not completely unredeemable, a man who stands by his own code of morality. They say opposites attract and together these two perfectly compliment each other. I absolutely loved their push and pull, their lust and sexual tension and the war they rage against each other.
Up in Smoke is so well written. The suspenseful and gritty plot had me on the edge of my seat. It’s also emotional with revelations I didn’t see coming and I couldn’t put it down. It gets a big five stars from me and I can’t wait to read more from this extremely talented author.
This book is part of the King Series and I didn’t realize it until I started reading it! It is just as exciting and wonderful as the other books in this series. I love this author, everything she writes is pure gold! Rage is next and I can’t wait!!!!
This book was great, I love the world of the Lawless and all the characters who live there. Smoke and Frankie fit this world perfect and I loved their story
“Up in the Smoke ” is the newest addition to the King series. Even thoughit’s part of Kings series, it’s a different story and could be read as stand alone (if someone does not read any of her books), however, they appear in the episodes involving the characters from previous books, encouraging thus to read them. There is even information in the book that has set me in total amazement and through which I have come back to read a series of Preppi.
T.M. Frazier has a way of surprising you and shoking her readers in unexpected ways.
There won’t be light and romantic. Do you like the atmosphere of the dark and dangerous? I do not know whether you are ready for it, or not?
We meet Smoke, the main character, in a very tragic circumstances that drive and initiate the course of events. This man is a broad-shouldered physique, tattoos adorn a large part of his body, and the face has a characteristic scar. Smoke is ruthless and merciless killer, and you would think that even a heartless, but is that so?
Revenge! It’s the main building block in history. It brings him to the girl, and he will use her to get his revenge.
Frankie Helburn hiding under the name of Sarah Jackson. She is a young woman of small stature colors of amber eyes. Since the beginning she is a mystery to me because she hides her own secrets and struggles with her “skeletons in the closet.”
“She’s got cat colored eyes ..”
“More like fire … ..”
Her life becomes even more complicated when under the trick, she’s kidnapped and from that moment she has to pay for her fathers sins.
From the beginning I knew what I had to face it. From the first page of the book, the author does not spare the reader the dark descriptions.
This world, where live King Bear Smoke is not idyllic …. But the author gives us more than just the criminal world. It gives us a fast-paced action with which the book is hard to put down for a moment, changing scenery and very accurate descriptions of the places where we can well imagine this dirty world. The book, despite the dark subject is full of humor, what I liked the most and grinning at it. The dialogues between the characters is varied and allow all take a deep breath and relax before the next wave of oncoming darkness.
I really like Frankie and Smoke. Their relationship was built very carefully.
Smoke only looked at women from the prospective of his needs. His world revolved around the “orders” and saw no place in it for anyone. He was a lone wolf, a child who knows that he can rely only counts on himself.
It is surprising how many things they have in common. I wasn’t expecting that, when I started to read this book.
What I love about Frankie is that she’s very brave, clever and fresh, confronting his pursuers at every step. She’s a chatterbox, and trowing questions, which torments him, fall out of her mouth like bullets from a machine gun.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Do you always have to question everything?” He groans, adjusting and thick black ……
“What’s this?” I ask.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Smoke says.
However their interaction creates thrill emotions in the reader, because they are like two charges that attract and repel at the same time. They both feel they going to lose the battle of feelings but none of them wants to give up.
During their journey new secrets are revealed and piece by piece the reader can discover the soul of the characters. With this book you simply cannot be bored.
It would be a great position for filming.
3.75 stars
“Hope may feel like the beginning, but it will gut you in the end.”
When I first met Smoke in the King series I was crazy intrigued by him, so I was excited when I learned that he would be getting his own story. I have a thing for anti-heroes/villains, and Smoke is one for sure. I liked how the book started and the little pieces to the puzzle the author was providing me throughout the story. There were a couple of twists which I was expecting because at the end of the day this is a TM Frazier book, and she loves to hit readers with plot twists. Some of them I predicted others I was surprised by (which is always a good thing).
“It’s only fair that I break you, since you’ve already broken me.”
