Burning Up

by Jennifer Blackwood

Series: Flirting With Fire (#1)

Published by: Montlake Romance

May 8th, 2018

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Format: eARC

Source: Publisher (NetGalley)

Rating: 4 Stars

     Unemployed schoolteacher Erin Jenkins is back in Portland, the town she hasn’t called home for more than a decade. It’s not the way she wants to spend her last days of summer: in between jobs and avoiding her mother’s snooping by escaping to the ice-cream aisle. But when the opportunity arises for her to accompany her brother’s best friend—her lifetime crush—to a wedding, summer gets a whole lot more interesting.

     Firefighter and single dad Jake Bennett has built a nice, safe wall around his heart—no romance, no getting burned. That doesn’t mean he’s ruling out a fling. Considering Erin’s visit is temporary, they’re the perfect fit for a scorching no-strings one-night stand. Or two. Or five. Until the worst thing happens: Erin and Jake are feeling more. Damn that four-letter word.

     Now their hearts are on the line, and when their smoldering summer comes to a close, it’s going to be harder than ever to put out the fire.

Disclaimer:

     I've read just a few books where one of the main characters is a firefighter and I have to say that it is slowly becoming one of my favorite occupations for characters to have. This story to me is kind of like a friends to lovers mixed in with a second chances romance.

     We have Erin, who is home for the summer to help with her mom after a surgery and who is looking for work back in California. She "ran away" ten years ago and her family and friends are plotting to make her want to stay in Portland.

     Enter Jake, a single father of a 12-year-old. He has been burned one too many times and he is not willing to risk again having his daughter get attached to a woman that will eventually leave. When he and Erin meet again it is awkward and funny and from then on you get a story packed with funny, sexy and heartbreaking moments.

     I really liked this book. It was heartwarming to see Jake put his daughter above all and very emotional to see him suffer so much when getting calls involving children and him thinking (or trying not to) that said child could very well be his princess.

     There are some other characters that got my attention and I cannot wait to read their books, especially Erin's brother and one of her best friends. I do hope they are the next book.