Heat

Rating:
Summary: Not Interesting at all
Review: "HEAT" did not hold my interest at all. I read all of it so that I could review it fairly, but it drags so bad in places that I could barely finish it.

The problem that I see is that crossovers don't work because "Angel" is a show for adults and "HEAT" is a book for teenagers. Actually, most teenagers that I know read on a much higher level than this book. "HEAT" is consistent with the less mature characters from Seasons 1-3 of "Buffy", but the truth is that it is very inconsistent with the characters from later seasons.

In reading the reviews, I think the fact that almost all of the "Excellent" reviews focus on the TV show instead of on the book says everything that anyone needs to know. Obviously, those reviewers didn't really enjoy the book, they just love the early season relationship between Buffy and Angel.

By the way, at least Buffy did tell Spike that she loved him in "Chosen." She certainly didn't bother to tell Angel that she still loved him. If I was seeing my one true love knowing that I might never see her again, I would definitely tell her that I loved her.

Rating:
Summary: Good Read
Review: Heat was very enjoyable and it kept me wanting more. I'm glad, Heat was my first Buffyverse book purchase...no regrets whatsoever. I thought all the characters were treated fairly (including all the ships). Only criticism...even though the villains history were important in understanding the storyline, I felt that it dragged a tiny bit in the beginning of the book. All and all, this book was a fun read.

Rating:
Summary: It was Decent
Review: I am one of those weird people who is a B/A, B/S or C/A fan so I think I can be objective. The story line was good, however much of the dialogue was corny and di not seem to fit the characters sometimes. I do think that Nancey should have left out a few characters because they just caused problems with the storyline. But overall I enjoyed reading "Heat" and enjoyed the moments between Buffy and Angel (when they were too corny). I would recommend reading this, especially if you are a B/A fan.

Rating:
Summary: Heat: fans of classic Buffy will like it
Review: I liked it a lot and I would recommend it. I found the interaction between the characters to be more realistic, or at least closer to the original cannon of the shows than in the last season. In addition to wonderful, true to canon characterization the plot is suspenseful. There is a scene where a security guard gets killed in the parking lot of the Sunnyhell museum....that was good, heart pounding good. As a Spike fan I particularly liked his characterization here. Ms Holder was a lot kinder to him that the writers were. I loved the little shutouts that only hard core fans of the show will get. My only nitpick is that the resolution felt a bit rushed.

Rating:
Summary: A Major Disappointment
Review: I ordered HEAT before it was released and I wish that I could get my money back. It was a major disappointment to me.

I wish I had read the reviews before buying this book. I can ignore some of the negative reviews because I understand that some people simply don't like the B/A romance. It is the 5 star reviews that tell me that the book is poorly written. Most of the 5 star reviews don't even discuss the book. If the book wasn't so poorly written, those reviewers would be talking about why they love the book instead of wasting their time insulting other people.

I bought HEAT because I think Nancy Holder is an awesome writer. Maybe a lot of my disappointment in HEAT is because I know that she is capable of so much more than this book.

I am much more of a fan of the "Angel" TV series than of "Buffy." In HEAT, Angel is not a character that I even recognize from the TV show. The character in this book is not the Angel that I love.

I didn't like the Jheira story when it was on the show and unfortunately, I still don't like it. The details of the Chinese culture didn't hold my interest at all.

If it is true that publishers are looking carefully at this and the Watcher's Guide to determine if they should release more books from the Buffyverse, a B/A romance was the worst possible choice. Their romance simply does not have a broad base appeal at all. The Watcher's Guide is filled with errors that could have been avoided by even the most casual fans.

Rating:
Summary: Heat is great
Review: I've read all the reviews & I've read the novel. I think Nancy Holden does a good job of keep the Novel as though it could be apart of the regular BtVS/Angel Universe. It is set in the early 7th season of BtVS(after "Him" but before the Watcher's Council was destroyed)/and early 4th season Angel(after Cordy's return, but before "the Rain Of Fire" sega).
As for the Buffy/Spike relationship vs. Buffy/Angel relationship. Buffy/Spike relationship is like a Fire storm, -- very hot & Passionate, but destined to die out, in a quick blase of glory(as it Did in "Chosen"). By the way (B/S shippers)Buffy never said she loved Spike, until the just before Spike died in "Chosen". Buffy/Angel are described in the novel as being "Soul Mates", which they are. Their relationship is more like the Sun -- intense, bright, very hot, not always scene, but always there.
Nancy Holden does a very good job of giving the novel a feel of well written BtVS/Angel Crossover. She does a great job of connecting the novel to past events in both series(from up to 4 yrs. earlier to very recent(about 1 week)in the past). My only "complaint" is that the novel starts fairly slowly, then builds through the chapters. But then some really great movies have done the same(like the LOTR trilogy). The novel almost feels like a missing crossover of both series.

Great Novel for Adult BtVS & Angel fans by Nancy Holden.

Rating:
Summary: Rushed by the publisher?
Review: Nancy Holder generally writes delightfully "Child of the Hunt" and "The Gatekeeper Trilogy" are wonderful examples.

I bought "Heat" to support the continuance of Buffy related literary efforts but found it is not up to Ms. Holder's usual quality of writing. The language is too cutesy even for a Buffy book and the real-life "shoutouts" are too heavy handed. I wonder if there was a certain push on the part of the publisher to get the book out denying Ms. Holder the opportunity for polish.

The story iteself was quite enjoyable but again, timing, being set in the twilight of both series the window for including all the characters was too narrow. A reader strongly familiar with both shows might find themselves distracted by trying to fit the action into the series' timelines.

Overall, a fun book, just not up to the usual Holder quality.

Rating:
Summary: The Hong Kong movie episode BUFFY never did!
Review: Nancy Holder's HEAT is the Hong Kong movie-style episode that BUFFY should have done and never did. This fun, fast-paced mix of Buffy, Angel and Chinese mythology is well-written and kept me turning pages faster than a kung fu kick! It captured the dialogue and tone of the original shows, and yet still managed to provide some fresh insight into the characters and themes. A very worthy new satellite in the Buffyverse.

Rating:
Summary: Meh
Review: Now that the series has ended, I was hoping for a progression of the story, but that's not what we got. Back to the sugar sweet 'first wuv 4eva' Buffy and Angel stuff. Did I miss something? Last I heard, Buffy loved Spike. I liked 'Blood and Fog', 'These our Actors', and that one with Spike and Angel whose title escapes me at the moment, but this book was a disappointment. I realize continuity must be a problem when writing stories based on TV shows that have huge attendant mythologies, but for a book to blatantly ignore established series canon (both BtVS and AtS) is a turn-off for me. Nancy Holder is a good writer, but I hope she sticks more to what made me love the TV shows if she writes any more Buffy books.

Rating:
Summary: Heat is really Hot
Review: Once again Nancy Holder proved that she never watched the later seasons of BTVS. If she did she would know that Buffy was over Angel and in love with Spike. The trash that B/A had "heat" while B/S did not was absolutly ludcious. Ms. Holder, if you watched season 5 through 7 of Buffy you would have seen how much fire Buffy and Spike have. Of course in order to have written this book then she couldn't have possibly watched the last seasons, otherwise her book would have been all about spuffy instead of bangel. And we couldn't let Ms. Holder taint her B/A love could we? I was sorry I bought this book and I actually did return it and demanded my money back. If you are a true fan of the show then don't buy this book, it would be an insult to your intellgence.