The blurb gives you a good idea of what to expect from this book. I liked Frankie’s determination and loved that she didn’t give up. Smoke is definitely not one of the easiest person to communicate with, but Frankie saw through his hard and mysterious character. She was scared but didn’t let that stop her from fighting for her life. There were times it got rough and dark but I liked it. She didn’t make it easy on Smoke, he had to work hard to figure her out and discover her secrets.
“I want you. Just as you are. Bloody beautiful, Smoke.”
Up in Smoke was a great addition to the King series. Also I loved that many of the previous (main) characters made appearances in this book. Especially Rage and Nine played somewhat of an important role in this book. Seeing Nine coming into his own makes me pretty excited for his book to release. The only reason I didn’t give this book a full 4 star is because I was just missing seeing them develop as a couple more. Fans of this series will for sure enjoy this book as well.
I love all your books thank you so much
I love TM Frazier’s books and this one was no exception, loved the darkness the story and everything about it.
We met Smoke in other novels and it was so good to see why he tunred out like he did and if anyone could break him. He was in Rages story a lot and they were good friends until something came between them so it was good to see them get back to being friends. Smoke was a complicated man and had a sad back story and loved learning about him.
Frankie was an interesting character she was trying to do good but it seemed whatever she did she was going to get in trouble. I loved how strong she was and how she never gave up. She had also had a complicated story and to see her grow and let go of her past was awesome.
I also loved how we got a little bit of King, Bear, preppy and rage it just added to the book and the fact that i got excited just to see there name on the page.
There was everything that you could want in a book in Up In Smoke, mystery, suspense, violence, a little angst, alpha male, sexy times it had it all loved everything about it
Massive 5 stars for this book and series love King and Preppy books they are all part of my favourite books ever
I love this group of guys, King, Preppy, Bear and Rage.
I will never get sick of reading them. It did, however, take me awhile to get into this.
Death, killing, and violence are all things we have come to expect from this series.
I liked Smoke and Frankie they are a great addition to this series. The story does pick up when a certain female bad ass shows up. I love this girl and I’m hoping she gets another book.
It‘s a great read.
1/2 STARS
Up in Smoke (King, #8) by T.M. Frazier is my second book by this author.
I have previously read “all the Rage” and though I enjoyed it this is hands down my favourite out of the two.
This is Smoke and Frankie’s story.
And also as an added bonus, I got to reconnect with Rage AKA Bionic Barbie who I absolutely bloody adore, so I was super ecstatic over this little fact.
So the opening chapter here was an absolute heartbreaker.
But It was this insight into Smoke’s past tragedy that helped me reconcile enormously with his actions to follow.
Without this, I think it would have taken me a lot longer to warm to him.
It’s been a while since I read “All the rage” I know he was in that, but my memory of him was kinda fuzzy.
So my main impressions of Smoke as an individual were really all gleaned from here.
That is why as awful as I found that opening scene, it really was needed for me as a sort of barometer for Smoke’s early on overall behaviour.
So Frankie is hiding in plain sight as a Catholic schoolgirl.
Lieing low, but also hiding in fear as she completes what she feels is her calling.
But the thing that she is afraid of is about to catch right up with her.
As the men that are after her father, have got sick of waiting for him to crawl out of the woodwork and have decided to take Frankie as bait.
Either he show’s his face or they are gonna take it out of Frankie’s hide.
Her days are literally numbered.
So when Smoke turns up and kidnaps her right out of school. Frankie posing as schoolgirl Sarah is terrified.
But She’s still going to use every trick in her arsenal to try and escape this situation.
She can’t give him her father and she knows no rescue is on the near horizon for her.
She only has herself and her wits to rely on and with people counting on her, well shes determined to give Smoke the slip.
So this was great reading I really liked both main characters and also the overall dynamic between the two.
Smoke himself was what I would describe as your classic tortured anti-hero, a bad man but with some redeeming qualities.
Though originally here its quite hard to see what these are, you’d need an actual magnifying glass maybe to spot any.
As time goes on he becomes less certain of what he thinks he knows and wants in regards to Frankie.
He can’t help but feel a connection and strong pull towards her and this is the last thing he wants or needs.
Smoke considers himself a bit of a lone wolf but it’s apparent he has more actual link’s than he realises.
