Early Book Review: The Firefighter's Dilemma (Mile High Firefighters) by Mariah Ankenman

The Firefighter's Dilemma is the third book in the Mile High Firefighters series by Mariah Ankenman and is currently scheduled for release on February 27 2023. Each book in the series can be read on its own.

Firefighter Stephanie Díaz won’t let anyone stop her from becoming the youngest female fire chief in Denver. Not the jerks who’d like to see an ambitious Latine woman admit defeat. Not the ultra-bro firefighters she has to work with. And definitely not her ridiculously hot and often infuriating, fellow firefighter Eli Ward. Now Stephanie has the chance to prove to everyone that she’s got what it takes…but there’s one helluva catch. The Battle of the First Responders is a live, balls-out competition in the secluded Rockies and Stephanie has been selected—along with Ward as her partner. On the line are their reputations, a whole lot of cash…and the promotion they’ve been fighting for. Teaming up is the perfect chance to finally settle their never ending one-upmanship, but it also exposes the smoldering attraction they’ve held at bay. Now their days are fueled by a high-stakes, adrenaline-fueled competition. Their nights are filled with sizzling deep kisses that steal her breath away. But this sexy little fling is about to set off a five-alarm blaze she can’t control.

The Firefighter's Dilemma is a great friends/coworker to more romance. I love that neither ever expected to come together, and I really enjoyed getting to know the characters (well getting to know them better since I have read some related books) and see them figure things out. Diaz is a favorite of mine- I love her strength and her vulnerable, caring side. Ward is fun and alot more self aware than most, and a generally great guy. I loved the banter and comradery between them- even when thing were not going according to plan. I thought the fact that the author can make me interested in the stories of even the secondary, troublemaking characters is a great skill and they use it in the very best way. I enjoyed the read and loved the balance of fun, humor, suspense and some serious introspective moments for both the main characters was spot on. 

The Firefighter's Dilemma is yet another fun and engaging read from Ankenman.

Book Review: Burning Up (Prescotts) by Tara Wyatt

Burning Up is the sixth book in The Prescotts series by Tara Wyatt. The books do not need to be read in order, and each can stand well on its own. Returning readers will have some advantage with understanding some of the characters and their motivations and connections but the lack will not ruin the read for newcomers. 

Nearly two years after her divorce, Felicity Hawthorne is ready to date again. At least, she thinks she would be, if the idea of dating wasn’t so freaking terrifying. But then she wins a date with sexy, swoony firefighter Noah Prescott at a charity bachelor auction, and everything changes. FDNY captain Noah isn’t looking for a relationship. Since losing his father as a teenager, he’s spent the past twenty years shouldering heavy responsibilities, and he knows he doesn’t have the time or energy to be anyone’s boyfriend. But one date with sweet, charming Felicity has him wanting things he shouldn’t want. Which is why Noah suggests Felicity practice her budding dating skills with him. He wants more of her, and practice dates are as close as he can come to having her in his life without hurting her. But then dating practice turns into practice of another kind—the kind that involves moans and sighs and orgasms—and Noah knows he’s going to fall. Hard.

Burning Up is a fun and engaging read that has a good mix of heat and heart. Felicity and Noah each have hang ups and issues they need to work through. I loved seeing the honesty and communication as they admited to themselves, and each other, how they felt and how they thought they could move forward at aech stage of the relationship. I also loved the support system that they each had, and how they each looked perfect from the outside, but bshowed their vulnerablity to those that mattered to them. I did think that there were moment when one or the other strayed to far into 'too good to be true' territory, but generally normal insecurities or their personal traumas would reign them back in. I think fans of the series andt he author will love this read, and other contemporary romance fans will enjoy it as well. 

Book Review: The Dating Dilemma (Mile High Firefighters) by Mariah Ankenman

The Dating Dilemma is the third book in the Mile High Firefighters series by Mariah Ankenman. You do not need to read the books as a series to enjoy them, but returning readers will enjoy seeing favorites make an appearance and understand the references to relationship woes in the previous books. 

Lexi’s Reminders:  Work, Don’t think about your birthday tomorrow. Or debt, your crappy apartment, and nonexistent social life. Re-stock wine and ice cream because that’s coming. Die in a raging blaze of humiliation when the super-hot and very delicious fireman waiting in your office is not in fact the strip-o-gram birthday present you suspected. Reschedule the fire safety inspection you 100 percent failed because of said humiliation. Figure out how you, in fact, agreed to fake dating Mr. Not a Strip-O-Gram Fireman to help him with a bet. Oh yeah, and do not fall for this guy. Seriously, they call him One Night O’Neil. Red flags all over the place.  Remember, this is fake dating, even though his very talented, very real lips are doing some sexy things you definitely like. Realize bending one tiny rule can’t be that bad, can it? Except bend too far, and something breaks. Something you can’t get back.

The Dating Dilemma is a contemporary romantic comedy that had me dealing with sympathetic embarrassment on several occasions. I liked that Dyson and Lexi are both not looking for romance, and feel some intense sparks right away. I got a huge kick out of the fact that they both knew going into the fake dating scheme that it rarely works out as intended- and since they were already deep into lust their story would most likely take the rom com track. I will say that Lexi's thing about speaking her thoughts out loud lent itself to several moments of second hand embarrassment, there were also moments when I really was not sure what exactly she had sad- because of how much she had going on in her head at any given moment. I loved the secondary characters, and think that they added a special layer of interest for me. The new characters  were just as interesting and complex as the main characters and the other secondary characters that I remembered from the first book (I somehow missed the second). I enjoyed the read and will be keeping an eye out for more. 

The Dating Dilemma is a fun romance with self aware characters and some serious second hand embarrassment. 

