All Fired Up

This spin-off from Burke's [b:Not Dead Yet 41435160 Not Dead Yet (Not Dead Yet #1) Jenn Burke https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1541418561l/41435160.SY75.jpg 64662177] series features young vampire and fan favorite Evan Fournier. Set 5 years after the end of the series, Evan is working with Wes and Hudson in their detective agency and still dealing with the death of the man he was just starting to love. When Wes and Hudson go abroad to care for Hudson's ailing brother, Evan promises to stick to non-paranormal PI cases only. But of course something comes up that he can't ignore, and he soon finds himself in life-threatening danger while trying to figure out what or who is stripping the magic from paranormals. Even more disturbing is the fact that he is stuck in a strange bond with a very confused (but hot) guy named Colin, who may or may not be human. Burke is smart to get Wes and Hudson out of the picture for most of the book, so that Evan has room to grow and shine on his own without being overshadowed by their powers and personalities. His wry, honest first person narration makes him an easy character to love (for those who hadn't already grown fond of him). I also liked the way Evan is very upfront about his mental health issues; he is being treated for depression and is pretty stable now, but it doesn't stop him from living his life and having some awesome vampire superpowers. There is a bit of TSTL (too stupid to live) behavior as the case reaches its climax and the plot inspires a few more eyerolls than I had hoped, but the interesting characters and snappy dialogue help to cover up any plot weaknesses. Colin remains a bit of a cipher, and Burke wisely doesn't force a HEA on him and Evan, choosing instead a sweet HFN with promises of more good stuff to come. There is a lot left unresolved at the end of the book; a bad guy is taken down, but the Big Bad is still out there. Colin has a lot of baggage from his past that will likely come back to (literally) haunt him, and Evan is still finding his place in the world. I'm looking forward to spending more time with both MCs and the rest of the “family” as more mysteries are solved, issues are addressed and hopefully bonds are strengthened. N.B. This book could be considered a standalone, but it will be much more enjoyable for those who have read the Not Dead Yet series, which introduces Evan and takes him through his vampire initiation, first love and loss. ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for honest review.