Frankie well shes just as bad when it comes to forming connections, she also tries to stave off this inevitable union.
Both running scared in my opinion.
Frankie, well Shes all sorts of feisty, loyal and beautiful and with a moral compass to boot.
What’s not to love.
And When these two eventually give in to there baser needs there definitely going up in smoke.
So this was a total page turner it was action packed, full of intrigue and super scorching when it comes to the temperature.
It would have been a full house for me except for one little detail.
There was a certain incident on Smokes side that I couldn’t overlook and without going into to much detail it pissed me the hell off and I wanted to wallop smoke with my bleeding kindle and then throw every pot, ornament and near handy object at his stupid, thick numbskull head like really really hard, GRRRR!!!!!
DEEP BREATH!!
So I removed half a star because I was super annoyed, it would have been one, but I waited a while to write this review and I’ve calmed down a tad now, as long as I don’t think about it to much.
But despite that one instant all else is good in the world.
So give this excellently written book a try it’s a cracker of a read.
I was provided with an ARC of “Up In Smoke” By the author of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9460945-bex-beckie-bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
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“This man is a walking billboard for both terror and lust. A human thunderstorm. He’s beautiful.”
This one had my heart racing from the very beginning, and I had no idea it would be as intoxicating and twisty as it turned out to be. These characters always push the limits of lovable insanity and I love each and every one. Smoke is darkly animalistic, sexy, and dangerous, my absolute favorite anti-hero to read. With glimpses of my favorites from previous books, I almost felt the need to do an entire re-read of the series because I love them so much!! Intertwined pasts, uncertain futures, and a draw to each other that can’t be ignored, Smoke is off the charts hot!! Watching him fall was intense!!
“She’s my victim and I’m her tormentor. She’s my prey, and I’m the predator. She is mine to do with as I please.”
Watching these two grapple for power was hypnotizing…Frankie was not in any way portrayed as week or a victim, and I loved that about her. Equally entertaining was that she fit so well in the band of misfits that I will one-click for the rest of eternity. Kudos to the Author for a glimpse of Preppy, because he is one of my most favorite characters EVER!!. Insanely hot in a dangerous, forbidden way, I inhaled this book as if I was starving for air and it was my oxygen source. Heart pounding, intense action has your pulse pumping a mile a minute, and I didn’t see half of what happened coming!! It’s a must read series, and I will never get enough of it!!
“I love him. The good, the bad, the violent, the brutal, and the bloody. I love all of him.”
~~~Erika, Book Haven Book Blog
TM Frazier never disappoints and you always know you’ll get a fantastic read. It was great to fall back into the world of King, Preppy and Bear. It felt like sliding on a comfy pair of slippers. This book can be read as a standalone and any parts that relate to back events the author elaborated and explained so the reader wasn’t left wondering.
I instantly fell in love with Smoke, but I’ve loved each and every single character in this series, they are unique, 3D, living on the wrong side of the law. My heart broke for the tiny boy that was abandoned by his parents and brought himself up and the man he became. TM writes bad ass female characters and Frankie was a formidable match for Smoke. The feelings that develop between these two are electric and tension fuelled.
The journey this book took us on is a tumultuous one from start to finish. Revelation after revelation unfolds as the story progresses, ones that you never see coming. I love reading books where the author has the ability to shock you and leave you gasping for more. This is why TM has become a one click author for me, no blurb needed. This is a brilliant addition to the King series with new characters being introduced! A fantastic and must read
Love these books!
As a huge fan of the King series I have been looking forward to getting lost in Up In Smoke and this book did not disappoint if anything it surpassed my expectations by leaps and bounds. My favourite character from this series has always been King but the man nearly lost his crown to a monster by the name of Smoke. Smoke and Frankie’s story is one that will have you gripping on to the edge of your seat as you take the ride of revenge and destruction that has plagued Smoke for the past year. Thrown together these two will discover there is more to them both than they first thought and what once started out as a job may just turn out to be one of love, protection and finding home. Their story is not all hearts and flowers but blood, lust and fear because in their world this is pure romance. Up In Smoke will have you feeling anxious, heart broken and a love so deep that nothing will stand in the way.