Early Book Review: Finding Mr. Right Next Door (Firefighters of Station 1) by Sarah Ballance

Finding Mr. Right Next Door is the second book in the Firefighters of Station 1 series by Sarah Ballance and currently scheduled for release on May 11 2020. You can read each book as a stand alone, but there a few spoilers if you read out of order.

For Lexi Dean, burning down her kitchen was disaster enough. Agreeing to move in next door with her totally off-limits best friend, Matt Freeman, until her house is livable again? They’ve always been close, but this is ridiculous. If she’s not bumping into him at the refrigerator, he’s at the front door giving her date the third degree. And slipping between his borrowed sheets? That’s about as distracting as listening to his shower run, because suddenly all she can think about is rivulets of water cascading down is spectacular body—the one he seems to be going out of his way to make sure she notices. Not that it matters. He can flaunt his firefighter abs around her all he wants. They already share everything—their jobs, their friends, their backyard, even their dog—and that means only one thing: Lexi is not going to risk losing any of it by dipping a single toe in the temptation that is Matt Freeman. Lexi may not know how to handle a fire extinguisher, but this is one fire that just might burn them both if they’re not careful.

Finding Mr. Right Next Door is a contemporary romance that I have mixed feelings about. I felt bad for Lexi on occasion, her friends seem to tease her constantly and self esteem and having an uncomfortable conversation seem beyond her. Matt is painted as almost too perfect, aside from his worries about losing Lexi's friendship. There are some funny moments, some heat, and lots of me shaking my head. I liked the secondary characters and thought some of the book was very well written. However, despite a few attempts at talking it out that were shot down and avoided, I was so annoyed with the fact that two people that had supposedly been best friends forever could not just sit down and talk. I get the fear of wrecking a friendship with a romantic relationship, but how can you even have a friendship if you are not willing to talk to each other?

Finding Mr. Right Next Door is a friends to more romance that will appeal to fans of the author and series.

Book Review: Flare Up (Boston Fire) by Shannon Stacey

Flare Up is part of the Boston Fire series by Shannon Stacey. While fans of the series will know more about the characters and relationships going in than new readers, I think the book stands up well on its own as well.

Nursing a broken heart while everybody around him seems to be drowning in happiness has Grant Cutter wondering whether staying with Engine 59—or even Boston Fire—is in his future. It’s tempting as hell to pack up what fits in his Jeep and hit the road. But then a 911 call brings the woman who shattered his heart back into his life, and he knows he won’t ever be able to fully leave her in his rearview mirror. For a few months, Wren Everett had thought the nightmare of her past was behind her and she might live happily ever after with Grant. Until she got the phone call letting her know the time her ex had spent in jail for assault hadn’t cooled his temper or determination that she belonged with him. Cutting ties with Grant was the hardest thing she’d ever had to do, but it was also the only way to keep him safe. Now that Grant is back, he’s not letting Wren push him away again. And even with the trust issues between them, Wren dares to hope she and Grant might have a future together after all…if they’re willing to fight for it.

Flare Up is a well written story. Even though I had not read the previous books, and know I missed some of the character and world building, I felt like I was well introduced the the main characters and how they relate to the others. I liked both characters, and felt like I could understand their fears and choices, even when I might not agree with them. They were real, flawed people that felt like I could meet them out and about rather than characters in a book. I thought that Wren's doubts and worries were very realistic, the results of living through a controlling and abusive relationship were represented very accurately. I liked that Wren and Grant actually talked about their problems and concerns, with each other and friends. They acted like adults rather than ignoring the problems and avoiding them (for the most part). I love when book characters actually do this instead of things magically being all better with no work done to fix things. I will say that I was expecting one more big confrontation or action scene, and the solution with the ex seemed a little anticlamatic. It was real, and realistic, but I think I was just expected a big dramatic moment after all the problems he caused. 

Flare Up is a solid contemporary romance, with plenty of action and emotion- and a nice dash of steam. 

Early Book Review: Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas by Katie Ruggle

Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas by Katie Ruggle can be counted as the 5th book in the Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit series, but it reads more like the first book in a related series. It can stand up fine all on its own regardless. It is currently scheduled for release on September 25 2018.

When firefighter and single dad Steve Springfield moved his four kids to a Colorado Christmas tree ranch, he intended for it to be a safe haven. But he never expected that he would come face-to-face with the one girl he could never forget. Folk artist Camille Brandt lives a quiet life. As the town's resident eccentric, she's used to being lonely, until Steve freaking Springfield changes everything. Brave and kind, he's always had a piece of her heart, and it doesn't take long before she's in danger of falling for him and his rambunctious kids. But as mysterious fires break out across the sleepy Colorado town, Steve and Camille will have to fight if they want their happy family to survive until Christmas.

Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas is a contemporary romance with the touch of suspense that I have come to expect from Ruggle. I adored Camille's character. She is not a fan of attention, and just wants to go about her day with as little small talk and conversation as possible- a trait that I share (to a smaller extent). Steve is trying to be a good father, and give his children a safe and happy home. Working with the fire department and at the family tree farm- as well as getting them involved- seems like the way to go. When Camille and Steve reconnect the attraction is there- but self doubt from both and parties and some interfering family make things more complicated. Then there are the nosy neighbors, fires, and personal quirks make things even more interesting. I greatly enjoyed watching the two dance around each other, and loved getting to know Steve's kids better. I found the suspense part to be well done, and had my suspicions as to who was behind the danger, and why. I will say I was partly right, but loved the ride to get to our happy ending. I love this story, and series, and will continue reading everything I can from the author.

Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas is another great romance from Ruggle. I like her character work and am always left wanting more, even though the story is complete.