I really enjoyed the previous 2 books. Poppy and Winston were present in the first 2 books, having come across as a happily married (and a bit boring) couple. From previous books, I really didn't have much of an opinion of Poppy. Winston, I thought, was given more personality and had more to do; and I admit I liked him more.
Then, I read this one. After the events of the previous book, Winston knows about supes and about Poppy. He's also pissed that she never told him. So, rather then talking about it and hashing it out, he leaves. This opens with their separation with flashbacks to when they met/courting.
I really thought I got to know Poppy in this one. Yes, she's made mistakes, but she's owned them. I thought she was take charge and pretty kick ass in this one. I am a Poppy fan! Winston on the other hand, had a Secret of his own. I didn't like him much. He constantly threw Poppy's mistake in her face (even though she owned it and I understood why it was a secret). Poppy was quick to forgive Winston for his (and helped him solve it). Winston was just as ass about it. They do get their shit together (or I should say Winston gets his shit together) eventually.
Revelations in this one: All about family.
I did enjoy Mary and Jack's bits in this and look forward to their story.

Halloween Bingo:

Darkest London

 Book three picks up several months after Moonglow.  Winston Lane has left his wife after he was attacked by a werewolf and her secrets were revealed.  Poppy, believes that she has lost the man she loves due to her duty to the SOS, but will not stop her from going to his aid when a missive threatens his life. Once back together, they air out their hurt feelings, the feelings of betrayal, and she reveals everything else.  A demon has come to take Winston's life and she will not let her secret life or duties jeopardize his safety, even if it rubs him the wrong way.  He is a man, he believes that she shouldn't be the one protecting him, but it is clear that she is far stronger and more powerful than he ever imagined.  It doesn't stop him though from trying to protect her and their unborn child. Once the demon arrives, it comes to light that Poppy wasn't the only one to keep secrets, and they must partner up to save not only Winston's soul, but that of their child, from the demon's clutches. They are well matched, even with him being human, and they work together to solve the mystery of Moira Darling and how to beat a demon that can survive almost everything (including being beheaded and frozen then shattered into tiny pieces). I enjoyed their story, but I think I liked Ian and Daisy's story more. It was faced paced, well developed, passionate, and full of several plot twists I didn't see coming.  It was a fun read.

It had a little more hot scenes than the other ones - more fulfillment, less tension.

I was not sure if I would love the story or warm towards Poppy. She was a very strict and not exactly adorable character. 

What she had: Strength. And vulnerability. But mostly strength and power.

I really appreciated how the conflict between "alpha man needs to remain alpha man" and such a strong and powerful heroine was handled.

In many many UF/PNR the solution is: make the hero even stronger! Heroine is a strong elemental? Make him an immortal, all-powerful dragon-shifter! Let him be bitten and become a master vampire! Super alpha werewolf! You get the picture.

But here? I was waiting for the other shoe to drop...but it didn't.

And it was beautifully done. How their relationship developed - without one of them having to be top dog, an equality born of respect and love.

I thought I would find the established couple with 14 years of history slightly boring, their quabble insignificant or such.

In reality, it really touched me. I don't know why, I only know I liked this. Very much.

I sincerely haven't been enthralled with a series like Kristen Callihan's "Darkest London" in a long, long time. "Winterblaze" just continues to trailblaze the series with a unique blend of historical romance, supernatural elements, and a charming blend of action, humor, and tense stakes.

I think the one element that worked against this book might've had to do with pacing, especially considering the frequent trades of flashbacks that peppered the early part of the book. While I understood the motive, I think that made this particular book much harder to get through, for frequency. Other than that factor, this book was made of win, as it builds the tension higher with respect to the overarching story surrounding the Elemental sisters, with Poppy taking the reins in this particular story.

Winston Lane has left his wife, Poppy, of 14 years after being brutally injured in "Moonglow" and learning that his wife has kept a significant secret from him about her supernatural powers and respective roles. But it turns out that Winston's not without secrets of his own as a demon chases after him to collect, and Poppy proceeds to persue him in order to save her husband. The tensions rise between them off and on with a number of revelations, but the narrative also shows them reconciling in some very steamy ways. There's another parallel story running between this as Jack Talent and Mary Chase join up to assist Poppy and Winston, but end up in a crossfire of their own (especially with respect to what happens to Jack in this book - yikes. No doubt that'll have significant bearings for the book to follow this.)

Despite some points where the narrative drags a little, the payoff for the revelations is well worth seeing unfold, and I'll admit I was surprised by a number of them, as well as reading eagerly as the novel ran at full throttle towards its climax. Very nice touch of action and outwitting smarts in the conclusion of events, and it does bring together some important threads established in this series thus far. Poppy and Winston were fun to watch in lighter moments, and there were more than enough "cool" scenes to watch in the supernatural side of this narrative.

Overall, I really enjoyed the ride, and look forward to more from Callihan's narratives here, especially in the upcoming "Shadowdance" to see Jack and Mary's story.

Overall score: 4/5 stars

Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Forever/Grand Central Publishing.