Up In Smoke is the eighth novel in the King Series. I have to say, T.M. Frazier really outdid herself with this novel! Smoke is beyond everything I expect out of a vicious man with vengeance on his mind.
This novel is Smoke’s story and his need to seek revenge and retribution for the woman who was so brutally murdered. Smoke is brutal, savage, and knows how to get things done. He’s a hunter searching for his prey. The prey coming in the form of Frank Helburn, The only issue is dear old Frank is in hideout so the only way to bring Frank out is to use his daughter Frankie as bait.
Frankie is a stubborn woman with secrets of her own. I loved Frankie and her tenacity to undermine every order Smoke gives her.
I’m a sucker for a story that involves a captor falling for his hostage (unless its real life, of course.) These two are fire and gasoline, striking a match could burn the whole damn town down! The chemistry is on point making for some brutal sexual tension and sexy as sin sexy times.
I’m not about to give spoilers away but this novel is full of twists and turns that literally gave me whiplash. I’m usually great at predicting how a novel will end and usually the huge ‘Uh Oh’ moments I can point out and see coming, but this novel, literally gave me emotional whiplash.
Overall, I loved the hell out of this novel, Its dark and downright dirty! Smoke is the master of all vicious bad boys!
~5 +++ STARS~
Well, T.M. Frazier has completely rocked my reading world again! She has stolen the top slot for my favorite read of 2018 so far!
Up in Smoke is a part of the King Series, but it can be read as a standalone. Smoke is a walking contradiction, and I didn’t really realize how much until I saw him through Frankie’s eyes. He is dark and violent. He is chaos and murder, yet there is a grace as well. He is someone that you would notice, because of the danger he exudes, yet you would also be drawn to his beauty. This is exactly what draws Frankie in…too bad he wants her dead.
Frankie and Smoke have a great deal in common. They both were children who raised themselves because of absent parents. This has shaped their lives as adults, trusting no one. Both of them also hide behind their tough exteriors. Granted, Smoke backs that up with his actions. Yet, there is a heart beating underneath, but it’s shattered, and Frankie might just be the won to pick up those broken pieces to put him back together.
A relationship between these two should NEVER happen but it does somehow. Their attraction and chemistry is on fire. But, both of them try to fight it…they are enemies. It’s as confusing as h88l to both of them.
“It feels like desire and confusion and lust. It feels like being out of control and adventure and possibilities, and I want it. I want him. And I hate myself for it.” ~Frankie
The electric push and pull between these two was worth it. When they finally give in, WOW!!!! The sex was raw yet beautiful! They weren’t just giving each other their bodies, but they were giving each other their very souls.
“She wants all of me, so I give it to her. All six foot three of barren soul and misguided morals. All of my broken, black heart.” ~Smoke
Not only did Smoke and Frankie keep me reading, it was the story itself. The synopsis nor this review scratches the surface of what surprises are hidden within the pages of this book. I thought I had everything figured out, and Frazier would blow my mind. She just kept the surprises coming.
I’m in complete awe of T.M. Frazier. She amazes me with her writing. She just has an innate ability to draw me into her stories. Her characters are always multi-dimensional, and she reveals their depth the further I get into the book. Reading her words is somewhat like poetry. I always have a gazillion highlights. She is the queen when it comes to writing a dark romance that somehow turns into something of beauty.
***Read and Reviewed for Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews***
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Shannan –
Up in Smoke is the eighth installment in the King series. It can be read as a standalone with no issues with the storyline, but it is so much better when you read them in order.
Smoke is a loner, a killer. He’s out for revenge. When he kidnaps Frankie to get her father come out of hiding, he gets way more than he’s bargained for. Frankie knew this day was coming, she thought she was being careful, covering her tracks, but Smoke showing up proved she wasn’t as careful as she thought.
I loved this story not only because I got to see all my favorites from this series, King, Bear and of course, Preppy, but I got so much of Smoke. I loved watching him go from a cold-blooded killer to something more, sexier. I really wasn’t a fan of Frankie in the beginning, but she proved to be pretty badass by the end. Of course, T.M. Frazier did it again and reminded me why I love this series so much. It’s suspenseful and sexy, funny and hot. This series is always a must read for me!
Shelby –
I LOVE THIS SERIES!!
Up in Smoke can be read as a standalone, but I’d recommend reading the series in order as it is an awesome experience.
If you can’t tell, I loved this book. It started off a little shaky, trying to figure out what’s going on and who was who. As the story progresses, we find out Frankie is a super paranoid girl, but we don’t really know why… until we DO. Frankie is snarky, sassy, and totally badass. She’s not one to compromise her ideals and I loved that about her.
I haven’t read All the Rage (I’m going to rectify that immediately), so this was my first real interaction with Smoke. I didn’t want to like him, and I kind of hated him before I fell hard. He’s a dark (pitch-black) alpha, with sadistic tendencies. Some people are just wired differently, and it took a little while to be able to understand Smoke.
There were twists and turns, a bit of suspense, awesome characters, and some seriously sexy scenes. Together, Smoke and Frankie were spectacular.
I will NOT give anything away, but will stress that if you like a bit of Dark Romance – THIS is the book for you!!
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Up in Smoke (King #8) by T.M. Frazier to read and review.
“She’s my victim, and I’m her tormentor. She’s my prey, and I’m the predator. She is mine to do with as I please.”
I could not put this book down. The first chapter is absolutely heart wrenching and I had no choice but to devour T.M. Frazier’s words. The story is told in dual POVs and we really get to see and feel for both characters.
“I’m a product of sin and violence. I was born with rage sizzling through my heated blood. With every crack of my knuckles, it consumes me until it is me.”
Frankie has been on her own most her life. She is a smart, strong, defiantly brave hellion. She is determined to make up for her father’s sins which throws her into a world of trouble. For every action there is a consequence. Hers just happens to be a beautiful, powerful, angry lone wolf named Smoke. He is out for one thing and it is blood! He will do anything necessary in the name of revenge.
“He’s got to be some demon. He smirks. No, a devil.”
There were parts of the story that shocked me and other parts that melted my little black heart. This is a stand-alone within the King Series so if you have only read some of the series or none of it you can still enjoy this amazing book. If you love of dark and suspenseful romances, this one is a must.
“Some people say that a good woman can tame a man. Train him. Make him less violent. It ain’t true. It makes you more violent. It makes you more everything.”
~ Read on behalf of Two Darlin Dolls and a Book Review Blog
Another “can’t stop” read for me. Every one of TM Frazier’s novels in the King series has captivated me from start to finish. Dominating, powerful, badass men and strong, feisty, intelligent women is the makeup of these characters and I love each new one that gets introduced. Smoke and Frankie’s story was no different and just as amazing.
Every one of the heroes in this series has a way of drawing you in with their dark, dominating and powerful personas. Smoke is another one of those men. His presence in All the Rage may be brief, but he leaves a lasting impression and to finally get to know his story was like getting to the center of a Tootsie Pop…sweet, gooey and TOTALLY worth it. Once you get past that hard candy shell, all your left with is the soft center that just makes your insides happy.
Frankie has a personality just as strong as Smoke. She was feisty, strong, resilient and cunning. She was good match for Smoke and being herself while still portraying a bravery she didn’t fully possess, she was able to get through Smoke hard exterior to the man who was more vulnerable than anyone would suspect.
Gah! This book was such a treat. All the feels, the action, the chemistry and the sexual tension – this book gave me everything I could have wanted and more than I expected with a King Series novel. I can add Frankie and Smoke to my list of favorite characters.
Needed my dark romance suspense fix and Smoke provided it.
For fans of the series Smoke was Rage’s mentor and is part of the King series but could totally be read as a stand alone.
A hitman with a heart of stone is out for vengeance. To get to the man he was told was responsible he takes his daughter. He is not man that believes in mercy or forgiveness, yet is not long before the woman he has taken causes him to feel emotions he didn’t even know he was capable of feeling.
Lots of secrets and deceptions through out – some you see coming and others you don’t. All the gang from the previous books are apart of the story along with a big part from Nine who is Preppy’s brother and whose book is next in the series.